Why a GymPlay Airtrack?
As we also saw with Berg trampolines in our last article, there is also a big difference between buying a quality branded Airtrack and a standard no name model. Not only is the quality of a branded Airtrack considerably higher, they come for example with their special double rail technology which gives an extra long durability, but come in durable materials where you can really see attention has been paid to every detail on it. For many this is the ultimate gym mat and a really great tool if you want to improve your gymnastics skills or other sports that involves jumps flips and such.
As well as buying a top quality Airtrack, such as the GymPlay one which also offers great support for most type of jumps. One reason is that several of their employees do gymnastics with Airtracks themselves, which means they can give you the right advice when buying one. This makes the whole process of finding the best model much easier.
But let's take a look at some of the more popular GymPlay Airtracks for home and gymnastics training.
Read also - Where to buy these gym mats?
Airtracks why use one?
Airtracks from GymPlay are, in my opinion, some of the best air tracks for the home and garden. The fact that you have the option to buy 2 of 3 meters and then use them separately inside, but when you get out have then put them together with a velcro connector and use them as a long 6 meter Airtrack, I think is absolutely brilliant. We don't have the space for a 5 or 6 metre model inside, but plenty of room in the garden. And the kids have reached the level where a 3 metre starts to feel a bit too small. Even with a springboard and a landing mat. The 3 meter is really nice for practicing single jumps or small series, but you don't get the same possibilities as on a 5 or 6 meter model.
Why choose a GymPlay Airtrack instead of another brand?
There are several reasons why I would choose an Airtrack from the Danish company GymPlay. As some of the only ones on the market, they've gone to great lengths to make the Airtrack as green as possible.
That means an Airtrack that is free of heavy metals, phthalates and other harmful chemicals that are found in the vast majority of Airtracks you can buy.
This ensures that your child is not exposed to dangerous chemicals when using the Airtrack.
Read more - Are Airtracks worth the cost?
30cm Airtrack Pro - in my opinion the ultimate Airtrack
If you want some of the best in Airtracks, a good choice would be the H30 Airtrack Pro from GymPlay. This model is a whopping 30cm high, giving exceptional bounce and with a length of a whopping 6-15 metres, there's enough room to do even the most advanced jump series. Typically used here for elite gymnasts or sports halls, the Airtrack is also a great choice for those who just want the best in Air tracks and don't care about the price. Indeed, it is not one of the cheapest Airtracks, as it costs from 1500 dollars and upwards. So these arn’t something you buy for your kids.
15cm Airtrack Trainer
While the H30 Airtrack Pro is mainly aimed at very experienced gymnasts or sports clubs and the like, an 15 cm Airtrack Trainer is a really good choice for both beginners and advanced gymnasts. With a height of 15 cm, you get enough bounce to satisfy the vast majority. You have the option to choose a length of 3-6 meters, which is suitable for both indoors at home or outdoors in the garden. A really good all around Air track that all but the most experienced Airtrack users will really enjoy. Price wise we are here at around 400 dollars or more. So about the same price as a good bike costs or other pieces of quality sport equipment.
10cm Airtrack Trainer
If you want a good and cheap Airtrack, then a 10cm Airtrack Trainer is a really good choice. With a thickness of 10cm, it's a good beginner Airtrack that's incredibly stable and easy to use. It doesn't give the same bounce effect as the 15 or 20 centimetre models, but still enough that you'll be able to perform jumps that you wouldn't otherwise be able to do. Lengths range from 3 to 5 metres, making it ideal for the home or garden and the price is right down in the region of 200 dollar, something most should be able to afford. If you have been doing gymnastics for a few years or are over 17, I would probably choose an 10cm or 20cm model instead of a 10cm, as you get a bit more help with your jumps and a few more options. For everyone else, a 10 cm airtrack like this would be a really good choice, as I'm sure you'll get many good hours doing gymnastics on it. My own kids, however, miss the extra 10 cm when using their old H10 over the new 20cm model. The extra centimetres give a bit more bounce, which makes the larger model more fun to use once you've reached a certain level. However, there are many who will never get there if they don't already go to the gym, and here the 10cm model will still be the best choice in most cases.
Besides these 3 models there are a lot of other really cool Airtracks from companies GymPlay, you can see more examples on their website here on gymplay.dk. But besides this cool model, there are also a lot of other types of gym Airtracks. The reason why I have chosen to focus on the GymPlay models, is that the quality and support here is top notch, and you get a product that you will definitely be satisfied with. I've tried a couple of the cheap china Airtracks, and was pretty disappointed both times. It's just not the same, and besides, you don't know what materials they're made of. The above models are EU approved and meet all European requirements, so I wouldn't be afraid to let my child use one of these. And this is how you train gymnastics the right way on an Airtrack.
If you are a beginner or not that old, an 10cm model is a really good choice that you will enjoy for years. Thus, if you are a teenager or a practiced gymnast, then an 15cm or 20cm model would be a slightly better choice for you. For the really skilled or sports clubs then the 20cm or 30cm model is the obvious choice.
Remember that if you buy an Airtrack and would like it to be a little longer, on the GymPlay models you have the option of adding a springboard or 2 which extends it by about a metre at each end. This actually works quite well, and is an easy and inexpensive way to get a longer Airtrack.
Another reason why I would choose a GymPlay Air track is the quality is really good. Besides being chemical free, each Airtrack is handmade and made from quality products all the way. And this is the only way to do it.
This makes for an Airtrack that both performs really well, but also has a long lifespan and can stand up to a little bit of use even outdoor.
If you try one of the cheap Airtracks you can buy in some of the local shops and a high quality Airtrack, you will clearly notice a difference. It's a bit like first trying one of the cheap trampolines from wallmart and then subsequently stepping onto a Berg trampoline. There is a world of difference here too and this my friend are how to train gymnastics the right way on an Airtrack.