The Best Trampoline Brands in New Zealand for 2024

Updated 05 June, 2024

If you’re thinking about buying a trampoline, there are several things to consider that can affect the enjoyment you’ll get out of it, as well as how safe it will be to use. Whether you’re in the market for your first one or looking to upgrade, these five factors will help you make the right choice. 

Will It Fit In Your Backyard?

Are Bigger Trampolines Better?

How Long Do Trampolines Last?

Should You Buy The Cheap One?

Can You Assemble It Yourself?

Does Safety Matter To You?

Are You Looking for More Bounce?

Do All Trampolines Have Good Resale Value?

You might be wondering why you should take our opinion into account. We are experienced and expert trampoline assemblers based in Auckland, New Zealand. We assemble hundreds of trampolines every year and have first-hand seen the good and the bad. 

We assemble, disassemble, move, and dispose of trampolines and have formed a strong view of all the key factors involved with owning a trampoline, based on our personal experience of what we’ve seen and worked on. 

The most common brands we see in Auckland: 

Our key observations about trampolines in Auckland:​

• Some cheap trampolines in NZ aren’t of good enough quality to waste your time and money on.

• We understand which trampoline size a particular customer should get – sometimes contrary to what manufacturers claim.

• We know how much weight certain trampolines can bear, whether they have springs or are a spring free trampoline.

• We have seen how fragile some otherwise sturdy-looking trampolines can be.

• We have a good understanding of how safe different spring and spring less trampoline brands are.

  
  

Key Factors To Keep In Mind When Buying A Trampoline

1. What Size Trampoline To Buy

The first thing to do when shopping for a trampoline is decide which size you want. Most trampolines are big enough for two or three children, but trampolines that hold more can be found if you shop around.

Larger sized trampolines allow more people to jump at once without putting too much weight in one place on the trampoline mat. If your garden is small, however, it’s probably not worth paying extra for a bigger frame, as you may have trouble fitting it into your backyard.

In our experience, though, bigger isn’t always better. The key is to ensure you buy a trampoline that fits comfortably and safely in your property and has enough space for children to bounce safely inside it. 

An important factor when deciding what size trampoline to buy is how many people will use it at once. Smaller trampolines are great for smaller families who just want a couple of children to jump at one.
Bigger trampolines, however, can accommodate bigger groups of children at the same time, which can be useful when your children’s friends visit.

It’s essential to measure your backyard before you make a final decision over what sized trampoline to buy. We recommend having around 1-2 metres of extra space around your trampoline over and above the mat size for safety reasons.

In the image below, for example, the mat size is 4m, so it’s recommended you should have more than 6m of space for safety.

Our key observations around trampoline size:

• 10-feet and 12-feet are the most common sized trampolines that people buy. In our opinion, this is a reasonable size that’s not too big and not too small.

• An 8-feet trampoline is suitable for 1-2 children.

• 14-feet is too big because these sized trampolines are not as sturdy as smaller ones. The exception to this is large Springfree brand trampolines.

• Go for a round medium or oval medium trampoline if you’re buying the Springfree brand.

• A bigger size doesn’t mean a trampoline can carry more weight. It’s essential to check the weight specifications of the product before buying and installing it.

Are Bigger Trampolines Better?

In short, no; the bigger a trampoline doesn’t mean it can carry your entire family of 10! For example, a 14-foot trampoline has the same weight capacity as a 10-foot trampoline – around 250 kg. Overall, Springfree brand trampolines are sturdy in our opinion and can accommodate 2-3 times more weight than other brands.

To illustrate this, below are specifications for the Jumpflex trampoline brand. You will see that the 12ft, 14ft and 15ft trampolines all have the same weight capacity of 250kg.

Image source: Jumpflex website

2. Trampoline Durability

In our experience, you can expect almost all trampoline brands in New Zealand to last for two to three seasons. The fact is that trampolines are outdoor equipment, and they are constantly exposed to extreme weather conditions. For example, a trampoline in Auckland can expect to be exposed to rain, sun, hail, and potentially salt air too.

Exposure to these varying weather conditions cause rusting of the metal parts. This includes the trampoline frame, springs, bolts, and safety net enclosure rods. The main impact of weathering is on the trampoline springs, which lose their strength and start rusting over time.

One reason we recommend the Springfree brand is that they have composite rods instead of springs. This means there is no corrosion, and they don’t lose their strength, unlike metal springs. The same applies to the Springfree trampoline safety net enclosure rods. 

This doesn’t mean they are perfect, however, as we’ve seen rust on Springfree trampoline bolts and frames too. Overall, though, Springfree trampolines can last a lot longer if they’re properly stored. We have disassembled trampolines as old as eight years and seen the difference between Springfree and other brands that have metal springs and other components. 

Rusty trampoline springs

Our key observations about trampoline durability:

• We recommend Springfree trampolines for their durability, as they use fibre rods instead of metallic springs.

• After Springfree, the next best brand we recommend is Jumpflex trampolines.

  
  

3. Trampoline Price

Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. If you buy a cheaper trampoline, you can expect it will be lower quality and won’t last as long. This is because cheaper trampolines have lower-quality parts, which will break, rust, and deteriorate more quickly over time.

Not everyone has the budget for a more expensive trampoline though, and some people aren’t sure their kids will stay interested in the trampoline for a long time and question whether it’s worth the extra cost

In our experience, however, children love trampolining and will get many years of fun and exercise from one. If you spend a bit more, you’ll also have peace of mind that your children are protected with better quality components that won’t break and endanger their safety.

Our key observations about trampoline prices:

• Don’t automatically go for the cheapest trampoline – you get what you pay for. Not all trampolines are designed and built equally.

• The cheaper a trampoline is, the lower quality its parts will be.

• Budget-wise, you can get a reasonable quality 10ft or 12ft trampoline from Jumpflex, Plum, Bouncepro and other manufacturers for $800-$1,200. Springfree trampolines start from $1,000 and go up to $3,000. In our opinion, the extra cost is worth it.

  
  

4. Trampoline Assembly & Disassembly DIY Challenges

Assembling a trampoline yourself is not for the faint-hearted! For a first-time trampoline assembler, you’re looking at around four hours to get a trampoline assembly job completed. 

However, trampoline assembly isn’t easy, and we’ve been called in to help rectify many partially or incorrectly assembled trampolines after people give up on DIY. Trampolines with springs, in particular, are notoriously difficult to assemble as they have many smaller parts. 

The fibre rods in Springfree trampolines pose a different challenge. This is because correct technique is needed, as well as a lot of physical strength. Often, this is beyond the skills and experience of many DIY assemblers.

Oval and square shaped Springfree trampolines raise the DIY trampoline assembly bar even higher, as they are more complicated. For example, you need to be very careful with the orientation of the mat right from the first step. 

Transporting a trampoline takes the challenge to another level. Unfortunately, there are countless stories of trampolines being moved in ways that result in severe damage and to address this issue, we’ve dedicated a post to provide essential tips on how not to move a trampoline.

Assembling a Springfree trampoline

Our key observations about trampoline assembly:

• Trampolines are notoriously difficult to assemble, particularly those with springs, as they have many components.

• Springfree trampolines require correct technique and physical strength.

• Help with trampoline assembly is highly recommended.

  
  

5. Trampoline Safety

One of the most important factors to consider when buying a trampoline is safety. While many of the latest trampolines have covered springs, safety nets, and extra padding, their quality isn’t guaranteed. That’s because there are no mandatory safety standards in New Zealand

There are voluntary safety standards, but these are largely ignored by the importers of cheap products, which is why it’s so important to look at trampoline reviews in NZ and invest in a better brand. In the absence of mandatory laws here in New Zealand, we tend to look to the Australian standards for safety guidelines.

According to the Kiwifamilies website, many of the apparent trampoline safety features give a false sense of security. One reason is that safety nets often don’t have adequate UV protection, which means they tear easily. Also, safety pads degrade rapidly in sunlight.

Consumer NZ has tested trampoline safety three times since 2012 and, in its 2021 test, found safety issues with three out of four trampolines. While the Springfree trampoline passed the Australian standard and the Jumpflex model had only minor failures that didn’t affect user safety, other brands were found to have significant shortcomings

Our key observations about trampoline safety:

• Based on our experience and trampoline safety tests, Springfree trampolines are of the best quality and offer the highest safety levels.

6. Trampoline Bounce

When we think about trampolines, one of the first things that usually crosses our minds is which one will be the most fun. Our next thought is often about which trampoline will give us the best bounce. The majority of trampolines that come equipped with springs usually deliver a better bounce compared to those without springs.

If you're in the process of researching and deciding which trampoline to purchase for the maximum bounce, be sure to take a look at our other post about the bounciest trampoline brands in New Zealand.

7. Trampolines Resale Value

Not every trampoline holds its value well when resold. This is mainly due to longevity issues. While many brands offer long warranties for their trampolines, their quality often doesn't last even five years.

If you're unsure whether your children will get enough use out of your purchase, we recommend buying a Springfree brand. Although the initial cost is higher, they offer the best resale value. You can often find used Springfree trampolines listed on TradeMe, with people willing to buy them. Depending on their condition, you could sell them for up to $1000!

Springfree trampolines have high resale value (Source: Trademe NZ)

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