About Trampolines........

Super Tramp introduced the garden trampoline to the UK over 25 years ago. Since then the popluarity of trampolines has soared. In fact if you a look over any town or village in the UK using google earth or similar programme you will see many mysterious round blobs in back gardens. Yes these are trampolines. As with most successful products it doesn't take long before they are copied and today you can now buy a trampoline from many different sources - BUT - beware of cheap imitations. There is no official British or European standard for garden trampolines. As the pressure grows to make products cheaper, so does the temptation to cut corners and compromise on quality. The result is that there are numerous low-quality, cheap trampolines available today which in our opinion have no place in the children's play equipment market. At Super Tramp, we don't believe in sacrificing customer satisfaction or safety in order to provide a lower specification, cheaper product so we make no apologies for the fact that our trampolines seem to be more expensive than many cheap trampolines on the market.

The risks of buying cheap trampolines

Remember - there is no standard for garden trampolines. If you have bought a cheap, budget trampoline you should check it regularly. Pay particular attention to the weld joints on the trampoline frame as these are a common failure point. The frames on these type of trampolines tend to be made from low grade steel and use narrow diameter tubing with a thin wall thicknes so do check on a daily basis for buckling of the trampoline frame. The component parts of the trampoline frame tend to have a wide tolerance and therefore the frame can work loose in operation so make sure that you check the trampoline frame every day. Pay particular attention to the legs on a cheap trampoline both before and during use - if these work loose they can swivel round and pierce the bed creating a risk of serious injury. The springs tend to be short, narrow in diameter and have fewer coils than a quality spring. This results in a hard short bounce creating skeletal shock. Trampolining moves such as seat drops and somersaults should not be attempted on this type of trampoline. The frame pads on cheap trampolines offer very little protection to the user against the affects of falling onto the frame. They tend to be very thin and made of standard packaging material which wears even thinner with use. They are mostly attached to the trampoline frame using a ribbons that you must tie in a knot or bow. When the trampoline is in use this type of trampoline frame pad can bounce around and move out of place leaving the hard steel frame exposed and creating a potential injury hazard.

"The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."

Trampolines are fantasic fun and are a great way to get children participating in a healthy activity. Almost everything that we do for fun has an element of risk - sometimes that very risk is the heart of the fun. Trampolining is great fun and carries some risks but following simple safety advice and taking some care when choosing the right trampoline to suit your needs will greatly reduce those risks.

So what makes a good trampoline?

We have been manufacturing and distributing trampolines for over 25 years and are proud to say that there are a good number of 25 year old trampolines still in service and in good condition to this day. To show a long list of specifications of our trampolines would be very boring for most people so we have included the very basic things to look out for in this link So what makes a good trampoline In short, your trampoline should have the performance to launch the bouncer in the air without too much effort. It should have a soft return at the bottom of the bounce so that there is limited skeletal shock for the user - some trampolines with cheap springs will give a very hard bounce that is very unforgiving should the bouncer land awkwardly. The frame pads should remain firmly in position whilst in use and be thick enough to absorb heavy impact. We sometimes demonstrate this on a Super Tramp trampoline by punching the pad in the position just above the top rail. Do not do this on a cheap trampoline as you could damage your hand - we'll leave it to your imagination the consequences of a body falling heavilly onto a poor quality frame pad. Finally the proof is in the pudding. If you are near one of our retailers that have a display garden take your child along. Have a bounce and compare Super Tramp trampolines against some other makes of trampoline. We are confident that your child will say "I like the Super Tramp trampoline".

Free Lessons and DVD

As trampolines have become steadily more popular over the years, the issue of safety is at the forefront of many people's minds. In early 2006 we launched a unique initiative - anyone buying a Super Tramp trampoline receives two free vouchers which they can exchange for two free lessons at any participating trampoline club.

Even if the lessons are not continued, the two free sessions should teach not only basic moves but also how to use the trampoline safely. ROSPA were very enthusiastic about this positive step forward in garden trampoline safety and endorsed the offer by attending the launch of this initiative. As well as the two vouchers, there is a free DVD supplied with every Super Tramp trampoline. This includes: a guide to the basic trampolining moves; a guide to assembling the trampoline - complete with tips and hints and advice on siting your trampoline and general maintenance. Everything you need to know to get you started! Click Here to view a short clip.

Multiple Use

The one area which remains a little contentious is that of multiple use on the larger round trampolines. Super Tramp have always taken the view that provided the trampoline is strong enough and the users are of roughly the same size and weight, it is safe for more than one user to bounce on a good quality, large round trampoline.

Our opinion is based on many years of operating round trampolines at public events across Britain where we allow multiple use on our 12 foot Fun Bouncer and 14 foot Super Bouncer trampolines. However, we do stress that users must be of a comparable size and weight. On rectangular trampolines and lighter-weight, "budget" round trampolines, we strongly advise only one user at a time. It is important not to exceed recommended age limits on any trampoline, even if the bouncer is within the weight limit.

Trampoline Safety Enclosures

Safety enclosures are designed to stop the user from falling off the trampoline. All our enclosure nets are made to fully enclose the trampoline bed. The netting is suspended using bungee chords which keeps the user away from the upright support poles, the frame pads and springs which reduces the risk of injury and prolongs the life of your trampoline. This does not reduce the jumping area.

We currently only supply trampoline safety enclosures for our round trampolines. A rectangular trampoline produces a much more responsive bounce than a round trampoline and for this reason, they should be used by only one person at a time. It is our concern that by providing safety enclosures for our rectangular trampolines, we will not only instil a false sense of security in the user but also encourage multiple bouncers.

For expert advice call our trampoline helpline 0800 197 1897 or Click Here to view a short clip on choosing your trampoline.

FAQs

What makes a good trampoline?

Quick guide to choosing your trampoline

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