Outdoor Gear

How to use a mini trampoline safely

Rebounders are low-impact and effective, and the injuries that do happen are nearly all preventable.

• Check the weight limit on the product page before buying, and do not exceed it, the frame and springs are rated for a reason.
• One person at a time. Double bouncing causes most trampoline injuries, and that applies to mini trampolines as much as garden ones.
• Clear space around and above. At least a metre either side, and check ceiling height if using it indoors, bouncing needs more headroom than people expect.
• Use the handlebar if there is one, particularly when starting out or if your balance is not reliable.
• Bare feet or proper trainers. Socks on a trampoline mat are slippery.
• Check springs and mat before use once it has been in service a while. A failed spring under load causes a sudden drop.

Who should take advice first

Rebounding is lower impact than running but still involves repeated loading. If you are pregnant, have a joint or back problem, have balance or dizziness issues, or have not exercised in a long time, speak to your GP or a physiotherapist before starting. Pelvic floor weakness is worth raising specifically, bouncing is a common trigger for stress incontinence, and there are exercises that help.

Getting started with rebounding

• Start with 5-10 minutes, not thirty. Your legs will feel it more than you expect.
• Health bounce first: feet stay on the mat, heels lift slightly. The gentlest version, and where to begin.
• Look ahead, not down. Watching your feet is what unbalances people.
• Build up over weeks rather than days.

How to choose fishing waders

• Chest waders give the most coverage and let you fish deeper water. Waist and hip versions are cooler and easier to walk in, but limit where you can stand.
• Breathable or neoprene: breathable waders are lighter and far more comfortable in warm weather; neoprene is warmer for winter but you will overheat walking in them.
• Boot-foot or stocking-foot. Integrated boots are quicker to get on and warmer; stocking-foot waders with separate boots fit better and give more ankle support for walking.
• Size for the boots and the layers. You will wear thick socks and often thermals underneath, so waders that fit exactly over normal clothes will be tight in use.
• Check the sole. Felt grips wet rock better than rubber but is restricted on some waters to prevent spreading invasive species, check local rules before buying.

Wading safely

Wading is more dangerous than it looks, and people drown in UK rivers every year.

• Wear a belt around the waist of chest waders. This is the single most important safety measure. It traps air and slows water filling the legs if you go in.
• Use a wading staff in moving water, and move one foot at a time.
• Never wade alone in unfamiliar or fast water, and tell someone where you are going.
• Know the bottom. Silt, weed and algae-covered rock are all far more slippery than they look.
• If you do go in, stay calm, get your feet downstream and float on your back towards the bank. Waders do not drag you under the way people believe, but panic does.

Care and storage

• Rinse waders inside and out after every use, especially after salt or muddy water
• Dry completely before storing: inside out first, then the right way round. Damp waders develop mould and the seams degrade
• Hang, do not fold. Folding creases breathable membranes and creates leak points
• Store trampolines indoors or covered over winter: damp rusts springs and perishes the mat