Outdoor Trampoline - anyone got one?

[User24689]

Thinking of getting a trampoline for DC for Christmas. Feels a bit extravagant as I know they are expensive but this year the garden has been so important for them and realised how much they prefer to be outside! They also always love them at friends houses.

Questions:

1. What size? Argos do a 8ft one for £100 which doesn't seem too bad. Kids are 5 and 3. Is 8ft big enough? Would quite like them to be able to go on together so not constantly policing turn taking.

1. If you have one, does it get used regularly enough to justify it taking up the space in the garden?

---

This thread is quite old now so some of the suggestions may be out of date, but if you’ve landed here looking for trampoline recommendations, we’ve recently updated our best trampolines page with lots of great options, as tried and tested by Mumsnet users and their kids. We hope you find it useful.

MNHQ

Our 10 ft has been a god send particularly over lockdown. The kids (same ages as yours) love it. We have considered changing it for an 8 ft which would fit better in our garden, but if space wasn't an issue we would def keep the 10 foot.

Go for as big as you can fit op, otherwise you'll end up replacing it in a few years when the kids have grown. We have a 10 foot one but it looks quite small when my 12 year old is on it

We have the 10 foot one from ASDA for £100. It's been great. The bigger the better. Although Not getting much use now it's gone cold, but it's on shade in the winter.

We bought this one about 4 years ago and to be honest I wish we'd just got it to start with as we kept upgrading the size as they got older. Also we wanted one that us parents could go on with them as they kept asking us to play with them! It is huge though but we have a small field so that's fine but I don't think I'd want it dominating the garden. That said, they'll use it loads and it's such a worthwhile thing to have.

Get at least 10 foot. 8 foot isn’t big enough. We just replaced our 10 foot one with a 12 foot and it is absolutely MASSIVE to me. Almost too big but the kids love it.

Oh, pic would help...

We got one during the first lockdown, it was a great hit and is used all the time, no matter how cold it is outside. I wanted a 10ft round one but everything was out of stock so eventually got an 8ft × 12 ft rectangular one. The shape makes it better to use with friends than a round one according to the kids. I've no doubt it will be used for years to come.
Be warned, with the sides up they look massive!

Thanks both!

We moved house not long before lockdown and got a trampoline, so relieved as kids have used it so much in lockdown (so have I) even if it’s just 10mins here and there it gets them out in the fresh air. The main thing I’d look for is one with a net around it, so they can be zipped in, this stops accidents from falling off the side. Also make sure it is on level ground and erected properly so it doesn’t move around.

We got it for DS’s 5th birthday, he had years of fun on it. He’s nearly 12 now so he doesn’t play on it.
DD has played on it since she was 3, it was a godsend over lockdown and I expect her to get a few more years out of it, she’s almost 6.

Ours is an 8ft one and it’s big enough to have two younger children bouncing on it together but once they get to about 8/9 it does seem crowded so you may want to get the 10ft one if you have the room.

Thanks for all the advice. @alwayslatte that looks amazing but a bit more than we wanted to spend. So I think space plus cost are the restraints. DH may take some convincing about the 10ft but if I tell him they'll outgrow the 8ft that may persuade!

Yes it goes without saying you need a zipped net but tbf I I think that comes as standard on most of them now. Hard to believe as kids we were throwing ourselves around on these things without a net

I’d always let mine bounce together until we had a bit of an accident during lockdown so I don’t now.

Meant to say the one we have will definitely see kids through their teens, it's plenty big enough and the weight limit is about 15 stone. I'd get one like that or 10 foot round one minimum. An 8ft one is fine for young kids but you'll have to upsize in a few years and they'll fight about turns soon enough as it'll be too small for both of them to use

My 3 year old is fairly extreme.... We will def be getting a net!

I'd echo going for as big as you can manage. My other advice is that, if you try to put it up after bedtime on Christmas eve, then don't underestimate how long it will take (I speak from bitter experience).

Yes, got a 12ft one when eldest dc was about 3 - he is now 15 and all 3 still love it, as much for just hanging out chatting and messing about together on as for bouncing, brilliant purchase.

Look at weight limits as well as size, they vary between brands. We opted for one which would take an adult, if something is going to take up that much garden I need a turn too .

We have a TP, 10ft. I like that the springs are outside the net so no chance of stepping onto the padding and slipping through. It does mean there is no space at the side for one to wait while the other bounces but we are strict on one at a time so that suits us.

We have the 8ft sports power one from Argos. It was great during lockdown. My children range from teenagers down to pre school age and sometimes three younger ones go on together, it holds up to 100kg in weight so if you take care of it it should last a while. Best £100 we spent on outdoor stuff for garden this year.

We had a 14ft one when I was a teenager (they weren't widely available in shops then so I ordered online and didn't know quite how big it was.. thank goodness we had a massive garden and my parents didn't kill me) and we became the hub of the neighbourhood, always had kids round to play - even some who didn't normally play out with us!!

It is just amazing, and as I got older and stopped using it for bouncing I used to love taking a book and reading outside on it, or taking a blanket at night and looking up at the stars.

I would say 8ft is a bit small if you want it for a long term thing.