What They Are and How They Are Built
Rebounders, sometimes referred to as minitrampolines, are somewhat similar to the large trampolines that you see outside in people’s yards. You may have even had one when you were a child. However, rebounders are smaller (usually between 3 and 4 feet in diameter) and are generally geared more for exercise. Rebounders are a fairly simple piece of exercise equipment as there are really only four components: the legs, the frame, the mat, and either the bungee cords or the springs. The higher quality models (and the only ones I would ever recommend, frankly) are built with either a steel or stainless-steel frame and steel or stainless-steel legs. Also, the higher quality models use a UV-resistant, polypropylene (basically a type of plastic; one of the most popular manufacturers of this type of mat material is Permatron® mat and either polyisoprene (basically a form of latex) bungee cords or steel barrel springs.
How to Spot a Quality Rebounder
I alluded to this in the prior paragraph, but the best units use an all steel or all stainless-steel frames. No plastic components are used to hold the frame together. Ditto for the legs. Look for a polypropylene mat and polyisoprene bungee cords or tiered steel barrel springs. What I mean by tiered barrel springs is the spring is the widest diameter in the middle of the spring but narrows slightly as you go from the middle towards each end of the spring.
Issues with Lesser Quality Rebounders
Let’s first talk about the rebounder mats. Lesser quality rebounders might not have the type of mat I described earlier. Some are made of just of nylon, canvas, or some other fabric. This is fine when the fabric is new. However, over time, fabric stretches. When this fabric stretches, you begin to lose the support you once had at the bottom of the bounce and your feet will begin to pronate. Foot pronation is when the bottom your feet, because of not landing on a level surface, tilt either inward or outward when you land. Over time, this can lead to foot pain, ankle problems, knee problems, hip problems, and lower back problems. Eventually, the fabric could tear completely, and you could actually fall through the mat and onto the hard surface (note: you would probably notice tears in the fabric, or the bounce would feel different before this actually happened). With rebounders with a Permatron ® polypropylene mat, this will not be an issue. Because of the high tensile strength of these mats, they do not stretch even after many years of use. Also, because of how these types of mats are made, your feet land on a level surface every time, regardless of how high you jump or where you land on the mat. Yes, when you land, your feet are going to depress the mat at the bottom of the bounce, but the actual surface area itself where your feet hit will be level. Therefore, your feet will be level at the bottom of the bounce and your ankles and knees will remain in alignment.
Now, let’s talk about the springs and bungees. When looking at the springs of a lesser quality rebounder, they tend to be cylindrical in shape. Higher quality rebounders use a tiered, barrel shape design. Why is this important? Cylindrical springs, when they are engaged (i.e., they are being pulled upon at the bottom of the jump when you land), they are engaged uniformly (they are all being pulled upon pretty much in the same amount at the bottom of the jump). Also, regardless of how much you weigh and how high you jump, the springs are all going to be engaged uniformly This might sound good but what is really happening is you are missing the needed support for your feet when you land on the mat. A properly tiered barrel spring will automatically engage at the correct point on the coils of the spring every time you jump and land on the mat, regardless of how much you weigh, how high you jump each time, and where you land on the mat. This type of spring, coupled with a high quality Permatron® mat, will give your feet the support they need each time you land, eliminating the possibly of foot pronation.
As for rebounders with bungees, the best quality rebounders use polyisoprene bungee cords. Polyisoprene is basically a form of synthetic latex. Polyisoprene bungees are highly elastic, so you’ll never reach a “jolt” at the bottom of the bounce. Lower quality bungee cords, though they are elastic, have a point where they can’t stretch any longer. If you are jumping on a lower quality rebounder that has bungees that can’t stretch far enough to accommodate the person jumping on the rebounder, that’s when you can experience a jolt or the feeling of hitting a hard surface at the bottom of the bounce. This will not be an issue with polyisoprene bungees. Finally, even though polyisoprene is a form of synthetic latex, don’t let the word “synthetic” scare you. Polyisoprene latex is hypoallergenic and many people with allergies to natural latex experience no reaction or adverse effects with this type of latex.
Now for the frame and the legs. Both the frame and the legs should be made entirely of steel or stainless steel. That means no plastic components, no plastic fasteners, no plastic anything. On lower quality spring rebounders, the springs may attach directly onto the frame. This is not ideal. On higher quality spring rebounders, steel pins are drilled thorough the frame of the rebounder and the springs then attach to those pins. When the springs are attached directly into the frame, the frame can experience wear over time and eventually bend inward. This will not happen with a high-quality steel frame where the springs are attached to pins that are drilled through the frame because the stress point (where the spring is attached) is indirectly, rather than directly, on the frame. For bungee rebounders, if the bungees loop directly over the frame, that’s okay because it’s not metal on metal contact. The legs of the rebounder should be securely affixed to the frame. Depending on the rebounder, some legs are permanently welded onto the frame, some are removable and threaded onto a stud welded onto the frame, and some are foldable. Regardless, the legs should be made entirely of steel or stainless steel and no plastic components should be involved that attach the legs to the frame.
I recommend (and own) two different rebounders. Rebounders can be broadly divided into two different categories—spring rebounders and bungee rebounders (there are advantages and disadvantages to both). The Cellerciser® is the best spring rebounder on the market today while the bellicon® is the best bungee rebounder on the market today. Both of these types of rebounders possess all of the positive characteristics a rebounder should have and avoid all of the negative ones.
Click here to read my page dedicated to the Cellersicer®.
Click here to read my page dedicated to the bellicon®.
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