UK Buyers Guide

What to look for when buying products and services. A UK consumer guide .

Indoor Trampoline Buyers Guide

 

UK weather certainly limits our outdoor fun somewhat, especially the fairweather athletes. Outdoor trampolines and indoor trampolines vary in so much as simple weather protection. Fundamentally an outdoor trampline is an indoor trampoline with a coat on !. Indoor trampolines don't have the protective coating that outdoor trampolines have.

Where are you going to put your new indoor trampoline? The size of the room clearly dictates the size of your trampoline. Height is probably the most important aspect; don't look from the floor to the ceiling, look from where the platform of the trampoline will be. It sounds obvious now but some people look at an eight-foot room and think it will be great for the kids. Try keeping adults off your new trampoline! Think about a 6 foot tall adult on a 3 foot high trampoline, here's 9 feet before we've jumped on and off the trampoline. A 12 foot clearance may still not be enough.

Generally trampolines come in sizes from 8 feet to 16 feet, in 2 feet increments, 8', 10', 12', 14', 16'. Not forgetting the mini trampolines of course.

Budget priced trampolines make buying easy for many people. A 12' Trampoline with 12 gauge heavy strong steel frame has 72 high strength springs with durable safe pads over the springs. So, we can go and jump for a hundred and fifty quid but what about the safety issues?

Before you go for the cheap and cheerful trampoline, consider who will be bouncing on the trampoline? As much as you think the trampoline is for the kids, adults will use them. The 10 ft trampoline would be okay for one child or a couple of small kids and maybe an adult occasionally. If adults are going to use it regularly, go for the 12 ft, heavier adults and children ought to consider the 14ft on the basis that the bigger trampolines accept more jumping weight.

Trampolines are for fun and they develop excitement, which in turn leads to over-excitement if we are not cautious. Nobody wants to be a spoilsport but laying down some ground rules is essential.

Just because your trampoline can take a sixteen stone person, imagine if that large a person was a little tipsy, bounced off the trampoline and landed on a small child.

Alcohol and drugs is a big NO, don't entertain it because in a world of 'No Win, No Fee' lawsuits someone's lawyer could be pursuing you.

Another threat is two people banging in to each other. One person on a trampoline is the safest and if that one person is a child never leave it unattended.

If you are have a party, nominate 'spotters', a bit like lifeguards at a swimming pool and ensure the spotters are always around the trampoline. Generally parents will watch their own children but err on the side of caution and ask a responsibility adult to keep watch.

There is a terrific trampoline safety accessory, a safety net for trampolines sometime called Fun Rings. They prevent accidents and ensure the user cannot jump off the trampoline. One should always step off.

The safest part on a trampoline is the centre, stay in the middle and keep bouncing low and under control. Consistently landing in the centre of the trampoline. Think about what happens when we step onto the trampoline, it goes in like a cone shape, creating a valley. If someone lighter than the jumper is on or near that dip, they may fall inwards and collide with the other person.

Avoid bouncing for long periods of time and do not bounce when you are tired Do not attempt back flips (back somersaults), multiple somersaults or twisting somersaults on your trampoline, join a trampoline club if you are that ambitous!

Look around the outside area of the indoor trampoline, what can be damaged by a person falling and what can damage a falling person. Think safety and clear the area.

Indoor Trampolines | Outdoor Trampolines | Adult Trampolines | Kids Trampolines