On a hot summer day, a calm game of croquet can be a great way to pass the time. You want to avoid getting too cheap a croquet set though. It won't be so easy to relax if you're dealing with wickets that bend out of shape instead of going into the ground or have the heads constantly falling off the mallets. It'd be just as hard to get competitive with your family and friends if half the equipment isn't holding up. So, we've picked out some great croquet equipment for you to enjoy the game with, whether you're casual or competitive.
See our list of the best yard games for more options.
Crown Sporting Goods Classic Outdoor Yard Game
Best Overall
Sticking to the Basics
Crown Sporting Goods has an excellent croquet set for some casual games. You get six wooden mallets with removable heads, which means it's also easy to get them back on. The mallets are colorful, helping players keep track of whose ball is whose. This set includes six colored balls made from a durable polymer, though the rubber caps on the mallets will help keep the balls in working order. There are also nine wickets and two wooden stakes. This is everything you need to get playing.
AmishToyBox 8-Player Croquet Game Set
Best Premium Set
Premium Design
For serious quality woodworking, turn to Amish crafters. That extends to croquet. You can get a quality set of Amish-crafted croquet equipment from AmishToyBox that you know is built well. This set includes eight color-coded mallets to match their corresponding ball. The mallets are made out of maple hardwood, as are the stakes and the included stand, which can hold all the game equipment.
tenalach LED Glow-in-The-Dark Croquet
Best Nighttime Set
Croquet the Night Away
While croquet may more typically be a daytime game, tenalach has you set for some late-night play. This set is decked out with LEDs, so you can see everything at night. There are four wooden mallets with LEDs built in, so you can see where you're swinging, and the balls themselves also have lights. The set includes two stakes and nine metal wickets, which you'll strap additional LED lights to. So, you won't have to let the sun going down stop you from enjoying croquet.
Franklin Sports Outdoor Croquet Set - Vintage
Best Vintage Set
The Classic Set
If you want a solid croquet set that looks absolutely classic, Franklin Sports has you covered with its vintage-style set. The set includes includes six mallets and balls, each color-coded to match. The mallets have a brass fitting to reinforce the connection between the handle and head. You also get two stakes and nine, thick steel wickets. There's also a stylish wooden stand with straps for bundling your wickets and stakes and holders for your mallets and balls, so you can really put your croquet gear on display.
Forevive Children's Croquet Set
Best Kids' Croquet
A Set for the Kids
The hard balls and heavy, wooden clubs of traditional croquet sets may not be great for kids, but this set from Forevive has the young ones covered. This set includes two mallets and balls with matching colors to help young players keep track of their own ball. The mallet heads are made of a rubber foam that's durable but soft, making it safer for play than hard, wooden heads. The set also includes four colorful wickets, which use the weights at their ends to stay upright. This means there's no sharp point to worry about. Your kids can enjoy this colorful croquet set while the adults play with the "boring" wooden set.
Kovot Giant Kick Croquet Game Set
Best Novel Croquet Set
Another Way to Play
Who says you have to play croquet the old-fashioned way. Kovot has made a kicking croquet game that kids and adults alike can enjoy. The set replaces the traditional balls with two, 16-inch, inflatable balls. The wickets are dramatically increased in size for the balls to fit through. And, naturally, the mallets are replaced with your legs. Soccer fans will especially enjoy the twist on croquet. The set has everything you need for a proper game with nine wickets and two stakes.
