What to Look for While Shopping for a Folding Mini Trampoline
Rebounding offers various health benefits, such as circulating oxygen to your body’s tissues, improving blood flow, aiding lymphatic circulation, boosting oxygen circulation, lowering your cholesterol levels, increasing your metabolism, and reducing the risks of developing cancer. To enjoy these benefits, you need a rebounder or mini-trampoline. It’s wise to buy a foldable mini-trampoline rather than a non-foldable one as you can store them more easily.
You can get two types of foldable mini-trampolines: one made of stainless steel and one made of integrated plastic. While integrated plastic is a cost-effective option, choosing a stainless steel model is wiser because of its durability and longevity.
Foldable trampolines are commonly more durable than standalone trampolines. This is because of their assembly system. Standalone mini-trampolines come with screw-in legs that wear down over time. Since rebounding involves rhythmic jumping exercises, they put pressure on the screws every time you use the rebounder. You may notice that the screws are becoming loose after a few years.
Fortunately, this doesn’t happen with a foldable mini-trampoline, as they often come with snap-in legs instead of screw-in legs. Snap-in legs are more stable and thus ensure that the trampoline lasts for years. Moreover, you don’t have to take out the screws every time you fold the trampoline. Instead, all you have to do is snap the legs in and you’re ready to go.
Pay Attention to These Characteristics
With so many brands and models available, it’s confusing which foldable mini-trampoline to buy. Instead of choosing the first model you see, compare a few trampolines based on the factors given below to buy one that’s worth every penny.
Size
How much space can you afford in your room for your mini-trampoline? This is an important question that needs to be answered before you even begin shopping. Generally, foldable mini-trampolines have an average size of 32 to 46 inches, although 36 and 40-inch models are the most popular. Usually, these trampolines have a ground clearance of approximately 1 ft.
Although the differences in size are not too much, every inch is crucial if you live in a small apartment. However, buying a small mini-trampoline also means compromising on the jumping surface. Therefore, consider the space that you can afford for your trampoline before shortlisting a few models.
Weight Capacity
What if you are a plus-sized guy and want to lose weight by rebounding? What is the weight capacity of the fitness trampoline that you should buy? This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions by people because they aren’t sure whether they should buy a trampoline with a similar weight capacity as their body weight or go for one with a higher weight capacity. Well, as a rule of thumb, it’s best to buy a trampoline that has a higher weight capacity than your body weight. This puts less pressure on the jumping mat and doesn’t allow it to stretch quickly.
The average weight capacity of most foldable mini-trampolines is 250 lbs, while some of them can even support up to 300 lbs. or more. But it’s wise to avoid the ones with a maximum weight capacity of 200 lbs, especially if you are a large person. If your body weight is more than the maximum weight capacity of the trampoline, it will lead to quicker wear and tear of the parts.
Features
Make a list of essential features to make it easier to compare the trampolines. If you are not sure which features to prioritize, here are a few that you can keep in mind:
Jumping surface – Although there are various materials like plastic, canvas mats, and nylon used to make the trampoline’s jumping surface, it’s better to stick to the ones made of heavy-duty polypropylene mesh material. Heavy-duty polypropylene mesh material is more durable than its counterparts because it doesn’t stretch quickly.
Anti-slip grips – One of the most crucial safety features of a foldable mini-trampoline is its anti-slip rubber caps on the legs that prevent the trampoline from slipping when you jump on it. They provide stability to the trampoline by keeping it in place.
Build quality – As already mentioned, you may come across models made of integrated plastic or stainless steel. Stainless steel models are more expensive than their integrated plastic counterparts, but they also last longer. Therefore, you need to decide whether to save a few bucks now and compromise on the build quality or pay a premium price and use the trampoline for years.
Springs – Foldable mini-trampolines either have steel springs or elastic bungee cords. The advantage of steel springs is that they provide a higher bounce, but they eventually wear down and start making screeching sounds when you jump. You need to oil them frequently to keep the noise down. Elastic bungee cords are ideal if you don’t want to make any noise while exercising. They hardly require maintenance and can last longer than steel springs.
FAQs
Q: Will folding my mini-trampoline frequently affect its longevity?
A: There is no connection between folding your mini-trampoline and its longevity if you buy one with snap-in legs. However, the screws of screw-in models become loose after some time. Therefore, it’s wise to buy a foldable model with snap-in legs.
Q: What is the average ceiling clearance required for my foldable mini-trampoline?
A: The average ceiling clearance required for a foldable mini-trampoline is 6 to 7 feet. Most rooms in apartments have a ceiling height of 8 feet, which is enough for such trampolines.
Q: Should I buy a trampoline with springs or bungee cords?
A: It depends on your choice. Foldable mini-trampolines with springs may last for a few years but will make noise if you don’t oil the springs properly, while the ones with bungee cords work silently for years.
Final Words
When buying a foldable mini-trampoline, make sure you invest in a model that’s worth every penny you spend. Keep these factors in mind and you should be well on your way to finding a compact yet functional trampoline that best fits your needs.