JumpSport AlleyOop Sports 14ft VariableBounce Trampoline Safety System {Review}

Lately Big Sister E has taken to asking, What did you dream about last night? to her sister, father and I, which always makes me smile.

After all, no matter if the answer is something realistic or imaginative, I've always thought that dreams are one of the essential symbols of childhood. Whether their minds conjure up real possibilities (a new outdoor play structure, taking a family vacation, having a big slice of cake, etc) or those that are destined to stay as just dreams (having a pet unicorn, learning to fly, the return of dinosaurs, etc), the creativity of young minds never ceases to amaze me.

So... what happens when dreams become reality?

The excitement over the cake is somewhat short-lived and the enjoyment about the family vacation comes to an end not long after returning home. But when the dream was adding something new, amazing, inspiring, entertaining and enchanting to your yard, the fun never ends when you've brought home JumpSport.

Founded in 1997 and well known for producing only the safest trampolines, trampoline safety nets, trampoline accessories and trampoline parts, JumpSport is clearly a leader in the world of trampolines. In fact, JumpSport's CEO was the inventor of the trampoline safety enclosure back in 1995 and, as far as I'm concerned, forever changed the world of trampolines. That one idea has literally protected millions of children worldwide for the past 15+ years!

After having been thoroughly thrilled with the JumpSport iBounce Kids Trampoline earlier this year, it was nothing short of a dream come true when the AlleyOop Sports 14ft VariableBounce Trampoline Safety System from JumpSport arrived at our door.

Featuring a heavy-duty steel frame, 96 high-performance springs, extremely durable padding and a safety enclosure system that can easily keep kids and adults secure, this VariableBounce Trampoline really does have it all. Designed for users up to 245 pounds each (and tested to a combined weight of over 800 lbs), this is one form of entertainment that the whole family can embrace.

And embrace, we have.

The assembly process for this trampoline was hassle-free, thanks to the detailed instruction manual that led us step-by-step from the beginning to the end. Starting with the strong, 1.9" diameter, pre-galvanized steel frame, we laid out the forest green pieces, connected them together, and began attaching the springs and jumping mat.

While we initially wondered how difficult it would be to stretch the springs into place, that was immediately dissipated after trying the instruction booklet's tip of using one spring to hook and pull another into place.

In less than an hour, we had two large boxes emptied and one 14ft trampoline completely assembled that reminded me of those from my youth. I still have memories of being afraid when jumping on trampolines at friends' houses because I was always sure I was going to fall off the side or in between the springs!

Of course JumpSport would never allow their customers anything less than the utmost in safety, so we moved on to the next steps: the padding and the enclosure system.

I appreciated that the high-density foam padding (UV- and water-resistant) easily covered the springs and securely attached to the underside of the trampoline frame, ensuring that it wouldn't slip or slide out of position. From there, we assembled and attached the vertical poles (covered with more foam padding) to the frame and began adding on the net.

By the time we were completely finished, it did take between three and four hours to put the complete AlleyOop Sports VariableBounce Trampoline together, but it was very clear that every detail included was another safety measure that showed JumpSport's dedication to going above and beyond.

Instead of at all worrying about the possibility of users falling, having a forceful impact, the net breaking, etc, etc, I knew that every aspect had been covered. All we had left to do was quickly assemble and hook on the 2 Step Trampoline Ladder...

...and we stepped back to see 113 square feet of pure, uninhibited fun just waiting for us. Is there any way to look at something like this and not hear it calling out for you to come jump?

Although the AlleyOop Sports VariableBounce Trampoline is recommended for children ages 6 and over, Big Sister E and Little Sister B wasted no time in climbing right inside to try it out.

Right away I could tell that the 2 Step Trampoline Ladder was the perfect addition so that they could reach to easily get inside. As they pulled back the overlap in the net, I was thrilled to see that they could complete the process on their own, yet still stay fully safe inside as the opening immediately disappeared when the net was let go.

All that was left to do was jump!

Jump, jump, jump!

The love affair with this trampoline started that day and hasn't slowed down since. It doesn't matter if the girls are practicing standard, mostly-vertical jumping...

Yes, those are Arthur slippers. Didn't you know they made jumping more fun?

...attempting to try out creative, twisted jump positions...

...to all-out gymnastics moves...

...the enjoyment hasn't lessened one bit.

Not one.

We've had friends over who have tried the AlleyOop Sports VariableBounce and have agreed that it is, in fact, the most fun they've had in a long time. Adults climb in and can't help themselves as they get in on the fun, while kids are up the ladder and inside jumping within seconds of their feet touching the yard.

And it doesn't matter if our visitors possess any amount of skill or not, the sound of laughter fills the air and only pauses for excited talking about what game has suddenly been invented, what animal someone is pretending to be, or just how cool it is to get to play on the trampoline.

One especially talented 7-year-old friend of ours.

The one and only disappointment that has occurred since this trampoline arrived has been that the weather has prevented us from playing on it each and every day. This spring has shown us a few rainy, wet days and the sad, sad faces that my girls have when they look out the window and see the drops are reminiscent of those from people who have lost their best friend.

Think I'm exaggerating? Check out this video and you'll not only see how much fun we've been having thanks to JumpSport, but you'll see just how eager these two truly are about playing on the trampoline every free second of the day...


I don't foresee us ever growing tired of this trampoline, but, on the slim chance that ever begins to happen, all it takes is one look at the trampoline accessories that JumpSport has to offer and I know that the interest level would be sky-high once again. A basketball net? A GameMat? A BigTop Trampoline Tent? Who could resist?

While the AlleyOop Sports 14ft VariableBounce Trampoline is an investment (it has an MSRP of $1,599 but retails from JumpSport for $1,399. The 2 Step Trampoline Ladder retails for $59.95), I can honestly say that it has changed our lives in ways that I wouldn't have imagined.

I have no doubt that my kids will play on this for years, along with it being a huge hit at play dates, birthday parties, block parties... and an extraordinarily large number of mornings, afternoons and evenings of quality time for my family.

Even better, I love knowing that this trampoline is completely safe due to JumpSport's 15+ years of experience and the way that they have always made safety a top priority in their products. My kids have bounced straight into the net or right down on the padding on the springs and haven't flinched at all. No hard metal is accessible anywhere to get hurt on and there is no possibility of them falling out with the 360° protection.

Now, whether or not they realize that the net is there for safety and not just another piece of entertainment, that is yet to be seen.

To find out much, much more about the AlleyOop Sports 14ft VariableBounce Trampoline Safety System and the rest of JumpSport's large collection of extremely high quality products (they have trampolines for kids or fitness, as well as huge line of backyard trampolines and accessories), visit their website and be sure to connect with them on Facebook.

If it is in your budget to bring home one of the World's Safest Trampolines, you won't regret it! Young or old, male or female, the love of trampolines is universal!

We're not the only ones having a blast thanks to JumpSport! Be sure to head over to Rave & Review for 50+ things to do on a JumpSport Trampoline! If you've thought that a backyard trampoline was just for jumping, you won't want to miss all of the creative games and activities that they have invented! As soon as I can get these two in from the backyard, they're going to be thrilled to see all of the new ways that we can play on their beloved trampoline!

(Other than the AlleyOop Sports VariableBounce Trampoline and 2 Step Trampoline Ladder that I was sent from JumpSport, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this absolutely amazing product.)