Buyers Guide for Trampolines More and more families are becoming aware of the long term health benefits
of having an outdoor garden trampoline. Children from as young as six years
old can have a great deal of fun, without realising that trampolining is a
great
cardio-vascular activity that improves fitness, muscle growth, coordination,
breathing, posture, balance, lung capacity, self confidence and vision.
There are a wide range of trampolines on the market, some very good, some
not, and it makes sense to ask yourself a few questions before purchasing your
trampoline. We offer a wide range of quality trampolines from some of the best
manufacturers, and are happy to answer any questions you have which are not
covered in our
guides
here. Always remember that if you ring us your call will be dealt with
by the Trampolines4Fun office and not a call centre.
How much do I need to spend?
The range of outdoor garden trampolines can be broadly divided into three
price ranges. Top of the range are the heavy duty rectangular trampolines from
Supertramp. These are strong, individually strung trampolines with the bed
being made of either black UV stabilised polypropylene mesh fitted with galvanised
V rings or black coated nylon 2-string with galvanised steel anchor bars. These
trampolines are for seriously sporty and competitive trampolinists
The mid-range trampolines are the most popular, since they combine good performance
with excellent value for money. Choose from the Bazoongi, TrampolinesGB
Premier, JumpforFun or the smaller Supertramp trampolines. If
you have
a budding
trampolinist in the family but have a budget to work to, then consider a rectangular trampoline from Trampolines
GB. Remember we are at the end of a telephone for
advice.
Finally we offer a budget range of trampolines to meet demand, but only sell
those trampolines from reputable manufacturers where we can be sure of the
quality and after sales service. We have heard horror stories from customers who bought cheap trampolines, only to find that the quality left a lot to be desired and have now found themselves back in the market for a new trampoline after a short space of time. Our budget range includes trampolines from TrampolinesGB, JumpforFun, Bazoongi and the Springtime range from
Supertramp.
A word about SAFETY
Safety is of paramount importance to you and to us. ALWAYS read and follow the instructions in the Owners Manual supplied with each trampoline, taking particular care to observe the weight limitations. ALWAYS ensure adequate supervision, especially with younger children. Extra peace of mind can be obtained by the addition of a safety enclosure.
All Trampolines meet and exceed ASTM and GS TUV safety standards. Do not be tricked with the EN-71 standard which some companies claim. This relates to toys, and trampolines are NOTtoys and therefore not covered by this standard.
It has been said that trampolining can be dangerous but it is no more so than any other activity involving unrestrained movement. All round trampolines are designed to pull the jumper back to the centre of the bed and have a slightly slower bounce. Rectangular trampolines are individually sprung, have a stronger bounce and are deisgned for one person use only. Before you buy think carefully about who will use the trampoline and for what purpose.
Sinking the trampoline into the ground is an option which will increase safety as well as making the trampoline less visible. You will need at least a three foot deep hole and if the water table is high you will need to provide drainage. The legs must NOT be removed as they provide strength and rigidity to the frame. If you wish to sink the trampoline into the ground please let us know at the time of ordering and we will provide you with more detailed instructions and advice.
Please, however, bear in mind that, once in the ground, the trampoline is accessible to all people and creatures, great and small, as well as inanimate objects such as wheeled toys and vehicles!
It's very important to us that you buy the right trampoline. The age and weight guides we give are maximums; remember that children are growing rapidly. Will the trampoline be the right size for them in 3 or 4 years time? Is it really just the children that are going to use it? Few teenagers and adults can resist the urge to 'have a quick bounce!'
Round or Rectangular?
If you want performance and serious airtime always choose rectangular. Proper trampolines in sports halls have always been rectangular because all the springs work at a different rate to give a quicker response and a more powerful lift. For this reason we strongly recommend only one user at a time on a rectangular trampoline. On a round trampoline all the springs work at the same rate. Thus the larger the trampoline the softer, slower and less high is the bounce. Very safe though and ideal for multiple use.
1. Rectangular Trampolines:
Primarily designed for use by children, these rectangular trampolines are easy to move and take up relatively little space. These factors account for their popularity. Rectangular trampolines such as the Prince 18 and the Kiddie are ideally suited for children in the 7 to 11 age range and tend to give them a better bounce than larger trampolines. However, bear in mind that they are on average half the size of a standard full sized trampoline designed for adult trampolining (with the exception of the King 110).
They have much smaller springs and lighter frames and are not really suitable for adult use. Please remember that rectangular trampolines are designed for use by only one person at a time.
2. Round trampolines:
For general family fun in the garden, our round trampolines are probably the best value for your money. They are also safer in use with a slower, less powerful bounce which is more easily controlled than that of the rectangular trampolines. They are designed to direct the bouncers back towards the centre and away from the edges. As such it is possible for more than one person to bounce at the same time, as long as adequate supervision is provided or a safety enclosure fitted. However, if you or your children are used to bouncing on a more traditional rectangular trampoline, you could be disappointed by what is, in comparison, a softer, slower bounce !
SOME FACTORS TO CONSIDER:
Who is going to use it?
Just the children, and their friends? Don't forget older brothers & sisters or older members of your extended family. Will it be used by adults?
What are the users' expectations?
Is it to be just a bouncy play area for several children at once or is it for more sporting use by one at a time, i.e a young gymnast
Weight & Age limitation
Although we give you simple weight & age limits for each model you must also consider experience, strength & skill too. The greater the height attained by the bouncer, the bigger the loading on the trampoline springs. So whilst someone may be technically under the maximum recommended weight for a particular trampoline, if they are very competent & fit, they could manage to overload the springs. If in doubt always buy bigger, you will not regret it. For the very young, we offer the rectangular Air Bound Kiddie, the round
Bazoongi Popular 8ft or the 48in diameter Mini-Trampoline, all from TrampolinesGB or the Frog from Supertramp.
Spare Parts
Always make sure that you are able to buy spare parts for your trampoline. Our experience shows that you may well need to buy the odd spring or pad after a few years (for a good quality trampoline). The manufacturers from whom we buy our trampolines are all very well established companies and offer excellent after sales and spare parts service.
Guarantees and Breakages
Guarantees vary according from each manufacturer and may be different for different parts of the trampoline. Each product description gives full details of the guarantees. |
