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The Best Mat Tape

Last updated on October 8, 2021
Best Mat Tape

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Mats are an important part of some sports, offering cushioning for athletes as they navigate across hard gymnasium floors. Wrestling, gymnastics and martial arts all require padded mats to keep everyone safe and comfortable, but those aren’t the only uses for mats.

In sports, though, having mats slide around can be dangerous. Even if you have mats that lock together, there’s no guarantee they won’t slip as athletes move around. Unfortunately, this movement can be dangerous to anyone who depends on the floor remaining steady beneath them.

Mat tape is a great way to secure the mats to each other, as well as to the floor. With a strong adhesive, this tape is designed to hold non-porous surfaces in place. The best tape will also adhere to other surfaces without leaving a residue behind when it’s no longer needed. This part is important since most sports teams are on a gym floor that’s used by other teams. Sticky residue can become a huge inconvenience to athletes playing basketball or volleyball.

One important feature in mat tape is transparency. You’ll want a tape that’s clear in color so it doesn’t show while in use. This will keep your event floor looking visually appealing. Most mat tape is clear in color for this very reason.

Sports mats aren’t the only use for mat tape. You may find it comes in handy for keeping rugs in place. Some mat tape is even specifically formulated to bind carpeted surfaces together, which is useful if you have a rug on carpet.

There are multiple types of mats. Some mats are what’s known as “open cell,” which means they’re porous in order to better absorb sweat. These mats are made to reduce slipping risks, so you’ll find them in sports settings. Yoga mats, as well as the grappling mats often used in martial arts, are great examples of the open-cell design.

Closed-cell mats are what you see in the PVC mats often used in wrestling. You might find it harder to find mat tape that works with closed-cell mats since they’re less porous. If you have closed-cell mats, make sure you look specifically for tape that works with non-porous surfaces.

In some cases, you may set your mats up and leave them. You can find mat tape that’s designed for more permanent installations. This will have a more aggressive adhesive that might be harder to remove. If you’ve chosen this type of tape, it’s a good idea to test it on a small area of the surface you’re adhering it to in order to make sure it won’t cause serious damage when you do need to remove it.

Our Picks For The Top Mat Tapes

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Top Pick

Meister Cotton Double-Sided Mat Tape

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Meister

Cotton Double-Sided Mat Tape

Whether you're securing exercise mats or rugs, this extra-large tape is 3 inches wide for more coverage than you get with other types of mat tape. The tape will stick to any surface type, including plastic, rubber, foam, carpet, wood and metal. When you need to remove it, you can simply pull the tape off without worrying about it leaving residue be...

Overall Take

Good SizeAt 3 inches x 30 yards, this double-sided tape is wider and longer than most double-sided tape to cover more surface area.

 Runner Up

Meister Clear Vinyl Mat Tape, 3-Pack

Meister

Clear Vinyl Mat Tape, 3-Pack

Designed for 42' x 38' wrestling mats, these three-roll set can keep you supplied for months, if not years. The adhesive is high quality to ensure mats stay in place, and you can even remove the tape and re-apply it without worrying about it losing sticking power. The tape is clear, so you won't have to worry about it showing.

Overall Take

Great Bulk BuyWith this sticky tape, you get three 28-yard rolls to help meet your needs long-term.

 We Also Like

Kraftex Multi-Surface Double-Sided Mat Tape

Kraftex

Multi-Surface Double-Sided Mat Tape

Sticking to practically any surface, this double-sided mat tape can be used to secure flooring or for carpet repair. It's strong enough to hold carpets and rugs in place even while you're vacuuming, while also being removable without residue. The adhesive is long-lasting, so once it's in place, you can enjoy worry-free use.

Overall Take

Versatile UseThis tape works on a wide range of surfaces, including rugs, carpet, wood, laminate and tile.

 Strong Contender

ShenHuiTech Clear Double-Sided Mat Tape

ShenHuiTech

Clear Double-Sided Mat Tape

With a width of 1.8 inches and a thickness of only 0.08 inches, this tape works better with keeping mats and desk items from sliding around. You'll get 10 feet of tape in this package, and you can cut the tape to the length you need. Although this tape promises to be removable without leaving residue, it's not recommended for use on surfaces that a...

Overall Take

For Smooth SurfacesThis thin, double-sided tape works well for smooth surfaces like floor mats and charging stations.

What to Look For

  • Your mat tape will come in a variety of lengths, but the widths are also important. A slim profile could help with binding edges of mats together, but a wider tape will cover more surface area as you’re adhering mats to the floor.
  • The thickness of the tape itself also comes into play. Thinner tape might not have the strength that you’ll get with a thinner tape.
  • If your goal is to attach a mat to the ground, pay close attention to the flooring types that are supported. Some are limited to wood, but others can stick to carpet, vinyl and laminate. It’s also important to make sure it will adhere to the mat itself.
  • Tape can leave residue behind when you remove it. A high-quality mat tape is formulated to do its job well, but easily remove without leaving anything behind when you no longer need it.
  • Some mat tape can be removed and reapplied without losing its adhesive. This can give you the flexibility to make a mistake during installation.
  • If you use mat tape on a regular basis, you might want to look around for a good deal on multiple rolls. This will ensure you always have enough on hand when it’s time for a meet.
  • Athletic mats aren’t the only use for mat tape. Some options can come in handy for installing a rug so that it doesn’t move around or repairing rips in carpet. If you’re using mat tape for this sort of thing, make sure it won’t move around while you’re vacuuming.
  • You can use some types of mat tape to repair carpet on your stairs. However, this use, like mat tape used during athletics, means it’s important to make sure it’s secure before traffic starts moving over it.
  • Mat tape can also come in handy for holding items in place on desks, tables and other furniture. You might use this double-sided tape to secure your charging stations, office supplies or mousepad, for instance.
  • You probably are prepared to cut your tape to the length you need, but keep in mind that you can also cut the width. A wider tape might give you the option of slimming your tape as needed.
  • Follow the installation instructions carefully as they can differ from one tape to another. With some tape, you’ll only need to tape the mats together but with others, you’ll be sticking the mat to the floor.
  • Some mat tape has an odor as it comes from the factory. To avoid this smell becoming a distraction during an important event, install it in advance if possible.
  • Reusable mat tape will not only save you money, but it is also more eco-friendly. If you go with this option, though, make sure the tape will have the same top quality as competitors that can’t be reused.

More to Explore

The mats used in wrestling today help protect wrestlers during even the most intense matches. But this hasn’t always been the case. Before the 1950s, the mats used in wrestling were much more primitive, consisting of straw or horsehair stuffed into a canvas cover. The canvas material wasn’t good at keeping the skin safe and, in fact, many athletes suffered mat burns and infections after a meet.

Today’s mats must meet strict safety standards as outlined by the American Society of Testing and Materials International. Wrestlers should only compete and practice on mats that meet ASTM’s standards, which sets minimum recommendations for foam thickness and tensile strength. Mats must also have shock-absorbing characteristics to protect wrestlers during intense impacts.

More to explore