Methodology
How We Rate
Last updated September 22, 2026
The short version
Most review sites say they tested everything. We did not test these, and we say so. Every product on this site (84 across 58 pages at the moment) is scored from published information: the manufacturer's product page, spec sheet, manual and warranty terms. Where a maker does not publish a figure, we use a named retailer's listing and label it as such, or we leave the figure out. Products are chosen for a page because they are real, currently sold models that appear across manufacturer catalogs and independent roundups for that category, then scored; nothing is added to fill a slot.
Each category has its own rubric with fixed, published weights. A product gets a 0-10 score on each metric, and the overall score is the weighted average, rounded to one decimal. The same product has the same score on every page it appears on, and ranked lists are ordered by that score. The build that publishes the site refuses to ship a ranking that disagrees with its own numbers.
What a score means, and what it doesn't
- It means the published design, materials and warranty line up well against what matters for that category, weighted the way we say.
- It does not mean we jumped on it, built it, loaded it or watched a child use it for a season. We did not, and no score here implies we did.
- It isn't a customer rating. Scores are our editorial judgment of published specs. They never appear in structured data as a "review rating".
- Maker claims stay maker claims. A capacity, a certification, a pad thickness or a "90% fewer injuries" figure is reported in the maker's words and labeled that way.
- Unpublished means unscored upward. A missing spec scores neutral or low. We never guess a number to fill a gap.
- No value metric yet. We can't verify live prices on this site, so price plays no part in a score. If live prices are added, a value metric will be added too, and logged below with its date.
The rubrics, category by category
These tables are generated from the same data the scores are computed from. Weights sum to 100% in every rubric. The "basis" column says what each metric is built from and how it is anchored.
Trampolines
Applies to: Full-size round, rectangle, springless and in-ground trampolines
| Metric | Weight | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure & edge design | 30% | Published net-to-mat design (a net sewn or clipped inside the springs with no gap scores 8-10; a net outside the springs over a pad scores 5-6), padded or curved enclosure poles, and spring or edge padding that covers the whole spring bed. |
| Anchoring provision | 20% | Whether an anchor kit ships in the box, whether the manual or listing documents an anchor pattern, and leg design that accepts common stake or auger anchors. Included kit 8-9; documented pattern only 6-7; nothing published 4. |
| Rated capacity & structure | 20% | The stated single-jumper limit and, where published, structural load, plus frame gauge and galvanization. A published single-jumper limit of 330 lb or more with a stated gauge scores 8-10; a headline structural number with no single-jumper figure scores 5-6; no limit published 3. |
| Certification & standards | 15% | The maker states ASTM F381-16 (trampoline components, assembly, use and enclosures) or names the specific ASTM/TUV/GS test the model passed: 9-10. A generic 'ASTM certified' claim 7. Nothing stated 3. |
| Install reality | 15% | Published assembly time, tools and person-count, replacement-part availability and warranty length. A stated assembly time plus sold replacement parts plus a warranty of 2 years or more scores 8-9; nothing published on any of the three scores 4. |
Swing sets & playsets
Applies to: Wooden and metal swing sets, tower playsets, vinyl playsets
| Metric | Weight | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Fall & pinch design | 30% | Published deck height and railing/guardrail design, rounded or capped edges, enclosed or coated swing chains, ladder rung design, and any stated head-entrapment-safe spacing. Coated chains plus guardrails on every deck plus stated rounded edges score 8-10; bare chains and an open deck score 5. |
| Anchoring provision | 20% | Whether ground anchors ship in the box, whether the manual documents an anchor method, and whether the maker states the set must be anchored. Included anchors 8-9; documented method only 6-7; nothing published 4. |
| Rated capacity & structure | 20% | Published per-swing weight rating, total or per-position capacity, deck load, and the lumber or steel spec (cedar species, post size, steel gauge). Per-swing and total ratings both published with a stated material spec score 8-10; one headline total only 5-6; nothing published 3. |
| Certification & standards | 15% | The maker states the set meets ASTM F1148 (home playground equipment) or names the standard tested: 9-10. A generic safety-tested claim 7. Nothing stated 3. |
| Install reality | 15% | Published assembly time, tools and person-count, replacement-part availability and warranty length. A stated assembly time plus sold replacement parts plus a warranty of 2 years or more scores 8-9; nothing published on any of the three scores 4. |
Anchor kits
Applies to: Trampoline anchor kits, swing set and playset ground anchors, wind stakes
| Metric | Weight | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Holding design | 30% | Published stake type and length (auger or spiral 12 inches or longer scores 8-10; straight stakes or short augers 5-6), strap material and any stated strap or pull rating, and the ground types the maker names it for. |
| Fit range | 20% | Published compatibility: which trampoline sizes or swing set leg profiles it fits, adjustable strap length, and the number of anchors per kit versus the legs it needs to hold. A stated size range plus enough anchors for every leg scores 8-10. |
| Material & corrosion resistance | 20% | Stated steel gauge or diameter, galvanizing or powder coat, and strap fabric. Galvanized steel with a stated diameter and a named strap material scores 8-9; 'heavy duty' with nothing else stated 4. |
| Instructions & completeness | 15% | Whether the kit ships with everything needed (straps, hooks, hardware) and publishes an install method or a ground-type caution. A complete kit with published steps scores 8-10. |
| Warranty | 15% | Published warranty terms only: lifetime 10; 3-5 years 8; 2 years 7; 1 year 6; under 1 year 4; nothing published 4. |
Playground surfacing
Applies to: Rubber mulch, swing wear mats, rubber tiles and other protective surfacing
| Metric | Weight | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Impact attenuation | 30% | A published fall-height rating (critical fall height) or an ASTM F1292 test claim at a stated depth or thickness scores 8-10; a general 'cushions falls' claim with a stated thickness 5-6; nothing stated 3. |
| Coverage & depth | 20% | Published coverage per bag or mat dimensions, recommended depth, and whether that depth meets the CPSC's guidance for the equipment's fall height. |
| Material & safety claims | 20% | Stated material (recycled tire rubber, EPDM, engineered wood fiber), wire-free or steel-free claims, non-toxic or IPEMA/heavy-metal statements, and colorfastness. |
| Certification & standards | 15% | IPEMA certification or a named ASTM F1292 / F2075 / F3012 result stated by the maker: 9-10. A generic 'meets standards' claim 6. Nothing stated 3. |
| Install reality | 15% | Published assembly time, tools and person-count, replacement-part availability and warranty length. A stated assembly time plus sold replacement parts plus a warranty of 2 years or more scores 8-9; nothing published on any of the three scores 4. |
Safety accessories
Applies to: Replacement enclosure nets, spring pads, trampoline ladders, swing hangers, shackles, handles and brackets
| Metric | Weight | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Safety design | 30% | What the part does for the child: net mesh density and pole-sleeve design, pad thickness and spring coverage, ladder step design and platform, hanger bearing or bushing design, capped or rounded hardware. Stated specifics score 8-10; generic claims 5. |
| Fit range | 20% | Published compatibility: frame sizes, pole counts, spring lengths, beam sizes or chain gauges it fits, and whether the maker gives a measuring method. A stated fit list with a measuring guide scores 8-10; one size with no guidance 5. |
| Material & UV resistance | 20% | Stated materials (polyethylene mesh, PVC-coated foam, galvanized or zinc-plated steel), UV treatment, foam density or thickness, and load rating for hardware. Specifics scored up; 'heavy duty' alone scored 4. |
| Certification & standards | 15% | ASTM F381 (trampoline parts) or ASTM F1148 (playground hardware) stated by the maker: 9-10. Generic tested claim 7. Nothing stated 3. |
| Install reality | 15% | Published assembly time, tools and person-count, replacement-part availability and warranty length. A stated assembly time plus sold replacement parts plus a warranty of 2 years or more scores 8-9; nothing published on any of the three scores 4. |
Where the information comes from
- The manufacturer's own product page, spec sheet or manual. First choice for every spec.
- A named retailer's listing when the maker doesn't publish a figure. Labeled "(retailer)" in the source list.
- Official safety bodies for every safety claim: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Publication 085, Trampoline Safety, and Publication 324, the Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook), the American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on trampolines, peer-reviewed injury research, and ASTM standards cited by designation (F381, F1148, F1292) without paraphrasing clauses we have not read.
We never use competitors' reviews as a source for specs, and we never copy their product descriptions or photos. Every product card links each spec to the page it came from, and every page ends with its full source list.
How ties and rankings work
Ranked lists are ordered by overall score. When two products tie, we put the one that better fits the page's specific situation first (a small-yard page favors the smaller footprint; an adults page favors the higher printed limit), and the page says why in the pick's label. We choose which products belong on a page by fit to that page's situation. We never move a product up for commission: every buy link pays the same way, and the rubric doesn't know which link is which.
When picks get re-checked
- Every roundup and comparison is re-checked quarterly: discontinued models are removed, replacements scored, and listings re-read for spec changes.
- Safety guides are re-checked twice a year and whenever CPSC or the AAP updates its guidance; the injury statistics page is refreshed when a newer national dataset is published.
- The gift pages are refreshed each September.
- Rubric weights are reviewed once a year. Any change is logged below with its date.
- Reader corrections are fixed within seven days and noted in the page's "What changed" log.
The date on a page only moves when its content actually changes. See the editorial policy for the full rules, and the affiliate disclosure for how the site is funded.
Rubric change log
- September 22, 2026: Rubrics published for trampolines, swing sets and playsets, anchor kits, playground surfacing and safety accessories. No value metric (no live prices).