Trampolines are nowadays part of most UK gardens and backyards, I remember last winter having my trampoline blow away so I’ve been thinking how to keep a trampoline from blowing away? So that doesn’t happen again.
To stop your trampoline from blowing away in high winds then you’ll need to make sure that your trampoline is securely anchored to the ground so it can withstand winds of 40 mph and above. Your trampoline is a large fixture that can act like a sail if it catches the wind.
With Trampolines being part of most gardens and often your kids favourite outdoor toys and activities it’s extremely important to secure your trampoline correctly and with trampolines being one of the most expensive outdoor toys then why wouldn’t you want to make sure that it’s well taken care of when there’s a strong wind or storm.
It’s not uncommon, see this video of when Storm Doris battered the UK and a trampoline was recorded smashing into the owner’s car. Avoid this!
How much wind will lift a trampoline?
The wind speed that it takes to lift a trampoline will vary and depends on the location of the trampoline, I’ve heard of reports of wind speeds of as low as 40 mph moving a trampoline a few feet.
Why does it depend on the location of the trampoline?
Often garden trampolines are surrounded by natural and man-made barriers that help secure the trampoline all on its own without the need for additional tools. Trees and hedges that surround your garden will act as natural wind barriers and they can help stop a trampoline from catching a gust of wind and lifting it off the ground.
In addition to any natural barriers, high fences and walls can also act as a barrier that stops a trampoline from catching a gust of wind. It’s important to take note of where your trampoline is located and see what risk your trampoline is of blowing away in the wind.
What if i have no natural or man-made barriers?
If your trampoline, for example, is located in a wide open space, devoid of any wind barriers then it’s likely that your trampoline will end up blowing away when a storm hits or even a day where the wind is particularly high. If that’s the case then there are ways you can secure your trampoline.
Even if your trampoline is surrounded by wind barriers I would still recommend that it’s tied or anchored down. It’s an expensive and heavy piece of equipment that could end up causing damage to your property or your neighbour’s property and we don’t want that.
How to Secure your Trampoline?
Therefore securing your trampoline is one of the most important aftercare steps to ensure that your new purchase is around for years to come. Could you imagine waking up in the morning after a storm to find your trampoline is no longer there?
That’s what happened to me!
So, what did I do to secure my trampoline and keep the kids happy?
There’s a number of ways to ensure that your trampoline is kept secure.
Use a trampoline anchor kit
A trampoline anchor kit, usually comes supplied with most trampolines sold in the UK but it is not required for the sale of trampolines in the UK, what this means is that you need to make sure that the trampoline package that you are buying has this included or you’ll end up forking out for an anchor kit on its own. Check the retailer’s description of the trampoline and what’s included.
- Whether trampoline, climbing frame or the tent pavilion for the birthday party - play and garden equipment are securely fixed in the ground with the help of the practical ground screws
- No Digging, No Drilling, No Foundation - This inexpensive and lightweight ground anchor is effective and withstands heavy loads
- The special cutting discs ensure a secure hold - round eyelets enable optimal belt guidance
- The anchor set contains 4 high-quality galvanized steel ground screws and 4 adjustable safety straps - dimensions of the screws: 8 mm x 40 cm, weight 300 g each - length of the straps approx. 190 cm
- The Ultrasport ground anchor set is suitable for all garden trampolines as well as swings, slides or climbing towers - volleyball nets or soccer goals can also be effectively secured against the wind
Last update on 2024-08-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Trampoline anchor kits are a specialised type of product that is designed to hold down and secure your trampoline from high winds and hurricanes. Made of high quality galvanized steel that offers long term protection from weather corrosion and rust.
This Galvanised steel helps protect the metal and allows it to keep its strength for many years. You should always look for high-quality materials to secure your trampoline to the ground.
What types of trampoline anchor kits are there?
There are two main types of trampoline anchor kits you can buy, these are anchor kits specially designed to hold down and secure trampolines. They stop trampolines from moving, blowing away or losing structure strength through minute movement when in use.
A cheap trampoline anchor kit
Cheap trampoline anchor kits do exist and they don’t perform nearly as well as the other type of trampoline anchor kits. If you’re buying a cheap anchor kit you should expect a resistance up to 60 KG. This means that they can hold down the weight of 60 KG in high winds. It’s not related to the weight capacity of a trampoline.
A heavy duty trampoline anchor kit
The anchor kit I recommend is the heavy duty anchor kit, it’s designed for high wind loads and is often tested up to 150 KG resistance and they can secure your trampoline in the highest winds and strongest storms. If you’re buying a trampoline anchor kit, always go for a heavy duty one.
Are trampoline anchors expensive?
No, trampoline anchor kits are priced around £10 up to £40 depending on the size of a trampoline and the brand of the trampoline. Here are a few of the trampoline anchor kits that are available.
- UltraSport Spiral Ground Anchor Kit
- SkyHigh Trampoline Tie Down Anchor Kit
- Zero Gravity Tie Down Anchor Kit for Trampolines
How do you use a trampoline anchor kit?
Before you go and purchase a trampoline anchor kit, you need to test the garden and the ground where you are either going to put your trampoline or if it’s already in the garden the location of the trampoline.
What are we testing?
It’s important to test the area to ensure the grass and soil will be able to support an anchor kit, don’t worry there are alternatives if the ground is not suitable. So what to do to test the area is;
- Locate the area you’re going to put the trampoline.
- Grab a spare screwdriver, the bigger the better.
- Push the screwdriver into the ground.
- How far can you push it? are there stones stopping it?
If you can push the screwdriver into the ground with relative ease and there’s no loose soil or stones then an anchor kit is perfect for this location. The anchor kit will work just fine.
What if there’s stones or the screwdriver won’t go in?
If there are stones and the screwdriver won’t go in at least 40 cm then you may need to consider either moving the trampoline to a different location or trying a different method of securing your trampoline.
Other methods of securing a trampoline
So we’ve discussed the most popular method of securing a trampoline using a trampoline anchor kit but there are other products available that can do a good job in stopping your trampoline from blowing away.
Wide Arch Anchorage
If you want real heavy duty security then you should consider the Crocodile Trading Wide Arch Anchorage Set. It’s made from heavy-duty galvanized steel and comes in a set of 8 pins. Perfect for securing your trampoline during the winter. It’s slightly more expensive than some trampoline anchor kits but is twice as heavy duty as most kits.
- LIFETIME GUARANTEE - Suppliers to TV Companies, 2x F1 Motorsport Teams, Councils, Hotels, Hospitality & Exhibition Industry, Autosport & 101 Other Companies!
- 8 'GIANT' TITAN GRIP ANCHORAGE STAKES...Ultimate Resistance - 30cm (unbent length), 40cm (bent length), 12mm diameter (12" high approx).
- WIDE ARCH gives greater span of anchorage, designed to also accommodate wide diameter ground bars upto 70mm!
- FULLY GALVANISED HEAVY DUTY STEEL - (Many pegs on the market are un-galvanised / untreated and can rust)! Wide top arch means the pegs fit over greater widths; No sharp edges!!
- MANY USES....Suitable for anchoring Polytunnels, Greenhouses and also Marquees, Tents, Canopies & 101 Other Uses....Tough, Long and Very, Very Strong...Only available from us - we do not supply anybody else!
Last update on 2024-08-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The wide arch anchorage set will require being hammered into the ground to ensure that your trampoline is secure.
The Sandbag method of securing a trampoline
If you think you will struggle to get the trampoline anchor pins or the wide arch anchorage set into the ground then another option is the sandbag method, it is as it sounds, simply placing sandbags over the strongest parts of the trampolines leg structure.
- Woven Polypropylene Sandbags 13"x31" (33cm x 78cm)
- 25kg (56lb) sand - Tie string - Colour: Black
- UV Proof. Rot Proof. Re-usable.
- For flood defense or to weigh things down
Last update on 2024-08-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What will this do?
This will keep your trampoline secure to the ground. Stop the wide movement of the trampoline and is a suitable way to secure it if the other methods cannot be used. Sandbagging your trampoline is a cost-effective way to keeping your trampoline secure during storms.
You can buy sandbags from Amazon such as the YUZET Black sandbag, of course, these are bought empty and then you can just fill up the bags with sand locally.
How to secure a trampoline on concrete?
While I don’t ever suggest using a trampoline while it’s positioned on top of concrete, there are a few safety issues this can flag up, if you’re unsure about where to place your trampoline, have a read of my safety guide here. However, if you are set on placing a trampoline on concrete or maybe that’s where you’re currently storing it and would like to secure it there then the perfect option is to use the sandbag method of securing the trampoline to the ground. Anchor kits and wide arches will not work in securing it this way.
Final thoughts
I hope this guide on how to stop your trampoline from blowing away in the wind was informative for you. I wrote this article to give you some of the best suggestions on how to secure your trampoline. I like to secure my trampoline using the wide arch technique as I’m all for the heavy duty method, however, a trampoline anchor kit is a perfect and the easiest way to ensure that your trampoline is secure. The sandbag method, in my opinion, should be used as the last alternative as while it secures the trampoline, some movement will still be possible.
