Buyers Guide for Trampolines

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Buyers Guide for Trampolines
Firstly, a word about SAFETY.

Safety is of paramount importance to you and to us. ALWAYS read and follow the instructions in the Owners Manual supplied with each trampoline, taking particular care to observe the weight limitations. ALWAYS ensure adequate supervision, especially with younger children. Extra peace of mind can be obtained by the addition of a safety enclosure.
It has been said that trampolining can be dangerous but it is no more so than any other activity involving unrestrained movement. All round trampolines are designed to pull the jumper back to the centre of the bed and have a slightly slower bounce. Rectangular trampolines are individually sprung, have a stronger bounce and are deisgned for one person use only. Before you buy think carefully about who will use the trampoline and for what purpose.
Sinking the trampoline into the ground is an option which will increase safety as well as making the trampoline less visible. You will need at least a three foot deep hole and if the water table is high you will need to provide drainage. The legs must NOT be removed as they provide strength and rigidity to the frame. If you wish to sink the trampoline into the ground please let us know at the time of ordering and we will provide you with more detailed instructions and advice.
Please, however, bear in mind that, once in the ground, the trampoline is accessible to all people and creatures, great and small, as well as inanimate objects such as wheeled toys and vehicles!

Weight & Age limitation
Although we give you simple weight & age limits for each model you must also consider experience, strength & skill too. The greater the height attained by the bouncer, the bigger the loading on the trampoline springs. So whilst someone may be technically under the maximum recommended weight for a particular trampoline, if they are very competent & fit, they could manage to overload the springs. If in doubt always buy bigger, you will not regret it.

WHAT THE MANUFACTURERS SAY

TRAMPOLINES GB

Trampolining is not only enormous fun for all the family, it is a healthy activity that improves fitness, muscle growth, coordination, breathing, posture, balance, lung capacity, self confidence and vision. Trampolining is widely used and recommended by Special Needs and Parents Limited for children with special needs to assist with their physiological, therapeutic, communicative and perceptual aspects. Safety is the number one priority and all GB Trampolines are designed to be as safe as possible but any activity involving motion or height can create the possibility of accidental injury. Please ALWAYS observe and follow the instructions and lesson plan in the owners manual, the recommended weight limits and provide adequate supervision. To prevent falls and increase fun, the addition of a Safety Enclosure or the exclusive inflatable Funclosure will give you that extra peace of mind and build user confidence.

Which trampoline?
The round trampolines are built for family fun and fitness, with a controlled soft slow bounce with all the springs working at the same rate. It is the nature of round trampolines to guide the user back to the centre of the bed. Whilst GB trampolines recommend one user at a time, the large bed provides a safe area for 2 or 3 people to jump together. With the addition of a Safety Enclosure or the exclusive Funclosure, safety and fun are maximised. A rectangular trampoline features a more lively bounce with the springs working at different rates and is ideal for the budding trampolinist or gymnast and, like the smaller of the round trampolines, is also perfect for the smaller garden. We strongly recommend one user at a time on a rectangular model unless you add the Safety Enclosure. For the very young, we offer the new rectangular Air Bound Kiddie or the 48in diameter Mini-Trampoline.

JUMP FOR FUN

Round Trampolines:
In a round trampoline every spring points right into the center and makes the centre soft. When you move out from the centre, the bounce gets harder behind you. If you lose your balance or concentration you may be thrown forward off balance. Fifty percent of trampoline injuries occur when there is more than one person jumping, and on a round trampoline the risk of collision increases.

However, because the stress on the frame is equally distributed, a lighter, more cost-effective frame can be used and so round designs are often attractively priced.

Octagonal Trampolines:
The octagon trampolines are much safer than the circular design. The springs on an octagon offset the centre because of the eight straight rails, so they end up criss-crossing each other to some extent. This results in less pressure behind you and you are less likely to be thrown forward off balance and into one another. There also is more vertical travel in the mat because of eight straight sides. The reason for this is because the springs in the centre of the rails stretch more than the springs toward the end of the rails. This produces a softer, better and more controlled bounce.

Rectangular Trampoline: A Rectangular trampoline because of the shape and spring configuration causes the springs to work at a different rate, this allows for a more powerful bounce, these trampolines are better for experienced children who are members of a trampoline club, these clubs are where you will find rectangular trampolines.

JUMPKING

Positioning Your Trampoline

You must site your trampoline on relatively even ground. It does not have to be like a bowling green, but all the legs must be in contact with the ground. A leg hanging in mid air will cause the frame to twist as the bouncer lands and causes springs to over stretch. The frame and jumping bed of a correctly positioned trampoline will lie evenly with no 'twist' to it. On sloping ground it is possible to level your trampoline by digging a small trench into which the uphill leg base can be slotted. Do not attempt this on a slope greater than a 1 in 7 gradient.

It is not advisable to position your trampoline on a smooth hard surface like concrete. The trampoline will move a little with every bounce, which wears away the leg base leading to corrosion. This is not a problem on grass surfaces where the legs bed in naturally. If the trampoline has to be sited on a hard surface, rubber floor guards can be bought to fit onto the leg bases. Most round trampolines will require 8 guards. In addition, for safety reasons; we would recommend a safety enclosure is fitted. Trampolines can be used indoors if you have the space, but you must consider the following:

Check you have sufficient ceiling height.
What type of floor will it be on?
You might require rubber floor guards
For safety, you will need to either provide a padded area around the trampoline or fit a safety enclosure.