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So what rebounder/mini trampoline is the most portable?

There are a number of reasons one might want to have a highly portable rebounder. Perhaps your a frequent traveler and want to bring your rebounder along  so you can continue your workout routine on the road. Or perhaps your local gym offers rebounding classes, but requires you to bring your own equipment.

Here are a few thing to think about if portability is a concern for you.

First we will look at the Bellicon rebounder which comes in two sizes the 39 inch and the 44 inch. Now obviously the 44 inch Bellicon has some significant advantages to its littler brother. For example, because of its larger size, exercises like jumping jacks are much easier to perform. Also you will tend to over-pronate less on a larger rebounder. But that being said if you plan on traveling and want to take your rebounder with you  the 39 inch is going to be a lot more convenient. You will also want to get the folding leg version which will reduce setup time.

The second rebounder we will look at is the Needak. The choice here is actually pretty easy. The Needak soft bounce folding rebounder takes portability to a new level. On the needak folding rebounder not only do the legs fold but the frame itself also folds which reduces the size of the rebounder by half. After folding the whole thing fits into a convenient carrying case, with a shoulder strap for easy mobility.

When working on the rebounder legs, always do so in a comfortable manner so as not to strain yourself.  

Bellicon rebounder with screw on legs:

 What you should find in the box:

a)   The Rebounder frame with mat and bungee bands attached to it.

b)   A small box with 6 rebounder legs.

c)   A small plastic bag with 6 rubber tips.

Remove the box with the legs from its attachment to the frame (you can throw away the two bungee bands with which the box has been fixed to the rebounder frame) and open the box.

Also open the small plastic bag with the rubber tips and place the rubber tips on the closed end of each leg.

 Remove the safety plastic caps which are placed over each of the six threaded posts on the rebounder frame and carefully screw on all six legs. Be careful to thread them on gently before screwing tight.

Bellicon rebounder with folding legs:

What you should find in the box:

a)    The Rebounder frame with mat and bungee bands attached to it.

b)    A small plastic bag with 6 rubber tips.

c)    A small box with 6 rebounder legs.

Remove the safety plastic cap which is placed over each of the six leg posts on the rebounder

by pulling the leg down towards the center of the rebounder and lift off the cap.

When unfolding the legs, be careful not to pinch yourself with the leg. Hold the frame away from the post with one hand and lift the leg up and out with the other hand.

When folding the legs, be careful not to pinch yourself with the leg. Hold the frame and leg in the same manner as when unfolding the rebounder. Pull the leg out towards yourself and lower it.

Today we added the new Bellicon 44″ Rebounder with screw on legs. Other than the legs, which screw into place, this model is the same as the folding leg model. If you have decided to purchase a Bellicon bungee band rebounder and plan on leaving  set up most of the time this may be the best choice for you as you will save about $60 dollars by purchasing the non-folding model. As with the folding leg version you have your choice of bungee band strength as well as color and you still have the ability to break the rebounder down for storage by unscrewing the legs if necessary.   Follow the link below to learn more about this new rebounder.

Bellicon Ultimate 44″ Rebounder with screw on legs

Of all the rebounders and mini trampolines on the market which one is the best?  Over the years quite a few rebounder manufactures have come and gone and a few have stuck around and risen to the top by developing strong reputations for quality and support.

• Needak is currently the leader in the United States when it comes to quality. The Needak rebounder has become somewhat of a benchmark which other rebounder companies compare their products to.  
• Not far behind Needak in popularity is the ReboundAIR rebounder.  ReboundAIR was founded by the popular author and Lecturer Albert Earl Carter. The ReboundAIR rebounder over the years has become an extremely popular rebounder and has one of the best warranties in the industry.
• Finally a relative newcomer to the US market Bellicon with their innovative spring less design. Bellicon makes use of bungee bands rather than springs to attach the rebounding mat to the frame. They are already enormously popular in Europe and rapidly gaining popularity in the states.

Many people make the mistake of trying to save money by purchasing one of the cheap imitation rebounders found in the local sporting good stores. These rebounders are little more than toys and not designed or fit for serious exercise.  The bounce on these cheapo models and very stiff and it is very common for springs to break after only a few hours of use.

If you are serious about getting into rebounder you will save yourself money and time by spending a little extra upfront and getting a quality rebounder that should last a lifetime.

Here is another question that I get quite often. Why should I spend $260 on a rebounder when I can go down to the local sporting goods store and pick one up for $60?

The answer is simple. There is a huge difference in quality between the cheep imported store model mini trampolines and a quality rebounder made by a company like Needak, ReboundAir, or Bellicon.  

The first, most obvious and perhaps most important difference is the tension in the surface of the mat. Jumping on one of the cheepo models is a lot like throwing one of those two inch thick blue gym mats down on a cement or hard wood floor  and jumping up and down on it. As you can imagen this is extremely hard on your joints and back.

By comparison the highly popular Needak soft bounce rebounder feels very similar to jumping on a full size trampoline, obviously the scale is much smaller but the feel is very similar.

Another issue that people run into all the time after purchasing one of the inexpensive models is the things just fall apart. Most of them are imported from china and it really shows the quality of workmanship. It is quite common for the stitching around the mat to come out and attachment points to rep free on these models. Not only is this annoying it can actually be dangerous if it happens while you are in the middle of a workout!

The saying goes you get what you pay for. When it comes to rebounders this is definitely the case.