This question comes up quite regularly on the phones when we chatting to people and i don’t think people really understand the importance of trampoline pads and the role they play. My colleague has kindly written an article about this and so here we are. Hopefully you will find it interesting and help you with any questions that you may have.
There are many different brands of trampolines available, using different materials and thicknesses of pads. Many cheaper trampolines economise on the pad material and thickness to offer the cheaper price. The top branded trampolines such as Supertramp, TP and Xtreme 360 offer thicker, heavier duty pads. They do this for a reason.
The purpose of pads is to cover the springs of the trampoline. They protect your children if they were to fall on this area of the trampoline. The pads prevent your child’s foot from falling through the gap between the springs. Also, as weight is put on the trampoline bed or springs, the coil of the springs stretch open. If a child catches their skin in the coil, when it re-contracts, it can result in a painful injury.
There are four aspects of the pads to look out for:
1) The type of foam used in the pads
A firmer foam offers better protection, as it will be less likely to give under the weight of a child falling on top of it.
2) The thickness of the foam
Thicker foam has more absorption qualities as there are more layers of air pockets to cushion a fall.
3) The width of the pads.
Wider pads extend further over the top rail of the trampoline and further onto the trampoline bed. This is less likely to result in a child’s foot falling through any gaps.
4) The type of material used to cover the foam.
Quality materials such as rubber or polyester are more durable than PVC or PE. They are less likely to split and expose the foam to the elements, which will in turn erode the foam.
Having said all of this, when a safety net is used with your trampoline, pad thickness can be less important. Some styles of safety enclosure have netting which is attached to the trampoline inside where the pads meet the trampoline jumping area. As a result children are less likely to fall on the pad area. The protection needed by the padding is therefore less important.
