Are Springfree Trampolines Worth the Money?
Springfree has an answer available. As the name of their company indicates, they don’t use the standard springs in their products. They’re springfree, literally speaking.
The design is the brainchild of Dr. Keith Vivian Alexander, an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.
He identified the 3 major impact zones in traditional trampolines and then re-engineered these components to minimize or eliminate the dangers.
His trampolines have won numerous design awards through the years, from 2009 up to the present. These include the USA Family Choice Award, the USA Parent’s Choice Award, the International Design Award, the RedDot Product Design Award, and Product of the Year for the USA and Canada.
These trampolines have won awards from juries made up of parents and children.
Springfree Trampoline: Price Shouldn’t Be Your Top Concern
You may have heard of Springfree trampoline, more and more people start talking about it recently. In one of the ads for Springfree, it says “the safest trampoline in the world”. However, a Springfree also stays at the top in terms of price. So, most parents who care much about their kids’ safety might start to wonder, is a Springfree really safe? Is it worth buying compared with cheaper ones?
What is a Springfree trampoline?
A Springfree trampoline is a uniquely designed trampoline that uses reinforced fiberglass rods instead of steel springs through some new technologies that completely eliminated the use of steel frames to support the jumping mat.
Springfree trampoline price
Typically, a Springfree trampoline costs you around 1000 bucks, larger ones are even more expensive. For parents who are looking for a backyard trampoline for their kids, I would recommend you to focus on quality and safety as a top priority, always put the price at the bottom of your consideration list, because I’ve seen too many customers started buying cheap, and ended up throwing their money away shortly.
So here at this post, I am not going to give you “yes” or “no” answers on whether or not to buy a Springfree trampoline, because I’ve done extensive research on it, and people holds such different opinions on Springfree trampolines, some people who actually bought it are saying something like, a good investment, safe, quite durable etc.. while there are also some controversial opinions floating around, which I will discuss later in this post.
The major point is, this post only gives you concise information of all the pros and cons you should know about, but you are the one who makes the ultimate decision.
Springfree pros
- Since Springfree trampoline has completely removed steel frame and metallic springs, this has greatly reduced the risks of getting injured while landing on these parts. A Springfree trampoline uses high-quality rods which form a soft edge for better safety protection.
- The springfree trampoline also uses patented technology to prevent jumpers from falling off entirely, and compared with a conventional trampoline, Springfree’s enclosure net is supported by specially designed flexible rods that flex away from the net, minimizing the risks of jumpers hitting hard on the netting pole like sometimes happens in a traditional trampoline.
Springfree cons
One of the most comprehensive “bad sides” reviews of Springfree trampoline I’ve found is from amazon, where it has come up with several major safety concerns, to sum these up:
- The twisting on the mat makes the tramp less bouncy and jumpers tend to have sore knees after a long time of exercise.
- A fully grown-up jumping on the side of the trampoline can make the rods go together, imposing a potential risk on kids who happen to have their fingers near the rods.
- The nets can bend all the way to the ground if a grown-up is purposely doing so.
Top 4 Springfree Trampoline Reviews
Let’s take a closer look at 4 of the top Springfree trampolines in their lineup.
Springfree Jumbo Square Trampoline with Basketball Hoop & Ladder
Michael Jordan is still the most hallowed name in basketball history, and that’s primarily for his unmatched ability to glide through the air for a monstrous dunk on a basketball hoop. Now Springfree offers a trampoline for children and adults who believe they can fly.
Large jumping area
The jumping mat measures 13 by 13 feet, and you get up to 155 square feet of area to play with. That’s a good thing because you can’t always expect people to jump up and down straight.
So if they come up and down at an angle, they still have lots of space to land on. This is especially when some people try to do their best Michael Jordan impersonations. Besides, all that free space feels especially liberating. It just feels more liberating.
Basketball hoop
A trampoline all by itself can be really fun, but imagine if you have some accessories to spice things up. But now you don’t have to imagine throwing down a devastating dunk down a fantasy basketball hoop because that’s already included in the purchase.
The hoop is made of the same materials and design concepts as the trampoline, so safety is still a prime consideration. You also get all the basketball hoop assembly parts you need, including the support rods, cable ties, and bolts and nuts.
You even get a neoprene basketball along with a pump. (You can also buy this separately if you have another brand of the trampoline at home, but it will cost you $199.
Size
With its large size, you may be dismayed by having to disassemble it every time, especially in bad weather. But you don’t have to! Every component here is weatherproof. The rods for the jumping mat and the net are rust proof and resistant to UV. The frame is made from galvanized steel and powder-coated as well.
The mat and the safety net are made from tough polypropylene and also resistant to UV. What all these things mean is that once you’ve assembled it in your backyard, you can use it for the whole year regardless of the season. You don’t have to pack it in to protect it from the harshest winter or the most punishing summers.
- You have lots of space to play with.
- Safety features greatly minimize the risk.
- The basketball hoop adds another layer of fun.
- It will last for a very long time, regardless of the weather.
- It’s very expensive, as it costs $2599. That’s US dollars, by the way.
- You will need a lot of space in your backyard for this. In fact, your backyard should measure at least 21 feet on each side.
Springfree Trampoline Medium Round with Basketball Hoop & Ladder, 10′
Let’s say that you don’t have space for such a large trampoline as the Jumbo. If that’s the case, you may want to get the Medium Round version instead.
Safety features
This round Springfree trampoline is one of the safest trampolines you can get for your family. It’s tough enough to accommodate up to 100 kilos (220 pounds), so even the adults can get into the fun. It offers a very smooth jumping experience, as the flexible rods used as an alternative to springs are very gentle on the knees and joints.
The soft edge is 30 times more absorbent than the typical safety pads you find on traditional spring models. The netting around the jumping surface is also excellent because it can really keep you and your kids from inadvertently jumping out into the ground.
Let’s put this in another way. As we’ve mentioned, Springfree has garnered a slew of awards from their trampolines. That’s partly because somehow they’ve managed to eliminate 90% of the product-related injuries from the traditional models. So you can actually say that the traditional models (safe as they may be) are still 10 times more dangerous than this particular alternative.
Just the right amount of space
Here you have a round trampoline that measures 10 feet in diameter. That leaves lots of space if you only have a kid or two who wants to use it. The surface area available is 79 square feet, and you have the equivalent jumping surface of a 12-feet round model that uses springs.
For this version, you only need a backyard that measures 18 feet across. That should be enough to leave some ample space around the enclosure. Despite the smaller frame of the device, it can still accommodate anyone who doesn’t weigh more than 220 pounds. If this is a play area for your children, then that’s a good weight limit to have.
Basketball Hoop
This one has the basketball hoop which we’ve already mentioned. But it also has a ladder too. This one is a special ladder because it eliminates the hard surface you commonly find in the chairs that people often used to get in and out from the jumping mat. So if you slip, you can hurt yourself.
To make it strong and durable, it has the same galvanized steel and hard plastic materials used to support the trampoline itself. But it’s still soft enough so that the injury is minimized. To prevent such an accident from occurring in the first place, there’s a non-slip surface on the step of the ladder.
You can also just take it out easily, and then you can lock the net so that young children can’t get in and play without an adult to supervise them.
- You still get a lot of jumping areas to play with.
- The safety measures can really minimize accidents and injuries.
- The trampoline can be left out in all types of weather conditions.
- You still have the basketball hoop and the ladder.
- It’s still expensive unless you think that paying $1,749 is a bargain.
- The space is just right for a single user. With two kids, you greatly risk the possibility of having them bang into each other.
Springfree Trampoline Large Square with Basketball Hoop & Ladder, 11’
Now we are back to a square design, but this time, we have a side that measures 11 feet. This model also includes the basketball hoop for would-be Air Jordan and LeBron James players, as well as the ladder for easy access to the jumping surface.
Surface area
The Large Square version requires a backyard that measures at least 19 feet on each side. That leaves enough space around the jumping surface, which measures 113 feet. You should also make sure that you don’t have any wires or cables nearby that can affect the jumps of your kids. Like the other versions, this one can handle a weight of 220 pounds.
Advanced netting
A lot of Springfree Trampoline reviews mention just how great the netting is around Springfree. That’s because it’s not just strong because a strong net can hurt children when they hurl themselves against the enclosure. The net is also flexible too. That means it can cushion the impact and also redirect the children towards the center of the playing area.
Traditional enclosures also typically have steel poles to hold up the netting, and these things represent another impact zone that can hurt and injure children. With Springfree, those poles are replaced by flexible poles that can minimize the impact for the people who inadvertently hit them.
Warranty
The basic warranty for each Springfree is 4 years for the frame, and a year for the mat, rods, and enclosure. But if you register, you can double that so you get 8 years for the frame and 2 years for everything else. You can, however, order replacement parts that you will undoubtedly need due to normal wear and tear.
- The airy feeling when you jump is especially exhilarating when you have lots of space around you, and this large trampoline gives you that space.
- It can last for a very long time as the materials used are very tough, and they’re specifically designed to endure wet or extremely sunny conditions.
- The weight limit enables adults to have some fun too. Who says these things are just for kids?
- The safety enclosure can really make sure that kids don’t accidentally jump high and then land on the ground.
- Yep, the price is still a problem. It’s available for $2,249.
- The warranty also doesn’t apply to normal wear and tear. It only covers original defects in workmanship and material.
Springfree Trampoline Large Oval with Basketball Hoop & Ladder
With Springfree, you’re not limited to a round or square shape for your trampoline. You can get an oval version too. So if you don’t have a perfectly square yard, you can use this instead.
Great for a narrow yard
This thing measures 8 feet wide at the narrow side and 13 feet long. So your yard should measure at least 16 feet wide and 21 feet long. That’s enough space for a jumping area that measures 92 square feet.
Accessories
You also get the basketball hoop and the ball. You also get the ladder that enables you to get up and down easily from the jumping surface.
Safety features
The excellent enclosure is part of the package, and again the “soft edge” feature means that you won’t have to worry about your children bumping their heads on a very hard and rigid frame.
- It is extremely safe.
- It’s great for narrow yards.
- You have the basketball hoop and the ladder. And if that’s not enough, you can incorporate digital gaming as well.
- It can last for a long while even in extreme weather conditions.
- There’s no such thing as a cheap Springfree, and this one will set you back $2,049.
- You still need a yard that’s at least 16 feet at its narrowest.
Buying Guide – How to Choose the Best Springfree Trampoline
Safety has always been the biggest concern when it comes to trampolines. So much so that the American Association of Pediatricians even wanted to prevent people from owning such equipment at home because of the rising injury rates. This is also one of the reasons why the Springfree Trampolines have been brought to life.
Deemed as the safest trampolines on the market today, this brand eliminated and addressed the three impact points that make trampolines dangerous. With lower chances of hurting yourself by landing on the springs or falling off the side, they can be the best picks for many households.
How do you choose from their selection, though? Here are a few good tips:
Pay close attention to the weight limit.
Most Springfree Trampolines can handle a jumper’s weight of up to 220 lbs. It can hold up to 1100 lbs of structural load, though, so you can be sure that it’s up for some good bouncing. These numbers can also already be more than enough for some households.
Choose the size that will suit your needs and requirements.
Springfree Trampolines come in various shapes and sizes. They don’t really get as big as traditional spring trampolines, though. In any case, its 13’ x 13’ option can still be the best pick for lots of households who want a large backyard trampoline to play in.
Consider your budget.
Another important consideration about this brand is its price tag. It’s one of the higher-end options, thanks to its unique and safe design. Because of this, you might have to be ready to spend a pretty penny on one of their products.
Check out what the reviews are saying.
There’s no doubt that this brand is impressive. However, it doesn’t mean that you should take its marketing materials at face value. Reviews should give you an idea of how it actually performs so make sure to read them. This way, you can be sure to have an informed decision regarding which trampoline to get.
Buying Springfree Trampoline: Things You Should Know About
1. Springfree trampoline is quite expensive, then why are people still buying it?
That’s a good question, yes, the Springfree trampoline is sold at a much higher price, but you can save in costs not having to buy the mat covers for the springs, and not having to replace them when they rot. We find that some customers who have bought a spring free think that it is just as bouncy as the traditional version, while others don’t think so, and this remains an issue of lots of debate. After all, a spring free is a lot safer as smaller children cannot get caught between the gaps or gets their little fingers stuck in the springs
2. Are Springfree trampolines safer than traditional ones?
Springfree Trampoline is a high quality, uniquely designed trampoline that does not use metallic springs like most trampolines, just like the name suggests. On a Springfree trampoline, the jumpers’ balances are supported by reinforced fiberglass rods beneath the mat, this unique design helps to protect users from potential impact with these elements, and eliminating the need for a safety pad.
Typically, a Springfree trampoline is thought to be much safer due to its fiberglass rod improvement, however, you should be aware that a Springfree trampoline has its own potential risks as well. For example, kids watching outside the trampoline might get injuries if they put their fingers through the rods at the bottom of the trampoline.
So, we remind you that parents should keep close eyes on their kids when using a Springfree trampoline.
3. Is Springfree trampoline not as “springy” as a standard trampoline?
Usually a Springfree trampoline doesn’t have as much bounces as a typical trampoline, lab tests confirmed that Springfree trampoline is less efficient, which means that you have to work harder to jump and you cannot jump as high. However, some people say they haven’t felt the lacking of bounciness when jump, so the best way is to test by yourself when choosing one, I would recommend you first bounce on a Springfree trampoline and try some of your flips, then bounce on a trampoline with springs and decide which bounce you like best.
4. If I decided to buy a Springfree trampoline, where to buy it?
A good place to buy a Springfree trampoline online is from Amazon.com, where you can always find the best deal.
A Friendly Reminder
While packed with safety features, adult supervision is still required when using Springfree Trampoline. So even if you got the best match for your needs, make sure to still follow safety precautions to avoid accidents and injuries while you’re trying to have fun.
Final Verdict
Yes, Springfree is expensive. But you have to put it in perspective. How much are you willing to pay for this kind of fun? At least by having your kids play outside, you get them away from the constant barrage of TV shows and video games. Also, you get a lot of bonding time for your family, and such bonds are priceless.
What’s also important here is that you’re spared the constant worry about trampoline injuries. Various Springfree Trampoline reviews have reported that these things are much safer than their traditional counterparts. The safety measures really work.
And that means you’re spared the cost of hospitalization for your kids, and you’re also spared from the anguish of seeing them get seriously hurt and injured. So if you can afford a Springfree, don’t hesitate to buy one.
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