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Once upon a time owning a trampoline at home was a real rarity. Nowadays you only have to walk down your street on a sunny afternoon to hear the squeals of delight as children (and adults) bounce the day away.
Fortunately the cost of owning a trampoline has also come down, allowing more and more people the opportunity to join in the fun.
There is a lot of choice when it comes to buying one and size, make and cost can become confusing. Hopefully out guide to the best trampolines available will help you come to a decision on which one will better suit your family!
Quick Trampoline Comparison
| NAME | SIZES | INCLUDES | OUR RATING | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zero Gravity (OUR TOP CHOICE) | 6ft, 8ft, 10ft, 12ft, 14ft |  | CHECK PRICE | |
| Ultrasport Garden | 6ft, 8ft, 10ft |  | CHECK PRICE | |
| Upper Bounce | 7.5ft, 10ft, 12ft, 14ft, 16ft | | CHECK PRICE | |
| Kanga (EXCELLENT VALUE) | 6ft, 8ft, 10ft, 12ft | Enclosure, Ladder, Anchor, Shoe Bag, Winter Cover | | CHECK PRICE |
Buying Guide
It may seem a fairly straightforward process to buy a trampoline for home use, but there are a few things you should consider first;
Size
The size trampoline that you go for will depend on your available outdoor space, budget and how many people will be using it at one time. Trampolines for garden use tend to come in the following sizes;
16ft, 14ft, 12ft, 10ft, 8ft, 6ft
What Size Trampoline Should Do You Need?
If you only have a small garden then this will pretty much determine your size. In our opinion, having any trampoline is better than having none at all, so go for the biggest you can comfortably fit in.
6ft-10ft Trampoline – Perfect for solo bouncers and younger children
The smaller size trampolines (6-10ft) should only really be used by one person at a time, not only because of the risk of landing on each other, but also because of the weight allowance – too much weight and you’ll break your trampoline! This size trampoline is also too small to really fit more than one person on.
NOTE: All manufacturers recommend that there should only ever be one person on a trampoline at a time for safety reasons. Most trampoline accidents happen when there are more than one person jumping. Whether you allow more than one person on at a time is of course entirely up to you and I must confess that we regularly do – but it isn’t without risk!
12ft, 14ft and Above
12ft or 14ft are the ideal sizes to cater for a growing family. If you buy a quality well made trampoline, and look after it well, it should last for years. Before you buy it, lay out the footprint in your garden to make sure you really have enough room!
Padding
The padding used to cover the springs on the trampoline (around the diameter) is important for both quality and safety reasons.
Check how thick the padding is, the more padding there is to protect the jumper from the springs and metal frame, the safer it will be. Try to aim for padding that is at least 2cm in thickness.
The material that the padding is made out of is also worth checking. Our first ever trampoline had outer material made from PE. After some time out in the elements it did start to disintegrate under the UV rays, causing us to need to replace it. Much more preferable is material made from PVC which is much longer lasting.
Trampoline Reviews
1. Zero Gravity Ultima 4 High Spec
Zero Gravity are our favourite trampoline brand. Not only do they offer trampolines in a wide range of sizes (6ft, 8ft, 10ft, 12ft and 14ft), they also pack in some cool features to their already high quality and durable trampolines.
The safety netting enclosure not only provides the all important protection for bouncers, but also has a nifty feature that enables you to bring down the netting in minutes via the quick release feature. All of this can be done without the use of tools making it super convenient to do as and when is needed. Bringing down the netting is particularly useful in high winds or when you want to put a cover on your trampoline.
All of the padding surrounding the trampolines in the Zero Gravity range are 2cm thick, and the outer material is made from PVC. This helps to protect both the jumper from the frame and springs as well as reduce the risk of the material ripping apart.
Zero Gravity have thought of everything when it comes to quality. They have a patented weldless frame system that has shown after testing to prolong the life of the trampoline. The longer your trampoline lasts the better right?
OUR TOP CHOICE – Highly durable and long lasting trampoline range from a fantastic company.
2. Ultrasport Garden Trampoline Uni-Jump
This popular trampoline comes in a choice of sizes, 6ft, 8ft and 10ft. It comes with everything you need to assemble it, as well as a safety net enclosure, padding for the poles and padding to cover the springs.
The jumping mat itself is made from super strong material (polypropylene) that is not only incredibly durable, but also protected against UV rays.
Easy to assemble, quality material, excellent customer service.
FAQ
Where Should I Place My Trampoline?
You should always place it on a level, and if possible, soft ground. Grass is ideal. If you don’t have this option and can only place it on stone or a hard ground surface, try and place some playground style padding underneath it to protect the metal legs and springs from the continuous force of the bounce. If there is too much strain on the springs and legs over time it will become damaged and shorten the life of your trampoline.
Also remember to place your trampoline at least 3ft away from any walls, trees, fences or other obstructions that will hurt if bumped into. Although you (should) have a net enclosure to protect you, it won’t stop you from banging into something too close to the trampoline.
Do I Really Need An Enclosure?
Yes. You’ve seen ‘You’ve Been Framed’ haven’t you?! Many trampoline packages come with the enclosure net anyhow.
How Should I Care For My Trampoline?
Most trampolines should be able to be left out all year round – in fact this is an important factor when choosing a trampoline as you don’t want to have to deal with dismantling it each year. Plus, it’s quite nice to be able to have the odd bounce during those autumn and winter months.
If it has snowed it is worth removing it as soon as possible to prevent it weighing the trampoline down for too long.
You can purchase trampoline covers if you are concerned about the weather damaging it.
Always zip up your enclosure at night or you might find the local cats using it as their hangout!
You can clean your trampoline by using a broom, or dustpan and brush, to sweep away any leaves or debris. You can also use soap and water to clean any mud or dirt off. Hosing down the trampoline with the kids on is another fun way to clean it down!
How Can I Fix My Trampoline?
Always buy a trampoline with a decent length warranty, most should come with 2 years. If your trampoline breaks outside of this time you should be able to buy parts to replace what has broken. In fact, it is worth doing regular maintenance checks to ensure there is no damage.
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