A pool cleaner and a trampoline are two of the bigger backyard purchases before an Australian summer. Pool cleaners differ mainly in where their power comes from: a robot has its own motor and filter, while a suction cleaner runs off the pool pump. Behind the cleaner sit the pump, filter, chlorinator and heater, and in Sustainability Victoria's pool pump trial the pump used about three-quarters of a pool's electricity. Trampolines differ in how the mat is held, by coil springs, leaf springs or flexible rods, and in how long the warranty covers each part.
Pool cleaners
- Robotic vs suction vs pressure pool cleaners: a robot works without the pool pump and keeps the dirt in its own filter; a suction cleaner uses the pump and fills the skimmer basket. Pressure cleaners need a dedicated return line, and neither Clark Rubber nor Bunnings lists one.
- The best robotic pool cleaners: Dolphin's corded X20 and floor-only E10, the cordless Dolphin Liberty 200, WYBOT's C1 and Hy-Clor's i4 from Bunnings.
- The best suction pool cleaners: Kreepy Krauly's VTX-7, Sprinta Plus and VTX-3, Zodiac's AX20 and G2, and Pentair's Rebel 2, with hose lengths and warranties.
Pumps, filters, chlorination and heating
- The best pool pumps: Hy-Clor's 6-star inverter and two-speed pumps, Onga's Pantera ECO, and Bestway and Intex filter pumps for above-ground pools, with each in-ground pump's stars and yearly kWh from the government register.
- Sand vs cartridge vs glass pool filters: on AstralPool's figures sand catches particles down to 20 microns and glass down to 5. A cartridge uses no backwash water, which suits places where backwash can't go to the sewer.
- Salt water vs chlorine pools: a salt chlorinator makes the same disinfectant as liquid chlorine, from 3,000 to 6,000 ppm of salt, and its cell lasts about three to five years. Salt can damage porous stone such as sandstone unless it is sealed.
- Pool heat pump vs solar vs gas: solar costs least to run, a heat pump about half as much as gas per unit of heat, and gas heats fastest. Victoria stops new gas heaters on existing pools from 1 March 2027.
- The best pool toys: floats, pool games and noodles for kids.
Trampolines
- Vuly vs Springfree: Springfree's mat hangs on rods, with no springs, and its warranty runs 10 years on all parts. A leaf-spring Vuly Thunder 2 of similar size costs less.
- Vuly Thunder 2 vs Thunder 2 Pro: the Pro has bigger leaf springs for roughly $700 to $1,300 more, with the same mat, net and warranty, and no XXL.
- OZ Trampolines vs Vuly: OZ puts an anchor kit and ladder in the box and covers nets for two years; Vuly covers springs and mats for five.
- JumpFlex vs Vuly: the HERO takes 160kg per jumper and has five years on its springs; Vuly claims AS 4989:2015 and sells through Intersport and Bunnings.
- Vuly vs Kahuna: Kahuna is cheaper and goes to 16ft on a 12-month warranty; Vuly gives three to five years on frames, springs and mats.
- The best trampolines: six picks from Springfree, Vuly, OZ Trampolines, JumpFlex and Kahuna, with warranties part by part.
- The biggest trampolines: JumpFlex's 19ft MEGA, Springfree's Jumbo Oval, Vuly's Thunder 2 XXL and three more.
Safety around the trampoline
The ACCC's trampoline guide advises supervising children and allowing one child on at a time, and notes there is no mandatory Australian standard for trampolines. Kidsafe Victoria recommends at least 2.5 metres of clear ground around a trampoline.
