Pole Vault Mats

[Spartan118]

Guys, Iv looked every where and thought of many alternatives to no avail, I dont know where else to go. I am making a Pole Vault pit at my house for me and my friends, but cant find anything to use for mats. Foam is way to expensive. We thought of giant yoga balls but it turned out to be to costly even in wholesale.Also if you landed on them it would hurt and you would bounce in random directions.http://www.yogadirect.com/yoga_ball85.html Im looking for somthing under $1000-$750. Then i thought about a giant net, but if I land on that wrong I could get "seriously injured".http://incord.reachlocal.net/amusement-netting.htm Then I thought i could just make a giant ball pit/or packaging peanuts.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DE9AVW?smid=A3CPL0HESECKY8&tag=nextag-toys-20&linkCode=asn It is within my cost but it would be wise to vault into that, its to easy to fall to the bottom (especially head first or from 12 feet). I did find some giant blow up things that would work but there to small and would pop with my spikes. http://www.familysportzone.com/megamats.html Then I thought, Dig a giant hole for water. Great idea but about 4 feet in I hit rock. So here I am stuck. I have the standards, box, Poles, and runway all ready to be made but with ought mats its pointless. Any help or tips? Thanks in advance.

 

[tlither]

Do it like I did as a kid - find some old mattresses. You can then put a layer of foam on top.

 

[redragon74]

Do it like I did as a kid - find some old mattresses. You can then put a layer of foam on top.

maybe throw some comfortors over it to for that soft cushiony landing


pole vaulting though..something i never thaught o doin as a kid... then just takea tarp and throw it over it for storage

 

[luke]

ask around athletics clubs etc if anyone is selling old ones, i had a pair when i was a kid, we got them off a local club, or oine of the members i cant remember. alternatively, as these guys have said, old mattresses are great. i used to stack 2 on top of eachother, then pile up heaps of lounge cushions and throw a big heavy blanket on top to keep it all together. we used it to jump out of huge trees into, that was great fun (i miss being a carefree teenager ) anyway hope this helps and goodluck!

EDIT: also my brother used to be a polevauler, its great fun but very dangerous, be careful if you havent done it before, ive seen pros get wasted. and the elastic training straps are SOOOOOOOOOO painfull. have fun

 

[Spartan118]

I have thought about mattresses, but those to are to expensive for the amount I need. I wonder if theres a factory in st. Louis that would give away mis-produced or damaged mattresses? I have done this before and would like enough mats to be equivalent to regular mats. As of an club, there is one in st. Louis but its to far to go out every day and practice.

 

[Toby]

I don't recall foam being so expensive, but you done the research. So may I suggest a stunt airbag. Only thing is, I don't know how expensive they are.

 

[Spartan118]

DUDE! where did you find this?! I looked for them but couldn't find any. If any one can find ones reasonably priced I would love to see it.