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The Soft-Bounce Needak Rebounder: A Review

Needak Soft Bounce Rebounder
Needak Rebounder In Black Or Blue Color

To help me keep fit and healthy, I was determined this year to find a high quality, reasonably-priced low-impact aerobic exerciser otherwise known as a mini-trampoline or rebounder.

I have seen some rebounders in the homes of friends but did not really know much about them. I thought any one must be as good as the other so I was planning to buy the first one I came across that suited my budget.

I soon realized I was wrong. There is more to rebounders than one might have guessed so I spent the time to find out all the nitty-gritty details that differentiate the best and most effective rebounders from the rest that are available in the market. My extensive research eventually led me to the Needak Soft Bounce Rebounder.

I also got to know more about why rebounding is one of the best exercises that anyone could engage in, and I also share these with you in this review.

What To Look For When Buying A Rebounder

I realized soon enough that there are some important considerations to keep in mind when buying a rebounder, including:

  • The history and reputation of the manufacturer
  • The type of material used for the jump mat, and its correct preparation
  • The construction design and the material used for the springs and how they are covered
  • The material and construction of the frame
  • The availability and ease of installation of replacement parts
  • The warranty period

Needak Is The Leader In Rebounder Quality And Innovation

Needak - Made In The USA
Made In The USA

Needak is not just a marketer but a rebounder manufacturer who has adhered to high quality standards and has exercised total control of their rebounder products from design to production.

This is in stark contrast to most of its competitors who outsource the manufacturing overseas, resulting in low quality, cheap, look-alike rebounders which can break easily.
 
Needak has been making quality rebounders since 1990. It is one of the very few high quality rebounder manufacturers that rose from the ashes of failed cheap and unsafe rebounders which flooded the market in the late 1970s and early 1980s and eventually forced many quality rebounder manufacturers out of the market.

Its line of rebounders, including the Needak Soft Bounce Rebounder, has differentiated itself from other rebounders in the market today in a number of ways.

The Needak Jump Mat Uses Advanced Industrial Grade Polypropylene Permatron

Needak Permatron
Close-up Of The Permatron Mat

A rebounder can only be as good as its jump mat which needs to meet a number of exacting characteristics.

Firstly, it needs to be a durable, resilient and non-slip mat to ensure the safety of its users. And secondly, it needs to provide the right tension so that the mat does not stretch too much when you land downwards; but at the same time can give you a stable, comfortable, and easy-on-the-knee bounce back on the rebound.

The Needak jump mat is made of a high quality polypropylene woven mat called Permatron - a very strong, yet flexible and supple fabric that returns to its original flatness after the stretch and provides cushioned comfort to your joints and knees.

It is thick yet light, sun and rain resistant, and has been tested to not easily tear, stretch, burst or puncture from prolonged hard use.

The jumping mat surface of the Needak Soft Bounce Rebounder is 28 1/2 inches in diameter wide, providing lots of room to move and jump safely on the trampoline.

Safety and durability are further enhanced with the use of strong seat belt webbing that is securely stitched around the edges of the mat to link the mat to its set of 36 springs.

The Mat Separation Problem

Needak Rebounder Competitor
Frayed Mat Edge Of Competitor
Needak Rebounder Mat Edge
Needak Rebounder: No Mat Separation

While some manufacturers claim that they also use a polypropylene mat, that's still no guarantee of quality. One of the problems that they have is the separation of the jump mat.

For example, if you look at this picture of a competing rebounder mat, you can see that some fibers are protruding from the edge. This is because the polypropylene material is not prepared correctly before the edge banding is sewed on.

To try and overcome this problem, the manufacturers put in more lines of stitching. However, this does not fix the defect in the long term because once the separation has started the stitching cannot stop it from going through to the jump mat itself.

This is probably one reason why rival brands only offer a maximum of one replacement mat in their warranty.

On the other hand, have a look at the neat edge of the Needak jump mat.

This is what a properly prepared mat looks like - it provides long years of service without suffering from the mat separation problem.

Needak Uses Barrel-Shaped Springs Made From High-Grade Music Wire

Good rebounders that have good jumping mats must also have a good set of springs. This is why Needak has also been in the business of designing and fitting springs that are correctly shaped, angled and aligned to allow them to absorb more of the bounce's impact as well as result in less spring wear.

Needak Barrel-Shaped Springs
Barrel-Shaped Spring
Needak Rebounder Springs
Springs Securely Fastened To Frame

Needak has used patented 41/4 inch Soft-Bounce configuration springs for its rebounders since 1992. They have designed their springs to be barrel-shaped to absorb up to 85% of the impact of each bounce; and to have coiled tapered ends to produce less wear and tear.

Needak springs are made from high-grade music wire; enabling the springs to assume any shape they are forced into. This ultimately results in springs that keep their shape and last for a longer period of time.

Needak fits 36 jumbo quality-wire springs that are 4 inches long to the rebounder to hold its mat to the frame. This results in a solid yet yielding spring mechanism with enough give and a soft comfortable rebound.

Another Needak innovation that has stood the test of time is their hinge design which uses a state of the art welding process to securely fasten the springs to the frame.  Each spring is welded to the heavy-duty steel frame by means of individual mounting pins or hinges, resulting in longer lasting, more stable and safer trampolines.

An industrial-strength pack cloth weave nylon material covers the Needak springs. Unlike the vinyl covers in cheaper rebounders, the Needak spring cover is highly resistant to oil, water, and sunlight. It does not tear or crack easily and provides protection to rebounders, their jumping toes as well as fingers of curious children.

Its Frame Is Made Of 40-Inch Diameter American Steel

This Needak Rebounder is strong, durable and built to last. Its frame is made of 40-inch diameter American Steel, while other cheap rebounders may use brittle plastic.

This is a steel frame which is non-toxic and lead- free; and is baked in blue or black powder coat finish to complement a blue or black jump mat.

Its round shape evenly distributes the impact of jumping into its various components such as the mat, springs, frame and legs.

It Is Light In Weight Yet Can Support Someone Who Is Up To 300 Pounds

Folding Legs Needak Rebounder
Folding Legs For Easy Storage

This Needak Rebounder is light in weight and very easy to move around at 25 pounds, yet can support someone who is up to 300 pounds in weight.

The size is a manageable 40 inches (102 cm) in diameter and 10 inches tall.

It has 6 steel leg tubes which can be folded easily, so it's a cinch to slide it under the bed for quick storage.

It Carries An Excellent Warranty

Since 1990, Needak has been the only company that has continuously produced its rebounders out of its assembly line in O'Neill, Nebraska, USA

It stands by its rebounders 100% and has provided one of the best available warranties in the rebounder market today. (Refer to the Warranty details at the end of this product review)

Its Replacement Parts Are Always In Stock And Easy To Install

Replacement parts for Needak rebounders are always in stock and easy to install. This is in contrast to some cheaper brands whose parts may not always be readily available; cannot easily be installed by the user; or sometimes cannot be replaced at all.

Click Here For Ordering Info For The Black Needak Rebounder. Click Here For The Blue.

Rebounding Is The Best Low Impact Aerobic Exercise For Everyone

Here I will discuss the benefits of rebounding. If you are already knowledgeable about this topic, please click here to go to the next section to see a video demonstrating the use of the Needak rebounder.

Dr. Morton Walker, whose book "Jumping For Health" is provided free with a purchase of the Needak rebounder, says that rebounding aerobics operates on simple principles.

When exercising on a rebounder, you hit the mat with twice the force of gravity and then go into state of weightlessness at the top of the bounce.

This alternating state of gravity and weightlessness results in a very effective pumping action at the cellular level, working on each of your body's sixty trillion cells. This action pulls out the wastes from your cells and pushes the oxygenated blood for the cells' continuous nutrition.

Rebounding Woman
Healthy And Active

This simple exercise results in the following health benefits:

1. Improve your quality of life and resistance to heart disease and other diseases

Jumping deepens your breathing, resulting in more oxygen to feed your cells and tissues. Your muscles are encouraged to help the heart move blood, as well as nutrients and fluids through your body - improving blood circulation, increasing your heart rate, opening up blood vessels and lowering your blood pressure.

2. Detoxify and get rid of your body waste

Jumping stimulates the body's lymph system, increasing lymph flow which is responsible for cleansing your body's cells. It promotes better digestion and relieves constipation.

Articles on health and exercising have noted that rebounding can promote the flushing of the entire lymphatic system in two minutes, as well as the tripling of the anti-cancer white blood cell count.

Rebounding 2 minutes every hour is therefore being recommended by some health experts as a preventive measure against lifestyle diseases such as cancer.

3. Keep trim and fit, manage your weight and reduce the likelihood of obesity

Jumping stimulates your metabolism, burns calories, lowers cholesterol and can help the thyroid gland facilitate turning the food you eat into useful energy.

4. Gain strength and endurance. Tone your abdominal muscles. Improve your rhythm, balance and coordination.

Jumping has been known to enhance endurance, strength and physical efficiency. It improves muscle tone, coordination and responsiveness.

5. Improve learning, thinking and functioning of the brain

Jumping nourishes the brain with the oxygen it needs in great quantities. Jumping also aids the red bone marrow in producing red blood cells to promote growth and repair.

6. Relieve pains resulting from a sedentary lifestyle. Get better sleep and relax more.

Jumping reduces pain and promotes relaxation through increased blood circulation, oxygen flow and endorphins.

It can help relieve headaches, neck or back pains or other pains resulting from a sedentary lifestyle. It also promotes better sleep and relaxation.

7. Slow down aging, minimize colds and allergies, and avoid menstrual discomfort for women.

Video Demontration Of The Needak Rebounder

Watch this video to check out the different levels of rebounding exercises that you can perform on the Needak Soft Bounce:

Click Here To Order The Needak Soft Bounce Rebounder

What Is The Difference Between The Soft Bounce And The Hard Bounce Models?

Needak introduced a hard-bounce model in 2008 for people who are over 300 lbs in weight. Those who are over 300 lbs generally cannot use the soft-bounce because their weight makes it stretch too much till it reaches the floor.

In short, if you weigh less than 300 lbs, use the soft-bounce Needak, the product being reviewed here.

How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

You can always buy the Needak Soft Bounce Rebounder from the Amazon website at a competitive price anytime. On top of that Amazon will ship it to you for free. Click here now to find out the current price.

What Others Are Saying

Happy Rebounding!
 

Consumers who have bought this Needak Rebounder from Amazon have rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars. Here's what they are actually saying:

  • "... I love the quality of (this rebounder), and the fact that it is made in the USA... It came very well- packaged, and set up in just seconds. I have been bouncing on it ever since, and feel better and better every day. This is a quality product...."
  • "... Needak's quality cannot be beat. And with a company that is environmentally friendly, support USA companies!"
  • "I have used the store bought less expensive models before and the difference in quality is incredible..."
  • "... It truly is like bouncing on a cloud and...makes exercising so enjoyable... since I've been using this, I no longer suffer from sciatica and my bursitis pain went away!"
  • "I bought this rebounder for my niece and nephew ages 11 and 13...My sister reports they are on it for hours every day...This is a good safe product."
  • "... Good exercise for me, a 69-year old without the resultant stress injuries so common with other forms of exercise. This is extremely well made, and no comparison between this and the cheapies out there."
  • "... The difference(between Needak and my old rebounder) is nothing short of amazing! It truly is a soft bounce and causes no strain on my back..."
  • "... I bought it to use with my Wii "Walk It Out" game and it does make the experience more fun and MUCH easier on my knees and feet..."
  • "Makes exercising fun and easy! ...No strain on the joints whatsoever!"
  • "... I love it! My wife love's it! I have nothing to do with the company, but I guarantee this is the best mini-trampoline in the world. Oh, and it's not exactly "mini". There is a lot of room for a big guy like me..."
  • "... I am 275 lbs. and use it about 3-4 hours per week. Excellent rebounder. No problems with it at all. I have used other rebounders before and they either come loose from the pad or the pad tears. No such issues with this rebounder. Thanks for building a great product, Needak."

Does It Include A Warranty?

Yes, the Needak Soft Bounce Rebounder comes with an unbeatable warranty. If you are buying your rebounder for home use, Needak offers you:

  • A lifetime manufacturer's warranty for the frame, frame hinges, platform pins, and leg tubes
  • A 5-year warranty for the mat, mat cleats, and spring pins
  • A 2-year warranty for the mat springs, leg tips, leg springs, and safety spring cover

What's Included?

Jumping For Health
Free Book

You get not just the rebounder itself, but lots of Free material that will help you achieve the greatest health benefits from your investment:

  • The Needak Soft Bounce Rebounder
  • A free copy of the book, "Jumping For Health" by Dr. Morton Walker
  • A free copy of the Immune System DVD video by Albert Carter
  • A free copy of Dr. Tina Wellman's "Aerobic Resistance Rebounding" article

More About The Free "Jumping For Health" Book

In this book, Dr. Morton Walker describes in detail how the very enjoyable exercise of rebounding has enhanced the health and well-being of many people of all ages, from young children to 80-year-old grandparents.

He explains the simple principles that make rebounding the most efficient exercise that cleanses and nourishes the body at the cellular level.

Dr. Walker left his successful 17-year podiatric practice to become a well-recognized author and lecturer in the wholistic well-being arena, with over 40 books and hundreds of magazine articles to his credit.

Where Can You Buy The Soft-Bounce Needak Rebounder?

You can buy this Needak Rebounder from Amazon. They currently offer Free Shipping and from what I can see when I researched prices at other online shops, Amazon does have the best deal especially with the free shipping option.

It actually comes in 2 colors. Click the link to view the black-colored model on Amazon.com. And here's the link to the blue-colored one.

Where Can You Read More Reviews for the Soft-Bounce Needak Rebounder?

The best place for reviews from people who actually bought and used the Needak is Amazon.com. Click here now to read more.

Blue Needak Soft Rebounder
Click Here For The Blue Needak Soft-Bounce Rebounder.
Click Here For The Back-Colored Model.