Hathaway is an import company specializing in fun, affordable gaming products for household use. They order direct from the manufacturer to their warehouse, using online sales to keep costs low.
While the quality is usually just as good as more expensive options, consumers often find that their prices are the lowest on the market.
Their Face-Off Air Hockey table is compact and lightweight, allowing consumers to quickly and easily get a game going in their living room. It can be packed up and stored easily, making it a great choice for part time use.
It wasn’t easy for us to find a suitable budget minded table, but as soon as we tried the Hathaway model we knew it was a great choice.
Our Verdict: This may not be a pro-quality air hockey table, but it will make a great addition to any family room and it’s the perfect size for the kids. The assembly process is fast and simple, which is exactly what most parents are looking for, and the price is right, so it won’t hit your wallet too hard. If you’re tight on space in the home and you’re in need of an air hockey table that’s well-built, compact, and budget-friendly, then your search stops here.
Features That Make It Stand Out
Dimensions
Measuring five feet diagonally, this is definitely one of the more compact tables we’ve tested. While it’s only about 20% smaller than standard tables, they’ve managed to cut the weight in half. For this, you can thank the combination MDF and plastic design. The table itself is made from
Product Rating:
- Great value for money
- Very sturdy
- Quality materials all around
- Lightweight compared to similar models
- Two screens to keep track of the score
While it’s only about 20% smaller than standard tables, they’ve managed to cut the weight in half. For this, you can thank the combination MDF and plastic design. The table itself is made from high density MDF, while most flashing and supports are made from plastic. This allows it to be easily assembled or disassembled by a single person, so you can tuck it away when not in use.
This allows it to be easily assembled or disassembled by a single person, so you can tuck it away when not in use.
Assembly & Disassembly
The process is simple. Flip the table upside down, attach the leg pairs with two bolts each, flip it back over. It only took us a few minutes to get it up and running, and it can be done by a single person. Initial assembly did take a little longer. But once you’ve got the main play area together, you only need to remove the legs in order to tuck it away into a closet.
Once assembled, we couldn’t help but appreciate the level of detail that went into this air hockey table. The play area is decorated with a simulation hockey rick, and fun decals are placed all the way around the table.
When your kid wakes up to this on their birthday, or even on Christmas morning, you’re certainly going to get an excited reaction.
What’s Inside
There are two strikers and two pucks included, so you’ve always got a backup if you lose one. Because the table is a little smaller than some, the strikers and pucks are sized appropriately for the table. The strikers measure 3 inches in diameter, while the pucks are 2.5 inches. That being said, the goals are a little larger than usual. With all of these things in mind, this table will be much easier for children to use.
Despite it’s incredibly low price, there is a digital scoring system in place.
- Two LED screens accurately track the number of goals, and can be reset with the touch of a button.
- In air hockey, you’ll commonly encounter a scenario where the puck slides into the goal, but bounces back onto the play area.
- It happens so fast that it can be hard to keep track, so the digital scoring system is the perfect mediator in these situations.
- When compared to a timed game system, tallying the goals produces a much more casual, relaxed gaming experience.
Quick Tip: One of the most remarkable features of this table was the quality of the play surface. It’s made from a sealed poly coating over top of a thick MDF base. This creates a very smooth play area, which has a large impact over the quality of your game.
The Blower Motor
For maximum airflow, a 110V blower motor is used. It’s very high output, creating a smooth and even airflow pattern. This motor isn’t the quietest on the market, but it’s far from obtrusive. The cord is fairly long, reaching about four feet. This allows you to set the table away from the wall, so both players have enough space to practice their maneuvers.
A Few Tips
- It’s extremely important to keep the table level during play, or the score will always be tilted in favor of one player.
- The screw-out levelers located at the bottom of each leg make it easy to adjust the table, providing a very large amount of leeway.
- Because they are larger than most, this table can still be used on carpet or soft flooring.
Safety
When shopping for any affordable product, it’s always important to make sure that high safety standards are maintained. Blower motors use quite a lot of current, so we were happy to see that the one used in this table has gone through UL certification. This means that all of the electrical components are sized correctly, preventing the chance of sparks or damage from regular use.
Hathaway Face-Off Air Hockey Pros & Cons
Pros
The Hathaway Face-Off air hockey table is incredibly lightweight, and easy to assemble. It’s the perfect size for kids, making it a great way for them to get into the game. Despite it’s incredibly low price, the quality of the table is above and beyond what most offer at this price point. The scoreboard is a nice touch, something that we didn’t often encounter with older models.
Cons
Because it is so lightweight, it’s possible for this table to be damaged if used incorrectly. It’s important that children do not climb or put all their weight on the table. While adults can still have an enjoyable game with it, serious air hockey fans might want a larger table.
Conclusion and Rating
Air Hockey Geek.com Product Rating:
Hathaway has designed the perfect air hockey table for children, or adults who only plan on casual use.
Assembly is simple and straightforward, so you’ll have it up and running as quickly as you can get it out of the package. There are very few air hockey tables we can recommend at this price point, so to see something so well made is refreshing.
We’d recommend this table particularly to users who don’t have a lot of space. Because you can quickly take the legs off and store it in a closet, you won’t have to find a dedicated space to store it.
If you’re looking for something more permanent, we might recommend checking out our review of the Triumph Lumen-X Lazer Air Hockey Table. It does cost a little more, but regular users are sure to appreciate the additional durability.
