How to Choose the Perfect Children’s Trampoline in 2023
It’s time… to choose the perfect kids’ trampoline for your family! This fun and quick guide helps you to find the one among tens if not thousands of bouncy platforms. Keep your kids entertained and teach them a healthy lifestyle by getting a trampoline. With our tips, you’ll feel more comfortable with the purchase knowing that you’ve made the right decision.
Why Are Trampolines for Kids So Popular?
Nowadays, there are so many activities that kids can engage in. Dance classes, ball games, martial arts… you name it. Yet, trampolines have a certain upside that makes them extremely desirable and that is access. Going to jump on a trampoline is a low-effort activity. You do not need to pack anything or go anywhere by car. Kids are simply able to go and bounce whenever and how much they want. In other words, trampoline provides kids a relatively accessible tool compared to various class-oriented activities.
Another reason to get a child trampoline is that nowadays, trampolines are much more than just bouncy platforms. Kids are able to spend time for various non-jumping activities on a trampoline with a large area. Furthermore, you can also get multiple accessories suitable for the given material. The best manufacturers offer at least a few high quality trampoline accessories to match with it.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Trampolines for Kids
Deciding whether you are looking for an indoor or outdoor trampoline plays a crucial role in choosing the right trampoline for your kid. In our point of view, indoor trampoline should be an option only if you do not have the opportunity to choose an outdoor trampoline. Indoor models are mainly designed for fitness purposes and thus they are not ideal for children. However, if you live in an apartment and do not have a yard, you may look into indoor options.
In most cases, parents tend to opt for outdoor models. Not only do they provide enough space for jumping, but they also are great for outdoor play. Kids get fresh air and they can enjoy a large bouncy surface compared to small indoor models. So, in short, outdoor kids trampolines are the way to go.
Size and Shape Options
Round, 8ft, 10ft, 17ft, rectangular, oval… the shape and size combinations tend to be confusing for first-time trampoline buyers. Next, we’ll look into the size and shape options available in kids trampolines.
Trampoline Sizes
What size is enough for a kid? For a toddler or a small child, a kids trampoline of size 6ft-10ft is enough. The problem with small garden trampolines is, however, the fact that they quickly become too small as the kid grows and learns more tricks, desiring to jump higher as well.
Consider getting at least a medium sized trampoline (10-12ft), if your yard space allows it. For more advanced trampoline jumping, family fun and also for non-jumping activities, opt for a large model (14ft or above).
As a rule of thumb, you could say that if you are considering two size options, the bigger one is the one to go for. Rarely people regret getting a big trampoline, whereas it is quite common to have regrets over purchasing a trampoline for kids that becomes too small for their needs in 2-3 years time.
Trampoline Shapes
Trampolines are round, that’s it. Or is it so?
Well, for most cases, yes. Round trampolines are the most popular shape. You’ll find that most options you see are round, and chances are you’ll end up with a round one.
However, there are alternatives to round models. The most popular alternative is the rectangular trampoline. They differ a bit in how the experience will be in terms of the bounce. Round models give the highest bounce in the center, whereas rectangular ones give the same bounce no matter where you jump on it. But why does it matter and which one is better?
Well, it matters because, depending on the child’s age, goals and the longevity of the trampoline, you may want to end up with either a round or rectangular kids trampoline.
Round models are a good choice, if:
- The trampoline is primarily for kids only
- You are buying a trampoline for a beginner
- You are looking for a value for money option
However, rectangular models have several advantages. Choose one, if:
- You want a trampoline for family fun
- You want a trampoline that is suitable for all skill levels from beginner to advanced
- You want a big jumping area
- You want better, more even bounce
TL;DR: both are great, the latter costs more but is also an investment for years, if not decades to come.
Safety Measures for Children’s Trampolines
Trampoline safety is the biggest thing that concerns parents when it comes to getting a child’s trampoline. What if they fall off of it? What if they hit their feet to the springs? What if… the what ifs are almost endless.
While trampoline safety is so much more than just features, the features do matter. The best manufacturers focus on providing safe trampolines without compromising on bounce performance. Here’s a list of things that you should think about:
- Is there a safety enclosure available for the trampoline? It is a must to get a trampoline with enclosure for kids
- How is the enclosure assembled – inside or outside springs?
- Is the knitting of the enclosure net tight enough so that fingers do not get through it?
- Are the enclosure poles padded? How about the springs? How are the paddings attached?
- Are there ladders available?
- What other safety features there are? Is it worth spending on them?
Find answers to these questions before pushing that shop now button to stay on the safe side.
Popular Brands and Models for 2023
What are the hottest trampoline brands and models? If this is your first time researching trampolines for kids, chances are you’ve never considered that there could be trending models and brands for trampolines as well.
When it comes to kids trampolines, it’s quite easy to say what the top 5 brands are:
- ACON Trampolines – the best bounce
- Springfree Trampolines – springless option
- Skywalker Trampolines – value models
- AlleyOOP (by JumpSport) – versatile
- Jumpflex – unique design
In addition, there are brands that do trampolines for mainly toddlers and small kids. These, however, are generally a bad idea, since they will last only a few years, after which you’ll have to upgrade for a proper trampoline.
Pricing and Where to Buy
And, finally, we need to discuss the pricing of these thrilling bouncy platforms. Truth to be told, the pricing of these is all over the place. You can get trampolines for kids even for just 100-300 dollars while the best ones may cost up to 3000-4000 dollars and anything in between. But why is there such a huge price range and what does it tell about the trampoline and its manufacturer,
Several things have an impact on the price, such as:
- Investments put into research and development
- Safety testing and certification
- Material costs (steel, powdered coating, UV-treatments, padding materials etc.)
- Enclosure
- Other accessories
- Shipping costs
- Brand reputation and marketing related costs
You can find good value for money trampolines in almost each price bracket. However, we highly recommend to ignore the cheapest options and opt for at least the second price bracket. The cheapest models are essentially flimsy toys that do not stand the test of time. Here are some tips on where to buy trampolines from best to worst:
- Official online store of the given brand you are interested in. In other words, if you end up choosing to buy an ACON, get it directly from their website. Or, if you opt for a more inexpensive alternative such as Skywalker, buy it directly from them.
- Online shopping platforms such as Amazon and Walmart. They offer a bit less information compared to the official online stores of the trampoline manufacturers, but they have more options to compare.
- Brick and mortar stores. Usually these are the worst options as they lack variety in sizes and shapes. Moreover, there are very few offline stores available, so it may be difficult if not impossible to do so. However, if you prefer to have that shopping experience with a sales associate, it might be a good option for you.
And that’s a wrap! To get the best price on childrens trampoline, remember to compare and contrast various options and utilize various deals and sale periods, such as Black Friday and Christmas. Good luck with trampoline shopping!
