11 Best Gym Mats: Reviewed & Compared For Exercise

Gym Mats Compared

Why Do You Need An Exercise Mat?

Exercise mats are special non-slip mats that can be used literally for any fitness activity to protect your hands, feet, back, and body while you perform your favorite exercises.

Along with cushioning you from the hard surface underneath, gym mats can also help prevent workout injuries while keeping your hands and feet from slipping so you can get the most out of your workout and safely perform any stretch. Not only they are budget-friendly but they should last you a long time.

Almost every fitness enthusiast will benefit from having a gym mat for home use. The truth of the matter is a gymnast is never still and soon most of the furniture in your home will be used as equipment.

Unfortunately, unlike the gym, your home floors aren’t cushioned or very forgiving. With a gym mat available to cushion falls, you will be able to encourage yourself to practice without getting bruises.

In addition, kids can sit on an exercise mat while they’re playing video games or toddlers can sit on them to avoid spilling drinks on the floor. Even your family members can recline on an exercise mat whenever they’re watching television or you can also use the mat as a porch cushion outdoors during the warmer months.

Plus, if you live at the shore, an exercise mat’s windproof weight makes it ideal for the beach. The truth is these mats are multi-purpose and can be used for much more than just basic tumbling practice.

Up until the 20^th century, personal exercise mats were little more than a flat pad that could be rolled up and tied together for carrying and storage. Flat mats became more resilient with the introduction of polyurethane foam during the 1950s, and as of the 1960s, a lot of folding mats were also being designed with Velcro fasteners.

These fasteners allowed for connecting several mats along a hardwood floor. Today’s mats are designed to be more durable which the result of using high-quality materials, combined with better science.

What to Look For In a Quality Gym Mat

While common mats are simply covered foam, sometimes rubber, the specialized mats used for gymnastics training and intense cardio workouts are more intricate. If you need an exercise mat for your home, you’d like something that is thick enough to protect you from the hard ground underneath, but no so thick that it impairs your ability to complete a workout.

If you are looking to buy a gym mat, you need to make several considerations before making the purchase. Below, we’ve listed the most important features of the best gym mats to consider to help you get what you need.

Use

The best exercise mat for you will depend on what you intend to use it for. There are gym mats specifically designed for yoga, Pilates, martial arts and gymnastic training, and exercising in general. These mats differ in weight, length, thickness and portability. You should decide first what activities you plan on using your mat for before making your purchase.

Structure

Gym mats are made out of carefully cut foam, which are thin lined with vinyl or plastic on the outside. The outside texture cannot be too slippery, which is why vinyl is sometimes more preferable than plastic.

Thickness

A mat too thin won’t provide the cushioning and protection you want if your gymnast falls while tumbling on it. The mats could be as thin as 1.5 inches or as thick as 28 inches, depending on the kind of sport the mats will be used for. Physically demanding sports require mats that are moderate in thickness, while those for younger athletes are made thicker.

Dimensions

Before buying a mat, you need to think where you’ll be using it. You also want to make sure it is big enough to practice exercises on. Any worthwhile should be at least 4 ft long and it should fold down for easy storage. Since mats are offered in a variety of different sizes, it shouldn’t be hard to find one that fulfills all your needs.

11 Best Gym Mats Reviewed

Exercise mats are important and every individual should own one for a better and healthy life. Whether it is yoga or other indoor exercises, exercise mats are versatile to meet your fitness needs. The market is flooded with all sorts of gym mats with different sizes and features.

While there are several exercise mats available on the market to choose from, it is important that you choose the one that best suits your needs. We’ve curated the best gym mats on the market to guide you.

1. 4’x10’x2″ Gymnastics Gym Folding Exercise Aerobics Mat

Best Choice Products presents this brand new 10-foot folding gym mat that makes it easier to workout at the comfort of your own home.

It’s made from high-density foam, providing you with a comfortable spot to do crunches, yoga, Pilates, and other indoor exercises. 

Best Choice Products design versatile and high-quality workout equipment that can fulfill a variety of fitness goals, providing a superb workout experience that is both convenient and budget-friendly. Take control of your fitness with this very versatile gymnastics exercise mat.

2. HemingWeigh Extra Thick Foam Exercise Mat

Take the time to get exactly what you need and you’ll never be disappointed with your purchase.

Take your fitness regime to the next level with a HemingWeigh Extra Thick Foam Exercise Mat, and see why this is the most popular exercise mat found in yoga studios, fitness clubs, and at home. It has an extra thick foam, hence the name, which perfectly cushions the joints as it is being used for various yoga poses or any kind of workouts. 

Its double-sided non-slip surface ensures users complete stability and comfort. Also included is a carry strap for easy handling from your home to your classes, or wherever you prefer to do your exercise routine. This high-quality deluxe mat will last longer than most standard exercise mats.

3. Square36 Extra Large Exercise Mat

Designed for home-based cardio and strength and conditioning workouts, the Square36 Extra Large Exercise Mat allows you to enjoy the freedom to enjoy your yoga sessions without the limitations of a standard-sized yoga mat.

It’s perfect for intense cardio workouts like P90X to dance workouts to home gym workouts. Square36 manufactures the largest exercise mats in the world. If you’re exercising at home, you need more space to maximize your workout. 

Square36 mats aren’t only the biggest, but they’re made with the best premium non-toxic materials and above all, they are backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.

4. Stamina Fold-to-Fit Folding Equipment Mat

Protect your floor from unsightly blemishes and nasty gouges with this Stamina Fold-to-Fit Folding Equipment Mat.

Designed to sit underneath most exercise equipment or to serve as a shock absorber for aerobic workouts, the mat is made of a closed-cell foam material that’s tough yet equally soft, helping it absorb impact, eliminate vibration, and stop carpet fibers from migrating into the moving parts of your equipment.

Additionally, it is large enough to accommodate stationary bikes, elliptical trainers, stair steppers, rowing machines, ski machines, Pilates reformers, mini trampolines, and home gyms.

5. Reehut 1/2-Inch Extra Thick High Density NBR Exercise Yoga Mat

An extra thick yoga mat for extra comfort, the Reehut Yoga Mat instantly adds comfort and support to your fitness routine, regardless of where you like to work out.

The textured design grips a wide range of surfaces, providing you with safety, balance and traction. Yoga is a great way to relax and connect with your body. The Reehut makes sure you get the most out of your stretches, Pilates, yoga and other aerobic activities.

It can also be used for outdoor picnics as bedding or as a play mat. If you are always on the go, this mat is your perfect travel companion. Eco-friendly and luxuriously smooth, this mat is a welcome addition to Reehut’s line of premium yoga accessories.

6. Giantex 2’x6’x1.5” Gymnastics Mat

Want a comfortable and perfect exercising experience? The Giantex 2’x6’x1.5” Gymnastics Mat is thick, durable and foldable with sewn handles, ideal for performing workouts such as yoga or Pilate.

This folding foam mat is perfect for your bed, sofa, and floor. You can easily place this mat in your living room, guest room, studio, mobile home, RV, or even boat to make a simple but comfortable bed. This is not just your usual run-of-the-mill exercise mat; it’s perfect for anyone who wants to do a light to medium workout. Plus, it folds up in half which is nice for storage and transport.

7. Thrive on Wellness Thick Exercise Mat

With the true premium Thrive on Wellness Exercise Mat you won’t feel the floor anymore because this versatile workout mat offers you unique balance of luxury, density and durability, which is hard to come by in those cheap mats.

You have plenty of room to stretch out on this large mat and it fits up to 6’4″ tall comfortably. Plus, the mat is extremely lightweight and rolls up to 7-inch in diameter, but lays flat when rolled out.

If you’re serious about your fitness regime or generating wellness for home or at the gym, this yoga mat is just your thing. In fact, you’ll absolutely love sleeping and meditation on this padded mat that feels like a cloud.

8. Spoga Premium Yoga Mat

If you’re looking for a great workout mat that provides utter comfort as well as supporting you all the way, the Spoga Premium Yoga Mat is just the thing for you.

The Spoga’s perfect texture gives you stability and strength without getting in the way of your flow between positions. Touted as the thickest yoga mat on the market, it gives you a padded exercise surface that offers support through a number of movements and poses. 

Plus, its large shape fits a variety of body types, and its non-slip surface keeps the mat and your feet in place. Storing and moving this mat won’t be a problem either as it comes with a drawstring bag, plus a carry strap for easy handling.

9. Sunny Health & Fitness Tri-Fold Exercise Mat

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The multi-functional Sunny Health & Fitness Tri-Fold Exercise Mat can be used for yoga, Pilates, and other floor exercises.

Its tri-fold design allows for easy storage, and the sewn-in handles provide convenient transport. Sunny Health & Fitness has been importing and distributing high-quality health and fitness products for over ten years. 

They stand behind the quality of every product that they carry, and their commitment to excellence in customer service has made them one of the fastest growing companies in the health and fitness equipment market.

10. SPRI Exercise Mats

SPRI have pioneered the evolution of workout mats and is still considered today to be the leader in providing the fitness industry with innovative, effective, and professional-quality fitness solutions.

Owing to its dedication towards offering the highest-quality products and most prestigious athletic-training facilities, SPRI is considered the most trusted brand on the market. And the SPRI’s Exercise Mats are no exception. They are durable, cushioned and perfectly suited to support your body during any floor exercise program.

When doing a lot of floor work, like stretching or yoga, you want a workout mat that will provide you the comfort your joints need while doing your exercises, and SPRI’s mats are specifically designed to accommodate all our needs.

11. Hexstrong Ultimate Large Exercise Mat by Zentti

We were thrilled to be able to try out the Hexstrong mat by Zentti. This gym mat is truly next level, and is marketed as the “World’s First Aerospace Engineered Eco Friendly, Non-Toxic Thermoplastic Composite Exercise Mat.” What does this even mean? It means that the mat is made from a material called graphene, which is 200 times stronger than steel and lighter than paper. It doesn’t have any of the stink of other rubber mats, and it’s even recyclable.

I loved the large footprint of this 0.25” thick fitness mat. At 6’ long by 4’ wide, I found that it was the ideal size for my Peloton, leaving me room to stretch as well. The mat rolled completely flat the first time I laid it down, and I haven’t had any issues with the corners rolling up or it moving an inch.

It rolls up quickly with Velcro straps, includes a high quality carrying case, and Zentti even offers a lifetime warranty. If your needing a high impact exercise mat, then this is your pick!

Decision Time

This best gym mats buying guide gives only a concise, but direct impression of what gym mats/exercise mats are, how they can be used and why they are necessary.

If you’re serious about your fitness regime, double check whether your home gym has all these, the next time you start your training. Our top pick is the versatile Best Choice model found here.

If you're looking for a more eco-friendly high impact exercise mat with a great warranty, then you can't go past the Hexstrong mat by Zentti.