A Review of the Port-o-Pong Portable Beer Pong Table

I recently purchased a Port-o-Pong Beer Table, and though I was initially skeptical, I'm very happy overall. If you didn't know better, you'd probably assume that the Port-o-Pong was actually a large blue pool raft with way too many cup holes. The table is made of very sturdy blue vinyl, much like a raft or towable innertube. The shape is rectangular, like a normal beer pong table, but each end has ten cup holes arranged in the classic triangular formation. There is one slight drawback with the holes, however. Although many people play beer pong with the rims of the glasses touching, the Port-o-Pong's configuration means that your choice of cup will dictate whether or not this is possible for you.

Another thing you'll notice about the Port-o-Pong is that it has rings on each outer edge. These rings allow you to suspend the product by ropes, or to steady the table in a pool. As anyone who's frolicked in a crowded pool will know, anchoring the table in some way makes the game much more playable. If you prefer to stay dry, you can also position the Port-o-Pong over a normal table.

Because it's made of vinyl that could be punctured, the Port-o-Pong comes with a repair patch for any mishaps. It's sturdy, but strange things can and do happen when you add beer to a party.

My biggest concern upon buying the Port-o-Pong was whether or not it would be possible to play "with bounce". If you're not familiar with the rules of beer pong, that just means that it's legal to bounce the balls off the table to get them into the cup. After taking a few moments to get accustomed to the unusual topography of the table, I discovered that it is indeed possible to bounce ping pong balls off the surface of the Port-o-Pong. It's a little more difficult, but definitely manageable.

Inflating the Port-o-Pong is fairly simple, though I was a little disappointed to learn that the manufacturer recommends against using an electric air pump. Instead, the table should be blown up by a human or a hand pump. With a hand pump, it takes less than 10 minutes to fill the table. I didn't have the air supply to test how long it might have taken, had I done it the old-fashioned way. Deflating the Port-o-Pong actually seems to take a little longer, but once it's fully deflated, the table can be placed back inside its mesh carrying case and stored away in a small cabinet or drawer.

Overall, the Port-o-Pong is an outstanding beer pong table for the summer, and a reasonably good choice for the indoor seasons. It does have its unique quirks and challenges, but the fact that it's affordable and easy to store more than makes up for those minor drawbacks.