11 best exercise trampolines that will put the fun back into working out

Exercise trampolines offer an entire-body, high-intensity, low-impact and – most importantly – fun workout. Sure, jumping around on a mini trampoline doing some old-school aerobics moves might sound silly – but laughing at how ridiculous you look is all part of the experience. 

With the pandemic still forcing many of us to get fit from home, rebounding, the trampolining trend, has had a huge resurgence – even Goldie Hawn is a fan. So if you’re bored of working out at home with the same pair of dumbbells, or fancy switching up your usual treadmill or Peloton session, then why not try bouncing on a trampoline? It’s not just for kids, you know. 

Do exercise trampoline workouts really work?

I actually tried a group exercise class that took place on personal, low-to-the-ground trampolines in East London earlier this year – with fitness company Bounce. I don’t think I stopped laughing for the entire 45 minutes. Set in a darkened studio with flashing neon lights, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped into a nightclub, not a fitness class.  

And just because you’re bouncing and laughing doesn’t mean it’s not hard. Sure, exercise trampolines are easier on the body than most high-impact activities – but I wouldn’t exactly classify it as relaxing.

After 45 minutes of choreographed jumping routines (expect jumping jacks, squat jumps, high knees etc), I was left panting and towelling down the sweat from my forehead. Exercise trampolines help to tone your core, improve your balance and challenge both your coordination and your fitness – all while being easy on the joints.

Can you lose weight bouncing on exercise trampolines?

Absolutely! Any regular exercise can help you lose weight and change your body composition. Of course, you have to be consistent – and eat a healthy, balanced diet, too. 

According to a 2018 study, exercising – or rebounding – on a mini-trampoline is “classified as a vigorous-intensity exercise”. While a study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness – that looked at the effects of exercise trampolines on 18 overweight women – found that 12 weeks of rebounding exercise resulted in significant improvements in body composition, including fat mass, lean muscle mass and circumference measurements.

Is jumping on an exercise trampoline better than running?

While exercise trampolines are certainly lower-impact than running – the soft, bouncy mat cushions your impact, so it’s great for anyone with knee, hip or lower-back injuries – there’s been a lot of discussion around whether jumping is ‘better’ than running.

A 2016 study by the International Journal of Sports Science, found that after testing two groups of people (a trampoline group and a running group) over a period of 8 weeks, rebounding was 50% more efficient at burning fat than running. While a study by NASA found that 10 minutes of trampoline exercise is a better cardiovascular workout than 33 minutes of running. 

Of course, both forms of exercise come with undeniable benefits – for example, according to research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, running can cut your risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 45 percent – but if you prefer exercising at home and something a little gentler on the joints, perhaps rebounding is for you.

After more at home fitness equipment? Head this way for the best resistance bands, over here for the best dumbbells and in this direction for yoga mats. We’ve also got skipping ropes, foam rollers, yoga blocks, water bottles, treadmills, spinning bikes, cross trainers and rowing machines for you to shop.

Not sure which exercise trampoline to buy? Read on for our edit of the best exercise trampolines on Amazon, Decathlon and Argos.