Skywalker 60″ Safari Explorer Mini Trampoline Review (2026)

Full Review

PT Score: 6.0 / 10

Skywalker’s 60-inch Safari Explorer is the toddler trampoline we wish more brands would copy. It uses stretch bands instead of metal coil springs, which is gentler on growing joints. The enclosure net sews directly to the jump mat with no foot-pinch gap. There’s a 360-degree padded handlebar inside the net for kids who aren’t ready to bounce hands-free. And the safari theme (yellowish-orange pad, black mat with polka dots and a friendly lion graphic) is genuinely engaging for the 3-to-7 age band Skywalker markets it to. Our weakest-link methodology lands the overall score at 6.0, with the unspecified mat material as the limiting factor. If you’re shopping for a first proper trampoline (not just a mini handlebar rebounder), this is one of the strongest safety stories in the segment.

Specifications

Our Assessment

We gave this 6.0 out of 10. Each component has its own number. Here’s how the math lands.

Frame and Leg Construction

Steel tubing, 60-inch round, foam-covered around the perimeter. Skywalker doesn’t publish a gauge spec for this model, and the frame doesn’t get any specific reinforcement callouts on the manufacturer page. For a 100 lb-rated toddler trampoline, that’s about what you’d expect. The frame component scores 60-65: solid, standard for the class, nothing exceptional and nothing obviously underbuilt. The foam wrap is the right pattern for the age range because it’s the part a child will actually bump into.

Stretch-Band Bounce System

Here’s where this trampoline starts pulling away from the cheap-and-cheerful 36-inch toddler bucket. Instead of metal coil springs, the Safari Explorer uses elastic stretch bands. Bands are gentler on joints, quieter, and (the part parents care about) eliminate the pinch-point risk that coils create around the perimeter. For a 3-year-old whose cartilage is still forming, that matters.

The trade is bounce energy. Stretch bands give a softer, lower-amplitude rebound than a well-tensioned coil system. For toddlers and small kids, that’s the right trade. They get controlled hop without launch. Springs/bands component scores 70-75. It’s the strongest non-safety component on the build.

Safety Design: Sewn-Direct Net Plus Padded Handlebar

This is the part to read twice, because it’s the reason we’d put this above almost every other 60-inch toddler option.

The enclosure net sews directly to the jump mat. There’s no gap between the mat surface and the bottom of the net, which means there’s no place for a small foot to slip into the spring zone. That’s the same pattern the higher-end Skywalker and SkyBound full-size trampolines use, scaled down to a toddler footprint. Then inside the net there’s a 360-degree padded handlebar at toddler grip height, so a child still working on balance has something solid to hold while they figure out the bounce.

Compare that to two products we’ve already reviewed in the toddler segment. The Wamkos 36″ Dinosaur gives you a handlebar but no enclosure, and a child who lets go has nothing to catch them. The SereneLife 36″ Toddler is the same story: a handlebar, no net. Both products lose multiple points on our enclosure score because of that gap. The Safari Explorer flips that math entirely. Enclosure component scores 75-80, and it’s the genuine selling point of this trampoline.

The mat material itself is where we have to hedge. Skywalker doesn’t publish what the jump mat is woven from. Most kid-segment Skywalkers use polypropylene, but without a published spec we can’t verify it. Mat component scores 60, and that’s the floor of the overall PT Score.

Theme and Visual Appeal

Don’t underestimate this. The reason a 3-year-old will use this trampoline every day instead of three times is whether they’re excited to climb on it. The yellowish-orange spring pad and the black polka-dot mat with the lion graphic do a real job here. Toddlers map “lion” to “fun” almost instantly, and it gives parents something to point at to coax a hesitant kid onto the surface. Wamkos figured this out with their dinosaur theme, Skywalker figured it out with safari. The decoration is functional.

Customer Reception

We don’t have screenshot-verified Amazon review data we’re confident enough to quote on this specific listing right now. What we’ll say is that Skywalker’s mini-trampoline range typically scores well for assembly clarity and the sewn-direct net design, both of which are points parents reliably call out across the brand’s catalog. The manufacturer page itself is currently showing this model as Sold Out, which is at least a positive demand signal even if it limits buy availability. The Amazon listing is where most readers will find live stock.

Warranty and Value

3 years on the frame, 1 year on bands, mat, poles, and “other materials.” That’s standard for the segment and slightly better than most 36-inch toddler rebounders that ship with 90-day or 1-year frame coverage. Warranty scores 70. Value scores 65 at the $79.99 MSRP, which works out to a competitive price-per-feature given what’s in the box. Scarcity is the asterisk: when this goes out of stock, prices on third-party listings can drift.

Best For / Not For

Best for:

• First proper trampoline for a 3-to-5 year old who’s outgrown a 36-inch handlebar mini
• Parents who specifically want a netted enclosure but don’t have backyard space for a 10ft+ trampoline
• Indoor playrooms or basements with at least 8 feet of vertical clearance
• Households with multiple kids close in age (one at a time on the surface, but easy to share)

Not for:

• Kids over 100 lbs (hard cap, don’t push it)
• Athletic-style high-amplitude bouncing (the bands are deliberately soft)
• Outdoor permanent installation in harsh weather (it’s not built for it)
• Anyone over the 7-year-old upper age guidance

Availability Note

The manufacturer site is currently listing the Safari Explorer as Sold Out. Skywalker rotates these mini themes (Safari, Jungle, Sea, Garden) and stock comes and goes through the year. Amazon is the more reliable buy path for this specific SKU. If the Amazon listing is also out of stock when you’re reading this, the Skywalker Jungle Adventure 60-inch is the closest sibling product with the same construction.

How It Stacks Up

Five toddler-segment alternatives we’ve reviewed or that come up most often. The Safari Explorer’s real direct competitor isn’t the 36-inch minis (those are a smaller class), it’s the Little Tikes 7-foot kid trampoline, which is bigger but rated lower for weight.

Versus Wamkos and SereneLife: the Safari Explorer is in a different safety class. Both 36-inch competitors lose 25-35 points on the enclosure component. If your child is the kind who’ll let go of a handlebar mid-bounce (most are, eventually), the Safari Explorer’s net is what catches them.

Versus Little Tikes 7ft: the Little Tikes gives you a bigger surface but only a 55 lb weight cap, which makes it shorter-lived in real terms. Safari Explorer’s 100 lb rating buys more years of use even though the surface is smaller.

Versus Springfree: it’s not a fair comparison on price, but if budget is open, Springfree’s spring-free composite-rod design is the gold standard for joint safety. The Safari Explorer is the right pick when Springfree isn’t on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Safari Explorer safe for a 2-year-old? Skywalker markets it 3-7. A 2-year-old can use it under direct adult supervision with one parent inside the enclosure, but the manufacturer guidance is the more conservative answer. The padded handlebar helps younger kids who are still working on balance.

Does the enclosure net actually stop a fall? Yes for the way toddlers actually fall, which is sideways with low energy. The net sews directly to the jump mat (no gap), and the mesh is dense enough to catch a small body without giving way. It’s not designed for athletic falls from height, but for the 3-7 user it’s doing its job.

How does it compare to the Wamkos 36″ Dinosaur? The Safari Explorer wins on safety (full net vs handlebar only) and on bounce design (stretch bands vs metal springs). The Wamkos wins on price and on theme appeal for kids who specifically love dinosaurs. If you want a real safety net, this is the upgrade.

Why is the manufacturer site showing it as Sold Out? Skywalker rotates their mini-trampoline themes through the year. The Safari Explorer comes back in stock periodically. Amazon usually has stock through third-party fulfillment when the manufacturer doesn’t, but pricing can drift above MSRP during scarcity windows.

What’s the warranty actually cover? 3 years on the steel frame for manufacturing defects (not abuse or weather damage). 1 year on the stretch bands, jump mat, enclosure poles, and net. You’ll need proof of purchase and the original SKU (APB60SF09) to file a claim. Buying through Amazon doesn’t void the manufacturer warranty.