Buying Tips for Trampolines

As with any reasonably large purchase you need to do your homework before buying.  A trampoline certainly comes under this category.  You can get small ones but in the main they are fairly large constructions.  Let us consider a few tips before you part with your hard earned money so that the children – and adults – can have years of fun.

Firstly think about will this be a nine day wonder and then will it be discarded.  Apart from the fact it takes up a good deal of space it can also cost a good deal of money so careful thought needs to be given as to whether it will be used on a regular basis in order to justify the outlay. 

Hopefully we know our children well enough to reach a conclusion on this and it is a fair bet that even after just a week or so they will be difficult to remove from it. 

Having decided to go ahead with the purchase you now need to decide upon its shape.   A lot may depend on the size and shape of the garden or back yard but circular ones seem to be very popular.  These are not as powerful as the rectangular ones used by gymnasts and those some of us remember from those dark days of PE lessons at school. 

The circular trampolines will direct the jumper to the centre of the apparatus thus giving more safety consideration.  The rectangular ones could be slightly dangerous for youngsters and would need constant parental supervision.

Size is important where trampolines are concerned.  As we have already mentioned the size of the back yard or garden is important.  In the United Kingdom round trampolines have a size measured in feet and this refers to the diameter.  You can buy a circular trampoline anywhere from 6 feet up to 16 feet. 

Ensure you measure for an additional 18-24 inches around the perimeter of the trampoline to allow for the erection of safety nets and an allowance for the flex of the net when the jumpers move against it.  For obvious reasons the new trampoline should stand on level ground and not be erected under hanging branches or bushes. 

One excellent idea is to chalk or mark out the space where the trampoline will stand in order to get some idea of the size and space it will occupy. 

An important factor when you are paying a lot of money is how long it is expected to last.   If you delve into the world of trampolines you will find some are available with 5 year warranties, perhaps more. 

To this end make sure you buy one that will be big enough for when your child is a few years older than now.  This will give them time to ‘grow into it’ (just like clothing!) and will avoid the necessity to purchase another one in a couple of year’s time.

Finally where do you buy your trampoline from?  In today’s market the Internet is the obvious choice for many of us and with delivery sometimes offered free of charge life is made easy for us. The trampoline packages are so heavy in some cases that no family car would be able to either support the weight or prove spacious enough to carry everything.   

The internet will in all probability be cheaper than the high street so the question is easily answered for you.