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. 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: Onga's Hammerhead, Pentair's Rebel and Zodiac's G2.
Pumps and pool gear
- The best pool pumps: Bestway's sand and cartridge filter pumps for above-ground pools, and how in-ground pool pumps are usually bought.
- 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.
