What to look for when buying a rebounder, lymphacizer or minitrampoline

Rebounders, sometimes called mini trampolines are wonderful accessories for the home gym.  The Rolls Royce of the rebounders is the New Zealand made "Lymphacizer", by the way.  I won't go into the health benefits here.  This article is about giving you a shopping guide.

There are many rebounders on the market ranging from a $50 machine up to the heavy duty 48 spring Gym R-48 Lymphacizer which sells for as much as $400.  Needless to say, there are huge differences in features, durability and feel.

When purchasing a rebounder there are number of key manufacturing features to look for, such as a heavy duty bed.  But how do you tell a heavy duty bed from a light duty one?  When shopping, I find the easiest way to sort through the rebounders is to look closely at the springs and the way they are fitted to the frames.  If the manufacturer has got this right, you can be pretty sure the rest is of comparable quality:

How do the springs fit onto the frame?

How the Lymphacizer R-36 springs
attach to the frame via welded
brackets.  The R-48 is similar.

If the springs are hooked into holes drilled into the frame tubing, you have a problem from the first use: With little more than a few hours use:

• The springs will begin to chew into the frame, causing the bed to become increasingly soft and spongy.
• The springs will wear quickly at the sharp point of contact with the frame and will soon snap.
• The frame will eventually be damaged beyond repair and only good for the refuse dump.

The  extra heavy duty springs that are found on the
Lymphacizer Gym R-48 model.  Note that
the springs come in pairs and are wound in
opposite directions.

Look for a machine that has a heavy duty tube framing with strong steel brackets that are welded to the frame and which the springs hook onto.  The springs must not hook directly onto or into the steel frame tube.

Look for heavy duty springs and at least 36 of them - no less!

Whether you are light or very heavy, repeated bouncing, walking and jogging is a huge stress on the springs. You need heavy duty springs made of the highest quality steel, that fit onto welded frame brackets (One bracket per two springs) - and lots of them!  The more the better.  

If the rebounder has less than 36 springs and if they look tiny, they simply will not last very  long at all.

Rebounder springs must be fitted in pairs with each wound in opposite directions - one is clock-wise and the other anti-clockwise.  This prevents torsional twisting of the rebounder bed, improving the experience of the user and reducing wear on the rebounder bed and frame.

Another feature of the springs is they should be tapered, narrow at the ends and widest in the middle, so that the stress of the repetitive expansion and contraction of the spring  is evenly spread over the full length of the coil.  If not, the springs will soon snap at the neck.

What weight can a rebounder model tolerate?

R-48 Gym Lymphacizer

A rebounder that does not have the heavy duty features described in this article will rapidly wear, become spongy and there will be repeated spring breakages.  The bed may also fray due to the uneven tension and may eventually tear which is a safety concern.

The heavy duty construction of the Lymphacizer R-36 and the Gym R-48 will easily handle 100Kg and replacement springs are available should you break one.  If you are over 100Kg, then fork out the little extra and purchase the more heavy duty Gym R-48.

Any questions?  Send me an inquiry via this website, thanks.

About this website 

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Which rebounder is best for a heavy man?

"Hi Gary,

Having returned two Maxi Fit rebounders (max 100kg limit) from Rebel Sport I was wondering which rebounder you would suggest.

I am a fit 184cm 94kg male who rebounds 30 mins a day.

Many thanks for your advice."
"D"
____________________________
Gary:

Add caption

The cheap rebounders have inline springs that are generally light duty and all wound in one direction.  These springs are linked to the frame by insertion into holes that have been drilled into the frames.  With use, the springs gradually bite into the frame, causing the bed to lose firmness.  The springs will eventually snap at the point where they bite into the frame.  Such rebounders will not withstand regular use by any person, let alone a heavy one.  In my experience, these always wear out with even light use and one may be forever replacing springs (if you can get them!).

The best rebounder by far is the the Lymphacizer brands.  While they may be a hundred dollars or more than the cheap ones, these are robust machines that will last a lifetime.  The lymphacizer is sprung with angled helix coiled springs that are paired with clockwise and anticlockwise windings (not the ones in the illustration left).  The springs attach to heavy duty UV resistant beds by metal brackets that attach to the bed with strong webbing.  The springs attach to the frame via welded brackets.  These brackets prevent damage to the frame and springs from anticipated heavy use.  Replacement parts are available; but seldom needed.  These machines give a really positive rebound effect that stimulates lymphatic drainage, hence the name "Lymphacizer".

The Lymphacizer comes in two spring configurations: the R-36 and the R-48.  While the R-48 is designed for commercial gym use, I know of the 36 versions that have faithfully performed for over 15 years in commercial gyms.  If a purchaser is of heavy stature (90kg or more) then it may be prudent to fork out the extra dollars and go for the more heavily sprung R-48

Please go here for more product information.

If purchasing a Lymphacizer for the first time, it is recommended that you add John Wheeler's poster of lymphacizer exercises to your shopping cart.

_______________________________________

About this website

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation.  Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.  Please give me your support by subscribing to my free email updates. Please shop at my Online Store. Please encourage your family and friends to do the same. While we may not always be able to compete with the big operators on price, we aim to more than compensate through personal service!

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Do you have a question?  Email Gary: gary@myotec.co.nz. Include any relevant background information to your question.  Please be patient and be aware that I may not be able to answer every inquiry in detail, depending on workloads (My paying clients take precedence!). I will either reply by email or, most likely, by way of an article (Personal identifying details will be removed before publication).

Which rebounder (Lymphacizer) is best for me?

Hi

I am enquiring about the R48 Gym rebounder. I am 105Kg and was wondering what the max weight it allows? The cheaper shop models have a 100Kg limit but I assume a gym model would be stronger.

Is there any delay with shipping?
_____________________________________
Gary:

Don't skimp: The R-48 is best for you because of how much you weigh.  It is the Rlls Royce of rebounders.  It will give you a lifetime of faithful service.

More Feedback about the Service from Happy Campers!

Hi Alofa

Yes, the rebounder arrived and is all but worn out already! Only joking, but would like you to know I thought the whole purchase process, from browsing the website through to the goods' prompt arrival was top-notch, thank you. I'm thrilled with the rebounder, it's exactly as portrayed on the website.

Thank you again for such prompt, efficient and genuine service.

Kind regards
Stephanie
_____________________________
Gary comments:
Our business is run with the intention of providing the best prices for quality goods that we can get away with and to back this up with service that exceeds expectations and is beyond the call of duty. This includes freely giving advice and guidance about personal health and fitness issues that one would normally have to pay for. Our business is driven, word of mouth, by satisfied clients.

This approach seems to be working: Despite the worldwide economic gloom and doom, our wee business continues to set monthly sales records. We are flat out to say the least.

While we will never get wealthy doing what we do - we love it!

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Are Lymphacizer exercise rebounders anti static?

I heard that the Lymphaciser mats are made from nylon with a polyester rim but I would have thought that would create static & it's supposed to be an anti-static rebounder? Please clarify.

Thanks
"C"

__________________________

Gary responds:

The Lymphacizer brand of rebounder does not claim to be anti-static.  In fact, none can claim that unless the device is grounded and I do not know of any practical way that this can be done.

If you use your Lymphacizer bare foot or with footwear or socks that do not produce static when rubbed over polyester, then there will be no static electricity generated.  In all my years in the gym business I am not aware of static electricity being a problem with these machines.

I am not aware, either, of any credible evidence of ill health associated with relatively brief exposures to tiny amounts of static electricity as might be generated from doing healthy exercise on a rebounder.  By far the greater risks to health must be the electromagentic radiation from the numerous electrical appliances in modern households and workplaces, with the electric blanket being close to top of the list!

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Thumbs up for the lymphaciser rebounder

Hi Gary
Just thought you might like a great testimonial for Lympacizers! I've owned one for nearly 20 years and there's been hardly any give in the springs over that time despite being used daily. They are GREAT, well worth the outlay.
Cheers
Jan
_______________________________
Gary Moller comments:

Thanks for the thumbs-up, Jan. The key to the feel and longevity (and the price!) of these exercise machines is the heavy steel frame, the many big steel springs and the way they are fixed by welded brackets to the frame.

I have used the Pacific Health Lymphacizer rebounders for some 25 years for outfitting commercial gyms. Some of these rebounders have been in use for that entire period, some in gyms that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some of the users are very, very big people! I can not recall ever having to replace a broken spring. All that has been required is to replace the protective frame and spring cover now and then and ensure the legs are tightly screwed in. These machines should out-live their owners if used in the home.



If you are considering purchasing a rebounder, it is worth your while spending more and going for quality. The cheapos that cost $100 or less simply do not last and they feel awful compared to the Lymphacizer. With use the springs of the cheapos quickly dig into the frame, the bed stretches and the responsive bounce goes out of the bed. You do not want to be jumping up and down on a cheap bed that may tear or with cheap springs that eventually snap with use.