Last Updated on January 10, 2026 by Martina McKeough
Can you wear shoes on a trampoline? Well, in order to answer that question I’m going to talk to you about safety.
Once upon a time, a trampoline was something you might see in a leisure center, private gym or trampoline park but now their affordability means that lots of parents have bought trampolines for their children to use in their gardens. Whilst jumping on a trampoline can be a lot of fun it can also be dangerous and 100,000 children are injured every year when they are using one.
Wearing the right footwear on a trampoline is something that is often overlooked especially with home trampoline setups but it is incredibly important. Using the wrong footwear is dangerous to your child so understanding how to prevent injuries by wearing the correct shoes or socks is essential.
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Can You Jump On a Trampoline With Shoes?
I learned all about what shoes to wear on a trampoline when I was buying one for my nieces. I found that the issue of whether you can wear shoes on a trampoline is a little more complex than you think. Should you wear shoes on a trampoline?
Wearing shoes on a trampoline is fine but they have to be the right shoes.
If you were to wear heaving duty shoes or even regular shoes on a typical trampoline you are going to have a problem. They are not designed to be worn whilst in a trampoline park or on a home trampoline in your garden.
This is because regular shoes don’t prevent slips and damage the mat of your expensive trampoline because of their hard soles.
Specialist trampolining shoes as you can see in the picture below are a form of gymnastics shoes that have been specially designed for kids and adults to use whilst bouncing. They are lightweight and have an elasticated band across the front of the shoe to help them stay on their feet whilst jumping.
The benefit of trampoline shoes is that they are flexible which means that when your kid is jumping the soles flex with their feet. This allows your child to land and maintain better balance because the flexible sole gives them more control.
Trampoline mat shoes also have a firm rubber sole which helps your child to bounce without slipping because they have extra grip. Trampoline shoes can also be used as gymnastics shoes. These are the type of shoes that I bought my nieces when they first got their new garden trampoline.
Can You Wear Flip Flops on a Trampoline?
Wearing shoes and boots isn’t done on a trampoline and flip-flops aren’t suitable either. Even though my nieces live in Australia where flip-flops are worn all the time they never wear them when they use their home trampoline.
Whilst flip-flops may be less bulky than ordinary shoes they are not so great for your kid’s safety. This is because the only place where they are attached to their feet is in between their toes.
So whilst they are jumping on the trampoline it can be easy for them to either fall off their feet or for them to partially slip off their feet which could lead to them landing badly on the flip flop and injuring themselves. Trampoline shoes have extra grip and stay on as you are jumping.
Any footwear worn on a trampoline needs to be stable, lightweight, and flexible for safety. That way there are likely to be fewer chances of your child having an accident that could be avoided.
Why Can’t You Wear Shoes on a Trampoline?
Why no shoes on a trampoline? Well, there are a number of reasons why wearing shoes whilst jumping on a trampoline isn’t a good idea.
You need to avoid wearing shoes that are clumpy, have buckles or chunky heels, and are not designed to be used on the surface of a trampoline. If you were to get your child to wear normal shoes whilst bouncing up and down they won’t flex with their soles leading to problems with bounce and foot position.
You are also likely to find that the shoes are going to cause increased friction, will lack grip, and may cause your child to lose their balance making them slip or twist their ankle or legs.
Can you jump on a trampoline with shoes? Well yes of course you physically can but remember that many trampoline injuries each year are because of broken bones or twisted ligaments because of the wrong footwear. Just because you can do it doesn’t mean that you should.
Kids’ safety is paramount so having them wear shoes that have a good grip whilst bouncing is essential. Protecting them from something that is potentially dangerous is important.
As a secondary consideration, heavy-duty shoes used on a jumping mat also increase the wear and tear on the trampoline. Home trampolines in particular aren’t designed for shoe use. Shoes ruin the trampoline mat and fabric and the tearing they can cause can be an expensive problem to fix.
Remember that shoes pick up stones, sharp objects, and dirt in the treads that will be transferred to the jumping mat. This can damage the mat as well as make it filthy.
Should You Wear Socks on a Trampoline?
Can you wear shoes on a trampoline? Well as we’ve shown you can, provided you are wearing shoes that are designed for bouncing. There is however another alternative and that is you could buy trampoline socks instead of regular socks.
Trampoline socks differ from regular socks as they have specialist soles that help create traction and stop your feet from slipping on a trampoline mat as well as better grip. Because they have an enclosed toe they also stop toes getting caught in the mat which can cause injuries.
When you purchase trampoline socks make sure that they have non-slip dots or grips on the soles. That way they are able to grip the trampoline mat beneath your child’s feet. Remember that trampoline socks have been designed with safety in mind and grip the trampoline mat surface helping kids to jump and land flat with ease.
Wearing socks is a good choice and a cheap alternative to wearing gymnastics shoes as long as they are specially designed for the trampoline. This is because trampoline socks are relatively cheap and super portable which means that your kids can stay safe and have fun without it costing the earth.
My nieces have a range of these socks that they sometimes at home but mostly when they visit their local trampoline center.
The Best Socks for a Trampoline Workout
Trampoline socks that can be used at home or on commercial premises come in all sorts of shapes and colors. Gymnastic shoes which are also suitable tend to be more expensive and usually only come in a few color choices like black and white.
This pack of 12 Ankle Grip Trampoline Socks is perfect for children who love to bounce all day on their trampolines. The socks come in a great range of colors, have brilliant grip and are made from cotton and spandex so they are likely to stand considerable wear and tear.
Wearing socks is also a good way to keep the trampoline mat clean as they can be cleaned after every wear.
Can You Use a Trampoline Barefoot?
Can you jump barefoot on a trampoline? Well in theory wearing socks or trampoline shoes is an option, especially for home setups but it does have its downsides.
Many home trampolines are set up in the garden and are left outside for the entire year. That means that garden debris such as small stones, leaves and twigs can end up on the jumping mat. If those items are not cleaned up properly before the trampoline is used they can hurt your bare feet.
Plus some mums have noted that when their kids use a trampoline to jump barefoot it can leave them with scratches from the mat. If however, you are wearing trampoline socks or shoes you are going to feel more protected, unlike bouncing on bare feet.
At trampoline parks, you are going to find that nobody is usually allowed to use a trampoline without wearing specialist socks on their feet. This is because thousands of people jumping barefoot on mats with sweaty feet isn’t hygienic. Bare feet can have fungal infections or other problems that can be passed to others so it makes sense to wear socks or choose shoes when you are sharing a trampoline mat with others.
If you are heading to a park make sure you bring some trampoline socks with you otherwise you might be forced to pay for an expensive version at the park itself.
Other Safety Products for Trampolines
Just remember that wearing the correct footwear on trampolines is one way of making sure your children’s feet are safe however there are a few other products you can buy to help prevent accidents.
A Trampoline Shoes Bag Storage Pouch that attaches to the bottom of the trampoline for example can encourage your children to take their shoes off before using theirs. This is a great idea as it doesn’t just remind your kids that shoes ruin the trampoline and can cause injury but it is also a really neat storage idea.
Finally a Safety Enclosure Net should be placed around any home trampoline to prevent your children from falling off the mat and onto the garden area below. Safety nets are relatively standard in many new trampolines but if yours doesn’t have one think about buying one.
Have you Seen The Latest Kangaroos Bounce Moon Shoes?
Finally, we had to mention the latest craze which is Kangaroo Bounce or moon shoes. Can you wear shoes on a trampoline? Well as we discussed certainly not regular shoes but what about if your shoes become the trampoline themselves?
Kangaroo Jumping Bounce shoes are the latest toy for kids that are like mini trampolines for the feet. Trampoline boots are strapped to your feet and when you jump up and down on them they give you the extra lift to make you jump higher. Well worth a purchase for a child who loves to jump!
More Articles About Shoes
and Socks
The Effects of Wearing Bad Shoes
The Benefits of Wearing Socks at Home
Slippery Shoe Hacks to Help Prevent Accidents
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