Trampolines are not only huge amounts of fun, but are also a great form of exercise, helping the whole family keep fit without even realising it.

To get the most out of your trampoline experience however, it is vital that you choose the best trampoline for your circumstances.  For that reason we have put together this buying guide to help you make the right choice.

What Do You Want To Do With Your Trampoline?

OK, so bounce up and down is the obvious answer, but are you looking to buy a trampoline for fitness and exercise purposes or as a fun addition to your garden for the children to play on?

The difference between these two can be key to which trampoline you choose to purchase.

Trampolines for Exercise

There are two choices when looking for a trampoline for exercise.  Either a small, portable trampoline, often called a ‘trampette’ of ‘rebounder’, or a larger, more traditional trampoline.

Trampettes/Rebounders

The smaller trampettes are ideal for those who are limited on space.  They are easy to store even when completely made up, but equally are easily and quickly be taken apart and stowed away.

Trampettes are ideally suited to indoor use, but are very portable so can be taken outside when the weather is good.

Typically they are around 36” across and are designed for jogging, running and low jumping exercises where the user stays on their feet.  They are not designed to allow the full range of exercises that can be completed on a full size trampoline.

Full Size Trampolines

Larger, more traditional trampolines offer a much wider range of exercises, but are less flexible when it comes to storage.

The full size trampolines are suitable only for outdoor use, so require a garden in which they can be built and positioned.

As it can take up to 1 hour to build a larger trampoline, you are unlikely to want to build it up and take it down every time you want to use it. In addition, large trampolines are also not very portable, and it is recommended that you anchor the trampoline into position when built. 

Therefore you should ensure that you are able to maintain the trampoline in its final position for extended periods of time.

The benefit of using a larger trampoline for exercise is that the larger trampoline ‘bed’ (i.e. the part that you jump up and down upon) is a much greater area.  This allows for much more exciting acrobatic exercises to be attempted with the confidence and safety*.

*You should only attempt more sophisticated exercises on a trampoline having received proper and correct instruction.

Trampolines for Recreation

Trampolines are great fun for the whole family, but which you choose still requires consideration.

If you are seeking a trampoline for recreational use, you should choose an outdoor trampoline; the trampette or rebounder styles of trampoline are designed to be used for exercise only. 

The most important consideration when buying an outdoor trampoline is size; your chosen trampoline should be suitable both for the room available for it, and the size of the people that will be using it.

When choosing which size trampoline you require, consider the amount of space you have to place it.  We recommend a minimum of 2.5 metres of clear space* on all sides of your trampoline.  For example, if your garden is just 7.5 metres square, then an 8ft trampoline would be ideal, whereas a 10ft or 12ft would be too large.

The size of the person using the trampoline is also an important consideration.  Each trampoline is designed and tested up to a maximum weight which should not be exceeded.  For example our 4.5ft trampoline has a maximum single user weight of 60kg (Just over 9st) making it most suitable for children or small adults.

Also consider how the trampoline will be used, large, acrobatic movements will prove difficult on 4.5ft trampoline, whereas a 10ft trampoline would provide much more room for manoeuvre.

*We highly recommend that you fully read our Trampoline Safety Guide when purchasing and before using your trampoline.

What is your Budget?

This may be somewhat of an impolite question, but we only ask as it is an important consideration. 

Trampolines are put under a great deal of stress during normal use, meaning that the components that make up a trampoline need to be of the highest quality and very strong to give you years of safe use.

Since the explosion in the popularity of trampolines over the last 5 years, the market has become flooded with poor quality, cheap trampolines that are produced pre-dominantly with cost saving in mind.

These cheaper trampolines at best will have short life span before they start to degrade and need replacing; at worst, poor quality components mean some could even prove dangerous.

It really is worth seeking the highest quality trampoline your budget can stretch to.  So if your budget was such that you afford either an 8ft trampoline from a quality brand, or a 10ft trampoline from a cheaper manufacturer, we would always recommend that you choose the 8ft from the quality manufacturer.

Not only will you be assured that quality and safety standards will be adhered to, but your trampoline will typically last longer, with fewer instances of component wear and breakage. 

The result being that your investment has lasted a long longer, and ultimately saved you money.

What to Look For in a Trampoline

Every trampoline is made up of these basic parts:

Frame

The frame provides the structure of a trampoline, over which the ‘bed’ is stretched to create the trampoline, shaped either in a circle, oval, square or rectangle.

The frame should always be made of strong steel to cope with the high levels of stress that is experienced by the trampoline frame when in use.

All Rebo Trampoline frames are made of strong steel tubing, with some incorporating our unique ‘weld free’ construction.

Legs

The legs of a trampoline lift it off the ground, providing the space underneath to allow for the downward flex of the trampoline bed.

The legs are constructed to ensure each one gives a wide footprint to maximise the stability of the trampoline.  Typically, smaller trampolines with have 3 legs, with the larger models having 4 to maintain excellent stability.

Like the frame, the legs experience a high level of stress and carry a large amount of weight; therefore they too should be made of strong steel.

Bed

The trampoline bed is the large piece of material that is stretched across the frame that the user jumps on.

The bed should be made of a man-made material, typically polypropylene, that has great strength, elasticity and resistance to wear and weather.

The trampoline bed is attached to the frame with steel springs, which provide some of the bounce in a trampoline, although the bed itself has a level of elasticity that contributes to the overall bounce.

Springs

The springs attach the trampoline bed to the frame and help to give the trampoline its bounce.

Trampoline springs need to have a very high tensile strength due to the extreme levels of stress they experience as they are stretched during normal use; therefore they are typically made from strong steel.

All springs on a Rebo trampoline are zinc coated and heat tempered to increase their strength and resistance to weather.

Spring Pad

The spring pad, sometimes known as a Padded Surround, stretches over the edge of the frame and extends around 7-8” into the centre of the trampoline, covering the springs and metal hooks that connect the bed and springs.

The covers should be made of weather resistant fabric and provide a thick layer of padding, protecting the user from impacts with the hard metal surfaces and from trapping fingers in the springs as they expand.

Rebo trampolines all come with a spring pad made up of 21mm impact resistant foam covered in UV resistant heavy duty 600D polyester.

Beyond this, there are a number of features and accessories that can be included with a trampoline to enhance the safety, protection and functionality of your trampoline:

Safety Enclosure

A trampoline safety enclosure is designed to prevent users falling from the edge of the trampoline.

They are made up of tall metal poles, covered in padded foam sleeves, which extend upwards from the frame.  An enclosure net is then suspended around the outside edge of the trampoline and secures onto the trampoline by hooking onto the springs.  There is a zipped entry, which allows the user access to the trampoline, zipping it closed behind them for ultimate safety.

The poles should be made of the same strong tubular steel as the frame, with plastic caps on the top to prevent rain water filling the tubes.  The netting is made of Polyethylene, so is water resistant and should not rot.

Safety Skirt

Trampoline safety skirts are designed to prevent injury by stopping people and pets from moving underneath the trampoline when in use.

In addition, safety skirts often include useful storage pockets that allow the safe place to store shoes, watches, jewellery, mobile phone etc., whilst helping keep the area around the trampoline clear of obstructions.

Safety skirts are made using highly durable and UV resistant PE130g/m2 material.

Step Ladder

These small ladders clip on to the frame of the trampoline to provide an easy and safe way for users to get on a trampoline.

Step ladders are made from powder-coated, rust proof steel with either steel of plastic steps.  Some are adjustable to suit the required distance between the top of the trampoline and the ground.

Trampoline Anchor Kits

These kits secure your trampoline to the ground, helping to prevent it from being blown away in high winds, as well as helping avoid it moving around or possibly toppling over during use.

100mm steel anchor pegs screw into the ground with polypropylene adjustable straps securely fastening the trampoline to the pegs at four points around the trampoline.

Trampoline Weather cover

These protect your trampoline from the elements, keeping it clean and dry and helping to extend its longevity.

Weather covers cover the whole surface area of the trampoline, tucking under the edge of the frame with elastic straps that hook onto the underneath of the trampoline to secure it into place.

Rebo trampoline weather covers are made from durable tear resistant PVC material which is UV resistant.