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 yorin trampoline 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.
Madballs’ detailed designs and names like Screamin’ Meemie and Horn Head made them a must-have for young boys. The hard rubber was quickly replaced with a softer version after boys started throwing them at one another. Nostalgic fans can still find Madballs today, with new collections from multiple different companies. The concept of Fashion Plates has existed since the 18th century, but the toy version released by Tomy Toys in 1977 really caught on in the 1980s. Young girls could easily play fashion designer by snapping a wide array of outfit pieces into a base, and using a black crayon to trace the outline onto a piece of paper. Coloured pencils and fabric patterns were then used to bring life to Fashion Plates, which were resurrected in 2014 by the toy company Kahootz.
Milton Bradley inspired a phenomenon when it launched the deceptively simple Simon console at New York’s Studio 54 in 1978. Simon, which sold for the equivalent of $96, was designed as both a single- and multi-player memory game that required users to press four colored buttons while repeating an increasingly longer sequence of lights and sounds. The simplicity of the original Simon inspired multiple generations of the game, including the Simon Optix, a wearable headset that flashes lights bounce pro trampoline before the user’s eyes. Hallmark Cards introduced Rainbow Brite—who brought happiness and colour wherever she went—as an animated series in 1984. Mattel took the reigns for merchandising, and the Rainbow Brite dolls, with their vibrant hair, along with her trusted steed Starlite, became must-have toys for young girls. Rainbow Brite was Mattel’s most successful product to that point, spawning multiple movies, books, TV shows, and more, with a marketing budget of $35 million in 1985.
To buy any of our springless trampolines, you can order online or find and visit your local retailer. Chana Roberts is a mom and a product tester for Parenting Pod. She has spent over 200 hours researching, comparing, and writing about products for families, and cares deeply about everything kid. Skywalker does keep to the safety requirements, though, and Springfree costs a whole lot more.
Decades later, Roller Racers remain a hit with physical education teachers, who use the toy in relay races, obstacle courses, and roller tag. Coin-operated arcade amusement took a severe hit when Atari released the first home gaming console, which was created by the founders of the famous arcade game Pong. Atari 2600 came equipped with two joysticks, paddle controllers, a wood-panel printed console, and game cartridges, including “Space Invaders,” “Pac-Man,” and “Asteroids” sold separately. The gaming system, with normal and hard difficulty settings, sold millions, making the Atari brand a staple in many ’80s households. The movie follows the saga of Ty Warner, played by Zach Galifianakis, the toy salesman who created one of the biggest toy crazes in history, and then shows what happens when everyone stops caring about them. Elizabeth Banks co-stars as Ty Warner’s business partner, Robbie, while Succession star Sarah Snook plays Warner’s wife, Sheila.
The 1980s plastic version, which led to a number of injured ankles, was a vast improvement over the metal ones released in the ’50s. While the danger didn’t deter kids from bouncing around the neighbourhood, Nickelodeon made safety updates for a resurgence in the ’90s. Strong trampolines equal bigger, smoother bouncing for the whole family. Good thing our new Jumpflex™ Hero 12ft trampoline has an innovative dual ring frame, which makes this range of trampolines our strongest and most stable ever. These 12ft trampolines are engineered using high-tensile steel that will never buckle or lose shape, achieved through a world leading zero bolt, zero weld approach.
While Jumpsport owns Alley Oop, the two are absolutely not comparable. You might say that Jumpsport is the much-lower line of trampolines, though they are generally considered to be a good brand. But if Skywalker is competing head-to-head with Alley Oop (and they are), Jumpsport’s lower quality line is certainly not in the same ballpark. What this means is that if your child mis-jumps, he may very well hit a pole directly. And the only thing protecting him from the springs is the pad on top of them. It’s considered to be the better of the two trampolines, and their fabric components last longer than Skywalker’s.
Geraldine Viswanathan (Blockers) appears as a company employee who predicts the product’s downfall. Oh, and there’s a love triangle thing that happens along the way, too. All our trampolines are delivered free within the continental USA and trampolines come with a free 10-year warranty that covers the entire trampoline. One of Pure Fun’s major advantages is how easy it is to assemble their trampolines. Also, they apparently have great customer service and are an “all-American” company.