Let’s face it: Those old-school trampolines were a little dangerous, and most of us know someone who at one point took a tumble off of the jumping surface. These days, though, most trampolines on the market—like the Skywalker Trampolines 15’ Round Trampoline With Enclosure—come with safety features like nets and bumper pads to keep your kids (and their friends) safe. But, as with any toy, not all trampolines are created equal, so we tested this Skywalker model to see how it stands up to the competition. We had several kids of varying ages jump on the trampoline, both in groups and alone, to see how the Skywalker held up to the stress of the flips and occasional collisions. Does this trampoline work for larger families? Older kids? And is it worth the price tag? Let’s find out.
Packaging: Several boxes, clear labels, easy to navigate
The Skywalker trampoline arrives at your door in several boxes, and within those boxes are, yes, more boxes. But while the unboxing process for this trampoline does feel a bit tedious, the pieces, which range from nuts and bolts to individual springs and the frame, are well-organized and easy to locate among the sea of brown cardboard. We had a relatively easy time finding each piece we needed, and the way in which the manufacturer labeled the individual parts made following along with the instructions a snap. We had no issues with missing pieces or unexpected damage to any of the materials that were shipped with the Skywalker; from the metal frame to the safety netting, each part was packaged with care to ensure that shipping would not harm the trampoline. The boxes, as you would imagine, are pretty bulky and quite heavy, so moving them is a two-person job unless you can convince the delivery person to drop them off at your desired location rather than your front door.
Design: Sturdy parts
As we unboxed each piece of the Skywalker, it became clear that this trampoline, while on the lower end of the price scale, is still constructed with durability in mind. The metal legs of the frame are made with rust-resistant galvanized steel and feel simultaneously lightweight and hefty. Some of that sturdiness is due to the design, which incorporates reinforced T-sockets. This means that the structure of the frame can withstand heavy use and won’t twist or warp with repeated jumping by excited kids—a must when it comes to trampolines. The springs for the jump surface of the trampoline are clearly heavy-duty; it’s nearly impossible to stretch them from arm strength alone. The netting is soft and malleable—important for those times when kids get bounced into it. Once the netting was erected, though, there were some questions as to the durability of the material. At about 15 x 15 x 9 feet, the Skywalker trampoline isn’t small, so don’t expect the aesthetics to be sleek or modern. You’ll need a large yard with a flat surface for this product. The round design is a good option for families with multiple kids, but if you’re looking for a trampoline to fit in a tight space, this is not the one for you.
Age Range: A blast for all ages
The Skywalker trampoline is recommended for ages 6 and up, and the weight capacity is 150-200 pounds (although the exact number is a bit unclear). As long as jumpers remain in that range, this trampoline is fun for kids and adults. Parents can jump, too!
Setup: A few hiccups, but a simple process overall
The Skywalker trampoline was relatively easy to construct. For the most part, the instructions were clear and concise, and the entire process took about three hours from start to finish. We probably could have finished sooner if we’d avoided one major issue, which forced us to remove all of the springs and the netting and start over. Assembling the frame required a very minimal use of power tools and a bit of elbow grease. We found that this was easily a two- or three-person job, as someone needs to hold the bulky parts in place while another person bolts them together. Still, this part of the construction was pretty simple. We ran into a bit of trouble, though, when it came to placing the netting around the jump surface on the frame. The instructions state that the zipper must be aligned with a T-brace, but there are two types of T-braces on the frame: some with brackets for installing the enclosure pole and some without brackets. The zipper should be aligned to a T-brace without brackets, but this isn’t clear in the instructions. They also don’t note that the netting should be lined up prior to connecting the springs on the jump surface. If you, like us, aren’t careful, you’ll have to remove each and every spring and start over to properly line up the netting. This issue added quite a bit of time to the construction of the trampoline. Sure, it could have been user error—buyer, beware if you’re less than handy with tools or instructions—but after looking back at the instructions, they still seem unclear. Once we had everything properly aligned, the actual erection of the safety bumpers and netting was easy. It just takes a little muscle behind the bolts and some patience, as you’ll be adding individual elastic ties underneath the trampoline to ensure the bumper doesn’t shift.
Safety: No bumps or accidents
Overall, we felt like this trampoline was a very safe option. The brand’s 15-foot round model has a huge jump surface—much larger than we’d anticipated—and it felt safe for several children to use at once. There was plenty of room to jump, tumble, and “crack the egg,” a game the kids played nonstop during the test run. That extra space meant no collisions or bruises, even when the neighborhood kids heard the laughter and headed over to join in the fun. The one issue we had was with the safety netting around the jumping surface. Though we didn’t notice any gapping or problems with the areas where the net meets the metal framework, the netting itself felt less sturdy than some of the higher-end trampolines on the market. It’s soft and malleable, but if you live in a climate with rain and snow, we could see it getting worn out down the road. It likely wouldn’t stand up to too much roughhousing with older, heavier kids, but we still felt comfortable with the younger, lighter kids bouncing each other into the netting repeatedly.
Entertainment Value: A solid bounce every time
Just try dragging your kiddos off of this trampoline. It’s nearly impossible. It was great to see the kids jumping, laughing, and playing together—no matter that their ages ranged from 7 to 16. And that excitement didn’t fade. Our testers spent many afternoons tumbling, flipping, and jumping for hours on end. Even with several kids jumping at once, they were able to get a good bounce from the jumping surface, enough to throw layouts or back tucks with no issue. The instructions state that the maximum weight is 150 pounds, but the capacity listed online is 200 pounds. We tested that weight limit with heavier jumpers and found no issues with bounce.
Ease of Cleaning: Pine needles, leaves, and stinky socks
Listen—this is a trampoline which will likely sit outdoors under some trees. It’s bound to get messy. It was simple enough to sweep off the pine needles and leaves prior to playing, but rounding up all of the stinky socks the kids scattered presented more of a challenge. If you’re going to invest in this trampoline, make sure you invest in some serious laundry detergent; your kids will be sweaty, smelly, and worn out, and that part will be your biggest cleanup.
Price: Well worth the investment
The price tag for this trampoline ranges from about $269 to $400, depending on where you find it. It’s on the lower end of the price scale for trampolines, especially a trampoline of this size, and even if you have to replace the net in a few years, it appears to be worth the investment.
Skywalker Trampolines 15’ Round Trampoline With Enclosure vs. The Beast 15 ft Round Trampoline
This trampoline from Beast Inc. is a comparable 15-foot round trampoline with a netting enclosure and similar safety features. Both boast high ratings and feature extra-thick coil springs, galvanized steel framework, and similar T-sockets. There are a few differences, though: The Beast trampoline has netting but no zipper enclosure—they use an overlapping door instead—and the Beast has no weight limit. Still, unless you’re looking for a trampoline to withstand some heavy-duty jumping by adults, the weight limit per jumper on the Skywalker seems adequate. The Skywalker also comes with more bumper color options, whereas the Beast is only available in the standard “Beast Blue.” The biggest difference is the price: The Beast retails for close to $1,000, while the Skywalker can be found for as low as $269 on sale. That’s a pretty big difference—one that could easily price most families out of the Beast. If you’re looking for an affordable, sturdy option to keep your kids active outdoors, the Skywalker Trampolines 15’ Round Trampoline With Enclosure is a great choice. It can easily handle an influx of neighborhood friends or large families, and the spring floor is high-quality. Bounce away!
