The Trampoline Thread

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gcorgnet

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Topic # 185286 17-Nov-2015 11:15

Hey guys,

I used the search feature but couldn't believe Geekzone doesn't have at least one threads where people have debated the goods and bad of the old kiwi trampoline as well as giving reviews of best brands/models.

There we are, the wife (and to some extent kids) are putting the pressure on and I am toying with the idea but a few things I wouldn't mind opinions on:

- Do they typically get used (even after a while)?
- Am I really going to have that massive thing right in the middle of my backyard for the next 5+ years?
- I understand SpringFree are cool but their price is basically a joke. Looks like Jumpflex are pretty good and at a more reasonable price (still not cheap). Any other brand worth looking at?

Anything else I've missed?

Kids are 3y and 8mth so there's no rush but I know this will be coming up...

Thanks,

Guillaume

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Reply # 1429516 17-Nov-2015 11:26

$299 special from trade me has done us for 5 years so far. Replaced the nets once, and a couple of the D shackles due to rust, but probably has at least another couple of summers. I would suggest buying the bigger size, at least the biggest you can fit if you have restricted space. As kids get older they get more adventurous and need space for flips etc.

Supertramp and other 'spring-free' tramps are amazing, but you do pay through the nose for them. Although $1,000+ divided by the 8 - 10 years or more you may get out of it probably isn't a bad rate.

We have a smaller yard so just manage to squeeze the 12' one in. I move it to a new location each time I mow the lawn to avoid the grass dying off.

Does it get used...absolutely! Play-dates, parties, and just because, they are a worthy addition to get kids outside.

I draw the line without the safety net and pads. They are a must IMO. particularly for little ones.

Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be the Batman

jfanning

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Reply # 1429533 17-Nov-2015 12:03

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We have a SpringFree one (it was a gift, I just looked up the price, I see what you mean), had it for around 12 years.

It is used all the time, more so by younger kids (my youngest is upset when we won't let her jump in the rain)

Yes you will have it in your yard for 5+ years, remember you need a gap around them as well
Yes you will be made to jump with them, or have a toy picnic parties on it etc

Geektastic

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Reply # 1429552 17-Nov-2015 12:05

What is an 'old kiwi trampoline' and how does it differ from other trampolines?

gcorgnet

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Reply # 1429557 17-Nov-2015 12:10

Geektastic: What is an 'old kiwi trampoline' and how does it differ from other trampolines?

haha, you know what I mean, right. Just looks like the backyard trampoline is a kiwi institution and coming from France where backyard trampoline are virtually nowhere, I was quite surprised at first.

gcorgnet

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Reply # 1429561 17-Nov-2015 12:11

Thanks guys for the input, pretty much what I was after...

andrew027

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Reply # 1429585 17-Nov-2015 12:31

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I got an old school metal frame trampoline from the warehouse. My daughter was only about 7 when I got it and she enjoyed it for quite a few years before losing interest and moving on to more grown-up things (i.e. Minecraft). It served well at many kids' parties and for a few summers we'd have half the kids in the neighbourhood in our back yard, on the trampoline with the sprinkler on. So as to whether you'll get your money's worth, that may depend on how old your kids are now, and whether they're "outdoorsy", or how drunk your adult friends get at barbecues. I still remember the hours of fun I had trying to put the thing together by myself on Christmas eve 2004, after having had a couple of beers...

Every time I mowed the lawn I'd move the trampoline around the lawn a bit to let the light back onto the grass, and when it got so wet and cold that it wasn't going to get used any more I'd take the legs off and stand it up flat against the garage wall to keep it out of the weather. We left it up for a couple of summers after the interest had worn off, just in case it could lure my daughter back out into the sunlight, but eventually I noticed the mat was starting to perish so I dismantled it and put the frame and springs out when I got a metal recycling company's collection notice in the mailbox.

But the one I got was pretty bad. It came with "pads" over the springs that were basically just bits of firm blue foam secured around the frame with white foam ties. I had to modify the pads to secure them on the mat side as well otherwise they just popped up vertically and provided no protection at all, which lead to a couple of accidents (legs going through the holes between the springs and skin being pinched by springs contracting). Looking back now I'm amazed it didn't break some health and safety laws, but these were things I didn't think about at the time. So if you decide to get one, don't scrimp, and carefully check out all the safety features first.

Wade

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Reply # 1429593 17-Nov-2015 12:40

My kids have a 14ft'er from K'Mart that was only $250 or $300. so far has stood the test of time well, and I figure I can buy 6 of them for the price of a springfree, and i am sure 6 of these will outlast a single springfree

My eldest does cheerleading and they have a springfree at the club which gets a fair amount of use and it is really showing its age and wear and tear so I don't think they are necessarily anymore bulletproof then other designs

As far as worth, my kids get a significant amount of use from their trampoline and over the finer months it would get used pretty much every day

mdf

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Reply # 1429594 17-Nov-2015 12:41

You might want to have a search for recommended ages for children and trampolines. In addition to the obvious falling off/smacking into each other, there are apparently some concerns about the impact of lots of bouncing on little developing spines. It seemed a pretty compelling study, so we put off getting one until our kids were older.

At work so can't look up the links myself, sorry.

gcorgnet

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Reply # 1429600 17-Nov-2015 12:48

mdf: You might want to have a search for recommended ages for children and trampolines. In addition to the obvious falling off/smacking into each other, there are apparently some concerns about the impact of lots of bouncing on little developing spines. It seemed a pretty compelling study, so we put off getting one until our kids were older.

At work so can't look up the links myself, sorry.

Thanks for this, will look it up now

sidefx

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Reply # 1429653 17-Nov-2015 13:38

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I seem to remember someone telling me that the springfree tramps just don't have the same "bounce" as a decent old school metal frame tramp. Certainly the cost of them didn't seem anywhere near worth it when we looked into them anyway.

We ended up getting a 10ft metal frame one off trademe (with netting and padding) for $50(! Gotta love people moving overseas and needing to get rid of things really quickly) and it's served extremely well.

Don't leave the metal frame ones outside over winter though - this past winter was the first time I didn't pack it away in the garage... the frame and tramp itself are fine, but the netting and padding both took a real beating and have started to disintegrate a bit. Also I found in previous years that packing it away over winter and then pulling it back out in spring increased the kids appreciation of it, as it was new and exciting after being packed away :)

scuwp

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Reply # 1429658 17-Nov-2015 13:46

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mdf: You might want to have a search for recommended ages for children and trampolines. In addition to the obvious falling off/smacking into each other, there are apparently some concerns about the impact of lots of bouncing on little developing spines. It seemed a pretty compelling study, so we put off getting one until our kids were older.

At work so can't look up the links myself, sorry.

Really? No climbing trees, no Bull-Rush, and now no trampolines? Geez wonder how any of us survived childhood.

After making sure the tramp has the basic safety features, applying some standard rules of engagement is 'cotton-wool' enough for me. Get em outside enjoying life before Skynet takes over.

Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be the Batman

Dulouz

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Reply # 1429661 17-Nov-2015 13:51

We currently have a large Springfree tramp. The build quality is superior (e.g. the safety net and frame etc) although the bounce is not as good as the spring tramps.

If you're looking for a quality spring tramp I'd recommend JumpKing. These guys sell them in New Zealand http://www.actionfitness.co.nz/product_cid_4.html

Amanon

minimoke

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Reply # 1429732 17-Nov-2015 15:50

Also got a large springfree here. Around 9 years old and has had loads of use and no broken bones. Gets used for all sorts of things, football (kind of an aerial version) basketball, discos, running till dizy until fall down, picnics, chasing pets, softball. You name it if kids can think of something in a net while bouncing they will do it. And yes you can get a guinea pig to bounce quite high

Handsomedan

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Reply # 1429778 17-Nov-2015 16:16

We have a "Warehouse Special" 8' tramp. Had it now for around 5 years. Pads around the edges rotted away after 3 or so years but nets still intact and the mat and spring setup is working just fine.

Boys are now 9 & 10.5, so we need a new one in a larger size.

Does it get used? Yup. Nowadays more for glorified cage fighting than exercise, but it does get used all year round.

It will take up a large chunk of your garden and it may become an eyesore after time, but it should be worth every cent.

We are looking at the ones that Torpedo 7 sell...going for a 14' and hopefully with a load capacity of around 200kg so the whole family can get on it together. Looking to spend around $700

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.

Geektastic

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Reply # 1429808 17-Nov-2015 17:29

gcorgnet:
Geektastic: What is an 'old kiwi trampoline' and how does it differ from other trampolines?

haha, you know what I mean, right. Just looks like the backyard trampoline is a kiwi institution and coming from France where backyard trampoline are virtually nowhere, I was quite surprised at first.

I thought it may be either a trampoline made of Number 8 and wool fadges or a derogatory term for a certain kind of woman...!

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