Trampoline Resources

Are Trampolines Dangerous?

Trampoline Resources

Are Trampolines Dangerous?

by Kiki Ji on Dec 14 2020
It seems like every time you hear about the joy and fun of a trampoline, it is closely followed by a story of a broken bone or more severe head and neck injuries. Such stories leave many parents questioning the safety of this bounce-filled activity for their children. It may have you wondering: are trampolines dangerous? In truth, using a trampoline, like most other activities, comes with some inherent risk. However, even with such concerns, trampolines are an increasingly popular backyard addition for many families across the country. Read on to learn all about trampoline danger and how to reduce the inherent risks presented by the activity.  How Dangerous are Trampolines?  According to data published by Nationwide Insurance, just under 250 thousand trampoline-related injuries require medical treatment each year in the United States. Of these, about 75% involve children under the age of 14, and 15% treated children under the age of 6. This data alone immediately suggests that trampolines are riskier for younger children to use. However, implementing age limits and safety measures for your trampoline can help to mitigate some of these risks. We at SkyBound recommend that you never permit children under the age of 6 to use a trampoline. At this age, young children lack the motor skills necessary to control their jumping and maintain awareness of their surroundings will bouncing. Furthermore, medical research suggests that pediatric bones are softer and more compressible than those of an adult or even an older child. Therefore, it is simply safer to make your child wait until they are older to enjoy trampoline jumping.  The data also reveals the most frequent areas of injury were those to the legs and feet (40%); arms or hands (29%); head, face, or neck (20%); and shoulder or trunk (10%). The majority of these injuries result from jumpers colliding with one another, falling off the trampoline, or airborne tricks, such as flips and twists. However, the most severe outcome of improper use of a trampoline is death. In these cases, most victims are aged 12 to 19 years old, with the most frequent cause of death being falls from the trampoline, followed by jumpers landing on their neck while attempting somersaults or other acrobatics.  While this data can be alarming, it is essential to acknowledge what it reveals about the safe and proper use of a trampoline. Given that many injuries result from collisions, you should limit the use of your trampoline to a single jumper at any given time. As another leading cause of injury is falling off the trampoline, be sure to set up your trampoline in a safe environment and install a trampoline safety net around it. Finally, we recommend that your safety rules ban your children (and adults) from attempting airborne tricks and acrobatics on the trampoline. Such stunts make it hard to control your jumping and can ultimately end in serious injury or even death. For more guidelines, check out our full Trampoline Safety Guide.  Trampoline Safety  Provided the information above, it seems that trampolines are only as dangerous as the individuals using them. Implementing appropriate safety rules for the proper use and purchasing a trampoline meeting specific safety standards can help significantly mitigate the risks of the activity itself. Here are some of the key recommendations to enhance the safety of your family’s trampoline experience.  Safety Standards Purchase a safe trampoline that is ASTM Safety Certified to ensure the quality of materials and construction Place the trampoline on a level trampoline surface away from hazards, such as trees, walls, and fences Add safety pads over the springs, and a weatherproof, tear-resistant safety net around the perimeter Regularly check the trampoline’s surface, safety net, and springs for faults Proper Use Limit bouncing to one person at a time Ban acrobatic tricks and stunts Avoid wearing loose clothing, drawstrings, or jewelry while jumping Always require adult supervision while jumping to ensure rules are being followed and allow a quick response in case of accidents At SkyBound, we believe that trampolines are a great source of exercise and family fun. However, we recognize that bouncing must be done safely and with caution. By following the safety guidelines outlined above, you and your family are sure to enjoy the time you spend on your trampoline.   Are you looking for the safest trampolines for kids to purchase? At SkyBound, our trampolines for sale are made to a premium standard and quality that meet ASTM safety measures. We offer everything you need to jump safely, from full trampoline setups to replacement parts and accessories. Contact our team today to get started!   Sources: https://www.nationwide.com/lc/resources/home/articles/trampoline-safety https://www.popsugar.com/family/Why-Trampolines-Dangerous-Kids-40258163
A Guide to the Safest Trampolines for Kids

Trampoline Resources

A Guide to the Safest Trampolines for Kids

by Kiki Ji on Dec 14 2020
Trampolines can be an endless source of family-fun and a great source of exercise for both kids and parents. Are trampolines dangerous? The answer is they can be. Before you purchase an outdoor trampoline, it is essential to find one that not only meets your needs but enhances the safety of your family’s bouncing experience. In your evaluation, you will need to consider the materials and construction of the trampoline, as well as its size, shape, and safety features designed to avoid trampoline accidents and injuries. Here is everything you need to know about finding the safest backyard trampoline.  What to Look For  The safest trampolines for kids are those that incorporate high-quality construction with additional features that create the safest environment for you and your child to enjoy. Here is what you should look for when searching for a new safe trampoline. Sturdy Construction: One of the worst things that can happen while jumping on a trampoline is for the whole thing to tip over. Of course, you can help mitigate this risk by setting up your trampoline on a flat surface, but you should also look for one that is properly constructed to avoid this risk. When looking at trampolines, opt for those with a steel frame, weighted base or that can be securely anchored to the ground. The SkyBound Heavy Duty Trampoline Anchor Kit is the perfect add-on to ensure your backyard trampoline stays put no matter what.  Weather-Proofing: Given that trampolines are usually left outside all year long, they must be able to withstand all kinds of weather. Several metal components on an outdoor trampoline, including the frame and springs, are typically prone to rust over time when exposed to rain and snow. That’s why we at SkyBound use galvanized steel and hot-dipped springs that are rust-proof and guaranteed to last longer than those lacking this extra layer of protection.  Part Durability: While cheaper parts may save you some money upfront, you’ll likely end up paying significantly more over time as you have to replace your trampoline’s net enclosure, springs, or jumping mat at least once each year. Paying for a higher quality trampoline with durable parts means your trampoline won’t require replacement parts for several years. At SkyBound, we stand by the high-quality of our trampolines, which is why we offer up to a 10-year warranty on our products and parts.  Size & Shape: Understanding the variety of sizes and shapes available is critical to purchasing an appropriate trampoline for your family. Trampolines generally range anywhere from 36 inches to 15 feet or more in diameter and typically are available in round, oval, or rectangular shapes. A small, round trampoline or oval trampoline is generally safer for young children as the small trampoline’s restricted diameter limits the height of the jump users can achieve. Alternatively, a large, rectangular trampoline creates more refraction that leads to a stronger, higher jump, which can increase the inherent risk of using the trampoline. SkyBound offers varioustrampoline shapes and sizes so you can find the right fit for your family.  Safety Features: Whether your kids’ trampoline comes with these safety features included, or you have to purchase them separately, you will want to ensure that your safe trampoline has a safety pad that covers the springs and frame as well as a tall safety enclosure net surrounding the perimeter of the trampoline and attaching inside the springs. Together, these two features help reduce the risk of several of the most common trampoline injuries. At SkyBound, all of our trampolines come with a custom-fit safety pad and enclosure net included. The high-density safety enclosure is reinforced with a top-ring system that utilizes metal bands to improve the net’s safety by adding rigidity and stability for a safer bounce. Our thick, two-piece safety pads have an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal coating while utilizing our proprietary foam blended from vinyl and film PVC materials for ultimate trampoline safety and durability.  The Best and Safest Trampolines The best and safest trampolines on the market are found at SkyBound. We use the highest-quality materials to construct every trampoline and include all the necessary safety accessories so you and your family can bounce happily. From our 3-foot Children’s Trampoline to the 16-foot Explorer Oval Trampoline with Safety Enclosure System, SkyBound is dedicated to creating the best and safest trampolines for you and your family to enjoy for years to come.  So, visit our website today to find the safest trampolines for sale!  
Trampoline Safety Tips for Kids

Trampoline Resources

Trampoline Safety Tips for Kids

by Kiki Ji on Dec 14 2020
  Trampolines can be an endless source of family-fun. But, are trampolines dangerous? The answer is that they can be. Due to the nature of this adrenaline-inducing activity, you must take extra precautions to create a safe environment for play and avoid a trampoline accident. After all, nothing is more important than the health and safety of your children. That’s why we have put together a complete guide to trampoline safety. So, if you are considering a backyard trampoline purchase or already own one, keep reading to learn all about how to keep your children safe while they enjoy bouncing the day away.  How to Create a Safe Trampoline  Purchasing a safe trampoline is only the foundation for creating a safe environment for your kids to rebound. Once you have the trampoline in your possession, there are several steps you should take to avoid mishaps and ensure your child has a safe experience. Here are the four steps to creating and maintaining a safe jumping environment for your trampoline and children.  Step 1: Proper Installation  Once you have the trampoline in your possession, safety starts with how you set up and install it in your yard. Placing the trampoline in a safe environment ensures that if any accidents happen while your children are playing, the risk of injury is as mitigated as possible. Here are the top tips for properly installing a trampoline: Place on Level Ground: Start by finding a spot on the ground level and without too much variation. Trampolines placed on unleveled ground run the risk of tipping over, which could result in a trampoline related injury. Safety Perimeter: Next, ensure that your trampoline is installed away from hazards such as trees, poles, fences, and walls. Ideally, you will want to have a perimeter of about 3 meters from all hazardous objects. This is to avoid injuries in case your younger children jump too high or fall off the trampoline while playing.  Fall Zone: To further reduce the risk of injury should your children fall, create a safe fall zone around the base of your trampoline. So, avoid placing your trampoline on concrete. Instead, opt for absorbing ground materials such as mulch, sand, or even grass. Otherwise, you may choose to purchase safety mats to place around the trampoline base while your children play.  Check Springs & Bolts: After you set up your trampoline, double-check that all the springs and bolts are in their fixed position, securely attached, and tightened. Hanging springs and loose bolts may lead to unnecessary accidents and injuries.  Review Provided Manual: Of course, you will want to refer to the safety and installation manual provided with your trampoline. This will ensure you have all the appropriate information necessary for the specific make and model of the trampoline you have purchased.    Step 2: Additional Equipment  In addition to setting up your trampoline in an ideal environment, there are additional materials you should install with your trampoline to create a safe play area. In some cases, these items may be included with your trampoline or available as an add-on option. Otherwise, you may have to purchase them separately. Here are our two recommendations for extra safety equipment:  Safety Pad: While the dense metal springs are a necessary part of your trampoline’s construction, they are an injury risk if your child should fall on them. They can cause cuts, scrapes, pinching, and may even trip kids who walk too close to the edge of the trampoline. To prevent such accidents, add a safety pad to cover the springs, hooks, and frame in a color that contrasts with the trampoline's frame and jumping area. In addition, to prevent injury, the contrasting color can help your kids stay aware of where the trampoline’s edge is while they are having fun.  Safety Net: Installing a safety net around the perimeter of your trampoline is a safety measure with significant results. These high-quality nets not only prevent your child from hitting hard components, like springs or the frame, but can stop them from falling off the trampoline or hitting the ground. When you purchase a net, look for one that is weatherproof as well as UV- and tear-resistant. Then, as you install the net, make sure it does not fall below the safety pad or cover the ground underneath the trampoline as this can make it difficult to see objects that may be under the jumping area, which is also a hazard.  Step 3: Rules of Use  How to use a trampoline may seem obvious enough, but there are actually several rules and guidelines that may not be as apparent. However, following these rules will ensure that you teach your children to be safe while having fun. Here is a list of the best practices for safe use of a trampoline:  Wear Appropriate Clothing: Ensure that before jumping, your children are wearing appropriate clothing. This means nothing too baggy and no drawstrings as these items could get caught on the trampoline and cause injury. In addition, you should have your kids remove any jewelry or play accessories and empty their pockets. This further reduces the risk of items getting snagged on something or having things in packets that could cause injury if your kids land on them.  Use the Trampoline Ladder: Instruct your children to use the provided ladder to get on and off the trampoline. Jumping onto the trampoline could result in your child landing on the springs or frame and perhaps bouncing off or missing the trampoline entirely. Similarly, jumping off of the trampoline could end in your child landing on an object, such as a stick or rock, they can’t see. Instead, teach them to calmly use the ladder to prevent injury. In addition, be sure to remove the ladder after you are done using the trampoline to deter your children from getting on when they are not supposed to. Control Your Jumping: Though your children will be excited and enjoying themselves, they should take care not to jump too high. This will prevent them from losing control and possibly missing the trampoline as they land back on the jumping surface. Additionally, teach to jump in the center of the trampoline as opposed to the edges. While safety pads and nets will help prevent some injury, the center of the jumping area is the safest for activity. Help keep your children aware of this by marking the center of the trampoline with colored or reflective tape.  No Tricks: Do not let your children perform tricks on the trampoline, including somersaults, flips, twists, or other acrobatics. While they may be fun and exciting to try, these tricks can be extremely dangerous and result in serious injury to the head and neck. So, it is best to avoid them altogether.  Age 6 and Older: According to Nationwide Insurance, about 15% of trampoline injuries in hospital emergency rooms were for children under age 6. Younger children lack the motor control to safely bounce on a trampoline while remaining aware of where they are in relation to other objects. If you have a youngster who loves to jump, opt for a mini trampoline instead, which incorporates more safety measures in its design.  One Person at a Time: As fun as jumping on the trampoline together sounds, it can be dangerous. If one person loses control, they can knock into or trip the other. To avoid accidents, limit your trampoline to one person at a time.  Require Supervision: Last, but certainly not least, instruct your children that using the trampoline requires adult supervision. This will not only give you the opportunity to enforce safety rules but allow you to respond quickly if any accidents or injuries occur.  Step 4: Maintenance  Finally, trampoline safety is a continuous process that requires attention to regular maintenance. To ensure your trampoline is one of the safest trampolines for kids, be sure to evaluate the following items:  Check the Surface: Start by checking the surface of the trampoline. The jumping area should be free from any objects or debris and have no moisture or snow on the surface. If it has recently rained or snow, you should wait at least 24 hours to ensure the surface has completely dried. Otherwise, it could be slippery as well as weaken the integrity of the materials.  Check the Safety Net: Before each use, you should also check the safety net for any tears or other signs of wear. Pay particular attention to where the net is attached to the trampoline as this is an area of stress for the net.  Check Springs & Bolts: Lastly, be sure to check all the springs and bolts of your trampoline. This will become especially important the longer you have, and the more your use your trampoline as the springs may become stretched or corroded. In some cases, you may need to replace springs to achieve a quality and appropriate fix.  So, are there any safe trampolines? We’d say, of course, there are! However, they are only as safe as you are while using them. Just follow these guidelines to ensure you and your children safely enjoy your trampoline. At SkyBound, we have some of the safest trampolines for sale and best accessories to keep your little ones safe. Visit our website today for more information!
What is Rebounding Exercise?

Trampoline Resources

What is Rebounding Exercise?

by Kiki Ji on Dec 02 2020
 We would all love to have bodies that are born and remain in mint condition forever. The reality is that bodies age. While it might be strong and sturdy in your prime years, eventually you face decline. Despite the effects of nature, there are many ways to help keep your body in optimum condition. Eating well, sleeping well, avoiding stress and tension, and of course, exercising can delay the onslaught of old age for quite some time. Ever heard the cliche, “Move it or lose it?” Truer words have never been spoken! The more you use your body, the stronger it becomes, and consequently, the longer it may last.  The four major types of exercise include strength training, balance training, flexibility training, and endurance training.  What is Rebounding Exercise? Rebounding is an aerobic exercise that helps increase both your endurance and strength. Considered a low-impact exercise, it works using your body weight and creating elastic leverage with the help of a rebounder.  A rebounder trampoline, also known as a fitness trampoline or mini trampoline, is a fitness device very similar in design to regular trampolines, but smaller and more appropriate for exercise. Rebounders in particular have a firm mat to allow a better bounce and may even give better results than a mini trampoline. They are typically high quality, safe, and portable.  Rebounding works by jumping on a rebounder, at a speed chosen by you. You can also incorporate rebounding with rest periods or aerobic stepping to pace yourself and do a well-rounded circuit.  There are so many health benefits of jumping on a trampoline. When you jump on a trampoline, it engages many parts of the body at once. You use the muscles of your legs, back, buttocks, and abdominal core, and you also stimulate your lymphatic system. This makes it a wonderful full-body workout.  Is Rebounding Good Exercise? Rebounding has a long list of benefits and serves as a low-impact fitness option for people of all ages and sizes. Benefits include:  Lymphatic System Boost (Detoxification)—the lymphatic system is a complex network of organs, tissues, and vessels, designed to drain toxins, waste, viruses, and other unwanted materials from the body. It collects excess particulates and fluids and moves what’s collected back into the bloodstream to help maintain fluid levels and basically works like a drainage system. This drainage depends on your movements and gravity to work properly. When you engage in trampoline exercise or bounce on a rebounder, the body creates a vacuum of sorts, putting the lymphatic system into overdrive and ridding your body of excess lymphatic fluid. Lymphatic System Boost (Decreased Cellulite)—similarly, the lymphatic system is also responsible for stagnant lymph systems. Basically, fat collects in the form of cellulite, largely due to a lack of movement and maldistribution of body fluids. When you bounce, the lymphatic flow increases and helps to decrease and disperse both hereditary and non-hereditary cellulite.  Building Bone and Muscle Mass—rebounding puts minimal pressure on the bones and joints. In fact, it actually strengthens the skeletal system over time. It increases the amount of G-force on the body, which promotes building muscle mass and improves both bone density and bone mass.  Improving Posture and Balance—another key benefit of rebounding is the way it engages your core muscles. This, coupled with increased muscle mass in properly developed muscles, results in better posture. It also increases your balance, coordination, and overall motor skills, especially after long-term rebounding. Rebounding is also shown to reduce lumbar back pain! Decreased Cholesterol and Improved Blood Sugar—interestingly, rebounding helps to limit the amount of cholesterol in your body and has a positive impact on blood sugar levels. Weight Loss—since rebounding is a cardiovascular exercise, it is an excellent tool in helping you lose weight. Bouncing speeds up the heart rate and increases metabolism, resulting in a higher caloric burn. For some great mini trampoline exercises, head over to our guide! Low Impact—as mentioned, rebounding is very low-impact, much more so than running. This helps protect your ankles and knees from shock and possible injury. It’s especially ideal for the elderly, or people with joint injuries and bone weakening conditions. Just make sure your rebounder has a safety balance bar. Improved Blood Flow—the bouncing motion increases your heart rate, speeding up your blood flow. This increase in blood flow has a positive effect on every part of your body, including your skin and hair. It also encourages and improves cell repair processes, allowing your body to recover faster. Increased Collagen Production—if all of the above still isn’t enough for you to “jump aboard,” rebounding even for just small amounts of time regularly helps boost collagen production. It also decreases the production of cortisol which helps minimize collagen loss.    Boosts Mood and Relieves Stress—there are numerous studies that link physical exercises to the release of happy chemicals in the brain. This relieves stress and boosts your mood, in addition to calming the nervous system and flushing cortisol from the body. Plus, bouncing is an extremely fun activity. You just can’t be sad while doing it!  Tips for Rebounding Now that you know rebounding is good for you, keep in mind there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to how much time you spend doing it.  Age, weight, and any underlying health conditions should always be factored in.  Generally, 10 minutes is a safe time limit, especially for beginners.  Choose your rebounder based on your height and weight to prevent damage to the rebounder and yourself. Before starting any new exercise routine, consult with your doctor. Rebounding exercise is a fun and easy way to incorporate more movement into your day and support your health and fitness, without causing undue damage to your joints. Doing a rebounding workout improves bone mass, muscle mass, lymphatic drainage, and weight loss, and it's a great cardio exercise for your entire body. You’d really be hard-pressed to find any downside! So, what are you waiting for? Check out all the best rebounders and mini trampolines from SkyBound USA.
9 Mini Trampoline Exercises to Lose Weight

Trampoline Resources

9 Mini Trampoline Exercises to Lose Weight

by Kiki Ji on Dec 02 2020
 It’s not a stretch to suggest that our modern-day world is often a sedentary lifestyle. Many spend their whole day in front of some kind of screen, whether sitting in a chair, reclining on a couch, or lounging in a bed.  As comfy as that sounds, the unfortunate reality is that it can cause your body to weaken and deteriorate at a rapid pace. Without daily movement and exercise, your body can start losing necessities like muscle and bone density.  Even so, let’s be honest. Not many actually like tearing their muscles over and over again, sweating buckets, and putting in a superhuman effort to be physically fit. Enter the beauty of mini trampolines. What is Mini Trampoline Exercise? Trampoline exercise, also known as rebounding, is an aerobic exercise designed to strengthen your muscles and bones, plus increase your endurance and flexibility.  So, what is rebounding exercise? It’s a convenient way to engage your whole body in exercise to become stronger and faster, while also having a great time. It has a wide range of benefits and there are plenty of ways to incorporate it into your workouts.  Note that there are different types of trampolines. For adults who want to use them for exercising, it is best to opt for mini trampolines. This is because they are closer ground, making them more stable and secure and reducing the risk of injury. Mini trampolines are strategically designed for aerobic exercise, with different models available to accommodate different height and weight ranges.  Benefits of Mini Trampoline Exercise for Weight Loss The benefits of rebounding are multifold. They include: Improved mental health due to the release of hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline.  Better coordination, balance, and posture by strengthening muscles and bones, plus sharper reflexes to help maintain balance and coordination.  Full-body workouts by engaging the abdominal core and back muscles for balance, along with legs and buttocks to overcome the effects of gravity.  Improved blood, oxygen, and nutrient flow as it pushes the heart rate higher because of the adrenaline rush.  Increased lymphatic flow and lymphatic drainage, which strengthens the immune system, flushes out toxins and helps maintain fluid levels.  Faster weight loss from increased metabolism and detoxing. Best Mini Trampoline Exercises Sure, even just jumping on a trampoline has many health benefits. However, you can increase the benefits of jumping on a trampoline by performing certain exercises while rebounding. A few to try include: Jump Squats—consider this one a leg day essential. Squats are both effective on the ground and off it. Jump squats build and strengthen the leg, hip, and glute muscles. Develop a steady bounce, placing your feet hip-width apart. Widen your stance every time you jump, lowering your body just below the knees. Hold this position and repeat.  Jogging—this is a great one to help you adjust to the feel of a bouncy surface. It’s low-impact cardio that’s suitable for all levels and age groups. Keep your back aligned and feet hip wide to minimize strain and maximize benefits. Jog in place for as long as you can handle. Speed Bounce—this exercise engages the thighs, buttocks, lower back, and legs, and it’s a great way to make your workout more intense. Start with a steady bounce and flex the hips, leaning forward slightly as you increase your bouncing speed.  Twists—this move engages the full body including your core, legs, and upper body. Stand centered on your trampoline and begin a steady bounce. While you bounce, twist your legs to one side as you twist your upper body to the other, ensuring you keep your hips and core tight. Alternate repetitively.  Jumping Jacks—these have long been excellent cardio exercise, both on solid ground and on mini trampolines. The bonus is that using a mini trampoline as a surface for jumping jacks allows your joints and bones to absorb less impact than on the ground, which allows you to go for longer periods of time. Start with a steady bounce and alternate between closed and open legs, simultaneously moving your arms away from the body and up above your head in a circular motion and then down again.  Seated Bounce—best used as a warm-up, seated bounces make for an ideal mini trampoline exercise for beginners. It engages the upper body, core, and thighs at the same time. Start by sitting on the edge of the trampoline with your knees bent and your feet placed on the floor. Push yourself up and down in a bouncing motion using your thighs.  Ab Rocks—as the name suggests, ab rocks are designed to engage the core muscles while sitting down. Place your feet firm on the ground and seat yourself on the edge of the mini trampoline. Lie back with your hands placed behind the back. Bring your knees in towards your midsection, while pushing your lower back and stomach into the trampoline.  High Knee Punches—we dub this one ideal for experts or people with boxing experience. It is a more intense exercise than jogging alone and completely engages the arms and legs. Start by jogging in place, moving your knees up to chest-height (or as close as possible), while bringing your hands close to your chin. Punch using the arm opposite to the knee you’ve lifted.  Planks—arguably one of the most intense whole body moves that engages nearly every major muscle group, it’s even more intense propped on your mini trampoline. Depending on your ability, hold yourself in a push-up position on your forearms or palms. You can also lift a single leg at a time to modify its intensity.  Hold this position for no less than 30 seconds.  Trampoline training, a rebounding workout, trampolining-- whatever you want to call it, it's clear that there are numerous cardio workout options that can raise your heart rate and burn fat all with a simple fitness trampoline. The best mini trampoline exercises are those that challenge you without being too difficult. So, check out all the best options from SkyBound USA! We have a variety of mini trampolines for you to choose from to get the best work out in. Remember to warm up and cool down to maximize the benefits of your mini trampoline workouts and above all… have fun!  Coming from: https://www.bellicon.com/gb_en/news/news-and-events/mini-trampoline-exercises
16 Health Benefits of Jumping on a Trampoline

Trampoline Resources

16 Health Benefits of Jumping on a Trampoline

by Kiki Ji on Dec 02 2020
Trampolines aren’t just fun apparatuses for kids, they’re great entertainment for adults too. And, not only are they a ton of fun, they actually provide quite the workout!  In fact, trampolines have been used for fitness for decades, probably since some time in the 1980s. In the year 2000, trampolining even became recognized as an Olympic sport. If that doesn’t tell you a little something about how beneficial it can be to your fitness, we got nothin’!  Whether it’s a large trampoline you jump on while playing with the kiddos, or a small trampoline or rebounder you use exclusively for working out, there’s no denying that trampolines and rebounding exercise can provide numerous health and wellness benefits that should not be ignored.  Benefits of Jumping on a Trampoline Improves Blood Flow  Jumping on a trampoline is classified as a cardiovascular or aerobic exercise. This means that it increases your heart rate, pumping your blood through your body faster. This increase in blood flow affects every part of your body positively. For the same reasons, it also improves your heart health.  Full-Body Engagement Bouncing on a trampoline engages all the major parts of the body. It forces your leg muscles to work hard to balance out the gravity and push you upward. It also causes the muscles in the legs and buttocks to contract and release frequently, which in turn makes them stronger and helps tone them. Hello, sexy hams!  Bouncing also uses your abdominal core as you twist to stay balanced and move in the air, making your abdominal and back muscles contract each time you jump. Builds Muscle Mass Since jumping on a trampoline increases something called g-force, it engages all your major muscles and bones. G-force is the force that’s generated when you jump into the air, and gravity and acceleration force you back down.  Imagine jumping into the air on a trampoline. You have a split-second moment where you’re utterly weightless before gravity takes effect and pushes you back down to earth. The bigger and higher your jump, the stronger the g-force.  The effects of g-force ultimately result in an increase of muscle mass and muscle tone, so that you can withstand the impact without injury. To learn how to build muscle and burn fat rebounding, check out our article on mini trampoline exercises to lose weight.  Increases Bone Density  Jumping on a trampoline has also been shown to have a positive effect on your bone mass. Bones—much like muscles—can grow weaker without regular exercise. However, they typically become stronger under stress. Jumping on a trampoline forces your whole body to experience the impact of g-force. That means your bones grow stronger as a way to withstand it.  Increases Oxygen and Nutrient Flow Trampoline health benefits don’t stop there. The blood in your body carries oxygen and other nutrients with it. When you jump, your lung capacity increases. As your lung capacity grows, your blood flow also increases With increased blood flow, the amount of oxygen that every organ receives is boosted significantly. This oxygen boost makes you feel alert and energized.  Increased oxygen saturation also makes your body inhospitable to germs and harmful cells, which can help improve your body’s resistance to colds, cases of flu, and other diseases. Enhances Endurance, Flexibility, and Strength As mentioned, jumping on a trampoline engages all the major parts of your body. Since your whole body is moving and working, it enhances your endurance and stamina, strengthens your muscles, and improves your flexibility. It’s like oiling up with invisible lube to optimize your performance.  Minimizes Impact on Joints and Bones  Unlike most aerobic exercises, jumping on a trampoline does not create strain on your joints and bones. That means you can work out longer, without feeling pressure or worse, pain in your joints. Increases Lymphatic Flow The lymphatic system is responsible for maintaining healthy fluid levels in your body, draining waste and toxins, and infusing your bloodstream with lymphocytes that help boost your immune system.  Trampolining increases your lymph flow because of the alternating sensations of weightlessness and double g-force. Think of it kind of like jumping up and down with a garbage can that has a flip lid.  When you jump, gravity forces the lid down. When you drop back down to the ground, the lid flies up. Similarly, this is how your lymph valves work when flushing your lymphatic system. Improves Your Immune System  Trampolining reinforces your entire immune system, helping to make it stronger, by enriching it with nutrients and cleaning out toxins at a rapid rate. Lymphocytes, also called white blood cells, are designed to defend your body against attacks from germs, bacteria, and viruses. Rebounding increases the number of white blood cells up to 3 times, and transports these cells through your body to help create a strong line of defense.  Improves Digestion Did we mention the tummy benefits yet? The rhythmic up-and-down motion of jumping on a trampoline promotes the contraction and release of the muscles in your small and large intestine, along with the rest of your digestive tract. This helps promote better absorption of nutrients in your body, reinforcing overall good overall health, and reducing the likelihood of uncomfy constipation. No small thing, since many believe constipation to be the mother of all disease! Improves Coordination and Posture Jumping on a trampoline has been shown to have a positive effect on balance, coordination, and posture. No big surprise there! Jumping strengthens your back and abdominal muscles, and when those muscles get stronger, it automatically improves your posture. Jumping also stimulates the ocular nerves and inner ear canals, conditioning your body to react faster and allowing it to better coordinate between muscles and reduce your risks of falling.  Promotes Detoxification  Since the lymphatic system naturally flows in an upward direction, the drainage function of your lymphatic system depends entirely on your movements to help circulate lymph fluid through the body. That’s where the bouncing motion comes into play and helps promote lymphatic circulation so that it can gather up all the toxins and flush them out quickly.  Strengthens the Eyes  Interestingly, along with most all other muscles in the body, trampolining also strengthens your eye muscles. This is due to the increases in g-force on the body. When rebounding, you’re helping to stimulate the cells of the eye lenses, which may even restore their original shape and function. Who knew? Reduces Varicose Veins  Since regular rebounding increases blood flow, it also helps reduce the pressure caused by varicose veins, and may even decrease the pain and inflammation that often comes with them. Promotes Weight Loss As mentioned, jumping on a trampoline increases your metabolic rate, prompting your body to burn through calories faster. This causes weight loss. The increases in your lymphatic flow also help you in losing weight and have even been shown to help reduce the appearance of cellulite.  Rebounding is considered to be a much more efficient form of exercise than jumping or running. Twice as effective in fact, according to a NASA study, but only as long as g-force is kept to about 4. Promotes Mental Health  Finally, arguably one of the best benefits of jumping on a trampoline—although potentially true of most all other exercises, too—is the rush of chemicals and positive hormones that flood the brain when you exert yourself for a period of time. These goodies include adrenaline, resulting in more energy and sharper reflexes, dopamine, considered the “feel good” chemical, and serotonin, the chemical that stabilizes your mood and impacts your overall health, including eating, sleeping, and digestion. There’s no mistaking how good for you jumping on a trampoline can be. Trampoline jumping can improve muscle tone, bone mass, bone density, blood circulation, reduce stress, and aid in the drainage of lymphatic fluid all without placing undue stress on the joints. These multiple benefits that impact not just your physical health, but also your mental and emotional health too. It doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult, either.  So, what is rebounding exercise and who can do it? Rebounding is so simple even the elderly can try a gentle “health” bounce on a sturdy rebounder and reap many rewards. The health bounce is simply bending at the knees and bouncing gently, without letting your feet leave the surface of the trampoline. This can be done for 10 minutes a day to start with, and slowly increases as your strength and ability increases.  Why not let your inner child out to play and experience for yourself the many wonders of jumping on a trampoline? If you’re convinced, check out the variety of trampolines offered by SkyBound! From mini options, to large, full-sized options, we have a high-performance trampoline to fit your needs. Visit our website today for more details!
Trampoline Workouts

Trampoline Resources

Trampoline Workouts

by EcomTarget LLC Collaborator on Apr 21 2019
A piece of gymnastic equipment that children use in the backyard has an illustrious history that shows its importance for athletes and fitness-conscious adults. Two gymnasts at the University of Iowa invented the trampoline in 1934, and competitive trampolining allows men and women to compete at the Olympics. The benefits of “jumping for joy” can belong to anyone who uses a trampoline for fun or physical exercise. Working Out on a Trampoline While exercise on a rebounder or trampoline may seem easy, it requires more energy than one imagines. The effort that goes into it produces about “70 percent more effectiveness” in fitness than jogging for the same amount of time, according to Live Strong. Each bounce fights the pull of gravity, making it use more energy than walking or jogging. WebMD suggests a basic exercise on the trampoline that starts with a simple bounce that burns “a lot of calories.” Steps: Stand on a trampoline with your feet comfortably apart at about 6 inches. Bend your arms while you keep your elbows close to your sides. Bend your knees slightly, and start gently bouncing up and down. Continue the exercise for 30 bounces. As you get familiar with the equipment, you can advance to doing prances that increase your heart rate and let you feel the effect of working out. Steps: Start with the basic position with your feet about 6 inches apart. Place your hands on your hips, and bend your knees slightly. Complete your bounces on the balls of your feet. Mimic running-in-place by lifting one knee and then the other to hip level. Continue the exercise for 30 repetitions for each leg. Getting an Effective Cardio Workout on a Trampoline Alternating periods of rest and exercise lets you manage the rate of increase in your heartbeat as you do your workout. Some fitness experts recommend working out for a minute and resting a minute, or you may prefer small increments of 30 seconds of exercise and 30 seconds of rest. The exercises may look simple, but they require a significant amount of exertion. When you do a cardio workout, you need to prepare for the intensity by calculating your recommended maximum heart rate. Mayo states that it changes with age so that you need to start by subtracting your number of years from 220. Keep your heart beats per minute below the number that results from the calculation. Considering the Muscles that Trampoline Workouts Affect As soon as you start exercising on a trampoline, you become aware of its effect on your whole body. Healthy Living enumerates the effects on the muscles that work together to give you a healthy exercise routine. Cardiac Jumping up and down on a trampoline creates a high-intensity cardio exercise that increases the blood and oxygen supply to your muscles. The benefits of cardio include keeping your heart healthy, lowering your blood pressure and reducing the risk of blood clots and heart attack. Legs Without impacting your joints, a trampoline exercise gives your legs an intense workout. The jumps that you do on a rebounder or trampoline involve your hamstrings, quadriceps, and calves as they refresh the muscles with vital nutrients. The exercise helps build strength in your knee and ankle joints. Glutes Many muscles in your hip and butt benefit from a trampoline exercise, and they provide the force to lift you up and help you land when you do jumps. The gluteus maximus seems more widely known than the others that work with it. Essential for balance as you jump, they rely on the hip adductors and flexors as well. Abdomen The muscles in your abdomen make up the core group that affects your balance and supports your back. As you strengthen them, you can lose belly fat and build the muscles that prevent backache. Cardiovascular exercises help you trim weight from all areas of your body as well as your abdomen. Deciding How Long to Work Out Time magazine reported on study findings by the American Council on Exercise that equates 20 minutes on a trampoline to running 6 miles per hour, riding a bike or playing basketball. It qualifies as a “moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise,” but students in the study thought it felt like light-to-moderate. Make sure to include warm up and cool down periods of a few minutes each before and after your workout. Fortune cites recommendations from the Centers for Prevention and Disease Control for adults to get 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly or 75 minutes of “vigorous-intensity aerobic activity.” The study found that less than 25 percent of Americans get enough exercise. Comparing Calories Burned The amount of calories that your body can burn depends on how much you weigh and heavier bodies can burn more than lighter ones. A half-hour on an elliptical trainer burns 335 for a 155-pound body. A period of 30 minutes in a round of golf with a cart burns 130. Mowing a lawn with a push mower for the same time uses 167 calories. If you weigh 150 pounds and work out on a trampoline for 30 minutes, you may burn 125 calories. The amount that you can burn depends on genetic and other factors that you cannot control, but you can increase the intensity of trampolining by holding weights or swinging your arms. Online calculators for calories burned while trampoline jumping can give you a fairly precise estimate. Determining the Effectiveness of a Trampoline Workout Almost every kind of exercise produces effective results, but trampolining has benefits that make it a valuable addition to your workout routine. The springs or bungee bands that make a trampoline or a small version called a rebounder to absorb the impact on your joints and the soft tissue that surrounds them. In a NASA study cited by Dr. Axe, he notes that the activity distributes G-forces more evenly to the forehead, back and ankle than running that places most of the pressure on the ankles. The reduction of joint pain and injuries makes trampolining a wise choice. Aerobics Significant benefits come from aerobic exercise that strengthens your heart. An increase in oxygen that nourishes the cells seems to produce more effectiveness on a trampoline than on a treadmill. Immune System Exercise on a rebounder may increase the circulation of lymphatic fluids which enhance the immune system by generating more activity in white blood cells. Your body depends on the lymphatic system to flush out toxins, and the gravitational pull that you experience on a trampoline may help influence it. Balance Exercises on a rebounder or a trampoline improve physical strength and the development of muscles that help you sense the orientation of your body. You may want to check your balance by closing your eyes and standing on one leg, and then try it again after two months of trampoline exercises. Brain Endorphins that the brain produces when you exercise make you feel good naturally. Bouncing on your rebounder when you get home after a workday increases your blood circulation and helps relax your muscles. The stress of the day can disappear when you clear your mind and escape from tension by bouncing on your workout equipment.
How much is a trampoline?

Trampoline Resources

How much is a trampoline?

by EcomTarget LLC Collaborator on Apr 21 2019
Trampolines are not only fun to jump on, but they also provide a way to get in some exercise. If you are in the market for a trampoline, you will find that they range in price greatly. Here are some of the factors that affect how much a trampoline costs as well as where you can purchase this fun, recreational item. Factors That Affect The Price Size The size of a trampoline will affect how much it costs. In general, the larger a trampoline is the more you can expect to pay for it. This is why it is crucial to really research trampolines before purchasing one so you can determine what size you actually need. There’s a good chance that you don’t need a large trampoline and can get away with purchasing a smaller, less expensive one. These sizes include: 12 Feet 14 Feet 15 Feet 11 x 16 Feet 11 x 18 Feet Brand The brand of a trampoline may impact the cost of it. More popular brands will tend to cost more. This often is because they have a good reputation and there is a lot of demand for their products. Lesser known brands may be cheaper, but the quality of these products aren’t that well-known. The Condition  If you want to buy a trampoline, but are looking to save some money, then you may want to consider purchasing a used trampoline. With a little bit of searching, you may be able to find a decent trampoline for a good price. While a used trampoline won’t be in perfect condition, you may be able to find one in very good condition at a fraction of the cost of a brand new one. One of the biggest drawbacks to buying a used trampoline is that it won’t come with a warranty. Additional Features Some trampolines will come with additional features. These include things like a net or padding that goes over the springs. While these items are convenient to have, they will have an impact on how much a trampoline costs. Some consumers do purchase trampolines with these additional features, despite the price, because they like the added convenience of having them. Where To Buy Online There are several reasons why you might want to buy a trampoline online. Many consumers choose to buy a trampoline online because it’s cheaper. They can search numerous sites to find the cheapest price for a trampoline they are interested in without having to do a lot of work. Another advantage of buying a trampoline online is that you can have it shipped to your house. While shipping usually isn’t free, it is often worth it as you don’t have to try to transport the trampoline from the store to your house. Even though they come dissembled, they are packaged in large boxes that tend to be heavy. This can make it difficult to get a disassembled trampoline from the store to your house. In Store For many people, they would rather buy a trampoline at a store. This allows them to talk to store associates about their recommendation and compare the trampolines that they have in stock. They can also take home their trampoline right away, after purchasing it, and not have to wait for it to be shipped to their house. From A Private Party If you are looking for a used trampoline rather than a new one, then you can purchase one from a private party. There are quite a few online classified ad pages that have listings for trampolines. Some social media pages also have online marketplaces as well. Keep in mind that not all of these trampolines will be disassembled so you may need to do this yourself. However, they usually will be deeply discounted so you can save quite a bit of money.In conclusion, if you are looking to purchase a trampoline, you have a lot of options. No matter how much you want to spend, you can probably find one that you can afford. Just make sure that you do your research beforehand so you can find a trampoline that fits both your needs and your budget.
The Fun Mom's Guide to Easy Trampoline Activities

Trampoline Resources

The Fun Mom's Guide to Easy Trampoline Activities

by Anthony Haun on Mar 29 2018
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Spring is here. Longer days, warmer weather and green grass hint that summer vacation looms. As a child, you couldn't wait for the long days of lazy playtime. And then you became a mom. As your kids' excitement about summer break increases, your own thoughts of summer vacation turn to panic as you ask yourself how on earth you'll keep your people entertained for an entire summer without breaking the bank.  That's where your backyard trampoline comes in. When you have a backyard trampoline, the options for free and easy ways to entertain your kids are endless. So, grab a few sheets, a hose and some sidewalk chalk. And get ready to get the most out of your trampoline — and your summer— with these ideas for the best ways to entertain your kids on the trampoline.  Go Backyard Camping on Your Trampoline Backyard camping for kids is a great way to make memories. But let's be honest. A weekend away can take serious planning and serious cash.  Ditch the campground. How about camping adventures in your backyard instead? It's simple, really. Let's start with a tutorial on how to use a trampoline as a tent.  1. Grab some pillows and blankets, and spread them out over the surface of the trampoline. Hang a few sheets around the sides to make it feel like a cozy fort or, if you love embracing DIY backyard camping ideas for kids, sew four king-sized sheets together and then drape them over the top and down the sides to create a tent. If you want to incorporate stargazing into your camping experience, make sure you leave the top uncovered.  2. Once you've got your tent set up, light up your nearby firepit or fire up the grill, and get to cooking at a safe distance away from the trampoline. Hot dogs and marshmallows are always a hit as standard campfire food— what's a campout without a s'more or two! — but since you're at your house and still have access to a stove and fridge, the sky is the limit for what you can prepare.  3. Employ some of the best trampoline games for sleepovers to keep your family amused. You may want to tell funny ghost stories while you are all in your sleeping bags or have a bouncy pillow fight. Materials Needed For Camping Out On Your Trampoline In The Backyard:  Pillows Sheets Blankets Clothespins to secure the sheets in place Sewing machine if you plan to sew the sheets together Grill or firepit, and favorite camping foods. Stay safe while camping in your backyard by putting out the fire in the pit before you go to sleep. Set up a DIY Movie Theater on the Trampoline Movie night on the trampoline is a great activity to do in tandem with a campout or on its own. Grab a large white sheet and hang it securely across one side of the trampoline's mesh siding.  Set up a projector connected to a source to play the movie, aim it at the sheet and wait for it to get dark, at which point you can switch the projector on and show the movie on the sheet. Don't have a projector nearby? You can project videos, images, and games from your smartphone using this Smartphone Projector. You can even amplify the sound on your smartphone using some common household items!   For the cherry on top, don't forget some homemade popcorn. To get the authentic theater feel, you can make movie theatre popcorn at your own home using butter, coconut oil, popcorn kernels, and salt.  Not only is this a great family activity, but using the trampoline for seating means you'll have enough space for your kids to invite friends over, too.  Materials Needed To Set Up A Movie Theater On Your Trampoline: White sheet Projector Laptop or DVD player to connect to the projector and movies Optional Items: 2 Plastic Cups Cardboard Tube Smartphone Projector Homemade Theater Popcorn Water Play on a Trampoline The combination of water play and trampolines is a touchy subject. If children are left unsupervised or a trampoline is in poor condition, water can quickly become a safety hazard. However, if your trampoline is in good working order and there's a trusted adult watching over all the activities, a trampoline can be a great way to keep kids cool when the mercury starts to rise. Try these games: Grab your sprinkler and place it beneath the trampoline. Adjust the water to come through the trampoline, and let the kids cool off in the spray.  Instead of a sprinkler, turn on the hose. Have or an adult spray a stream of water into the trampoline while each child takes a turn jumping through the spray. If you angle the water to catch the sunlight just right, it will create a rainbow for the kids to jump through. Fill up a bucket of water balloons for a good, old-fashioned water balloon fight on the trampoline. This is sure to keep kids busy, especially if you have them fill up the balloons before playtime and take care of cleanup after. The mess will be contained to the trampoline, and you won't find broken balloon pieces around your backyard for months.  Water balloon jumping can be great fun. Fill up a large batch of water balloons and place them all in the middle of the trampoline. As the kids jump around, the water balloons will bounce and pop unexpectedly.  Blowing bubbles can be a great trampoline activity as well. Have an adult stand outside of the trampoline and blow bubbles inside for the kids to jump over and pop. Have the kids compete to see who can pop the highest bubble. This can make the trampoline very slippery, so make sure children are very careful when bouncing. Materials Needed: Sprinkler Hose Water balloons Bubbles and various bubble wands. Non-Water Games on a Trampoline Water play and trampolines can be a messy topic — both literally and because of the safety debate. So, if you're looking for games that err on the side of caution and won't need as much cleanup, we've got you covered. Again, all require proper adult supervision.  Do you have a group of kids of different ages? Here are some of the best trampoline games for toddlers that older kids can also enjoy: Marco Polo Remember the old pool game Marco Polo? Revive it on the trampoline by having one child stand in the middle with their eyes closed while the others fan out around them. Have the one in the middle yell "Marco!" while the others take turns yelling "Polo" and moving around the trampoline to avoid being touched by the kid with closed eyes. The first one to be "found" becomes the new "Marco."  Trampoline Twister™ Trampoline Twister™ takes a classic board game outside. While you can certainly use the actual Twister set, we think it's more fun to use sidewalk chalk to draw the colored dots directly onto the trampoline. The traditional game has five dots each of yellow, blue, red and green. You can either use the spinner from an indoor version of Twister or let the kids take turns calling out directions to the group.   Rock, Paper, Scissors Just like the old-school hand game, Rock, Paper, Scissors is a way for kids to one-up each other on the trampoline. Instead of using hand motions, kids perform a different "trick" on the trampoline depending on the item they choose. The "rock" is landing on your knees, the "paper" is landing flat, and the "scissors" is landing in a seated position. Trampoline Popcorn In Trampoline Popcorn, one child sits in the middle of the trampoline hugging their knees to their chest. Instruct the other children to jump around them and try to make the one in the middle "pop" up into their air. As with all trampoline play, avoid allowing too large a group of children to jump together at the same time. Balloon Bumping Toss traditional latex balloons or beach balls onto the trampoline. Kids will love chasing them around and jumping up to hit them through the air.  Materials Needed: Colored sidewalk chalk Optional Twister game Latex balloons Beach balls. Making Chalk Art on a Trampoline Trampoline play doesn't have to be all about jumping around, especially if you have several kids to entertain at once. Turn the surface into a giant blackboard, hand your kids a few sticks of sidewalk chalk and see what happens. Here are a few suggestions to get started: HOPSCOTCH: Draw the traditional hopscotch board on the trampoline and let them hop their way from 1 to 10.  TWISTER: As we mentioned earlier, Twister is a great game to play on the trampoline. Use chalk to draw the colored dots and watch your kids twist themselves silly. TIC TAC TOE: X's and O's abound in this old-school game. Use a damp cloth to wipe the "board" and start fresh. MURAL ART: Let your little artist decide what to create. The trampoline is a blank canvas ready for their pictures and stories to come to life.  Materials Needed: Sidewalk chalk. Non-Traditional Ways to Use a Trampoline Besides outdoor camping and movies, there are a lot of non-traditional backyard fun ideas for kids that your family can enjoy with a trampoline, such as: Stargazing: Similar to camping, but less of a time commitment. Grab a pillow and blanket, and meet your family outside under the stars. Everyone can lay comfortably on their backs on the trampoline to gaze up.   Board games: Having a large, flat space to spread out on is perfect for Monopoly or Risk or even a card game or two. And there's always space for extra players. Dance parties: Turn up the music and bust a move on the trampoline. The flexible surface can spice up the moves of even the most reluctant dancer. You can also string lights around the trampoline in advance and turn it into party central. Materials Needed: Pillows Blankets Board games Music player. Educational Uses for a Trampoline Just because it's summertime doesn't mean your kiddos should stop learning. Use your trampoline to keep their minds sharp and be the mom who can brag to her friends that her kids spent the summer learning. Start by writing the entire alphabet around the periphery of the trampoline. Add numbers inside of the letters. Then let the games begin:  Jump from letter to letter. Call out a letter and have your kids jump on top of it. To make it a little more challenging, add an additional instruction. For example, say "Find letter B. Now jump on it five times!" For the older kids, give them a word and have them jump from letter to letter to spell the word.  Instead of having them spell words, call out a combination of numbers and letters and have them repeat the combination by jumping on each one.  Materials Needed: Sidewalk chalk. Pool Noodle Trampoline Hack Pool noodles are a fun and safe addition to trampoline play. But, besides being a great toy, they're actually a helpful tool to use to make your trampoline safer.  If the springs of your trampoline are exposed by a worn or missing mat, pool noodles are a great way to easily and cheaply cover them up. For this project, you'll need approximately 10 pool noodles (depending on the size of your trampoline) and box cutters or a pair of scissors. Then follow the instructions below: Before you start cutting the pool noodles, measure the length of the spring. Make sure you account for the fact that the springs stretch out while in use, and adjust your measurements accordingly. Measure off each noodle to match the length of the springs and cut them to the correct length. Repeat this step until you have one piece of pool noodle for each spring.  Once all of the pieces are divided, cut along one entire side of the noodle to create an opening you can use to wrap the foam around the springs. If you don't want to cut into each piece of foam, you can remove one spring at a time and slide the piece of pool noodle over the spring until the spring is completely encased in foam, then put it back in place.  Once all of the pieces have been cut, slide them onto each spring until they cover the entire trampoline.  Not only does this protect kids from the dangers of trampoline springs, but it is a great way to make your trampoline look more fun.  Materials Needed: Pool noodles — the number will vary depending on the size of your trampoline Scissors or box cutter. Easy Ways to Entertain Your Child for Free With a Trampoline When all is said and done, a trampoline is a great way to give your kids a memorable summer vacation without spending a fortune. All it takes is a little advance planning and creativity. Is that intimidating? Nah — it shouldn't be. With our guide to summer trampoline fun, you're all set.  By the way, in case you haven't noticed, some of these games would be pretty fun for adults, too. We promise not to tell if you and your friends head out to the trampoline after the kids are in bed. See the Fun You Can Have With SkyBound USA Trampoline and Accessories SkyBound USA has been providing trampoline parts since 2009. Our Orange County-based company has expanded to include premium trampolines, and we love designing quality, high-performance trampolines and providing customers with award-winning service and support.  Standardizing safety and excellence on every level, SkyBound USA combines a desire to promote an active lifestyle for children with nurturing the inner-child in everyone by designing innovative products the whole family will love. Our Orion trampoline features a safety mat to cover the trampoline springs and also act as a secondary safety barrier under the safety pad. We use this feature to protect jumpers from falling in between the springs or pinching themselves.  Trampoline safety is a very real worry in this day and age. SkyBound USA understands the concerns that surround trampoline play, and we work tirelessly to promote safety through our quality products and education of our users. For more on our safety advocacy, read our blog.   Now that you've seen how much fun a trampoline can be, don't miss out on all the summer entertainment. Whether you're in the market for your first trampoline or you're rekindling a love affair with this backyard entertainment that harkens back to your own childhood, give us a call. We can help you make the right selection for you and your family. For more information, visit SkyBound USA or call us at 888-891-4689.
The History of the Trampoline

Trampoline Resources

The History of the Trampoline

by Anthony Haun on Mar 22 2018
1
For most people living today, the trampoline has been something that has always been around. Plenty of people have fun memories of jumping on a trampoline in their own or a friend's backyard during the spring or summer.  But have you ever thought about the history of the trampoline? Who got the idea to invent the first trampoline, and what gave that person that idea? On top of that, when was the first trampoline made? In many ways, the trampoline is as old as human history itself. However, the version of the trampoline most people are familiar with dates back to the early 20th century. Where Did Trampolines Come From? Trampolines are most likely much older than you think. Ancient cultures are believed to have used an apparatus similar to today's trampolines for fun and recreation. Evidence of these early day trampolines can be seen in drawings created by people living in ancient Egypt, Persia and China.  Beyond ancient cultures, there is more evidence of early use of trampolines or trampoline-like devices. In some cases, the use of the equipment might not be what you'd expect. 1. Inuit Blanket Toss The Inuit people live in Alaska and Arctic parts of Canada. They created something called the "Blanket Toss," which uses a device very similar to the modern trampoline. A group of 30 or more people will stand in a circle, around the edge of a large, circular piece of walrus skin. Each person will pick up the side of the skin, and one person will climb on top of the surface. The others will push in on the skin, then pull it taut so the person standing on top flies into the air. These days, the Blanket Toss is all fun and games. The people who get tossed into the air often throw candy into the crowd. The goal of the game is to either see who can jump the highest or who can stay standing the longest. If a person falls instead of landing on their feet, their turn is over. Initially, though, the Blanket Toss played an essential role in hunting. The person who volunteered for the Blanket Toss was able to see much further than those on the ground while in the air. This meant they could see where any potential prey — or predators — were lurking in the distance. The Blanket Toss initially fell out of favor around the beginning of the 1900s. But renewed interest in it as a cultural activity led to its return in the 1930s. Nowadays, the Blanket Toss often takes place during festivals and other special events. 2. Firefighters' Safety Net  Another early form of the trampoline was something known as a Browder Life Net. If you've ever watched a cartoon where a group of firefighters break out what looks like a large trampoline and encourage someone to leap from a burning building onto it, you've seen a Browder Life Net in action. The device is named after its inventor, who first patented it in 1887.  The concept behind the life net seemed to be that the canvas fabric stretched taut across a metal ring would provide enough bounce to sufficiently break a person's fall. The reality is that in some cases, the safety nets weren't so safe. While the nets often proved useful if people had to leap from a window on the second, third or even fifth floor, they typically didn't save lives when people had to jump from the seventh floor or higher.  Despite the fact that they weren't particularly helpful when it came to preventing death or serious injury, the safety nets remained in use up until the 1970s. By that point, many fire trucks had ladders that could reach high enough to help rescue people trapped in the upper floors of a burning building. Who Invented the First Trampoline? The earliest form of the trampoline as you know it dates to the 1930s. George Nissen, a swimmer and gymnast, was inspired by a trapeze act he saw at a traveling circus, which was performing in his hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The trapeze artists finished their performances by landing on a safety net and bouncing away. Nissen thought it would be cool if the artists continued to jump and use the safety net as a springboard for more tricks.  It was that inspiration that led him to create the proto-trampoline, in his parents' garage, in 1934. He called his creation a "bouncing rig." It initially featured a sheet of canvas stretched across a rectangular frame, made from steel.  With the help of his gymnastics coach, Larry Griswold, the barely 20-year-old Nissen added inner tube tires to the design. The tires connected the canvas to the frame and gave it more bounce. Those tires would eventually be replaced with springs. Nissen didn't come up with the name "trampoline" for his invention until later on. He took his bouncing rig on the road, performing in an act called the "Three Leonardos." While performing in Mexico, Nissen learned the Spanish word for a diving board is "trampolin." He stuck an "e" onto the end of the word and had a name he could trademark: "trampoline." Nearly a decade after he and Griswold first invented and then refined the trampoline, the pair started their own company, the Griswold-Nissen Trampoline & Tumbling Company. The brand began to produce and sell the trampolines commercially.  Trampolines for Fun From the early days, trampolines proved to be crowd pleasers, especially when kids were involved. Nissen and Griswold often took their trampolines to schools, where they demonstrated how to use them during assemblies and invited schoolchildren to participate. Across the U.S., "jump centers" appeared at gas stations. While parents filled up their gas tanks, kids could take a break and jump on trampolines.  The pair also tried to invent games designed for playing on a trampoline.  One such game is "Spaceball," which was played on a rectangular trampoline that had a net stretched across the middle and raised sides. In some ways similar to volleyball or tennis, the goal of the game was to send a ball through a hole in the net over to the opponent's side. Unfortunately, the game never really caught on, so you're unlikely to come across many — if any — spaceball courts these days. Trampolines in the Military and Space Program In the early days, trampolines weren't only for kids playing in the backyard or for acrobats and gymnasts. The U.S. military and later on, the Russian and U.S. space programs, found a use for trampolines as training devices. During the second world war, the military used trampolines to train pilots. The feeling of weightlessness a person feels while jumping in the air on a trampoline is similar to the sensation of weightlessness while flying or in space.  Nissen himself had a hand in convincing the military to use the trampoline as part of its training program. Thanks to his efforts, his fledgling company got so many orders for the equipment that he ended up having to delay enlisting in the armed forces himself. The military's involvement with trampolines led to a slight change in the construction and design of the device. At the time, nylon webbing was a new fabric, used for parachute straps. Nissen realized it could also replace the canvas fabric in his trampolines, providing a more durable surface, and perhaps most importantly, more bounce. Trampoline World Championships After the war and the space race, trampolines were able to return to being fun again. In 1960, Nissen thought it would be fun to train a kangaroo — rented from a place on Long Island — to jump on the apparatus. During his kangaroo training session, he was able to get the animal to stand on one side of the trampoline while he bounced on the other. The result was a now-iconic picture of Nissen and the kangaroo in mid-air, looking like they're having a grand time. A few years after his kangaroo photo-op, the first Trampoline World Championships took place in London. Twelve countries participated in the first championship competition, with jumpers from the U.S. taking home both the men's and ladies' gold medals. The championships initially took place yearly but switched to an every other year schedule in the 1970s. In 1999, the championships moved again, this time taking place in the year before the Olympics.  Trampolining in the Olympics Although trampolining has been a sport since the 1960s, it didn't make it into the Olympics until the year 2000 for the Sydney Olympics. Trampolining has been part of every summer Olympics since then, with events for both men and women.   During the 2000 games, Aleksandr Moskalenko and Irina Karavayeva, both from Russia, took home the gold. Moskalenko had been a three-time medalist during the Trampoline World Championships and came out of retirement to participate in the first Olympic games.  The Evolution of the Trampoline in the 20th and 21st Century Even from its earliest days, the commercial trampoline has seen a considerable amount of change. In some cases, trampolines evolved as better, more advanced materials became available. One example of that is the switch from canvas to bouncier nylon webbing. Today, most trampolines are made from either a waterproof canvas or woven polypropylene. Another example is the shift from using rubber tires to coil springs to attach the bounce mat material to the frame, and ultimately, the addition of padding around the perimeter of the trampoline. Types of Trampolines Along with a change in the materials used to make trampolines, there has also a been a shift in the kinds of trampolines available. Concerns about safety, resulting from injuries and lawsuits throughout the 20th century, have led to the development of safety features on many trampoline models. You can divide trampolines into two major categories:  Competitive: Competitive trampolines are designed to give a jumper more lift and often come with a much higher price tag. Recreational: If you're looking for a trampoline for your backyard, you're most likely in the market for a recreational one. If you're in the market for a trampoline, there's a lot to consider. Recreational trampolines differ regarding size and shape. Smaller models are often about 8-feet in diameter or across while larger models can be as wide as 16 feet or, in the case of rectangular trampolines, up to 10 by 17 feet. How many people will use the trampoline also time influences the size that's right for you. If just one person will jump at a time, an 8-feet model is sufficient. But if you want to jump with your friends, you'll need a model that's at least 10 feet wide.  How many people will jump at once can also influence the shape of trampoline that works for you. Round trampolines tend to be the most commonly available variety because it is particularly sturdy, without adding a lot of weight. The circular shape also helps to keep a person in the center of the trampoline, rather than close to the edges. If just a single person is bouncing, it's pretty easy for them to stay in the center of the trampoline.  Oval trampolines can often be ideal if more than one person will jump at a time. The oval shape allows each jumper to have their own area of the trampoline to bounce on, which can reduce the chance of people bumping into each other.  However, trampolines don't have to have curved edges — square and rectangular shapes are also available. In fact, rectangular trampolines are the most commonly used shape in competition since they are so large. Another benefit of square or rectangular trampolines is that more than one person can jump at a time with less of a chance of people colliding mid-air.  Safety Concerns That Led to the Trampoline Today One of the critical changes in the design of the modern-day trampoline was the development of particular safety features. A particularly important safety feature on recreational trampolines is the safety net. Ideally, safety nets will surround and enclose the trampoline. They can be made from a range of materials, but polyethylene is often preferable. Polyethylene usually lasts longer than materials such as polyester and polypropylene, which tend to rip more easily because they don't have as much give. Polyethylene is also considerably easier to clean and care for than other materials.  Another key feature of the safety net is the zipper used at the entrance. Kids — and adults — are likely to bounce around freely while using the trampoline. It's crucial that the zipper is strong enough to withstand any force or pressure from bouncing people. Safety pads are another feature developed to protect people while they use the trampoline. The metal springs that attach most jump mats to the trampoline's frame can pinch, poke or otherwise hurt a jumper. A pad that not only provides cushioning in the event of a fall but can also withstand wind, rain and other elements is a must.  Find Quality Trampolines From SkyBound USA Now that you know all about the history and evolution of trampolines, take a look at some of the models available from SkyBound USA. We have trampolines in a range of shapes and sizes. Each one comes complete with safety features to protect your kids from injury. If you have more questions about trampolines or need help choosing the model that's perfect for you, feel free to contact us today. Shop Now
Trampoline Safety: 10 Things Every Parent Should Know

Trampoline Resources

Trampoline Safety: 10 Things Every Parent Should Know

by Ricky L on Mar 09 2018
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Owning a trampoline is an easy way to get fun, accessible exercise for the whole family! If you're considering buying a bouncy addition to your backyard, read these safety tips from SkyBound USA to ensure all your bouncers are safe while having a blast. 
Trampoline Maintenance Guide

Trampoline Resources

Trampoline Maintenance Guide

by Anthony Haun on Jan 23 2018
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Your trampoline is a much-loved, fun, beneficial addition to your household, family and fitness. With its bouncy capabilities, stress relief, body benefits and social opportunities, it adds a little spring to your step and keeps life light. But keeping a trampoline for good times in your backyard takes a little more than just setting it up and leaving it standing all year, unattended until you decide to jump on again. Like any object or investment, trampolines need a little love and extra care to keep them in optimum shape. How can you maintain your trampoline? When should you leave it up, and what are some factors to look out for? We’ll help you stay up-to-date on sustaining that springiness, surviving the seasons and assessing risks. Check out all our tips on trampoline care below. The Importance of Trampoline Care & Maintenance With work, a household to care for and a family to keep happy, life can get awfully busy sometimes. In the midst of everything else you’ve got going on, why should you take the time to spend extra energy on your trampoline? Because it’s worth it! Trampolines provide fun, fitness and quality time for your family, and keeping them in good shape keeps you and your family in good shape, as well. Here’s why you should maintain trampolines: They’re a Good Investment Think about how much you might spend to entertain your family on a regular basis. All those movies, amusement parks, museums, events and activities can add up, and you have to pay again every time you attend. But a trampoline is an affordable one-time investment that can last for years of family fun if you care for it properly. They Keep Kids Active It can be harder and harder to convince your kids to get outside and get moving — with all the games, gadgets and virtual possibilities of the modern world, they might rather be glued to a screen all day. Kids need regular exercise for at least one hour daily, but 74 percent of children aged five to 10 don’t get enough physical activity, and it only worsens as they get older — 90 percent of teenagers don’t get enough exercise to stay healthy. Trampolines take away the “work” factor of exercise and keep kids moving in a fun way that will keep them coming back. The act of bouncing, or rebounding, is healthy for metabolism speed, heart health, bone strength, the immune system and the brain. And think of all the creative mental and social opportunities trampolines offer your kids! They can invent games as they bounce, invite neighborhood friends over to jump together, enjoy the trampoline during parties or outdoor gatherings and even use it as a setting for other kinds of fun, like movie nights and sleepovers. Maintenance Is Cost-Effective The biggest cost you’ll ever experience in caring for your trampoline is actually buying it. Purchasing a cover, keeping the jumping surface clean and replacing worn parts are small costs that are worth your time and will never break the bank. Sustaining Your Trampoline Keeps Your Kids Safe Why do some trampolines break? Lack of care, of course. A trampoline from SkyBound USA is made with safe, strong, high-quality materials that can last for years if properly maintained. The only way a trampoline can be a risk to your kids’ safety is if you don’t perform some easy, regular tasks and checks to make sure everything is in good shape. Maintaining your trampoline lets your kids enjoy simple fun in a safe environment. How to Care for a Trampoline in the Winter When winter brings snow and bitter chills, you bundle your kids in coats, scarves and sweaters and wait for warmer weather as you sip hot chocolate and snuggle up inside. But wait — what about your trampoline? Before you hang your stockings and settle in for the first snow, you should know how to keep your bouncy surface strong through the season. Here are some common concerns about caring for your trampoline in the winter and how to address them: Should You Leave Your Trampoline up During the Winter? Are you wondering how to store a trampoline for winter? If you feel more secure storing your trampoline inside to wait out the frosty weather, you can disassemble the jumping net, soft frame pads, safety net and springs and put them away in a dry place while you leave the metal frame and poles in the yard. If you don’t have the storage space or would rather avoid the hassle, however, you can choose to leave your trampoline up all winter. Just make sure you take the appropriate steps for winterizing and caring for it in the cold. If winter is especially windy in your area, it’s important to secure the trampoline with anchors to avoid the damage and destruction that can come from an airborne trampoline. Should You Cover Your Trampoline in the Winter? If you’re opting to let your trampoline stand through the chillier months but don’t plan to use it, you might want to winterize it by removing the jumping mat and netting to avoid moisture buildup. A cover isn’t necessarily a good idea in the winter if you see heavy snow, however, because it collects snow and moisture buildup that can lead to sagging, mold or frame damage. How Do You Remove Snow From Your Trampoline? You should care for the trampoline you leave outside in the winter by making sure to remove any snow buildup. Use a soft-bristle brush or broom to gently push snow off frames, and if you’re keeping your jumping mat up, clear off snow by pulling it from the center of the mat toward you and off the edge. Soft bristles won’t hurt your trampoline, but make sure to never use shovels, hard bristles or other objects that might damage your mat. Is It Safe to Jump in the Winter? Believe it or not, you can still use your trampoline in the winter and make the most of bouncy winter fun. SkyBound USA trampolines are durable and all-weather resistant, so keep enjoying the thrill of jumping with the added excitement of watching your cloudy puffs of breath fill the air. Like all other times of year, be aware of safety conditions when you jump — make sure the trampoline is anchored down well and double-check that the springs, mat and frame are in good shape. Enjoy! Spring Trampoline Maintenance Tips After the chill of winter has finally passed, it’s time to get some spring cleaning done — and don’t forget to add trampoline care to the list. Here’s what to do when breaking out the bouncy structure again or making sure it weathered the winter: How to Assess Winter Damage After all that cold, wind and freezing moisture, you’ll want to double-check your trampoline for signs of wear, tear and aging before you spring into a warmer season. Look at the poles and frame to see if any parts are worn or rusted, make sure the springs are still coiled tightly and keep an eye out for any bending or damage to the supporting structure. You should also check for any rips, holes, tears or fraying in the jumping mat, enclosure net and frame pad. How to Reassemble Your Trampoline If you chose to store your trampoline inside rather than bounce the cold months away, it’s time to bring it back out of hiding. Carefully pull your jumping mat, safety net, soft frame pads and springs out of storage and bring them outside to where your frame and poles should still be standing. Unfold the mat and net, making sure there are no rips or damage, and reattach the springs to the mat and frame. When your jumping mat is secure again, attach the pads and net. Consult your manual if you need extra assistance. How to Ensure Safety Before the First Use of the Year Whether you’ve left your trampoline outside in the winter weather or stored it away for the season, make sure it’s safe before diving into spring jumping. Check the safety, security and stability of the trampoline by assessing any damage, replacing worn parts and thoroughly ensuring everything is still properly attached. How Spring Weather Affects Your Trampoline Spring is a wet time characterized by back-and-forth periods of warm and cold temperatures. Your SkyBound USA trampoline is all-weather resistant, so it can withstand the rain — but make sure to always remove debris and keep the trampoline in a clear area to avoid moisture buildup and mildew. If you keep a cover, don’t let rainwater sit on it and sag. The extra pressure could cause damage to your springs and frame. Summer Trampoline Maintenance Tips Hot weather and summer vacation are back again, so your kids will have even more time to enjoy exercise, family fun and time with friends through regular bouncing. Make sure you’re equipped to keep your trampoline in prime shape for all the feet that will frequent it this summer. Here’s what you need to know: What Should You Check for in the Summer? Summer is moody — it can be boiling and dry, moist and balmy or bring violent rainstorms. To make sure your trampoline is weathering the elements well, check regularly for any fallen debris or moisture buildup. After a thunderstorm, wipe away the water on the mat with a dry cloth to avoid discoloration and material weakening that can occur when moisture dries up in the sun. Make sure to remove any leaves, branches or sticks from the surface so they don’t damage the jumping pad and net or get caught in the springs. Can the Heat Damage Your Jump Pad and Frame? Constant heat and sun exposure can take its toll on your trampoline through UV damage and drying out. To protect it from too much heat, you might want to move the trampoline into an area where it’s protected by shade from your house or a tree — just don’t place it too closely under any branches. You can also think about adding a shade cover to protect the kids and the trampoline from excessive sun. Is It Safe to Get the Trampoline Wet? Your trampoline is all-weather resistant, and you should clean it and spray it down sometimes — so exposing it to water is safe. Just make sure to wipe it down afterward and tip out any water buildup in the soft frame pads to avoid mold. You should also always make sure your trampoline is dry before you jump — slippery surfaces can cause accidents. Should You Cover the Trampoline? Covering your trampoline when you’re not using it can help shield it from sun, debris and UV damage, but always be sure to remove water and objects that collect on your cover, because too much weight can cause strain and sagging to the frame and jump pad. You might also want to invest in a cover with anchorage to keep your trampoline grounded against those blustery summer storms. How to Maintain Your Trampoline Year-Round You know how to prepare your trampoline to withstand the weather of winter, spring and summer, but make sure you check the condition more often than seasonally. Keeping an eye on your trampoline all year will ensure it’s safe, secure, sturdy and long-lasting. Here’s how to maintain great trampoline care year-round: What to Check Regularly Like a car or an appliance, regularly checking your trampoline keeps it in good shape and helps you detect problems before they’re dangerous. You should be familiar with your trampoline model and all its parts so you’re able to regularly assess their conditions. In general, you should frequently keep an eye on the jumping mat — is it strong and attached properly? Is there wear and tear? Look at your springs to make sure they’re tightly coiled, make sure the frame and welds are sturdy and check for rust damage. How to Detect a Problem Before It Happens If you’re constantly up-to-date on the condition of your trampoline’s parts, you can avoid danger or maintenance problems more easily. If the jumping mat or net show any signs of fraying, ripping, sagging, tension issues, holes or tears, replace or repair them before you use them again. If springs are stretched or the frames are bent or rusted, don’t let your kids jump. Whenever your parts aren’t in top condition, switch them out for new ones. It’s inexpensive, easy and keeps everyone safe. Bounce Best With SkyBound USA It’s excellent to be aware of how to care for your trampoline, and maintenance is always necessary. If you want a trampoline that’s safe, sturdy, durable and simple to sustain, SkyBound USA has the perfect products to make ownership both easy and enjoyable. Since 2014, we’ve been dedicated to bringing out the inner child in everyone by providing stress-free, safe family fun. We manufacture our high-performance, premium trampolines with materials of the best quality. Available in all shapes and sizes to suit your needs, our trampolines are all-weather resistant, safe for every season and require minimum maintenance. Bounce your way to a brilliant investment that will last for years and provide endless laughter, fitness and fun. Browse our selection and pick your perfect trampoline today. Shop Now
How to Find the Right Size Pad for Your Trampoline

Trampoline Resources

How to Find the Right Size Pad for Your Trampoline

by Anthony Haun on Jan 01 2018
You love your trampoline, and your kids do, too — but unfortunately, your trampoline pad shows it. Ready to give it new life? At SkyBound USA, we can teach you how to find the right pad for your trampoline. YOU GO-TO TRAMPOLINE PAD MEASUREMENT GUIDE Here’s what we’re looking for: Trampoline frame size Spring size Number of pad holes or cut-outs Now, onto our trampoline pad measurement guide: 1. MEASURE YOUR TRAMPOLINE’S FRAME The best way to measure your trampoline’s frame is from the frame’s outer edge to the opposite edge. Imagine your trampoline as a clock. Take one measurement from the 12 to 6 o’clock position and another from the 3 to 9 o’clock position. Use your diameter to find the pad size you need — for example, a 12-foot frame means you’ll need a 12-foot pad. 2. SIZE UP YOUR SPRINGS When finding your spring size, remember to measure its entire length. Measure from hook-end to hook-end — not just the coils. You’ll want to uninstall three springs to measure. Choose ones that aren’t overstretched, then compare their sizes to make sure your measurements are accurate. 3. COUNT YOUR TRAMPOLINE PAD FEATURES Does your pad have holes or cut-outs? Great! Count them up so you know how many enclosure poles you have. If you don’t have cut-outs that’s even better — you just took the steps for how to find the right pad for your trampoline from three to two! IS IT TIME TO REPLACE YOUR TRAMPOLINE PAD? At SkyBound USA, we value safety, quality and customer service that leaves you smiling. That’s why we trust TrampolinePartsCenter.com as our authorized dealer for trampoline parts. They offer our premium trampoline pads and standard replacement pads. Order yours today to restore your trampoline to its former glory!
How to Measure & Replace Your Trampoline Springs

Trampoline Resources

How to Measure & Replace Your Trampoline Springs

by EcomTarget LLC Collaborator on Jan 01 2018
Lost, damaged or overstretched trampoline springs can put an end to you and your kids’ sky-high fun. But, not for long. Our “How to Measure Trampoline Springs” guide lets you and the whole family get back to having fun in no time. How Do I Measure My Trampoline Springs? Prepare to be impressed, because measuring your trampoline springs is simple. Just follow these three steps: Unequip three springs from your trampoline Measure the entire spring length from hook-end to hook-end Compare your three measurements If you’re wondering why three is the magic number behind how to measure trampoline springs, it’s because springs can stretch over time. With three measurements, you get a more accurate number when shopping for replacement springs. How Much Do Replacement Springs Cost and Where Can I Buy Them? The good news for trampoline owners is that replacement springs are not very expensive. A premium spring, for instance, ranges from $1.79 to $3.70 based on the spring size. In comparison, a standard spring is between $1.20 and $1.70. If you're purchasing some replacement springs, we often recommend buying a few spares as they'll save you time when another spring needs replacing. Plus, you'll be your kid's hero that day. At SkyBound USA, we trust TrampolinePartsCenter.com as our authorized dealer for our premium springs. They also offer standard springs, alongside customer support you’ll love. Which Tools Do I Need to Replace My Trampoline Springs? Once you've learned how to measure your trampoline springs, the hard part is over. All you have to do now is order your replacement springs. Then, grab your tools and replace your trampoline's hardware (and maybe find a helper to assist).  The only three tools you'll need to replace your trampoline springs are all readily available and easy to find. They are: Replacement springs Gloves T-Hook or needle-nose pliers If you regularly do some work around your home, you probably already have gloves and a pair of nose pliers. While some trampoline owners prefer needle-nose pliers, others are more partial to a t-hook or trampoline spring pulling tool. T-hooks are inexpensive, so you might want to just add one to your cart while ordering your replacement springs, then try it and see which one you prefer. We tend to lean toward a t-hook as it gives you a better, safer grip on the springs. How to Replace Trampoline Springs Replacing trampoline springs is a fairly simple process, but again, it might be beneficial to work with an assistant. Let's get started with the following steps: Prepare Your Work Area. Remove your trampoline's safety mat skirt and lay out your replacement springs, making sure they're damage-free and all there.Bonus tip: If you're replacing several springs, mark their location with a sticky note on the frame. It'll make the replacement process a lot easier, as you can find your next spring by looking for its colorful flag.  Remove Your Spring. This may seem familiar if you put your trampoline together. It's basically the reverse of attaching a spring to your trampoline.  Use your t-hook and slip its curved edge underneath the spring hook connected to your mat's V-ring. Pull your t-hook toward your mat, creating a free space, then lift the spring up and out of the V-ring. Voila! Now you can remove the corresponding hook from the frame, completely detaching the spring from your trampoline.Bonus tip: If you use needle-nose pliers, it's the same concept, except you'll "pinch" the hook to lift it up and out. Replace Your Spring: To start, grab your replacement spring and hook it onto your trampoline's frame. Like before, you'll want to use your t-hook to latch onto the opposite hook on your spring. Expect some tension now though, as you'll pull that hook towards the V-ring. If you have a helper, they can grab the corresponding V-ring and bring it closer to you. Make sure you're both wearing gloves for protection, though. After your spring has latched onto the V-ring, you're good to go!Bonus tip: Replace your springs one at a time. If you've watched any video guides for how to replace the springs on a trampoline, you'll notice most people do this.  When Should I Replace My Trampoline Springs? We want to let you in on a little secret: Trampoline springs are the key to sky-high bounces. Besides replacing broken springs, you may want to purchase new springs when you notice your airtime is taking a nose dive. When springs stretch and become overstretched, they stop providing the energy transfer that pushes you into the air. In comparison, a new spring expands as you land and returns to its original position, delivering that continuous feedback that gives you the thrill of being airborne. So, next time your kids come to you and ask how to make your trampoline bouncier, take a look at the springs. Pick up your replacement springs today and get back to those sky-high heights!
How to Find the Right Safety Net for Your Trampoline

Trampoline Resources

How to Find the Right Safety Net for Your Trampoline

by EcomTarget LLC Collaborator on Jan 01 2018
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With a trampoline net, you make you and your kids’ sky-high bounces that much safer. Whether you’re adding a net to your trampoline or replacing its existing one, SkyBoundUSA's enclosed trampolines safety net guide will help you find the right net for your trampoline. Trampoline Safety Nets Keep Bouncers Safe Like any parent, we're passionate about safety at SkyBound USA and believe you can have the best of both worlds — safety and fun. Our trampolines are built for sky-high bounces, which is why we offer safety nets for all our trampolines, (excluding the Mini 4, which is for the tiniest of tikes and provides a cushioned handlebar and pad cover for safety).  No matter the activity, from trampolines to bicycles, there are always some risks. Simply jumping on a trampoline with siblings or friends causes 75 percent of trampoline mishaps. That's why trampoline safety nets are not only important but essential. 4 Things to Look for in a Trampoline Safety Net Whether you're searching for your first trampoline safety net or need to replace your existing one, consider these important features: 1. Weight - A safety net with a heavier weight translates to longevity and safety. Our HD nets, for instance, are 50 percent heavier than other nets available, which adds to your peace of mind while watching your kids, or even while you're indulging in a jump yourself. 2. Door - A vulnerable area for a lot of safety nets is their door. You want a safety net that offers a secure trampoline enclosure. All SkyBound USA nets, for example, feature a heavy-duty zipper door that gives you confidence when your child and their friends head out to the backyard. 3. UV Protection - The greatest enemy of your safety net? The sun. That's why you want a replacement trampoline safety net that offers UV protection. By incorporating protective UV features into our nets, we've extended their lifecycles — as well as the fun of families worldwide. 4. Weave - If you're looking for a replacement net because tears developed in your old one, you're not alone. It's a common fault in safety nets, which is why you want one with heavy-duty weaving. It'll decrease that tear chance, plus provide an extra boost in protection and durability. How Much Do Trampoline Safety Nets Cost? The good news is that trampoline safety nets are affordable. The exact cost will depend on the size and shape of your trampoline, but you can expect a price between $45 and $65 for trampolines ranging from 12 feet to 15 feet. To extend the life of your trampoline's safety net replacement and maximize your investment, we recommend storing it indoors during the winter or harsh weather. When Is it Time to Replace Your Trampoline's Safety Net? You know it's time to replace a trampoline's safety net when it's tattered and torn. Before that stage, though, what are the signs you need a new trampoline safety net? It's all about the little things. To spot them, you're going to want to hop aboard your trampoline.  Start by examining your safety net's entrance or door. Is it secure? Are there minor tears starting? Then, move onto your net. Look for tiny breaks in the fabric and check your buckle straps. Are they becoming flimsy? Do you notice a few missing?  While your trampoline's poles are separate from your net, you should also inspect them. Are they sturdy? Do they wobble when you press against them? Make sure you pay extra attention to areas of the enclosure in direct sunlight, as they're more prone to breaking down. If you're still unsure about whether to replace your trampoline's safety net, look up its warranty to get a better idea of its lifespan. Instructions for How to Choose Your Trampoline Enclosure When it comes to how to choose your trampoline enclosure, we want to find these three things: Trampoline frame size Safety enclosure style Poles or archer number How do you do that? With these three easy steps: 1. Measure Your Trampoline’s Frame Let’s start by finding your trampoline’s diameter. Measure from one side of the frame’s outer edge to the opposite outer edge of the frame. Look at your frame as a clock. Take two measurements — one from the 3 to 9 o’clock position and a second from 12 to 6 o’clock mark. These measurements should give you the approximate size of your frame. 2. Identify Your Safety Enclosure Poles’ Style Knowing your trampoline’s type of safety enclosure poles is essential when it comes to how to find the right net for your trampoline. Safety enclosure pole styles include: Straight Straight curved Arched Curved Enclosure with top rings Straight poles can vary. Some have pole caps with bolts, while others have pole caps with handles. 3. Count the Number of Poles or Arches You may say we’ve saved the best for last with this simple step. All you and your kids need to do is count the number of poles or arches on your trampoline! We do have one bonus tip for how to choose your trampoline enclosure. Know your net’s connection type: Inner portion connection: Your pad for covering the springs surrounds the inside netting. Outer portion connection: Your pad for covering the springs sits outside the netting. And now, you’re ready to find your net. Find Top-Rated Nets for Your Trampoline At SkyBound USA, we understand you want a net that’ll last. That’s why we offer our premium replacement nets at TrampolinePartsCenter.com, our authorized dealer. They’ll fit your SkyBound USA trampoline and other trampoline brands, too. Order your enclosure nets today and up the ante on your trampoline’s safety.
Trampoline Measurement Guide: Mat, Springs, Nets & More

Trampoline Resources

Trampoline Measurement Guide: Mat, Springs, Nets & More

by EcomTarget LLC Collaborator on Jan 01 2018
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Have you noticed a decrease in your trampoline's bounciness or observed thin spots or tiny holes in your trampoline mat? Is there rust on your trampoline springs? Does your trampoline net appear to be worn out? Is your trampoline frame bent? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then Operation Trampoline Replacement is a go! Whether you need to measure your trampoline mat or find the right spring size, SkyBound USA's Trampoline Measurement Guide will walk you step by step through each measurement process so that you find the right trampoline or trampoline parts. How to Measure Your Trampoline Mat Nothing can damper your Saturday more than realizing your trampoline mat is down for the count. We have good news though — you can replace it! All you need is a handy guide for how to measure your trampoline mat. At SkyBound USA, we've got you covered. Trampoline Measuring Instructions The 3 measurements we need for your trampoline replacement mat are: Trampoline frame size Number of v-rings Spring size 1. Measure your trampoline’s steel frame. Find your trampoline’s diameter by measuring from one side of your frame’s outer edge to the opposite outer edge. A common mistake is to measure from where your spring's holes begin, but the edge-to-edge measurement is what you need to get the right trampoline mat size. If you’re measuring a round trampoline, visualize it as a clock. Take two measurements — one from the 12- to 6-o’clock position and a second from the 3- to 9-o’clock position. These measurements are your frame’s approximate size. For example, a 12' trampoline frame means you'll need a 12' trampoline mat.  An alternative method is measuring your old mat. Unhook your mat from your trampoline and lay it on a flat surface. Measure it from the end of the fabric — not including the v-rings — and use the same clock techniques as mentioned above. Mats stretch over time, so keep that in mind when shopping. 2. Count your v-rings. You can add up your v-rings two different ways. If you have your mat, just count its v-rings. To save you from getting confused or reaching an inaccurate total, mark your starting point. If you don’t have your mat, count the number of holes on the top rails of the trampoline’s frame. Your v-ring total should match the number of springs. 3. Find your spring size. When you measure your springs, make sure they’re off the trampoline and that you measure from hook-end to hook-end — you want to include the entire length of the spring. Bonus tip: We recommend measuring three springs that aren’t overstretched to ensure you’re getting the same measurement. If you can slide a piece of printer paper through your springs coils, they are overstretched. With overstretched springs, you'll get an inaccurate measurement and could end up ordering the wrong replacement mat.  Congrats, now you know how to measure a trampoline! Just one more tip: Make sure you know your trampoline’s shape, round or square, for example. You’ll get some bonus points if you remember the brand too, as that’ll make the replacement process even easier. How to Measure Your Octagonal Trampoline Mat What if your trampoline is neither square nor round? It's not a huge deal, but your "how to" for measuring a trampoline mat will be different. Like the above steps, you'll want to measure your springs to determine their size and count up your v-rings — the difference is how you measure your trampoline's frame. To measure your trampoline mat if it's the shape of an octagon, follow these steps: Find your diameter. Like a square or round trampoline, take two measurements from the outer edges of your trampoline. For an octagonal trampoline, you'll measure from the metal edge of one corner to the metal edge of the opposite corner. After marking your first measurement, take your second one. This time, your measurement should be perpendicular to your first one — if overlayed, the two would create a cross, with one vertical line and the other horizontal. Determine your average. Next, review your measurements and average them together. That number will be your trampoline mat's size. Check your totals. Even if you're sure about your measurements, it doesn't hurt to measure twice. Go ahead and re-measure your opposite corners, then re-calculate your averages, too. Once you're confident in your numbers, you're ready to search for your replacement mat and restore the fun to your backyard — plus up your hero or heroine level with your kids and their friends. FAQs for Trampoline Mats If you have questions about trampoline mats, Skybound USA has the answers! Here are the four most-asked questions about trampoline mats.  1. Can a trampoline mat be repaired? It depends. For trampoline mats with less than a 2-inch tear, a repair is an option. For anything larger than 2 inches, you'll need to replace it. To repair your mat, it'll require some sewing skills. You'll also need to purchase a patch kit. Place the replacement material over the tear and use a sewing machine to adhere it — most packets will specify the stitching to use. 2. When do you need to replace your trampoline jump mats? This answer also varies. All trampoline mats age, becoming stretched and saggy with continued use. This process, however, can take years. If you and your kids are always using your trampoline, your mat may age faster than one that's only used a few times a week. When do you know it's time to replace your mat, though? If it's delivering a real lackluster bounce, tearing with minimal effort or fraying in several areas, then it's time for a replacement. 3. Why is my trampoline mat loose and how can I tighten it? Your trampoline's mat can be loose for a few reasons, from overstretched springs to standard bounce cords. If your trampoline is brand-new, you'll want to modify your bounce cords, but if it's no longer a spring chicken, you'll want to consider replacing the springs. To tighten your bounce cords, turn your trampoline over and look for the knot block, which will have a bounce cord through it. Grab the cable with a pair of needle-nose pliers and loosen its overhead knot before retying it near the knot block. By moving the overhead knot closer, you tighten your mat. Repeat the process for all your bounce cords. 4. How much is a trampoline mat? The cost of a trampoline mat varies by the size of your trampoline, as well as the quality of the mat. Many companies will also bundle the trampoline mat and its pad protector together, which also influences the price. On average, you can expect to purchase a trampoline replacement mat for between $100 and $200. The good news is the mats provide sky-high fun for a long time. Don't see your question? No worries! Contact our team, and we'll be happy to help. And That's How You Measure and Replace Your Trampoline Mat! With your trampoline measured, you can now move onto replacing your trampoline mat. If you get your bounce fix from a SkyBound USA trampoline, you can find our premium mats, as well as standard trampoline mats at TrampolinePartsCenter.com. Order yours today and get back on your trampoline!
The Ultimate Guide to Buying Your Next Trampoline

Trampoline Resources

The Ultimate Guide to Buying Your Next Trampoline

by SkyBound USA on Dec 11 2017
46
Looking for fun for the whole family in your own backyard? We haven't met anyone who doesn't get a giddy thrill out of bouncing around on a trampoline. Read on as we discuss everything (size, shape, construction materials, etc) that you need to bring home your very own bouncing paradise.
7 Things to Know About Round vs. Rectangular Trampolines

Trampoline Resources

7 Things to Know About Round vs. Rectangular Trampolines

by SkyBound USA on Nov 20 2017
4
Trampolines conjure up the euphoric feeling of soaring through the air. Imagine capturing that feeling with a trampoline in your yard! The joy of a trampoline is easy to remember, but actually deciding what kind of trampoline to get can be tough since they come in all different shapes and sizes, not to mention with a ton of different features. The frame strength, bounce quality, safety features, price, weight limitations and more vary depending on the shape of the trampoline. What is the best shape for a trampoline? We compare two of the most commons trampoline shapes — rectangular and round — to help you make an informed purchasing decision. Here’s to happy bouncing! 1. Round vs. Rectangular: Frame Strength Frame strength is a critical feature of any trampoline. The first consideration when researching frame strength is not actually the shape of the trampoline but rather the material used to make the frame. Some trampolines use simple steel in their frames. These frames are more likely to suffer from rust and are more likely to be damaged from regular use. When thinking about frame strength, look for galvanized steel rather than plain steel. Galvanized steel offers a higher resistance to rust. Plus, the strength of this material means your trampoline will probably come with a longer warranty. Some other trampolines offer a powder-coated steel frame. This coating is designed to prevent rusting and other degradation of the frame. Selecting a high-quality trampoline will give you more for your money in the long-run. You might be wondering, while considering whether to buy a circular vs. rectangular trampolines, if one frame shape offers more strength than the other? The two different trampoline shapes come out on equal footing when it comes to frame strength. As long as a round trampoline and a rectangular trampoline have frames made of the same material, their frames should be of equal strength. 2. Round vs. Rectangular: Bounce Quality This is probably going to be the feature kids care the most about. How high can you jump on the trampoline? Bounce quality will depend in part on size. A smaller trampoline is going to offer a much smaller bounce. If you have young children, you might want to consider a smaller model that won’t send them soaring too high. View Rectangle Trampolines for SaleView Round Trampolines for Sale View All Trampolines for Sale When it comes to shape, rectangular trampolines are going to offer a higher bounce than a round trampoline. A rectangle shape allows all jumps to rebound equally. No matter where you jump on a rectangular trampoline, you can expect your bounce to have equal height and power. This happens because not all of the springs on a rectangular trampoline are used when you jump. Instead, the springs work separately depending on where you jump on the trampoline’s surface. As a result, the springs of a rectangular trampoline experience less stress. On the other hand, a round trampoline works differently. When you jump on a circular trampoline, each one of the springs works at the same time. The center of gravity is right in the middle of a round trampoline. This means when someone jumps, they will be pulled back toward the middle. As you move away from the center of a round trampoline, the bounces will be smaller. Jumping in the center of a round trampoline will propel you to greater heights than jumping on the sides. Since all springs on a round trampoline work at once, the springs are likely to experience stress faster than the springs of a rectangular trampoline. While your kids might be clamoring for the highest bounce, you have more to consider. Do you want the highest bounce? Do you prefer the more controlled bounce of the round trampoline that makes jumpers gravitate toward the center? 3. Round vs. Rectangular: Safety Safety is probably the most important feature on parents’ minds when trampoline shopping. Kids will love the exhilaration of bouncing on a trampoline, but you want to make sure they don’t sprain an ankle or bounce off the trampoline. Here are the biggest circular trampoline safety benefits and rectangular trampoline safety benefits. Round trampolines’ reduced jump height is actually a great safety feature. Jumps on the sides of a round trampoline will be much weaker. Kids can still get a good amount of height in the center of a circular trampoline, but they won’t be soaring too high around the edges. Additionally, the circular shape draws jumpers back to the center. The safety benefits of a round trampoline are clear. If you are concerned about safety, you can always add a safety net to your trampoline, be it round or rectangular. Safety nets help catch wayward jumpers and keep them safely on the trampoline. 4. Round vs. Rectangular: Price Price is another big consideration when trampoline shopping. Several factors can affect the price: Size: The larger the trampoline, the more it will cost. This is true of both round and rectangular models. Material: The material the jumping surface is made of will affect the price. Common materials include woven nylon or polyethylene. Age: You can buy trampolines new or used. A new trampoline will typically cost more than a used model but will have a much longer life-span, giving you a stronger return on investment. Shape: Different shapes will correlate with different prices, but typically, round trampolines will be more affordable due to their popularity and market density. When simply considering round vs. rectangular trampolines, rectangular trampolines are generally the more expensive option. Round trampolines are the more common trampoline option, which means there are more options on the market. Since the round shape is so common, it tends to be more affordable than the rarer rectangular trampoline. Rectangular trampolines are more expensive than round trampolines because they generally take longer to make. Rectangular trampolines also require more support. Additional care also has to go into fitting the mat to the frame to avoid tearing at the sharp corners of the rectangle shape. More intensive labor translates into a higher price. 5. Round vs. Rectangular: Weight Limitations Weight limitations are another important consideration. Will you have more than one child jumping on the trampoline? Do adults want to jump on the trampoline? Ensure you select a trampoline that can handle the weight requirements you have in mind. How much weight a trampoline can handle depends on its size and shape. Here are the weight limitations for some standard round trampoline sizes. A round, eight-foot or 10-foot trampoline can typically handle 200 to 250 pounds. A round, 12-foot trampoline can typically handle 250 to 300 pounds. A round, 14-foot or 16-foot trampoline can typically handle 250 to 400 pounds. Regardless of size, most rectangular trampolines can handle between 300 and 450 pounds. Rectangular trampolines can take on more weight because of how the springs work. The rectangular shape means that each time someone jumps, only some of the springs are pulled. That means less stress and greater weight bearing. All of the springs are pulled equally each time someone jumps on a round trampoline, which translates into less weight bearing. View Rectangle Trampolines for Sale View Round Trampolines for Sale View All Trampolines for Sale The type of jumping pad, frame and springs will also affect a trampoline’s weight bearing limits. A higher-quality pad, frame and springs will mean a trampoline can hold more weight. 6. Round vs. Rectangular: Usage Why are you buying a trampoline? Is it going to be used purely for fun? Or will your kids be using the trampoline for athletic reasons? Round trampolines are the clear choice if you plan to use it solely for recreational purposes. A round trampoline limits how high bounces go and where bouncers land. The circular shape draws jumpers back to the center. This is a great feature for younger children and people who simply want to experience the fun of bouncing. 7. Round vs. Rectangular: Location Where do you plan to put your trampoline? Your space limitations will play heavily into your final decision to purchase a round vs. rectangular trampoline. Finding a convenient space for a round trampoline can be tricky. You need sufficient space for the entire diameter of a round trampoline. This usually means you will need to place the trampoline in the center of your yard. On the other hand, rectangular trampolines can fit more neatly into a corner or a narrow space on the side of your home. This may not be the ultimate deciding factor, but you will need to take measurements and pick a place for your trampoline before making a purchase. If you live somewhere with harsh winters, you might decide to store your trampoline. Size and shape play a big role here as well. A rectangular trampoline could be easier to slide into storage compared to a round trampoline. Round Trampolines Available at SkyBound USA What style of trampoline do you want? We offer a wide variety of round trampolines for every need. Take a look at five different SkyBound models. ORION We have two different Orion trampoline sizes. One is the oval Orion trampoline. This is our first oval trampoline available in North America. The oval model comes in 10-foot by 14-foot and 11-foot by 16-foot variants. This trampoline has the bounce performance of a rectangle trampoline in an oval frame. The Orion is made of premium materials designed to make the trampoline durable and able to weather the outdoor elements. The Orion also has specially designed safety features to ensure jumpers can enjoy worry-free bouncing. STRATOS Our Stratos trampolines come in three different sizes: 12-foot, 14-foot and 15-foot. This round trampoline is designed for easy assembly. You don’t have to worry about sorting through a confusing pile of nuts and bolts. Stratos trampolines can handle up to 330 pounds of weight, meaning kids and adults alike can jump on this model. Any size of Stratos trampoline is great for kids ages six and up. Each Stratos trampoline model comes with a safety net enclosure. CIRRUS Our Cirrus model is a 14-foot round trampoline. Like our Stratos models, the Cirrus does not require a complicated assembly process. This sturdy and durable trampoline also comes with a safety enclosure net. Kids ages six and over can enjoy bouncing on this round trampoline. Cirrus trampolines are designed to handle up to 220 pounds of weight. This means adults can safely jump on a Cirrus trampoline. ATMOS Our Atmos trampolines are octagonal in shape and measure eight feet in diameter. The Atmos trampoline is great for smaller spaces and has a galvanized steel and powder-coated frame as well as a high-density safety enclosure net. This trampoline is great for smaller children who have outgrown mini trampolines. Any kid six years or older can enjoy this model. The Atmos trampoline can handle up to 175 pounds of weight. MINI-4 The Mini-4 trampoline is perfect for the little ones in your life. Choose from either red or blue to please children between the ages of three and six and up to 100 pounds. Shipping and Warranty SkyBound trampolines ship anywhere in the continental United States. All of our trampolines — including our Super4 Trampoline and Super7 Trampoline — and all of our replacement parts ship for free to the lower 48 states. We also ship to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and internationally. Reach out to our customer service center to get a shipping quote. You are also welcome to select the “pick up in store” option, which means your trampoline will be ready for you at a store of your choice within one business day. At SkyBound USA, we strongly believe in the quality of our products. Our warranty covers any material and workmanship defects. If you find any issues with the manufacturing of one of our trampolines, we are happy to exchange it or give you a full refund. You can reach out to us on the phone or fill out a warranty form online. Whether you are a young child or all grown up, you can discover the pure joy of jumping on a trampoline. SkyBound USA has an extensive collection of premium round trampolines. Browse our collection to find just the right trampoline for you and your family. The sky is the limit!   View more outdoor recreational stores: Full Court Athleticswww.fullcourtathletics.com   My Fun Gear www.myfungear.com    Beyond Backyards - Dallaswww.beyondbackyards.com View Rectangle Trampolines for Sale View Round Trampolines for Sale View All Trampolines for Sale
Bounce Your Way to Better Health

Trampoline Resources

Bounce Your Way to Better Health

by Anthony Haun on Nov 20 2017
1
It’s no secret exercise is the key to a healthy lifestyle. It burns fat, stimulates the senses, relieves stress and releases endorphins. It leads to better sleep and decreased chances of developing diseases. And to reap its benefits to the max, it’s something we should maintain our whole lives, starting in early childhood. For their best development, we should make sure our kids get their fair share of physical activity, too. But sometimes it’s not that easy. Maybe life’s a little too busy to take the kids out on hikes. Maybe they don’t have the motivation for family exercise, and they’d rather play video games inside. Maybe all that early-20s jogging took its toll on your joints, and you can’t comfortably keep up. There’s a brilliant, bouncy way for everyone in the family to get active and have fun together — and it’s good for more than just your bodies. Below, we’ll explain all the health benefits of jumping on a trampoline, from helping your kids learn to energizing everyone with easy exercise! How Exercise Can Boost the Brain You might think childhood development is all about exposure and education — learning language, social cues, numbers, spelling and reasoning skills. But the best tip to get kids learning is to get them moving — a concept known as “exer-learning.” What is exer-learning? Well, we now know the brain is about more than book learning. It’s connected to every part of the body, composed of 100 billion neurons that communicate through chemicals, synapses and signals that control our thoughts and actions. Exercising regularly boosts and balances neurotransmitter levels to improve the way the brain communicates with the body. Physical activity also strengthens the connection and growth of neuron cells, enhancing learning capabilities and helping kids learn through exercise. There are so many reasons for kids to be active. Simply put, more exercise makes for a stronger, healthier brain that learns more effectively. Studies show kids who engage in 15 to 45 minutes of exercise before class have increased levels of energy, attentiveness, alertness and motivation, making them not only better students, but better thinkers and problem-solvers. In fact, children who exercise regularly show a 20 percent increase in comprehension, display fewer behavioral problems and are less distracted in class. The effects aren’t just temporary, either. While the immediate benefits of exercise lead to better in-school concentration for two to four hours, an active lifestyle builds brain cells and increases cognitive functioning permanently. Exer-learning isn’t only for kids — people of all ages should stay active to improve their moods, prevent cognitive decline and boost their brains, providing them with healthy benefits for a balance of productive work, self-improvement and family life. What Happens to Your Body on a Trampoline You might not have it pinned on the top of your exercise routine list, but bouncing — also called rebounding — is a surprisingly healthy way to stimulate your brain and body. A springy workout delivers a variety of boosts to your body for a refreshing aerobic reaction. Here’s the anatomy of bouncing in both kids and adults: 1. Muscle Reaction for More Energy When you begin bouncing, you engage your muscles in a challenging way they’re not used to. To keep them functioning properly so they can continue to support your new movements, your body triggers the need for more fuel. This means you use higher levels of glucose and ATP, your body’s natural energy source. Everything amps up so you can spring into action! 2. Increased Breathing Rate To create more ATP and tap into extra energy, your body needs more oxygen. Your lungs must work harder, and your breathing rate speeds up. Don’t worry — heavy breathing doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of shape or it’s time to call it quits. You’re just adjusting to a new activity type and making sure you have enough air and energy. 3. Rising Heart Rate With increased lung function comes a quicker heart rate — all that oxygen needs to filter through your body to deliver energy to your muscles and increase circulation. Your heart works harder to pump oxygen-rich blood everywhere you need it, which keeps you energized. Not only is this good for conditioning, but it keeps your most vital organ happy and healthy. 4. Brain Buzz Think of bouncing as a snack for your brain. It engages your synapses and triggers stress reactions, releasing chemicals that affect your body in different ways. The spark in brain activity will increase your focus and sharpen your alertness, helping you escape external stressors and experience the moment. A flood of endorphins and serotonin will also increase your happiness and leave you with a natural buzz. 5. Core Temperature Spike All that work raises your core body temperature, dilating your blood vessels and sending blood flow to the skin’s surface. You’ll sweat to cool down more quickly, ridding your body of extra toxins and allowing you to feel relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated. Who knew something so fun could have such serious potential for a good workout? Health Benefits of Rebounding Now you know what bouncing can do for your body in real time, but did you realize it has long-term physical benefits, as well? This aerial, aerobic exercise can help you sleep better, keep you slim and trim, improve your brain and enhance various parts of your body. Incorporate rebounding into your regular routine to see these advantages for yourself and your kids: 1. Heart Health You probably haven’t thought of it this way, but a good rebounding workout is a unique way to deliver a healthy dose of cardio, increasing your heart rate and strengthening the muscles for your cardiovascular system. Increased lipids and protein levels work to rid your cells of excess fat blockage, and your strengthened heart will enhance muscle performance, enable better breathing capacity and prevent heart disease. Bounce your way to longevity. 2. Bone Health Jumping is a strength-building exercise for your legs and core. Landing, bending and working to push yourself upward repetitively puts a healthy amount of stress on your bones, encouraging them to increase in density. For this reason, rebounding even reduces your chances of developing osteoporosis. For young children, bouncing stimulates the pituitary gland, encouraging bone growth and strengthening the musculoskeletal system. 3. Joint Health Even if we’re active in our lives, many of us worry about joint health as we get older, and it can be a major impediment in selecting exercise. Is jumping on a trampoline bad for your joints? Not at all — in fact, it’s quite the opposite. The springy give of a trampoline’s surface absorbs the force of impact when you land, preventing your spine, knees and ankles from shock. Bouncing is the perfect way to get your body moving without jolting and jarring your joints. It’s even a good exercise for people with knee issues. 4.  Energy Levels All the increased oxygen, enhanced blood flow and extra endorphins involved in your body’s aerobic reaction to rebounding result in higher energy levels. Incorporating bouncing into your lifestyle will help you or your kids remain alert, focused and full of energy, increasing performance, productivity and enjoyment. 5. Balance and Coordination The process of jumping, landing, balancing and rebounding are beneficial to your vestibular system, a structure located in your inner ear that helps determine your sense of balance. When you bounce on a trampoline, you provide your body with vestibular stimulation, helping you gain better motor skills, coordination, spatial orientation and balance. The activity also contributes to better core strength, assisting your overall, long-term wellness in similar ways to yoga and meditation. 6. Mental Health Rebounding can be beneficial to both your mind and body, and its vigorous stimulation can actually be the key to letting you relax. The extra oxygen circulating to your brain tissue increases concentration and focus, while the released endorphins help you feel happier, maintain more energy throughout the day and sleep more soundly at night. There’s nothing better than reducing stress and spiking mental activity through a fun, freeing release. 7. Weight Loss Rebounding is a full-body workout that engages all your muscles in rewarding ways. It will boost your metabolism, burn quick calories, get rid of excess cellulite and increase your ratio of muscle to fat. With lower cholesterol and a better resting metabolism, your goals of weight loss or maintenance are simple to reach and exceed. 8. Lymphatic Boost To stay healthy, your body needs a way to rid itself of harmful toxins, keep your immune system strong and fight off potential threats like illness and disease. Your lymphatic system is responsible for these jobs, and plays a key role in your overall health. Rebounding stimulates your cells, aiding the lymphatic system in balancing important components like your spleen, thyroid gland and lymph nodes. 9. Aging Prevention Here’s a bonus benefit of bouncing — it helps slow the physical process of aging. In addition to everything else it does for your body, rebounding prevents atrophy, keeping you looking as youthful as you feel when you jump up and down. Why Outdoor Exercise Is Best for Kids In addition to the benefits of bouncing itself, outdoor activity has a unique set of advantages for child development. While you and your kids bounce your way to better brain function and health, you can also help them grow in other ways. Here’s how outdoor exercise challenges your kids: - Social Skill Development An awesome trampoline offers an activity hub for all the neighborhood kids or allows quality time with parents and siblings. Exercising with others is a great way for kids to improve teamwork, communication and building a sense of community. - Sensory Stimulation Video games might spark the imagination, but exercising outside lets your kids experience the world in a nitty-gritty, real way. There’s nothing like breathing the fresh air, smelling the seasons and feeling the spring of a trampoline beneath their feet. - Creative Stimulation As opposed to being glued to screens, playing outside gives your kids the chance to test their imaginations and build their creative skills. They can invent games, act as new characters and complete special missions as they jump around squashing bad guys or competing for the highest hop. The fun is up to them! - Interaction With Nature Observing the outdoors and appreciating natural beauty is essential to children’s aesthetic development and mental health. It’s invigorating for the body, relaxing to the mind and gives kids a wider scope of the world than they can gain from sitting inside. Your kids will be happier and healthier than ever bouncing in the backyard, staring up at the open sky and catching leaves that cascade onto the trampoline. Games for Fun Trampolining If you or your kids need some extra trampoline inspiration to bounce you over the moon, here are some games to try: 1. H-O-R-S-E Get your creative juices and gymnastic skills flowing as you compete with tricks, flips and bounces. Take turns calling out different moves to try on the trampoline. When one player performs the trick successfully, everyone else must copy it correctly. When you mess up, add a letter to your score. If you’re the last one to spell out H-O-R-S-E, you win! 2. Hot Potato Pass a ball around as you jump, pretending it’s too hot to hold for more than a second. But be quick and careful — if you carry the ball for too long, drop it or stop jumping, you’re out. The last one standing wins the game. 3. Hoops For a fun take on a classic game, try installing a play net to the side of your trampoline and getting everyone together for a round of basketball. You can compete, dribble while you bounce or take turns shooting from different distances. See who can make the farthest shot! 4. Dance-Off If you don’t mind getting goofy, show off your moves by turning your trampoline into a stage. You can use your bouncy surface to add a spring to your step as you turn on some tunes and dance without a care. It’s so much fun, you’ll forget you’re exercising. 5. Bouncing Contests See who can spring the highest by challenging each other to a bounce-off. You can do seat drops, bouncing off your butt and back up to see who gets tired first, or bounce at opposite times to propel each other farther upward. Bounce With SkyBound If you’re ready to get your bounce on and see the benefits for yourself and your family, explore all SkyBound USA has to offer. Providing high-performance, premium trampolines since 2009, we’re invested in nurturing the inner child in everyone! With safe, secure, all-weather-resistant products in various shapes, sizes and colors, we’ll deliver the reliable family fun you desire. Check out our outstanding products to bounce your way to better health today!
Fitness Fun for the Whole Family

Trampoline Resources

Fitness Fun for the Whole Family

by Anthony Haun on Nov 20 2017
1
If you have a family, you know how important it is to keep your kids not only occupied, but active. So many of today’s learning and playing options have removed the element of physical activity, and when kids are glued to TVs, iPads or phone screens watching their favorite cartoons, playing video games or scrolling through an assortment of apps, they’re not gaining the full-body experience they need to learn and grow best. That’s right — kids still need some good, old-fashioned fresh air and activity to stimulate their brains and trigger attention and learning skills, while building strong muscles, bones and hearts. And don’t forget about yourself. Between work, household responsibilities and raising a family, it’s hard to get to the gym or pick up your old jogging habit, but adults need regular exercise, too. An active family is one that is happier, healthier and invested in quality time together. You don’t have to force the kids into activities to make sure they stay moving, and it’s not as hard as you think to make exercise a priority for yourself. To make sure everyone’s staying active, make working out fun by exercising as a family! You’ll be surprised where you can throw in physical activity — in between dinners and TV shows, during daily routines — and even in exciting ways that don’t feel like work at all. Fit exercise into your lives with fun family workouts that strengthen bodies and bonds. We’ll show you how. How Much Exercise Do Kids Need? Physical activity is crucial for growing kids. Not only does it allow them to express their energy and move their bodies, but it triggers healthy brain growth, leads to better in-school performance and prevents childhood obesity, which is at an alarmingly high rate. Children who exercise have stronger bones, lower body fat levels, reduced chances of depression and anxiety and better cardiovascular and muscle systems. Active kids also tend to have healthier adulthoods and reduced chances of chronic diseases like hypertension, osteoporosis and heart disease. Despite the importance of being active, however, 74 percent of children aged 5 to 10 don’t get the amount of exercise they need to stay healthy. The American government’s Physical Activity Guidelines recommend kids engage in 60 minutes of vigorous- and moderate-intensity activity every day. For the best overall health, workouts should combine different types of exercise that stimulate various parts of the body for the best overall health. Here are the three types of activities your kids should get involved with. Aerobic: This kind of exercise involves rhythmically moving large muscle groups to increase heart and lung fitness. Appropriate activities might include running, jumping, skipping, swimming, bicycling and jumping rope. Aerobic activity should make up most of the daily hour of exercise, and kids should include vigorous activities at least three days a week. Muscle-strengthening: Exercise and play that work the muscles harder than usual should be part of kids’ routines at least three days a week. Activities like climbing trees, using playground equipment or playing tug-of-war put children’s muscles into “overload” and make them stronger, much like weightlifting for adults. Healthy muscles are important for energy, metabolism and better growth down the line. Bone-strengthening: Activities that build bone capacity are also essential to a child’s development and involve impact exercises that promote bone strength and growth through force. Basketball, tennis, hopscotch, jumping rope and running are all appropriate activities for strengthening kids’ bones at least three days a week. The kinds of exercises your kids need are easy to incorporate and combine, and yet most parents let their children spend an average of seven and a half hours on screens every day instead. Everyone needs some time for relaxation, but make sure your main priority is to keep your family moving! Their health will thank you for it. How Much Exercise Do Adults Need? Exercise is important for adults, as well. Like kids, you need a combination of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities of moderate to vigorous intensity, but you don’t need nearly as much. Two and a half hours of moderate aerobic activity or a little over one hour of vigorous aerobic activity should suffice weekly, in combination with some muscle-strengthening exercise at least two days a week. Fitting in a workout can be as easy as some brisk walking, jogging, swimming or dancing a few times a week, but more than 80 percent of adults don’t get the exercise they need. How to Turn Exercising Into a Family Activity We know raising your kids is a full-time job on top of your full-time job, so we’ve brainstormed some simple, fun, accessible workout routines for your family. With these family fitness ideas you can do at home, nearby or on the go, everyone in your household will get the amount of activity and quality time they need. 1. Bounce It Off Bouncing on a trampoline is one of the best ways to build brain activity, get your heart pumping, increase muscle function and circulation, boost the immune system, improve joint health and have tons of fun! You and your kids can play all kinds of games as you jump, springboard your imaginations, compare hopping heights and enjoy each other’s company. Trampolines are perfect for backyard spring and summer fun, autumn bouncing with crunchy leaves and indoor excitement in the winter. With so many ways to enjoy bouncing, your family will never want to sit still again. 2. Cruise the Neighborhood Who says exercise has to be planned out and portioned into sets and strength-building activities? Sometimes, one of the best ways to exercise as a family — while rejuvenating your brain and body — is to spend some time outside. For an easy, carefree physical activity you can do anytime, get your kids out the door and onto the sidewalk. A stress-relieving turn around the neighborhood will get you out of the house and out of your head while giving the kids the opportunity to shake their sillies out. No matter your kids’ ages, you can make your walk exciting in different ways. Walk together as you talk about your day, or play word games like “I Spy” to keep your minds and senses occupied. If your kids would rather bike or scooter, you can follow behind and catch a little Zen time. Babies are welcome, as well! Just bring a stroller. 3. Hit the Park Looking for outdoor workout plans for your family? If you have a park, playground or walking trail nearby, it’s the perfect place to blow off some steam and get your bodies moving. You and the kids can walk, bike, scooter or skate along trails, play tag or bring balls to get you running around in green spaces or divide your time between nature and play equipment. In areas with both a playground and park, you can let the kids enjoy climbing, sliding and swinging while you keep an eye on them from the track. Community play areas also offer a great opportunity for social development. You can even partake in playground games that are both fun and educational for your young ones! 4. Dance it Off Exercise can get goofy and fun, as well as active! If your children love music, let them express their creative side by busting out their favorite dance moves. Dancing is one of the best exercises you can do at home — in the backyard, in the basement, even in the kitchen before dinner or the family room before bedtime. Turn on some tunes and let your silly sides show as you jam together. If you like, you can even try an instructive dancing DVD or show. You’ll be smiling, sweating and laughing as a family as you watch each other wiggle. 5. Shake up Commercial Breaks If some family TV time is part of your routine, sneak in some exercise when your favorite shows pause for commercials. For a few minutes during every break, get everyone up off the couch and involved in some physical fun. Wondering how to make working out fun at home? Incorporate a different exercise into each commercial break. Skip around the room, invent silly names for a few quick push-ups and sit-ups, or play Simon Says with moves like marching, dancing, wiggling, hopping and jumping jacks. Avoid the boredom of commercial breaks or create timeouts to make sure the kids mix downtime with a healthy dose of fitness. 6. Join a Charity Run Get yourself and the kids involved in the community by participating in walks or runs for charitable causes. The exciting buzz of the atmosphere and the interaction with others — not to mention the incentive of a medal or prize — will get your kids motivated. Charity runs are a great chance to make new friends and support meaningful causes while making sure your family stays physically active. If your kids are young, try to choose races with shorter distances so they won’t get too tired. See what charity runs and events are happening near you! 7. Team Up! If you have a family of sports fans, put your skills to the test by engaging in some competitive family fun! Set aside one or two evenings a week to play group games. You can assemble soccer goals in your backyard, head down to the neighborhood basketball court or hit hockey pucks around your basement. Get everyone involved in the game, and break into different combinations of teams each time to encourage all kinds of bonding. If you like, you can even try a different sport every week. You and the kids will be hooting, hollering and cheering each other on as you get your heads in the game and forget you’re even exercising. 8. Walk the Dog Don’t forget about your furry family members! They need exercise as much as you. Don’t just let your dog in and out to do business — use your canine friend as another opportunity to explore the outdoors. Make it part of your daily routine to take the dog on a route around the neighborhood, down the street or around your local park. You and the kids can take turns holding the leash, choosing different areas to investigate and playing with your puppy. Sneak in some quick cardio by doing sprints. Everyone will love the activity and quality time. 9. Grow a Garden For families with a green thumb, gardening offers a refreshing way to promote muscle-strengthening activities. Your kids can help with digging, planting, transporting plants and patting down soil. Have them pull weeds, pick fruits or vegetables, rake plots and push in stakes. When the work’s done, walk around a few times and admire a job well done. 10. Take Care of Yard Business Like garden work, assisting with yard upkeep can be a great way for kids to get active, help with the home and spend some extra time with you. Make your children your special helpers in activities like raking leaves, watering plants, trimming trees and clearing debris. If they’re old enough and you’re comfortable, you can even teach them to mow the lawn, prune the hedges or weed-whack with you. Some fresh air and hard work are invigorating and useful for everyone. 11. Make a Splash In the warmer months, promote good health and family fun by adding swimming to your exercise list. Playing water games, doing laps, paddling and splashing together are wonderful ways to work the muscles and encourage aerobic activity. Water provides both challenging resistance and refreshing cooling for the body, making for a satisfying, fun workout. Install a pool in your backyard or take a trip to your local lake, beach or community pool to get your flippers moving. 12. Go Sledding During the winter, nothing makes for a better time than rolling around in the snow — and it’s good for your body, too. Taking the kids sledding is a great way for all of you to breathe in the icy chill, experience a rushing thrill and get in some exercise. Dragging those sleds back up the hill after a good ride is great for your heart and your muscles, as well. Try racing the kids to the top each time! Snowball fights and snowman-building are other snowy activities that’ll keep you moving. 13. Skate Away If you’re good with balance and easy on your feet, take your family to a local skating rink. With so many ways to move, skating is great for brain, body and bonding. Show off your dance moves on the roller rink, hold hands and skate in stride or have some holiday fun with ice skating. If your kids love it enough, invest in a pair of skates for everyone so you can add them into your neighborhood strolls. 14. Bowl Bowling is another fun way to get out of the house, get involved with the community and learn a new skill that’s good for your body. Take the kids to a bowling alley after school or on a weekend to get their legs moving, their arms pumping and their coordination skills on point. With music, teams, goals and learning, you won’t even have to sell this as exercise, just a few hours of fun. You can set up your own pins in the basement for an at-home version. 15. Row Your Boat If adventurous is your game, try picking up a new active, exciting hobby in the summer by getting into boating. Take the kids kayaking, rowing, rafting, tubing or waterboarding with motorboats. The water resistance is a great workout for the arms and legs, and you’ll all stay cool in the heat. If you don’t have a body of water nearby, try it out as a bonus activity during your vacation to the lake or beach. Let SkyBound USA Deliver Your Family Fun For fun family exercise ideas you can enjoy every day, all year, check out SkyBound USA’s selection of high-quality, premium trampolines. Dedicated to drawing out everyone’s inner child, we’ve been delivering family fitness to homes across America since 2009. Our collection of all-weather-resistant, superiorly safe indoor/outdoor trampolines come in all shapes and sizes to suit every kid, teen and adult. Reach for the sky with your family exercise goals, and give yourself and the kids a better reason to love fitness. Check out our outstanding selection of trampolines today.