Bounce, bounce, bounce… that is the song of the trampoline. Sure, jumping on the trampoline is not rocket science, but purchasing the right one for your needs can be a little tricky. If only you knew what makes a good trampoline?
There are so many different shapes, sizes, and brands, it is difficult to know which one to choose unless of course, you know exactly what you are looking for. Our aim is to highlight a few things that you might want to consider when purchasing a trampoline.
The Bounce
As you would expect, the bounce is one of the most important features of a trampoline. A trampoline’s bounce comes from either springs or fiberglass rods, which give Springfree trampolines their bounce.
Spring-fitted trampolines: these kinds of trampolines are coupled with stretched canvas and fixed in place with a metal coil spring and a steel frame. These springs effectively offer tensions which could be high tension that supports limited bounce due to its minimum rate of absorbing shock or low-tension springs that gives room for a higher bounce.
To put in another way, the springs of your trampoline stretch further when you jump, it allows you a smooth bounce, while shorter trampoline springs, which are not capable of stretching further, results in a stiffer bounce.
Short trampoline springs are cheaper to make compared to their long counterpart and as a result, they deform through constant stretching, and eventually, lose their function.
Shape
Trampolines come in different shapes which include; oval, octagon, round, square, and rectangles.
- Oval trampolines: possesses a larger surface area, and thus, a larger and longer jump. They also redirect the jumper to the middle of the trampoline.
- Round trampolines: the springs are placed around the frame and allow a consistent bounce. A round trampoline bounces the jumper towards the center of the trampoline, irrespective of where the take-off was. The frame of the trampoline absorbs all forces applied during the course of each jump.
- Square trampolines: allows the jumper to jump from corner to corner, provides more bounce than either the round or the oval shaped trampolines.
- Rectangle trampolines: the best by far in terms of bounce and highly recommended for athletic and acrobatic practice.
Safety
To ensure your children are safe while jumping on the trampoline, here are some safety tips :
- Safety nets to enclose your trampoline. The enclosure will stop children from accidentally bouncing off the sides of the trampoline.
- Safety pads. These will cover the steel frame, springs, and hooks. This helps to protect children who land on top of the springs.
- Install the trampoline on level ground. Once you assemble the trampoline you should check with a spirit level that it is perfectly level. Trampolines should not be installed on the side of a slope.
The Frame
A good trampoline frame should be thick and strong, with no sharp or dangerous edges. As a general rule, the more expensive models tend to have thicker frames.
It is also a good idea to protect your trampoline from the elements with a trampoline cover. It is important to ensure that the trampoline cover is an exact fit with the trampoline, has a drainage hole to ensure water exit during rainfall, a tight edging to ensure the trampoline cover stays put for a longer period of time and is UV resistant.
You should also take into consideration what you want to use your trampoline for, whether its athletics, physical exercise or just fun for the kids.
Here is our Best Kids Trampolines – Reviews and Buyer’s Guide
More Info?
We have a lot more information on our outdoor trampolines.
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