Best Mini Trampoline Review – Top 5 List

You walk by a small trampoline in a store and think “that’d be a great toy for the kids; they’d have fun and get exercise!” It’s an understandable thought – but mini trampolines, sometimes called “rebounders,” can be much more than that.

Everyone from fitness experts to NASA recommends mini trampolines for adult low-impact aerobic exercise, although there’s disagreement on whether it’s as effective as running or more strenuous activities, or if it’s also going to strengthen your bones. Even so, it’s a great way to get at least some aerobic exercise, work on flexibility and balance, and have fun – and you can do it indoors or out.

The first important thing to realize is that low-priced models designed for kids and adults may look similar, but the former aren’t going to be able to handle the weight of a full-sized adult body. Toddler and child trampolines not only have more padding and extra safety features like safety nets but most are usually set higher from the floor (to allow for “bigger bounces”), and there are often cheap elastic bands instead of strong bungee cords or wire springs used to hold the mat. The typical kids’ trampoline has a weight limit of 100-150 pounds, obviously not enough for most adults to safely bounce.

So you’ll understandably have to pay more for a fitness mini trampoline than one for your children, but that’s not the end of the discussion. As with any piece of equipment, you’ll have some other decisions to make before pulling out the credit card and finding space for your trampoline.

Quick Overview: Our Top Picks for Mini Trampoline

IMAGE	PRODUCT
	Jump Sport Fitness Trampoline Model 350 Style: Bungee cord, EnduroLast Size: 39 inches, 32.5 inch jumping area Foldable: No Stability bar: No Tenstion adjustments: Three Weight Limit: 250 pounds	OUR #1 PICK VIEW LATEST PRICE →
	Urban Rebounder Exercise Trampoline Style: Steel springs, V-shaped Size: 40 inches, 28 inch jumping area Foldable: Yes Stability bar: Yes Tenstion adjustments: No Weight Limit: 300 pounds	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
	MaXimus Life Pro Gym Rebounder Style: Steel springs, V-shaped Size: 40 inches, 27 inch jumping area Foldable: Yes Stability bar: Optional purchase Tenstion adjustments: No Weight Limit: 286 pounds	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
	Stamina 38-Inch Intone Plus Rebounder Style: Bungee cord Size: 38 inches, 29 inch jumping area Foldable: No (Comes folded, but not practical for storage) Stability bar: No, but resistance bands Tenstion adjustments: No Weight Limit: 250 pounds	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
	Pure Fun Mini Rebounder Trampoline Style: Steel springs Size: 38 inches, 28 inch jumping area Foldable: No, but legs can be collapsed or removed Stability bar: No Tenstion adjustments: No Weight Limit: 250 pounds (we recommend 200 pounds)	VIEW LATEST PRICE →

What Makes an Exercise Trampoline Bounce?

In a word, physics. The mat is held in place by either bungee cords or metal springs that stretch as your weight hits the fabric and generates kinetic energy. “Hooke’s Law” means that the springs will then force themselves back into their normal state of equilibrium, sending energy back to the mat – propelling you up into the air.

Springs vs Bungee Cords for the Best Indoor Trampoline?

Bungee cords and metal springs react very differently, however – and that’s why deciding between the two is the biggest factor in choosing an exercise trampoline for adults.

Other Factors to Consider When Researching Mini Trampolines

The dangers of jumping on a mini trampoline have been greatly overstated. The vast majority of rebounder injuries result in trips to the emergency room by people (mostly children) who have become too exuberant or reckless, falling off the mat and onto the frame or ground.

Quality Build

However, because of the potential for injury, it’s important to look for a rebounder with a strong frame and high-quality cords or springs; the area where the cords or springs attach to the frame should ideally be covered with a thick vinyl spring cover.

There should also be a strong jumping pad, with the best made from polypropylene. It should, of course, be weatherproof if used outdoors, which would also call for a rust-proof frame.

Stabilizer Bar

A strong stabilizer bar (that you can hold onto like handlebars) is a plus who those who feel a little skittish about jumping, and you should be sure to pay attention to the maximum weight each mini trampoline can handle.

Size/Circumference

Most mini trampolines are round and about 40 inches in circumference, although you can find models as small as 36 inches or as large as 55 inches. Smaller is better for adult exercise purposes because the bounce will be tighter and the aerobic benefits will be greater. There are manufacturers offering oddly-shaped rebounders, but most experts feel they provide no real advantage other than a potentially-larger jumping area.

Monitors and/or Resistance Bands

Finally, it’s the 21^st century. That means you’ll find some models with bells and whistles like monitors that can measure time, the number of jumps and calories burned. The Groom+Style review team thinks there’s more benefit in stability bars, resistance bands and other options that will provide safety or workout benefits.

Here is our best mini trampoline review top 5 list – let’s jump into action.

1. Jump Sport Fitness Trampoline Model 350

When we said you’ll have to pay more for a high-quality bungee mini-trampoline, we weren’t kidding. The 39-inch Model 350 will cost you five times more than the least-expensive rebounder in our rankings – but it’s worth it.

Let’s start with quality. The frame and mat are top-notch, with the former constructed from 16-gauge steel and the latter made from Permatron, the best propylene-style mat available, which also serves as a cover for the 30 EnduroLast (a patented material) strong bungee cords.

Even the legs are terrific, perfectly arched for added stability. This is a strong and durable rebounder, used in many fitness clubs because of its quality and wider-than-normal 32.5” jumping area.

There are three different tension adjustments allowing you to set the Model 350 for the amount of spring and impact that suits your body and workout. It’s made in America and has a fabulous warranty (although the chances are you won’t need it), and is just as quiet as a bungee-cord mini trampoline should be. The trampoline doesn’t fold for storage or use at an angle, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing; hinges often rust or fail on many models.

2. Urban Rebounder Exercise Trampoline

If you’ve read the additional information above in the article, you know that mini trampolines with springs are generally less expensive and often limited in durability. The review team feels that the Urban Rebounder is the top option for spring-powered models, strong and sturdy at about one-third the price of the Jump Sport. As an added bonus, the maximum weight this rebounder can handle is a generous 300 pounds.

Since springs put less bounce into the mat you feel some impact in your joints when you start working out on this 40-inch trampoline with a 28-inch jumping surface, but the aerobic workout is quite effective. There’s a steel frame, heavy-duty steel springs that are easy to replace as needed, a soft stretchy pad and a stability bar, and the legs fold for angled use or storage. The spring cover provides full coverage.

The manufacturer says that many health clubs use this model. We can’t vouch for that, but we can tell you that it’s a great choice for either indoor or outdoor use, and it comes almost completely assembled.

3. MaXimus Life Pro Gym Rebounder

Here’s the mini trampoline that’s the priciest on our list. If it didn’t cost a good deal more than our number one choice, the MaXimus Life Pro would probably be at least #2 in the Groom+Style rankings. This mini trampoline is often seen in fitness or cardio centers, but it’s the perfect choice for home use because it’s so lightweight it can be moved anywhere in a flash.

Don’t make the assumption that this 40-inch MaXimus rebounder is a flimsy piece of equipment because it’s portable. It’s sturdy and well-made, and one of the best pieces of fitness equipment you can find for a few hundred dollars. Heavy-duty large steel springs make this a mini trampoline that’s lower-impact than you might expect from a non-bungee model, the non-slip polypropylene pad is strong and comfortable to jump on, and the spring cover is well-made and well-positioned. The legs are spring-loaded and fold up quickly, making this a very portable unit.

4. Stamina 38-Inch Intone Plus Rebounder

We move from a mini trampoline that costs hundreds of dollars to one that’s affordable on a strict budget – for a bungee-style model, believe it or not. This Stamina isn’t going to stand up to long-term use as well as the more expensive choices we’ve looked at, but it has a lot to offer for a cheap mini trampoline.

First, the specifics. There is a steel frame, mesh-style cords and a polypropylene mat with a full spring cover; they’re not the most impressive materials ever, but at this price, you wouldn’t expect them to be. The trampoline is 38 inches in circumference and the jumping area is 29 inches.

Now, the goodies. The Intone Plus comes with two resistance bands, allowing you to do many more types of workouts than you can on a simple rebounder. It also features an electronic monitor that keeps track of jumps per minute, total jumps, elapsed time and calories burned during your workout. Necessary? No. A cool feature? Absolutely.

5. Pure Fun Mini Rebounder Trampoline

We end with an inexpensive spring mini trampoline which doesn’t have bells and whistles, but is a little heavier than the Stamina and – to the delight of the Groom+Style review team – can be assembled in about five minutes by simply screwing in the legs.

We recommend this more for kids, teens and smaller adults because the 250-pound maximum specification is way too generous; we wouldn’t suggest the Pure Fun for anyone over 200 pounds.

There are 30 dual springs, along with a polypropylene mat and a full cushioned cover, and it’s rather a rather loud model because of the springs. There are 38-inch and 40-inch models available, and they’re identical except for their size.

If you were looking for a way to stay fit that includes the whole family, then you could always consider getting a basketball hoop.  Curious to find out more, then read Groom+Style’s best basketball hoop review – top 5 list?