One of the latest exercise trends is a smaller version of something we all enjoyed using at school as a child: the trampoline. The mini trampoline (often called a rebounder) is the smaller version of the popular children's exercise equipment. The great thing about it is, you don't have to be a kid to get the most benefit of it. The popularity of the mini trampoline is credited to the fact that everyone can use it - young or old.

Prices for rebounders vary depending on the shape, size and material your mini trampoline is made out of. There are plenty of options when it comes to shapes: rectangle, round and octagonal are all popular choices. The great thing about them is, once you are finished exercising, they can be easily stored away, unlike bulky elliptical machines.

Health Gains of the Mini Trampoline

The ways in which urban rebounders can benefit your health are one of the main reasons people buy them. Since using a trampoline is such a good cardiovascular workout, it's a great piece of equipment to use to maintain a strong and healthy heart. If you're looking to lose some weight, it burns off calories, so is ideal when combined with a diet.

For those with bad knees, you can use the urban rebounder for jogging since it allows you to enjoy a low impact exercise without affecting your joints. Other machines can be hard on your bones and joints. By combining several exercises, you can benefit greatly, and enjoy some variety in your workout. No more boring same old exercises.

Helpful Tips When Shopping For a Rebounder

The features that are the most important when you're looking to buy a trampoline are safety, quality of build and that is has a good warranty. Ideally, you'll want to have protective padding and safety mats around the trampoline; check the springs as well, since these are what get the most use. The better the design of the trampoline, the less chance of injury to those using it.

A good warranty will allow you get the mini trampoline replaced should you find any defects once you get it home and start using it; also such warranty should protect you from any injuries and malfunctions in case you encounter any due to the fault of the product.

Unlike other types of fitness equipment, the mini trampoline is perfect since it addresses the main issues when you're looking for exercise equipment. Its size makes it perfect to store it anywhere you use it: at home, at the office or on a trip. Its a great way to enjoy the benefits of low impact cardio. Most importantly, its fun!

The modern age comes with completely modern concerns. Nowadays the best investment is not necessarily the one that will make you spend the most money - rather, it is the one that will give you the best deal for your money. And an example of such an investment is a good exercise machine. If you're out to save, and at the same time get a good workout, you should look into tried and tested "budget" machines such as the Proform 820, the Cintura 2000, the Schwinn 430 and others.

If you are in doubt as to the efficiency of a machine, check out user reviews online. The ratio of satisfied and unsatisfied customers would be able to give you a hint about the kinds of machine you should buy. Following are just some of the most vital criteria for good exercise machines, like the Nordic Track CX 938, the Proform 820, etc:

1. Price. Elliptical machines come at a wide range of prices, but there's one thing you should know, if you're buying a machine for home use - home elliptical devices cost significantly less than commercial machines.

The difference in features and price range are vast enough so that properly functioning home machines should be affordable to almost anyone. If you're just buying a machine for home use, bear in mind that you probably don't need something that costs $5000! A reliable home-grade device that costs around $200-$500 should do the job, and this is exactly the price range that machines like the Proform 820 fall into.

2. Performance. All elliptical devices, or any kind of exercise machine, are tested for the strictest quality and safety standards, before they are sold commercially. This means you can rest assured that a brand-new exercise machine purchased from a reliable, certified source, can usually perform as advertised. However, not all elliptical machines are created equal!

Some come with additional features that will help you get more out of each workout session. Elliptical devices that have blood pressure monitors and calorie burn counters, for example, would be of better service to people whose constitutions are especially delicate, than devices that do not have those features.

It is also a medical fact that elliptical devices that have reverse directional movement can help you exercise even the muscles you would normally not exert when using regular ellipticals.

3. Reliability. Good exercise machines can take a lot of stress, and don't break down as soon as the warranty expires - or even earlier! It's not only a matter of warranty, although good service counts, of course. This is where brand comes in. Easily affordable machines like the Proform 820 and 900 are known for their durability.

Whether it's for repairs or tune-ups, you can count on having an expert to call. Getting a good deal on an exercise machine means never having to be in the dark about how to fix it or how to make sure it's running smoothly.

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.

A rebounder trampoline can do wonders for your health. This is a proven fact - just ask any health conscious person. A rebounder trampoline provides people of all ages with a great outlet for their energy, and also provides for many beneficial healthy related activities.

Exercise on a rebounder trampoline
If one was so inclined, one could do a lot of good exercising on a trampoline. A rebounder trampoline can provide a place for a person to get almost all of their vigorous activity. It is recommended that in order to be healthy, one should have 30 minutes of vigorous activity about three times a week. If you were to do this on a rebounder trampoline, you could sustain the 30 minutes of activity by continually jumping on the trampoline. The vigorous activity allows for the heart to beat faster and help the blood to pump throughout the body. A person jumping on a rebounder trampoline can expect their heart rate to rise and therefore can strengthen their heart. By jumping continuously, a person can expect that they will be better able to handle stress on their heart because they have strengthened it.

Muscle Strength due to a rebounder trampoline
By jumping on a rebounder trampoline, a person can tone and perfect their muscles. Continuous jumping will help to strengthen the muscles in the legs and back, and will also improve a person's overall muscle tone. By improving your muscle tone, you will be able to lift heavier things, use your muscles for an extended period of time, and will also be able to have an overall better health. Overall better muscle strength in all kinds of muscle groups is very important because it helps your body to be better toned and in generally better shape.

Increased Endurance
Of course, one of the best parts of cardiovascular exercise is that it helps to increase your endurance overall. It's not the direct muscle growth that makes you feel so much better, but the ability to run for more than thirty seconds and not lose your breath. At first, you might not be able to spend more than a few minutes on a trampoline exercising, but with the persistence and practice that you'll put in, you'll find that soon you'll be able to spend a great deal of time on there, jumping for as long as you like. This in turn affects your endurance for many other physical activities, including swimming and jogging.

Rebounder trampolines can be a great way to have fun while getting exercise at the same time. Make sure to do your homework when shopping for a trampoline to find the one that is best for your needs, since there are numerous different types on the market.