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The Best Exercise Mat

Last updated on February 29, 2024
Best Exercise Mat

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in a category.

Our Picks For The Top Exercise Mats

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
 Top Pick

Maximo Fitness Portable Waterproof Exercise Mat

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Maximo Fitness

Portable Waterproof Exercise Mat

Whether you're working out at home or taking a Pilates class at the gym, this exercise mat is a must-have tool. It's nice and lightweight, yet thick enough to provide just the right amount of cushioning. The mat is also non-slip, water-resistant and easy to wipe clean.

Overall Take

Multiple Color OptionsYou'll find this exercise mat is available in a choice of blue, red, green, purple or black.

 Runner Up

ProsourceFit Non-Skid Flooring Exercise Mat

ProsourceFit

Non-Skid Flooring Exercise Mat

For when noise and comfort are at top of mind, these interlocking tiles will help reduce the amount of noise from your workout equipment.

Overall Take

Interlocking TilesThese easy to install interlocking tile exercise mats are made for reducing sound and providing comfort.

 We Also Like

BalanceFrom GoYoga Moisture-Resistant Exercise Mat

BalanceFrom

GoYoga Moisture-Resistant Exercise Mat

Do not worry about doing yoga on a hard surface ever again. With this thick foam exercise mat, you will be comfortable from day one.

Overall Take

All-Purpose MatMeasuring at half an inch thick, this yoga mat is made of foam and a non-slip surface.

 Strong Contender

Gruper TPE Non-Slip Exercise Mat

Gruper

TPE Non-Slip Exercise Mat

Make sure that you have enough of your yoga mat to go around. This mat provides you with extra-large coverage and an easy to carry design.

Overall Take

Long Non-Slip Yoga MatThis exercise mat is extra-large, eco-friendly and is designed to be non-stick on both sides.

Buying Guide

When you don’t feel like heading to the gym, you need to find workout equipment that fits your needs, including an exercise mat. Now more than ever, it is important to find a routine and stick to it, no matter what that means to you.

Not all of us have the tools we need to do our very best work in our own homes. What you need to do is start with the basics, no need to buy all the equipment just yet. Or, if you already have all your equipment, you might be looking for something to amp it up a bit. Enter exercise mats. Exercise mats are perfect for protecting not only your floor but yourself. No one enjoys working out on a hard or cold surface.

Mats act as a cushion to help protect your hips, knees, tailbone and spine. No more doing crunches on the floor. With Exercise mats, it is important to think about what kind of workout you want to do on your mat.

You may want a mat with extra padding, or one that is as large as your room. You may be looking for one that has extra grip or one that can be easily stored. Exercise mats help you perform at your very best. You can have confidence in knowing that you are supporting your body (and flooring). We have a few suggestions to get you started.

When bigger is better, check out Gorilla Mats. These mats are massive and perfect if you are looking to cover a large area. You do not need to worry about stepping outside of your mat with this one. It is big enough for two people and supportive enough to handle your weights. These mats are great for cardio, strength and dance workouts including P90x, TAM, Insanity, T25, Zumba, TRX, kettlebell or jumping rope. It is thick to protect your floor and joints and also anti-slip, so you can work out as hard as you want.

Some rooms may not need a large mat. If that sounds like you, try a high-density workout mat. Like the larger version, it provides you with protection for your floors and your joints. 

If yoga is the name of your game, try BalanceFrom. Yoga is a great form of exercise if you are looking to lengthen and strengthen your whole body. It is also supposed to be calming and relaxing, so finding the right mat for you is a necessity. These mats come in a range of colors and are made out of half an inch of foam, so your body will not be struggling against a hard floor. It is also slip resistant, so try this at your next hot yoga class.

No yoga mat is the same, which is why we suggest checking out your options. With the Gruper yoga mat, you are treated with many different colors to choose from, eco-friendly material and an extra-large size. No one wants to be hanging off their mat during Shavasana.

Are you or your child practicing gymnastics? Make sure to take a peek at BalanceFrom’s two-inch tri-fold mat. It is puncture resistant and washes easily with soap and water. 

When a usual mat is not enough, we suggest looking into ProsourceFit interlocking tiles. These are great if you are looking for something to put under your fitness equipment, or to muffle noise. Live in an apartment? These tiles might be your answer. They are durable, easy to put together and cover 24 square feet. These are a great substitute to rubber floor mats as they are made from high-quality foam and contain no toxic phthalates.

What to Look For

  • A good mat will protect the floor and protect you! Do some searching and find the best mat for your purpose. 
  • Make sure to clean your mat. It can be easy to forget this step, but a clean mat means a clean workout. Take some soap and water and make sure to do some deep cleaning every once in a while. 
  • They also provide you with a cleaner workout. They give you a surface to work out on that isn’t you or your studio’s floor.
  • Mats can give you personal space. Use mats as a way to claim your spot and space during group activities. 

More to Explore

The body is an amazing thing, and working out helps you on many levels. Did you know that it takes 200 muscles just to take a step forward? Or that if you walk an average of 7.500 steps a day you will have walked 110,000 miles by the time you are 80? Working out also makes your heart work extra hard. Your heart is the hardest working muscle in your body and beats approximately 100,000 times per day, pumping almost 2,000 gallons of blood.

 

 

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