Right now, home workouts are very popular, not only convenient and simple, but also allow you to develop good exercise habits. Having a fitness mat to aid your workouts not only makes your workout environment safer, but it can also be a motivator for long-lasting workouts.
Although both fitness mats and yoga mats are surprisingly similar in shape and material, they are fundamentally different. Yoga is still mainly static in nature, and many of the basic actions are stretching and relaxation, so what a yoga mat needs is sufficient stability, followed by cushioning, anti-skid, wear-resistant and other properties.
If the yoga mat is mainly static, then the fitness mat is mainly dynamic, because the fitness mat has to withstand the high-intensity dynamic aerobic training needs of you to practice HIIT, burpee, skipping, etc., so this type of mat pay more attention to the degree of slip resistance and wear resistance, followed by stability and cushioning.
Many people who work out at home say that fitness mats are not easy to choose. Various materials and sizes make it impossible for novices to choose the most suitable fitness mat for them. If you also have the idea of fitness at home, let’s first learn about fitness mats of different materials and help you make a better choice.
1. EVA fitness mat
Fitness mats made of EVA material are cheap and sell well in the market. EVA is a kind of hard foam, and its elasticity is not very good. It is mostly used in the production of soles. However, its water resistance is very good, it does not absorb water and is corrosion-resistant. This fitness mat has high resilience, shock-proof insulation, comfort and durability, so it is also loved by many people.
2. TPE fitness mat
The material of the TPE fitness mat is very environmentally friendly. The fitness mat of this material is not only soft, but also has an excellent anti-slip effect. When it is laid on the ground for exercise, the exerciser will not feel tired. It is also very light and can be carried around. This material can be recycled without causing environmental pollution and can be reused, but the price will be more expensive.
3. PVC fitness mat
The fitness mat made of PVC is cheap, the quality is guaranteed, the cost performance is high, and the strength is very high, it will not be affected by the climate of the four seasons, it is corrosion-resistant, and it is very practical.
This material generally needs to be foamed when making fitness mats to increase softness and anti-slip ability, but do not use recycled products, which may contain toxic substances.
4. NBR fitness mat
NBR is also known as nitrile rubber. It has strong oil resistance, good wear and heat resistance, but weak elasticity and poor cold resistance, but its waterproof performance and adhesion are relatively strong, especially suitable for beginners. Environmentally friendly, non-toxic, very soft and not easy to hurt.
After reading so many kinds of fitness mats, do you have a favorite fitness mat in your heart? Don't worry, we also need to choose the size of the fitness mat.
1. Length
If you are running and jumping, it is not a problem to have a shorter fitness mat. For exercises like planks and crunches, the mat should only cover the area where your body is in contact with the mat. Of course, if you use multiple people or arrange a small fitness space, then you have to consider a long floor mat.
2. Thickness
If you only want to do simple ground fitness movements, such as push-ups and planks, choose a fitness mat with a thickness of 8mm-15mm.
If you want to do running and jumping cardio, choose a fitness mat that is usually 7-8mm thick. If you are an all-around exerciser, choose a fitness mat with a thickness of usually 1cm-2.5cm.
