There are several types of gym mats available for use in both commercial gyms and domestic gyms. Gym mats are used to cover and protect the gym floors, equipment and users from any damage. Mats make the floors more comfortable and provide extra grip thereby making the flooring safer. Gym mats should be durable, resilient, slip-resistant, impact and shock absorbent and able to withstand high traffic.
Below is a list of mats used in gyms. The list is not exhaustive but are the common mats used.
- Eva Foam Mats • Carpet Gym Mats • PVC Rubber Mats
- Rubber Gym Mats • Checkered Rubber Mats • Vinyl Mats
Eva Foam Mats
Eva Foam is a very good impact and shock absorber suitable for areas where light exercises like gymnastics and yoga are done.
- Eva foam flooring properties:
- Anti-fatigue Eva Foam is soft and comfortable under the feet and to lay on
- Very flexible Eva Foam can be easily fabricated
- Low-density Eva foam is very light and can be easily carried or moved
- Eva Foam is a low water absorber
- Eva Foam is easy to clean and maintain
Carpet Gym Mats
Carpet interlocking Mats are another popular gym flooring option suitable for light exercises such as gymnastics. The tiles are a bit stiff than normal carpeting. This type of carpet tile is comfortable to work on.
- Carpet Gym Mats properties:
- Carpet mats are high water absorbent and they soak easily
- Low impact and shock absorbers cannot protect subfloors, users and equipment from heavy impact and shocks.
- Durable and Resilient
Rubber Gym Flooring
Rubber gym mats come in different types they can be recycled rubber tyres, PVC rubber mats or even checkered rubber mats. The thicker the rubber mat is the more durable it is.
Rubber Tyre Flooring
Are made from heavy-duty rubber mats. The mats are made from crushed recycled heavy-duty vehicle tyres
- Properties of heavy-duty tyre rubber flooring
- High water absorption
- High impact absorption the mats can withstand heavy usage and impacts
- Highly slip-resistant
- Chemical resistant
- Versatile
PVC Rubber Gym Mats
The most popular gym flooring option for commercial gyms, the mats usually come as interlocking tiles. The rubber mats are made from virgin PVC components or flexible PVC cables
- Properties of PVC Rubber Mats
- Resistant to most chemical
- Easy to lay down
- Manufactured from materials are that found locally
- Impact resistant
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Odorless
- Highly durable
- Non-porous
- Non-slip by nature
- Available in various patterns
Checkered Rubber Mats
Checkered rubber mats have a checkered surface that provides users with extra grip and makes the flooring more slip-resistant.
- Properties of Checkered Rubber Flooring:
- Highly impact absorbent
- Volatile surface – the surface is characterised by bumps to provide some traction
- Low water-absorbent
- Robust
- Non-slip
- Easy to clean
- Chemical Resistant
Vinyl Mats
Vinyl mats do not have the same properties as rubber, but it is an option for gym matting, vinyl mats better perform in areas with light to medium traffic as they cannot withstand a high level of pressure, and is suitable for light exercises.
- Properties of Vinyl
- Not resilient as rubber it cannot withstand heavy impacts and high traffic
- Low water-absorbent
- Affordable
- Easy to lay
The thickness and type of material for mats used for gyms depend on the level of traffic and also the type of activities the gym is used for. Some gymnasiums are only used for low impact exercises such as gymnastics and wrestling workouts these do not require a thicker matting but an Eva foam which is a very good shock absorber and can protect the users from any falling injuries. Whereas heavy weights lifting and other bodybuilding exercises require an impact-resistant, durable, non-slip and more resilient mat.
For more information on what mat to use at gyms, get in touch with our team for a professional assistant and a free and affordable quote.
