Have you ever wondered what to look for when buying a trampoline? What size should I buy? What shape round, rectangle, square? There are several options that are available to you. The purpose of this article is to try to give you some answers to these questions.

How Much Space?

The first thing you need to decide is how much space do you have available to you in your yard. You will want as much as five to ten feet all around your trampoline with no over hanging trees or wires. You will want this space free from fences, trees, swings or anything else that could get in the way of the jumper or spotters.

What Shape?

After you have determined how much space you have then you can decide the shape you would like to have that will fit into that area. In deciding the shape, you need to discuss how the trampoline is to be used long term. What I mean by how it is going to be used is this: Is it going to be used for just having fun and enjoying it, cheerleader exercises, tumbling or professional use? Understanding and discussing how your trampoline is to be used will determine which trampoline will best fit your needs. Your purchase of a trampoline is an investment in your childrens fun and could be in many areas of sports training.

Round Trampoline

The round trampoline is the one trampoline you see the most of in backyards because of it being typically the least expensive. The framework is made of a lighter gauge material which makes them cheaper to build. With this trampoline all the springs point to the center. What this does is help keep the jumper in the center of the jumping surface. Fifty percent of trampoline injuries occur when there are more than one person jumping at a time. With this trampoline a person losing their balance could be tossed into another towards the center of the trampoline. This is why one jumper only at a time. In the center the bounce is softer and out towards the edge it is harder.

Square Trampoline

With a square trampoline you get about the same bounce as you would with a round trampoline, the springs on a square trampoline have a crisscross pattern. This results in a harsher bounce for the jumper because of the distance from the springs. You don't get as much vertical travel.

Rectangle Trampoline

The rectangle trampoline is typically the better quality trampoline because of the heavier gauge material used in the framework. The reason for the heavier frame is because of the long sides. The heavier frame prevents the frame from bowing. It also will last for many years for your family. The rectangle trampoline is the one used for competition. The bounce is a lot softer which gives more vertical movement. This trampoline is the one that you would want for your cheerleader or gymnast.

Summary

There are many sizes and shapes of trampolines on the market today. There are also many price ranges on those trampolines. Our goal in this article is to give you information on some of the trampolines available so you can make an educated decision for your family needs.