Top 5 Best Round Trampolines | 2017 Reviews
Trampolines aren’t pieces of equipment that adults are likely to run into regularly. You may be familiar with the bouncy houses that young kids love, but if you’ve had any real exposure to trampolines you’re probably remembering back to experiences you had during elementary school gym classes or summer camp. Otherwise, your knowledge of trampolines is likely to be based solely on the snippets of Olympic competitions they show on TV once every four years.
When it comes time to shop for a home trampoline, that knowledge may not be of much help, because the trampolines you probably jumped on as a kid and those you see on television are large, rectangular models. By contrast, the most popular trampolines sold for home use, by far, are smaller and round in shape. They’re still fun to use and a great way to exercise, but they provide a more consistent bounce while being safer, easier to move around the backyard – and a lot cheaper to purchase.
That doesn’t mean that a high-quality round trampoline is inexpensive. Heavy-gauge galvanized steel frames, high-tensile jumping surfaces with super-secret bouncing technologies, and modern safety net systems can push the price of the best round models up over $2000 (yes, you read that right). Don’t panic, though; you can also find round trampolines that are safe, well-built and effective for a few hundred dollars.
On our list of the top 5 best round trampolines, we’ll focus more on affordable models than the state-of-the-art marvels of trampoline technology. After all, most who are in the market for a trampoline want something that will let their kids play happily and safely all day without busting the budget. You may also be surprised to learn that some of these models are big and strong enough to let you indulge your own inner kid – either together with your children or when they aren’t watching and can’t see you having as much fun as they do.
Before going on our list, you may want to check out our Best Round Trampoline Buying Guide.
Ready, set, jump.
Quick Comparison Table
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AlleyOOP DoubleBounce Trampoline |
Skywalker 15-Feet Round Trampoline |
Zupapa 15 Foot TUV-Approved Trampoline |
Ultega Jumper Trampoline |
Super Jumper Combo Trampoline |
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 |
 |
 |
 |
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$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
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14’ diameter |
15’ diameter |
15’ diameter |
15’ diameter |
14’ diameter |
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Permatron |
Polyethylene |
Polyethylene |
Polyethylene |
Polyethylene |
 |
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AlleyOOP DoubleBounce Trampoline
We promised to focus on “affordable” round trampolines in our reviews, and we will. But we thought it also made sense to include a top-of-the-line AlleyOOP model so you have a good basis for comparison, and we’ve chosen the 14-foot DoubleBounce. It’s unquestionably the best model you can buy so we’ve ranked it at #1, even though its $2200 price tag likely puts it way out of your reach. Believe it or not, there’s an even more expensive variation of this trampoline, the Power DoubleBounce, which adds extra springs and a stronger safety net for another $300. You can also opt for the plain PowerBounce model which sells for $1700, or the VariableBounce for $1500.
Why is the AlleyOOP line so special? The galvanized steel frame is the sturdiest you’ll find on a round trampoline. There’s a proprietary system to protect the frame from the stress that can cause it to twist over time. The safety net is the best-designed on the market, interlocked with the jumping surface and equipped with a fail-safe enclosure. And most importantly, there’s a double-jumping mat and a unique spring construction (that’s the DoubleBounce part) which greatly increase bounce and minimizes the possibility of injury through a “shock absorption zone.” One of the main features of this construction is that only half of the high-performance 10-inch springs (the longest on any round trampoline) engage when you land on the mat, while the other half of them kick in a fraction of a second later. That not only provides a stronger jump back up, but better helps the body absorb the impact of landing. It’s an innovative and effective design.
There are other advantages to the AlleyOOP, including the facts that the trampoline is tunable so you can adjust the bounce to suit the age or skill level of the people who will be jumping, the frame pad is made from gym-quality polyethylene with closed-cell foam and a reinforced PVC outer coating that’s UV- and water-resistant, there’s more ground clearance for the jumping mat than on a number of competitors, and the rust-resistant springs are attached with steel V-rings and straps instead of being threaded through grommets that can rip the mat over time.
Finally, there’s the strength of the DoubleBounce. It is rated at 250 pounds for a single user (which is impressive enough), but the company’s “real-world” testing has shown the trampoline can handle multiple users weighing up to 800 pounds without a problem. When you see how sturdy and well-built this trampoline is, you’ll believe it. It’s beautiful too, with a forest green pad and black-and-silver supports, net and accents. Assembly will take a long time, but that’s to be expected with a complicated piece of technology – and that’s what this is.
If you’ve got a spare $2K kicking around and want to spend it on a round trampoline, there should be no question in your mind which one to buy. The AlleyOOPs are the models against which all others should be judged.
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Details of the AlleyOOP DoubleBounce Trampoline |
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|---|---|
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Size |
Round, 14’ diameter |
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Frame |
Pre-galvanized steel |
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Springs |
128 10” zinc-plated steel |
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Mats |
Permatron, UV-shielded |
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Weight Rating |
250 pounds, single user (tested to 800 pounds, multiple users) |
|
Warranty |
Lifetime |
Skywalker Trampolines 15-Feet Round Trampoline
We now descend from the high air of a session on the DoubleBounce to re-enter the real world, and we do that with a strong and well-designed model from Skywalker that costs a more realistic $375.
Many of the most-important construction features seen on the AlleyOOP are also used, in their basic forms, to build this trampoline. The frame assembly is made from heavy-gauge and rust-resistant galvanized steel, there are T-sockets that keep the frame from twisting, and the jumping mat is made from heavy-duty polypropylene with UV protection. There are also a couple of aspects of the Skywalker that we think are even more desirable than what’s seen on the DoubleBounce (that costs almost ten times as much): there are six “W” support legs instead of four, and the safety net is interlocked with the jumping mat at each V-ring with buttons and buttonholes, which eliminates the gaps between the two components where a small child could get stuck.
Naturally, for a much lower price than AlleyOOP charges you’re not going to get the same features or performance; the springs are much shorter and there’s a single bouncing mat, as two examples. Then again, you won’t be comparing the two models side-by-side. Viewed on its own merits the Skywalker is a solid unit, the bounce is great and more than you’d probably expect from a round trampoline at this cost, and the safety features are robust and definitely reassuring. We’re not sure that we’d want to leave this trampoline out in snowy and windy winters even though it’s been weatherproofed, since the padding seems that it might suffer over the long-term. In more moderate climates, however, there should be no issue.
We should also note that this is a 15-foot model, so there’s even more room to jump than on standard 14-foot units. The Skywalker comes in four colors (red and camo are more expensive than blue or green) and it’s a lot of trampoline for the money.
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Details of the Skywalker Trampolines 15-Foot Round Trampoline |
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|---|---|
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Size |
Round, 15’ diameter |
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Frame |
Galvanized steel |
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Springs |
96 6.5” galvanized steel |
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Mats |
Polyethylene, UV-protected |
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Weight Rating |
200 pounds, single user (anecdotally 400 pounds, multiple users) |
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Warranty |
One year frame, 90 days material |
Zupapa 15 Foot TUV-Approved Trampoline
Zupapa is a German company, and TUVs are that nation’s independent safety certification companies. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we’ll give the Zupapa our own seal of approval because this is a strong and enjoyable round trampoline. We’re looking here specifically at the 15-foot model which sells for a little less than $500, but they also offer 12- and 14-foot round models as well.
The frame is made from thick, rust-resistant galvanized steel with six “W”-shaped legs, and longer-than-normal poles which accommodate an adult-sized six-foot safety net. The mat is UV-protected polypropylene, protected by a foam pad with PVC cover and held by 108 seven-inch galvanized steel springs. That’s fewer than on the high-end DoubleBounce, but more than you’ll find on most moderate-priced models like the Skywalker.
The bounce on this trampoline is very good, perhaps not quite up to the Skywalker’s level but close, and it certainly will keep your kids happy. It will definitely make you happy too, if you decide to give it a try; the Zupapa can easily handle an adult’s weight and height. There’s one negative to mention, though. As with the Skywalker, we’d be very tempted to take this “weatherproof” unit inside during difficult winter weather to protect the padding and the manufacturer actually recommends taking that step, so there could be a lot of disassembling and assembling in your future. There’s one very welcome positive to mention as well: unlike most trampolines, the Zupapa comes complete with a ladder and a rain cover.
This model ranks at #3 on our list of the top 5 best round trampolines, but it didn’t miss the #2 position by much.
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Details of the Zupapa 15 Foot TUV-Approved Trampoline |
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|---|---|
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Size |
Round, 15’ diameter |
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Frame |
Galvanized steel |
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Springs |
108 7” galvanized steel |
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Mats |
Polyethylene, UV-protected |
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Weight Rating |
375 pounds, single user |
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Warranty |
Three years frame, one year mat and springs, six months pads and nets |
Ultega Jumper Trampoline
For those who can’t see spending $400-$500 for a trampoline, we offer the Ultega (as well as the final entry on our list, the Super Jumper Combo) which is a decent model for about $325. There’s a galvanized steel frame and base, four “L”-shaped legs (which are a bit more stable than the “W”-shaped ones) and the standard 88 steel springs, so the jumping experience is good although it doesn’t fully approach that of our first three trampolines.
The Ultega is German-made and boasts TUV safety standard approval (although they don’t put it in the name of their product). And you can tell from inspecting the product in-person that while it doesn’t have the impeccable design of the DoubleBounce, this is a solid unit that should hold up just fine for kids to jump on for several years. Adults who want to use the Ultega will be best off if they’re on the slim side; fitting into the zippered opening is difficult for full-sized people.
With a 200 pound nominal weight rating, though, this is designed mainly for the kids and it’s a trampoline they’ll enjoy. As with most of the bouncers on our list, we’d suggest taking the Ultega inside for the winter if you live in harsh climates, to protect the pads and straps.
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Details of the Ultega Jumper Trampoline |
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|---|---|
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Size |
Round, 15’ diameter |
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Frame |
Galvanized steel |
|
Springs |
88 7” galvanized steel |
|
Mats |
Polyethylene, UV-protected |
|
Weight Rating |
200 pounds, single user |
|
Warranty |
Two years |
Super Jumper Combo Trampoline
Finally, we have a trampoline that we’d suggest as a kids’ model rather than one for older children or adults. The Super Jumper Combo that we review here is 14 feet in diameter and costs a little over $250, but the company offers a range of sizes from 16 feet ($350) to 4½ feet ($100).
The quality of the Super Jumper’s build isn’t up to that of our first four reviewed models, but it’s still safe and sturdy for younger kids with a galvanized steel frame and four “W”-shaped legs. We just don’t think it will hold up to continuous use over a long period of time, particularly since there are only 80 springs holding the mat and the welds don’t appear to be as strong as on some competitors. The stated weight limit is 330 pounds, but we’d feel more comfortable placing the number around 200 pounds.
Personally, we’d spend the extra $100-125 for a tougher and more durable trampoline, but if budget is a major factor in your purchase, this will do just fine for the kids.
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Details of the Super Jumper Combo Trampoline |
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|---|---|
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Size |
Round, 14’ diameter |
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Frame |
Galvanized steel |
|
Springs |
80 6.5” galvanized steel |
|
Mats |
Polyethylene, UV-protected |
|
Weight Rating |
330 pounds, single user |
|
Warranty |
One year |
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