Tuf-Tex 17"
Overall Rating:    
It's crowded at the top, but these balloons have risen to the
challenge. Tough, thick latex and a more manageable size than 24"
balloons make the 17" Tuf-Tex a balloon of choice. Deceptively big
and spherical like Gayla or Granger, but thicker than Qualatex, these
balloons are shaped like punch balls and almost as strong.
Size and Shape:    
Unlike most balloons, Tuf-Tex 17" are consistently larger than
their rated size. On first inflation, tight and full doesn't happen until
at least 18.5" to 19". (The one at right is a new balloon at
more than 19" diameter.) Big, fat, and round is the name of the game,
thanks to the four-flute design that gives a balloon which is perfectly
spherical until the neck begins to come out... and come out it will: with
a little stretching it can be safely inflated to several inches long!
Latex Quality:    
As you'd expect from Tuf-Tex, the 17"s are thick and durable, but
not so much so that they become hard to inflate by mouth. The latex
remains quite supple, however, until the balloon is overinflated. Colors
are deep, and though the color is more variable than Qualatex, especially
along the peaks and valleys of the flutes, these are merely color
fluctuations and not defects or thinning. Bubbles and other defects are
much rarer than average.
Reliability:    
The rubber of Tuf-Tex balloons stretches unbelievably for being so
thick. The balloon at right is already 2" over rated size, and still
has at least another 2" of room before it's in danger of popping. Tuf-Tex
are built to last. If one does pop, however, the price to pay is a much
louder than average bang. |

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Qualatex 24"
Overall Rating:    
When they were introduced last year, they were the biggest thing (in more
ways than one) to hit balloondom for a long time, and deservedly so. You
owe it to yourself to experience the "Q24" at least once, but
preferably more than that!
Size and Shape:    
It doesn't take a balloon enthusiast to appreciate the utter hugeness of these
balloons. The orange Q24 at right is nowhere near full inflation (the body
still has plenty of room!). The body
itself can measure 24 inches, and the neck can be blown to incredible
length and girth, if you're brave enough. The neck and lip are very wide,
almost too wide to allow inflation by mouth.
Latex Quality:    
The colors are perfect and even and the balloons are double-dipped so
their strength is unsurpassed. Curiously, though, the drip point seen on
most balloons is nearly absent on these monsters. Defects are rare.
Reliability:    
It takes a lot to push the limits of these Qualatexes, so for almost
all uses they are perfectly safe. The necks are huge, giving you lots of
time to turn back, and they're incredibly difficult to blow to popping due
to their sheer size and thickness. As you might expect, they pop with an
immense, chest-thumping boom. Be careful out there! |
 Blue Unique 12" shown for contrast
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Tuf-Tex 24"
Overall Rating:    
Tuf-Tex couldn't sit back while Q-Tex had all the fun, so their
24"s came out in early 2006. Essentially up-sized versions of their
already-immense 17"s, where the Q24 is a pear balloon, the T24 is
fluted and very big and round. The body will get larger than a Q24, and
the neck will come out a little, but is much narrower than Qualatex. Big,
huge, with thick latex and very strong, they remind me of a Play-Loon's
smaller sibling.
Size and Shape:    
If round is your thing, these balloons have it. Big enough at full
inflation that you might have a little trouble getting your arms around
it, the T24 inflates a little to the oblong side of spherical, and the
neck begins to inflate at high pressures as you'd expect from a fluted
balloon. The neck itself is very long, ostensibly for ease of tying. It
can probably be inflated most of the way, but you'd better be willing to
risk a mighty pop.
Latex Quality:    
Thick, thick, and strong and thick, the T24 manages to be all
these things and not drumhead-hard until it's overfull. Colors are deep,
and though there is a little variation around flute lines, there are very,
very few defects or thin spots.
Reliability:    
Believe that Tuf-Tex are tough enough to take anything that's
thrown at them. You might even have a hard time popping these balloons by
sitting on them. Maybe you could even use them as impromptu chairs...
though that may be pushing it a little. Thick and tough equals reliable.
Count on it. |
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