Ping pong tables can be great if you wish to have a durable table for year round use. An outdoor ping pong table can withstand weather changes and they allow you to leave them outside. This can be very convenient. You want to buy the right type of table to make sure that yours doesn't warp or get damaged from outdoor elements.
Aluminum tables are the standard when it comes to outdoor play. These tables are great because they are very durable. They will resist warping and moisture fairly easily. These are generally designed specifically for outdoor play. If you want a wood table, then you will want to check out wood tables with special coatings for making them playable outdoors. The coating will keep them water proofed to protect them from any level of moisture they may face. If you want to ensure that your table will be safe outdoors, then you will probably want to look into ping pong tables that are synthetic, but designed to withstand the elements outdoors. Whichever type of table you choose, you will have to pay more for tables that utilize better materials.
When purchasing a table for outdoor use, you want to get a table that has a similar bounce on the surface compared to the bounce that would be found on indoor tables. If you are a serious ping pong player, this will be important. If you care more about durability though, you will want to look into special design features that help keep your table safe.
No matter what kind of table you get, a good idea to help protect your table when outdoors is by using a cover. By putting a tarp or a cover over your table, you will protect it from the heat of the sun while also stopping rain from pooling up on the surface. This can be very helpful in keeping your table in its original condition.
If you choose a metal table for its durability, then you should expect the bounce to be slightly slower than indoor tables. The spin can also be somewhat less on these types of tables.
Another factor that you will want to take into consideration is the weatherproofing of the legs on the table. Some designs come with special weatherproofed exteriors for the legs. This can be great in keeping your ping pong table in great shape for many years to come.
Another option you have if you only want to use your table outdoors occasionally, is to buy an indoor table and move it outdoors when you want to play outside during good weather. Then you will have an indoor table while playing outside.