5 Best Gymnastics Mats – 2017 Reviews and Top Picks
Gymnastic mats come in various ranges of sizes and thickness. There are mats that serve their purpose amazingly but somehow, fail to last longer because of the quality of materials. Most often, there is also a mismatch with different age brackets and gymnastic activity.
Any mat with flat surface and the certain thickness you need is not that hard to find. But looking for that best gymnastics mat is; that’s why here we pick some of the most popular ones on the market and scrutinized every nook and corner so you won’t waste your money on low-quality ones.
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Product Summary
- Covered in non-absorbent polymer, the Soozier Gymnastics Mat is not susceptible to fire or easily punctured by sharp objects. It is also generally safe around children because it is PCSIA-compliant.
- The Giantex Gymnastics Mat is made up of expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam, one that is dense enough to keep you from sinking while providing you with cushiony landing.
- The We Sell Mats Gymnastics Mat is longer-lasting and durable because its foam is made of cross-linked polyethylene and its surface is covered with industry-standard vinyl material.
- Built with expanded rubber or rubber foam, the Tumbl Trak Gymnastics Mat provides just the right amount of stiffness to repel pressure while affording enough support for medium impact landings.
- A favorite in the cheer and gymnastics world, the Orbring Gymnastics Mat is made up of bonded foam, which is heavier than the regular foam. It is a high-quality mat with reinforced nylon stitching and inverted seams.
Product Reviews
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**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Soozier Gymnastics Mat is a versatile and conveniently designed floor support for tumbling and gymnastics as well as day care activities and martial arts. Its 2-inch thickness is supportive enough to prevent injuries from high impact falls.
The eco-friendly EPE foam has a cushiony quality to take a hard landing, yet firm enough not to sink in when pressure is applied. This mat is shelled with non-absorbent polyurethane leather that does not slip on hardwood; its surface is easy to clean and is not prone to fire and puncture.
The four-paneled section folds like an accordion and there is a sewn-in handle to make it portable and easy to carry. There are Velcro straps on all four sides to allow an adjustable connection with other mats.
All mats are 2-inch thick but there are three sizes to choose from: the 6 feet long, 8 feet long and 10 feet long mats. Specifically made for both adults and kids alike, these mats are certified free of lead, formaldehyde, and phthalate.
Things we like:
- It is CPSIA-compliant
- Availability in 3 different sizes
- The Zipper feature and the changeable foams
Things we don’t like:
- The PU leather material may not last that long
- There is no range of thickness to choose from
The Giantex mat is composed of four foldable panels that expands up to 10 feet long. Unlike the Soozier, it is available only in one size with 4’ x 2.5’ dimensions and 2-inch thickness for each panel.
Featuring an array of bright colors for each panel, the mat can be attached to other mats of the same length by connecting the Velcro straps along its two edges. Each panel is enclosed with a zipper to make it easy to clean and change the foam.
The foam is made up of semi-rigid, non-crosslinked foam (EPE) and covered with polyurethane leather outside. The mat stays in place when used over a carpeted floor; on the other hand, there’s no telling if it is as non-slippery when used over hardwood.
This is a standard gymnastics mat good enough for dancing, light stretching, wrestling, martial arts, and other basic gymnastics skills.
However, there is no certainty as to whether it is PCSIA-compliant or not; it may not be suitable to use with kids around because of the possible presence of lead, formaldehyde, and of other risky chemicals.
Things we like:
- Inexpensive for a 10-feet long gymnastics mat
- Multicolor feature
- Zipper feature and changeable foam
Things we don’t like:
- Made of regular type of foam and cover material
- Lack of availability for different sizes
The mats from We Sell Mats are usually seen in gyms and fitness centers because they are made of high-grade materials such as crosslinked polyethylene foam and 18 oz. vinyl covering.
Crosslinked polyethylene is a fine-celled foam that is capable of providing the much needed firmness and shock absorption. On the other hand, the 18oz. vinyl covering makes the mat more durable and longer-lasting than the polyurethane leather material.
Uniquely designed, the hook and fasteners on all four sides make it convenient to configure when connecting with additional mats. Unlike other foldable mats, the ones from We Sell Mats are either three-paneled or four-paneled.
You can choose from 1.5-inch thick or 2-inch thick mats and from an array of 19 different colors and combination of such. The sizes are available in either 4’x8’ or 4’x6’ dimensions.
Things we like:
- Availability of 1.5-inch thick mat
- Crosslink polyethylene foam and 18 oz. vinyl covering
- Hook-and-loop Velcro-style fasteners
- PCSIA-compliant for lead and phthalates
Things we don’t like:
- Expensive
The Tumbl Trak Gymnastics Mat is available only one size with 4’ x 8’ dimensions. There are six colors to choose from, whether a single color for all panels or a combination of colors in each.
It is constructed with the highest grade of foam there is – the ethylene vinyl acetate or EVA foam. Commonly referred to as expanded rubber or rubber foam, it is the type of padding material for different sports equipment such as hockey pads, bicycle saddles, and boxing gloves.
That is why this mat can last longer; it is stiff enough not to let you sink in and cushy enough so you won’t hurt yourself as you land. It is as rigid as rubber but not really rubber, and it serves as an excellent floor material for athletics because of its buoyant and shock absorbing quality.
The most special thing about it, however, is the availability of a 1 3/8-inch thick mat. It is the ideal thickness for a floor support while doing any type of gymnastics especially stunts.
Things we like:
- Made of EVA foam and knife-coated vinyl
- Available in 1 3/8-inch thickness
- Durable and longer lasting
- CPSIA-compliant
Things we don’t like:
- Expensive
Orbring Bonded Foam is a 4’ x 8’ gymnastics mat with 2-inch thickness. It can be used as a supporting floor mat and wall pad for a wide array of gymnast skills such as tumbling, stretching and calisthenics as well as martial arts and wrestling.
It is foldable in four sections for convenient storage and portability. Multiple mats can be attached lengthwise only because the Velcro fasteners are located on two ends.
With its 18oz vinyl cover, it is not prone to the formation of mildew or puncture from sharp objects. The bonded foam is as durable and long-lasting as the other high-grade materials but it is not as pricey.
Bonded foam is regenerated out of different PU materials and bonded by the recompression process. It is packed together making it firm and thick enough to provide plenty of cushioning. It is also an ideal home gymnastics mat for both adults and children alike.
Things we like:
- Economical
- Durable and long-lasting
- 18oz vinyl covering
- Bonded foam material
Things we don’t like:
- Not enough fasteners for additional mats
Choosing A Gymnastics Or Tumbling Mat
In competitions and professional settings, there are specific mats that are mandatory for each skill or gymnastics feat. While tumbling is just an area of skill in the world of gymnastics, the two terms are often used interchangeably in ordinary settings such as home or gym use.
When looking for a gymnastics mat, the following considerations are recommended:
Versatility
Generally, the notion is that a gymnastics mat is exclusively for tumbling and other stunts purposes only. On the contrary, most gymnastics mats are designed to be versatile for floor and wall support in different kind of feats and activities.
Its uses are varied as the following:
- Tumbling
- Stunts such as cartwheel, handstand
- Martial arts and wrestling
- Pilates, yoga, stretching and other personal fitness exercises
- Gym use
- Cheerleading performances
- Daycare activities
- Picnics and outdoor activities
Thickness
The ranges of thickness for gymnastics as well as wrestling mats are available from 1 inch to 2 inches thick. The two-inch thick mats are usually recommended for beginners and young people because it reduces the risk of injury.
There are certain gymnastics feats that call for a standard thickness, whether you are a beginner or a highly-performing gymnast. For stunts such as cartwheel, handstands and bridges, the ideal mat thickness is somewhere between 1.5 to 1 3/8 inches.
Type of Material and Design
The mat must be thick enough to reduce the risk of broken body and solid enough to prevent your hands and feet from sinking in. Nevertheless, there are some mats that, although as thick as 2 inches and more, were designed to be firm enough on the surface to provide just the right amount of rigidity.
Chemicals and Odor
The materials used in the inner core and covering of mats are man-produced or synthetically-made, that’s why in some types of material, there’s often the possibility of other by-products or chemicals such as phthalates, lead and formaldehyde.
Conclusion
The main purpose of mats when doing gymnastics feat is to reduce the risk of injury so the gymnast can perform stunts efficiently. This is the primary factor by which we select the most outstanding one among our top picks of best gymnastics mats.
However, the competition is tough and we have to add other considerations such as the price reasonability, variety, and child-friendliness. Hence, based on the entirety of these factors, we chose the We Sell Mats Gymnastics Mats.
These mats are made up of the same high-grade stuff that world competition-standard mats are built with. Its rank went up mostly because in terms of economic consideration, it is somewhere between not too pricey and too high-priced – and that is reasonable enough.
