Does Water Make a Trampoline Bouncier?

There are many myths surrounding trampolines. One common myth that most people believe is that water can make a trampoline bouncier. So, if you jump on your trampoline after heavy rainfall, you will be able to jump higher than normal.

How much of that is true, though? Is there any basis behind this belief? Let’s look at the answers below.

Does Water Make a Trampoline Bouncier?

Jumping on a wet trampoline is always fun. Whenever it rains in the morning, I try to let my kids out in the afternoon to have some fun on the trampoline. The mat stays wet and slippery, and I sit back and watch them enjoying themselves, laughing their hearts out.

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Now while I might be okay with letting my kids jump on a wet trampoline, some parents are totally against it. They believe that a wet trampoline is a lot more dangerous, and it makes the trampoline bouncier than normal. Well, they are at least half true.

A wet trampoline is, to be honest, a bit more dangerous, especially if you are careless with it. However, I have never noticed a higher jump from a wet trampoline. And to top it off, there is no scientific evidence supporting this claim either.

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Is Water Bad for Trampolines?

Let’s first talk about the obvious question on everyone’s mind – will water ruin your trampoline? Well, if you have any decent trampolines, you should not care for water too much.

Any outdoor trampoline worth its salt will have a decent level of weather and water resistance.

Most of the trampolines available in the market these days feature a galvanized steel frame that is designed to repel moisture and corrosion. So, even if you leave the trampoline out during rain all the time, it should not matter too much.

In addition to the frames being waterproof, the springs are also designed to withstand rainwater and snow. But I would still recommend using a trampoline rain cover once you are done using your trampoline for the day. Sure, a bit of water might not hurt it, but there is no reason for you to test it, right?

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Why is a Wet Trampoline Bouncier?

The jury is still out on whether a wet trampoline is bouncier or not. Some people claim that they can jump at least a couple of inches, if not a foot higher when the trampoline is bouncy. But another group says that a wet trampoline bounces just the same as a dry trampoline.

So, which group is right? And if it does bounce higher, what is the reason behind it?

Personally, I do not put too much thought into it as long as the trampoline is working properly. But some people like tinkering with this sort of stuff, and I get that. The thing is, though, there is no scientific proof of a wet trampoline bouncing higher. Trust me; I have looked.

What I realized is that there could be two possibilities here; either you just feel that a wet trampoline bounces higher, or it actually does bounce higher. And the funny thing is there is some pretty solid logic behind both possibilities.

When you get a trampoline wet and jump on it before drying it, it feels different. So, you can understand how a kid might confuse that feeling and perceive it as the trampoline allowing him to get a higher bounce. This is a pretty simple explanation of how water can make you feel like the trampoline gives you a better jump.

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But let’s face it, that is not the answer you are looking for here.

And as it turns out, there is a plausible theory that shows that a trampoline should give you a higher bounce if it is wet. Think of it this way, when you cool down an elastic object; it loses some of its elasticity temporarily. It becomes firmer, and when disturbed, it tries to return to its original form quicker.

Similarly, when you cool down a trampoline mat, the mat cools down, and as a result, it gives you a sharper rebound when someone jumps on it. So, theoretically, at least, it should provide a higher jump when it is at that state. But as I said before, this is purely hypothetical, and there is no scientific study supporting this theory.

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Advantages of Jumping on a Wet Trampoline

While there may not be definitive proof that a wet trampoline bounces higher, there is no argument that a wet trampoline is more fun to jump on. That is why many homeowners opt for the trampoline sprinkler system to turn it into a mini water park.

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During a hot and sunny summer morning, jumping on a dry trampoline can be fun, but the weather works against you. You tire out faster, and the heat can easily frustrate you. But if you have a garden hose spraying the trampoline with water, it will bring down the temperature making your experience more enjoyable.

Besides, you can add a bit of soap to your wet trampoline and turn it into a slip ‘n slide. It’s not perfect, but it is definitely fun. And as long as the trampoline is big and has safety nets around it, you do not have to worry about falling off of it either.

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Safety Tips While Jumping on a Wet Trampoline

Yes, jumping on a wet trampoline is extremely fun, but it does bring with it a couple of safety concerns. Keep in mind that a wet trampoline is also a slippery trampoline. And jumping on a wet trampoline can cause you to lose your footing and land awkwardly, leading to a sprained ankle or worse.

But does that mean you should not at least try it out? Definitely not. As long as you stay on the safe side and take precautions to prevent accidents, you should be fine. Here are a couple of safety tips to help you enjoy jumping on a wet trampoline without putting yourself or your kids at risk of injury.

1. Use a Safety Net

The safety net is an important part of a trampoline, and you should never get on it without installing it first. If you are jumping on a wet trampoline, it becomes even more essential to set up a proper enclosure netting around the trampoline. Without netting, it is very easy to fall off the trampoline and break a limb.

In addition to safety nets, I would also recommend using safety pads inside the trampoline to break your fall. Since the trampoline mat is wet and slippery, you honestly cannot expect everyone to land perfectly on each jump. The safety nets and pads will keep you safe and ensure you do not hurt yourself if you land awkwardly.

2. Set Some Ground Rules

If you surprise your kids with a wet trampoline day, they will undoubtedly go wild. So, you have to be the sane one and keep them reined in so that they do not go and hurt themselves. And the best way to do that is to set some ground rules that everyone must follow.

The first rule should be to avoid trying any stunts. Do not let them try and pull off air tricks, especially when they are jumping on a wet trampoline. In addition, you should make them take their shoes off when jumping on a trampoline. The water will just ruin the shoes and can even damage your trampoline.

3. Ladder Safety

As weird as it may sound, the riskiest part of jumping on a wet trampoline is not the actual act of jumping but rather getting into the trampoline in the first place. Once they are inside the trampoline, the safety net is typically enough to keep them safe. However, climbing onto the trampoline with a slippery ladder can be quite dangerous.

So, I would recommend helping your kids climb onto the trampoline when you turn on the sprinklers. Once they are inside, you should stay close by so that if anyone wants to get off, you can help them down. The last thing you would want is for someone to slip off the ladder trying to climb on the trampoline on their own.

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Now That We’re Here

A wet trampoline is a fun trampoline whether it bounces more or not. Though I must admit that there are some pretty valid reasons why some might think it bounces higher, without proper evidence, I cannot give you a definitive answer.

For what it’s worth, though, I did explain all the logic behind it so that you can judge for yourself whether your trampoline lets you jump higher when it is wet or not.

Hopefully, that answers your questions, and now you can move on to actually having fun on your trampoline. Good luck!