Can You Wear Shoes On a Trampoline?

Can you wear shoes on a trampoline? Well in order to answer that question we need to talk 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 hugely 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?

So let’s discuss the first issue which is whether you can wear shoes on a trampoline. Well the answer is a little more complex than you think as wearing shoes on a trampoline is ok 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.

Specialist trampoline shoes however 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 benefits of trampoline shoes are that they flexible which means that when your kid is jumping the soles flex with their feet. This allows your child to land and maintains their balance. These shoes also have a firm rubber sole which helps your child to bounce without slipping as there is a better grip. Trampoline shoes can also be used as gymnastics shoes.

Can You Wear Flip Flops on a Trampoline?

Just as ordinary shoes and boots are not suitable to wear on a trampoline mat neither are flip flops.

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.

The footwear that should be worn on a trampoline needs to be stable, lightweight, and flexible for safety. That way there are likely to be fewer chances of an accident that could be avoided.

Why Can’t You Wear Shoes on a Trampoline?

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. Remember that many trampoline injuries each year are because of broken bones or twisted ligaments because of the wrong footwear.

Kids’ safety is paramount so having them wear shoes that lack 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 and dirt in the treads that will be transferred to the jumping mat. Not only ripping or damaging the fabric but making it filthy as well.

Should You Wear Socks on a Trampoline?

Can you wear shoes on a trampoline? Well as we’ve shown you can, providing you are wearing shoes that are designed for bouncing. There is however another alternative and that is you could buy trampoline socks.

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.

Can you Use a Trampoline Barefoot?

In theory, you can use a trampoline barefoot and ditch the shoes and socks completely. Bouncing on a trampoline barefoot doesn’t cause the same problems as wearing the wrong shoes but there are still problems to consider.

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 feet.

Plus some mums have noted that when their kids use a trampoline in their bare feet 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 bouncing up and down on mats with sweaty feet that can have fungal infections or other foot problems isn’t hygienic.

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.

If you find that the safety pads around your trampoline are looking worn then make sure you purchase a Replacement Safety Pad. This is imperative as many trampoline accidents are caused when feet are hurt by the springs.

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.

Have you Seen The Latest Moon Shoes?

Finally, we had to mention the latest craze which is 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?

Moon shoes are the latest toy for kids that are like mini trampolines for the feet. They 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!