Who should hire and who should buy
The decision comes down to how often the suits will be used, who looks after them and whether they need to earn money. As a rule of thumb:
Hiring makes sense if…
- you are planning a single birthday, stag do or company event
- you play once or twice a year and have nowhere to store the suits
- you want the hire company to set up and supervise the game
- you want to try bubble football before deciding on a set of your own
Buying makes sense if…
- your club plays bubble football at training, summer camps or club parties every season
- your school uses it for PE lessons, sports days or project weeks
- your council or youth centre runs holiday programmes or lends equipment to local groups
- you organise events regularly and keep paying hire fees
- you want to start or expand a bubble football hire business
Hiring vs buying at a glance
Beyond the price, hiring and buying differ in flexibility, effort and what you are left with at the end.
| Aspect | Hiring | Buying |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low: you pay per event | One-off investment in the set |
| Cost over time | Paid again for every event | Falls with every additional use |
| Availability | Depends on the hire company's calendar; weekends are often booked up | Ready whenever you need it |
| Delivery and set-up | Often included or available for a fee | You transport and inflate the suits yourself |
| Storage and care | Not your concern | Dry storage, cleaning and simple repairs |
| Branding | The hire company's equipment | Your own colours, logo printing optional |
| Income potential | None | The suits can be hired out to others |
Break-even: when does buying pay off?
You do not need exact figures to see the logic. Buying pays off once the money you save by not hiring has covered the cost of your set.
Break-even formula
Events to break-even = cost of the set ÷ (hire fee per event − your own costs per event)
If you want to hire the suits out
For a hire business the formula turns around: divide the cost of the set by what you earn per booking after your own costs. The result is the number of bookings you need to recover the investment. Plan conservatively, count only bookings you can realistically win in your area and allow for quiet winter months.
Enter your own numbers in the hire calculator to see your break-even point, and use the material comparison to check whether PVC or TPU fits how often you play.
What else you need when you buy
The suits are the core of the set, but a few extras make the difference between a smooth session and a stressful one:
- Pump. An electric pump saves a lot of time at every event. Electric pumps are available with your Bubble Allstars order.
- Bags. Carry bags protect the suits in transport and storage. They are included free with every Bubble Allstars order.
- Repair kit. Small punctures can be patched on the spot. A repair kit is included free with every order.
- Storage. A dry, frost-free room with space for the deflated suits. Store them clean and completely dry to keep the material in good condition.
- Transport. Deflated, the suits fit in a car or van, depending on the size of your set. Plan who drives them to each event.
- Pitch and ball. Grass, artificial turf or a sports hall, two small goals and a football. Most clubs and schools already have all three.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth buying bubble football suits?
Yes, if you play regularly or want to hire them out. For a single event hiring is usually cheaper. Once you would hire several times, your own set typically works out cheaper, and you can play whenever you like.
How many events does it take for buying to pay off?
Divide the cost of the set by what you save per event, which is the hire fee minus your own costs. The hire calculator does this for you with your own numbers.
How many suits should a club or school buy?
For five-a-side you need ten suits, plus a couple of spares, which is why sets of 12 are popular. Packages of 8, 12 and 24 suits are available in 1.5 m adult and 1.2 m kids sizes. If you need both sizes, state the split in your enquiry and we confirm it in the quote.
Can we hire out the suits we buy?
Yes. Hiring the set out to other groups is a common way to recover part of the cost. If you plan a hire business, our Startup package is put together for exactly that.
What is included when I buy from Bubble Allstars?
Every order includes free carry bags and repair kits and comes with a 24-month warranty. Electric pumps and logo printing are available, and you receive a written quote within 24 hours.
Decided to buy?
Compare the packages of 8, 12 and 24 suits, or start with the Startup package if you plan to hire the suits out.