Outdoor Trampolines

[banslug]

OK...I'm looking for opinions here on outdoor, backyard trampolines. You know the big ones with the 'cage' style netting.

What are your thoughts, opinions, and experiences?

I've been so wishy washy with this idea for over 2 full years now, and I'm back on my kick of wanting one for my boys. I've heard the good and bad from my friends in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd ask my other group of friends.

What do you think???

Gayle

 

[Beavs]

Gayle,
Just an FYI in case you weren't already aware---often times homeowners' insurance companies will have an issue with a customer having a trampoline due to what they believe is a high risk liability. If you haven't done so already, you may want to check with your carrier before making the purchase.

 

[endorphin_junkie]

Hi Gayle Funny enough my 2 eldest daughters and I spent yestereday afternoon re-assembling our trampoline after it's winter sleep. Our's has the cage, (wouldn't have a trampoline without one). Most accidents and injuries occur when people are flipping so that is an absolute NO here. We tried the 'one at a time' rule but even I could see that's not a lot of fun, so far we have had no incidents. I would suggest taking your boys to a gymnastics facility and inquiring about a few trampoline lessons so that they can jump smart and safe. I love having a trampoline and it brings my kids's friends around which I also love. I've never regretted getting it but SAFETY FIRST! That being said last summer I came home and my daughter had 3 friends over, they thought it would be a good idea to put some liquid soap on the trampoline and get the hose going, the foam was flying everywhere, I looked out the window and thought, "that looks really fun.....NO, that looks REALLY DANGEROUS!!" I stopped them in their tracks and learned not to be surprised by the addendums I'll have to put on the trampoline rules:7

Take Care
Laurie

 

[L Sass]

Have one - love it! (It's also a great workout!) I'm in Cleveland so we always take it down in fall and put it up in spring to keep the elements from weakening anything. We also have strict rules that my kids have been raised with. I did notify my insurance agent when we got it and there was no issue.

No more than 3 people on at any one time.
Any tricks like drops or turns can only be done when only one person is on.
NOBODY is allowed to jump until the netting entrance fixture is fastened close.

We also have those plastic balls - like 100 of them that get thrown in there - the kids have a great time. I think in the 9 years we've had ours we've had one twisted ankle - nothing more severe. I know we've been lucky, but we also enfore the rules. We also have a water trampoline in our pond, and one of those inflatable bonce-arounds - I think we just raise jumping beans.
Lorrie

I'll be walking the Komen 3-day (60 miles) the week after Cathe's RT. Here's my webpage.
https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=202302&supid=166016627

 

[ShyWolf]

Well my 3 kids loved theirs but someone always got hurt. My youngest hurt her back and her cornea got cut - she left her glasses on. We had the one with the cage and all rules were in place - no flipping, no pushing but unless you are out there with them... kids will be kids Also if you own a home - like others have siad check your home owners insurance, - thankfully mother nature took it upon herself and destroyed it during a hurricane one summer and although I have often thought of replacing it I'd much rather my kids use their bikes and play basket ball or soccer than have a trampoline up again.

 

[delfin]

My DD was begging me for one... then I looked into it and was shocked to find that many homeowner's insurance companies will not offer/drop a policy if you get a tramp. That did it for me.

BTW, she does use a friend's tramp, and it has the sides. But I'm always telling her not to try any crazy stunts (she's a gymnast, and I don't want her to try stuff on the tramp that she wouldn't do in the gym!)

 

[singinggoddess]

My girls LOVE their trampoline,but my oldest daughter, she is 8, just sprained her ankle in their and she is on crutches. We were getting kind of lax with the rules and it was just wreckless behavior. I would totally recommend getting one. My kids use theirs all year around.

Susan

 

[Katerchen]

Get a good quality trampline and set strict rules, for example no flips, no tying each other up like a calf and bounce them, no pushing, no more than four, etc. The obnoxious ones need to be banned right away to get the message because nothing is sadder than having to watch your friends have fun.

We have a trampoline from www.jumpsport.com and also the rubber bands which are fun. We have Nationwide Insurance on our house and they don't have a problem with the trampoline.