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Are they fragile?

With the word "balloon" in its description, you can't help but wonder if balloon lights can stand up to severe jobsite conditions, such as wind, rain, temperature variations, etc. All the sources in this article assured us that they are quite capable of handling the tough stuff.

"The envelopes (the outer shell of the balloon light) are made of complex textures to give the balloon a long life," says Wessels. "These textures are ripstop, tight and resistant to weather conditions — rain or snow."

Most units can withstand winds from 55 to 65 mph. Airstar's Sirocco 2000W, which is designed to mount to pavers and rollers, is wind resistant up to 68 mph.

Wind stability can depend on how the unit is mounted, notes Quiros. "The end-user should take care to use sandbags or other means to properly anchor the pole or stand to which the unit is mounted. The balloon light is as sturdy as what it's mounted to."

Temperature fluctuations can affect the balloon depending upon what it is filled with. For example, if the balloon is filled with helium, a difference in temperature can make the helium volume vary (think of your child's party balloon filled with helium and what happens when you walk outside into cold air — the balloon will deflate slightly). However, if the balloon is filled with ambient air, it's not as temperature sensitive.