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Trampoline Buyers Guide

Welcome to my trampoline buyers guide section, to make this page easy to read I have broken down the buyer’s guides into the different types of trampolines. If you want to jump to a section click on the links below:

• Mini Trampoline Buyers Guide
• Round, Oval, Octagonal & Square Trampoline Buyers Guide
• Water Trampolines Buyers Guide (coming soon!)

Which Trampoline is Right for Me?

There are literally hundreds of different trampoline models online, with such a variety of choice it can be very confusing for the first time buyer to decide which trampoline is best for them. So before you go searching the internet looking for a trampoline you should ask yourself the following questions:

What will be the primary use of the Trampoline?

This may sound like an obvious question, but is the trampoline going to be used for fitness and weight loss, for a young child/toddler, in your backyard by your children, or will it be used by a gymnast?

For Young Children (Toddlers) – A Toddler/Kids trampoline
Fitness/Weight Loss – A Mini Trampoline (sometimes referred to as a rebounder trampoline)
Used by Children in your Backyard – A round trampoline, oval trampoline, square trampoline or hexagonal trampoline.
For a Gymnast – An Olympic trampoline (sometimes referred to as a rectangle trampoline)

How much space do you have available?

Check the space you have available in your home, trampolines come in different shapes and sizes and you must make sure you have accurately measured the space where the trampoline will be installed. If you are buying a mini trampoline you should have at least 1’ (foot) of space around it. Make sure it won’t be in a room with a low ceiling, especially if you are tall, trust me it hurts when you bang your head on the ceiling.

For a backyard trampoline make sure you have about 3’ (foot) of space around the trampoline, and if possible setup the trampoline on soft ground such as grass or soil.

What is your budget?

Always set a budget before you go online looking at trampolines. If you find your ideal trampoline but it’s slightly above your budget don’t settle for a cheaper alternative, in this scenario it is worth paying that little extra.

Mini Trampoline Buyers Guide

Mini trampolines range from around $30 up to $500 and like anything in life generally the more you pay the higher the quality, and this is certainly true with mini trampolines.

Tips when buying a mini trampoline

• Mini Trampoline Sizes – Mini trampolines range from 36” up to 48”. The budget trampolines tend to be the smaller sizes. If you plan to do a lot of different exercises then I recommend a 40” minimum. I own a 36” mini trampoline and a 40” trampoline, and in all honesty, I can barely use the 36” model, my feet always seem to hit the padding that covers the springs, and I’m only 5’ 9” tall.
• Steel Frame – All mini trampolines use steel frames (tubing) but only the higher quality trampolines have thicker frames that helps support a heavier user weight.
• Springs – Budget trampolines are generally louder when you jump on them, this is due not only to the number of springs but also to the spring design. Budget trampolines usually have basic spring designs and a relatively low number of springs, so when you bounce a lot of force is exerted onto each spring, making a louder noise. Higher quality trampolines usually have a higher number of springs and a better designed spring design, a barrel shape spring absorbs a lot of the impact, making it quieter when in use.
• User weight limit – The maximum user weight limits generally increase with the higher quality trampolines. Low budget trampolines have user weight limits of around 200lbs up to 240lbs. The higher quality trampolines have maximum user limits of 300lbs and above.
• Warranty – Warranties on mini trampolines vary between brand, but in general the budget trampolines have poorer warranties in comparison to the quality brands. The best mini trampolines warranty is offered by Needak Rebounders.

Best Mini Trampoline Brands

Now you know what features to look for, I can name the best mini trampoline brands for each budget range:

Low budget - under $70

For the low budget mini trampoline I recommend TKO Trampolines. TKO Fitness is a well established fitness company in the United States, so you know the brand will be around for a long time.

Good Points: Great starter trampoline for those looking to lose weight. Also a reputable brand from a well established company.
Bad Points: All the TKO trampolines come without workout DVD’s. Also some people have complained about the steel legs that screw into trampoline, reporting that the screws are covered in paint so they can’t easily screw the legs on, however this appears to be quite rare.

Mid budget $70 - $150

For the mid range budget I would buy the Urban Rebounder System. If you are looking to use a trampoline for 30-60 minutes a day, then the urban rebounder would be the best choice.

Good Points: The trampoline folds, comes with a workout DVD and has a user weight limit of 300lbs.
Bad Points: The quality of construction could be better. The warranty is 12 months but should be more in my opinion. Some people have complained about the strong smell coming from the trampoline when it arrives in its packaging, however the smell seems to disappear after a few weeks, so does not appear to be a major issue.

High budget $150 -$500

For the high budget mini trampoline I would buy the Needak Rebounder trampoline. Needak are American made trampolines that are of commercial quality, which means they can be used in a gymnasium or health club. Needak trampolines start at around $250 up to $500

Good Points: The quality of these trampolines are unrivalled, Needak also offer lifetime warranty on their rebounders. For heavier users over 300lbs, Needak created the Hard-Bounce™ Rebounder which basically has tougher springs to allow for the heavier user.
Bad Points: Some people have complained about the folding trampoline, stating that it can be hard to unfold the first time, however this does not appear to be a major issue.

Round, Oval, Hexagonal & Square Trampoline Buyers Guide

Round, Oval, Hexagonal & Square trampolines range from around $170 up to $1,500. Although backyard trampolines come in different shapes and sizes, the materials used to build them are pretty standard throughout the industry.

Before you start looking online for a backyard trampoline, always measure the space you have available. For example if you decide to purchase a 10’ round trampoline with a safety enclosure you should allow at least 3’ of space around the trampoline for ease of access.

Tips when buying backyard trampolines

Trampoline Safety Enclosures

A safety enclosure is a device that prevents young children from falling off a trampoline. The safety enclosure should be at least 6’ high as this will ensure higher jumpers do not go over the top of the trampoline.

Trampoline enclosure poles

On budget trampolines with enclosures you will notice that the safety net is directly attached to the poles, usually inserted over the poles. Because the poles are situated at the edge of the trampoline it means anyone inside the enclosure can still jump on the spring covers (trampoline padding). Although this may create more space inside the enclosure it also means children could jump on the spring cover and severely injure themselves.

On high quality trampolines the safety net is not directly attached to the outer poles, instead the net is secured to the spring covers (safety padding) and then secured to the poles by a bungee cord or string.

As you can see from the illustration is an example between a budget and a high quality trampoline with enclosure:

 

 

The support poles should be thickly padded as children can sometimes hit these poles whilst jumping on the trampoline. Always ensure that thick polyurethane foam padding is used on the poles of the enclosure.

Trampoline Enclosure Doors

On budget trampolines the safety enclosure doors are usually secured by Velcro, unfortunately Velcro on its own is not strong enough to stop a young child tearing through it and potentially falling off the trampoline.

On higher quality trampolines the doors are usually secured by a zip system, which is much stronger and more secure compared to a Velcro system.

Trampoline Enclosure Nets

To save on cost some low budget trampolines have bigger gaps in the netting, some big enough that fingers could easily become trapped. Whilst these nets do their job of stopping children falling off trampolines they cannot stop children getting caught in the netting.

On high quality trampolines the gap in the netting is very small, so small that nothing can get trapped in the net.

Prevent the Trampoline From Blowing Away!

There is one major downside to purchasing a safety enclosure for your trampoline, it increases the chances that the trampoline could be blown away during high winds and cause damage to you or neighbouring properties. To prevent the trampoline from blowing away you can purchase a trampoline tie down anchor kit.

A tie down kit consists of big corkscrew like rods & straps, the rods screw into the ground securing each leg of the trampoline firmly into the ground. The good news is that they are cheap and simple to install, read more about trampoline tie down kits here.

Trampoline Frame

The trampoline frame is the base of a trampoline. Frames are made from galvanized steel and consist of a top rail complete with a set of legs (the number of legs varies depending on trampoline brand/model).

Trampoline Frame Thickness

On budget trampolines the frame diameter is narrow, usually between 42mm – 45mm. The thickness of the steel is between 1.6mm and 1.8mm.

On high quality trampolines the frame diameter is thicker, usually 48mm. The thickness of the steel is 2mm and above.

Trampoline Frame Construction

On low budget trampolines some frames are welded together without any other type of support, on high quality trampolines the frames are of course welded but they also make use of a T connection to help reinforce the weld and allow for a higher maximum user weight on the trampoline.

Trampoline Pads

A trampoline pad is the protective material that sits on top of the springs, sometimes pads are referred to as a spring covers. Trampoline pads are designed to protect users from injuring themselves on the trampoline springs and also cover the springs to protect them.

Pads should be wide enough so that the springs are completely covered, and also thick enough that they will cushion the landing of the user. The padding should fit firmly around the frame, with a deep surround skirt hanging down.

Pad Thickness

On budget trampolines the padding is usually thinner in comparison to a high quality trampoline. Thicknesses vary between models but usually budget trampolines have around 20mm pad thickness.

On high quality trampolines the pad thickness is usually 30mm, this seemingly small increase makes a huge difference to the protection offered. The pad width is big enough that it covers the springs completely and also has a skirt that hangs over the edge of the frame.

Pad Material

On budget trampolines pads are usually made from EPE polyethylene foam, whilst polyethylene is generally a good material it is not waterproof. The EPE material is constructed from a mesh design which absorbs and retains water, eventually rotting the trampoline pad from the inside out. In most cases the damage is done before the user even notices.

You have to seriously consider the padding, as it covers the springs and V rings from the elements, if the pad retains water this water will be sitting on the springs causing them to rust over a short period. Which means you will eventually have to replace the padding, the springs and possibly the whole mat. Polyethylene is also not very effective at blocking ultra violet (UV) rays, normally after a few years the pad colour will fade.

High quality trampolines use closed cell foam in the padding which is protected using high grade vinyl or PVC. These materials offer much greater protection from water, ultra violet damage and other elements.

You may have noticed that high quality trampoline manufactures offer better warranties on trampoline padding in comparison to the budget ranges, this is because they are confident that Vinyl/PVC will outlast EPE polyethylene.

Trampoline Springs

Trampoline springs connect the mat of the trampoline to the outer steel frame. The springs are important because they provide the lift. Trampoline springs are made from tension coil springs, which are designed to resist stretching. Coil springs have a hook at each end so they can be attachment to an object.

Spring Protection

All trampoline springs are galvanized to prevent rusting, but don’t be fooled if this is part of the company’s sales pitch, springs have to be galvanized or they would probably rust within a few months.

Number of Springs

On budget trampolines the number of springs is generally fewer in comparison to higher quality trampolines. I can’t give you numbers because there are so many models offering a different number of springs, so when you compare two trampolines of equal size and shape see which one has more springs.

The greater the number of springs the higher the weight limit will be, this is why high quality trampolines have higher maximum user weight limits.

Fewer springs on a trampoline means greater tension placed on each spring, put simply the springs won’t last as long compared to a high quality trampoline that has more springs.

Even High Quality Springs Fail!

Yes you read correct, no matter how expensive the trampoline is, springs will eventually fail. Eventually springs lose their tension and need replacing, when you need to replace them will depend on how often the trampoline is used. Obviously the more the trampoline is used the sooner the springs will need replacing.

Make sure you can order replacement springs for your trampoline, check the manufacturer’s website or the site you purchased the trampoline from to see if they sell replacement springs. I recommend buying at least 10 springs, if you have a big trampoline, say over 15’ I would recommend at least 20 springs.

How to Check when Springs Need Replacing

Checking to see if a spring needs replacing is relatively straight forward, when the trampoline is not in use, lift up the padding and check to see if any of the springs have stretched or are starting to rust. If the spring or springs have failed they will need replacing straight away, because when a spring fails it creates a greater tension on the other working springs, which means the working springs will fail faster.

The image below shows what a stretched spring can look like.

How to Measure a Spring

To measure the springs, simply remove a good working spring from the trampoline, then measure the length of the spring from the end of one hook to the other end of the hook, measure the spring size in inches as this is how springs are sold.

Buy Extra Springs when you Purchase your Trampoline

Some people purchase replacement springs when they purchase their trampolines, and I think this is a fantastic idea, if you are going to spend a few hundred dollars, you may as well spend another $50 and buy some replacement springs to keep handy.

Trampoline Mats/Beds

The trampoline mat (sometimes referred to as a trampoline bed) is the center part of the trampoline where users jump up and down. Beds are constructed from a grade A non-abrasive, permatron polypropylene. The material is weaved tightly which provides a smooth surface that does not graze children’s skin.

Trampoline beds are attached to the springs by galvanized steel V-rings, the steel rings are sewn to the trampoline, usually with a few layers of stitching to increase strength.

There does not appear to be any major differences between a budget trampoline mat and a high quality trampoline mat.