Exercise mats
Just as a house must be built on a stable foundation, your workout should also be performed on a reliable surface. Gymnastics mats are the perfect companion for your everyday workout. They are clean, safe and durable. Since you want to do good things for your health and fitness, it's especially important that gym mats meet the highest standards for your safety and health.
Whether you want to become a yogi master or just do your home workout, below you'll learn what to look for when buying fitness mats.
What do I need a exercise mat for?
Gym mats have become an integral part of training sessions for numerous sports, such as yoga, Pilates, or even weight training. They not only look chic, but also offer the user far-reaching benefits. Exercise mats serve as a pleasant and non-slip surface on which you can comfortably perform your workout. You don't have to struggle on hard floors anymore and can workout on the gym mat in a completely relaxed way. Besides, the gym mat provides a stable surface for your workout. On them, you can not only perform your exercises cleanly, but also protect yourself from the risk of injury at the same time. The slightly yielding structure of exercise mats protects your joints and, thanks to optimal cushioning, also stresses the structures of the internal muscles. They provide you with the opportunity to exercise in a variety of ways and are ideal for cushioning jumps in a way that is easy on the joints. Due to the practical size and the ability to roll up the mat, it is also a perfect companion on the way to the gym or yoga studio or in nature.
What should I look for when buying a gym mat?
Gym mats come in a wide variety of designs, so it's no wonder if you're overwhelmed. To help you find your ideal mat, we'd like to show you what to look for when buying one.
Features of a good exercise mat are:
- Non-slip material on the top and bottom for a safe workout.
- Good cushioning to protect the joints
- Comfortable, skin-friendly material without harmful substances
- Washability and absorption capacity
- Comfort and insulating capacity
- Practical for transport (can be rolled up or folded)
How thick should my exercise mat be?
Many people also wonder how thick a gym mat should be. First and foremost, the thickness of the mat depends on what sport and what exercises you want to do on the gym mat. Only after you know that, you can decide how soft and pliable it should be. Generally, the thickness of the mats varies and also depends on your training goals.
Our recommendations for you:
- Thinner mats (0.5 to 1.5 cm) are especially recommended if you do sports like yoga or Pilates. In order to perform balance or stretching exercises effectively and safely, a thin padding of the exercise mat is advantageous. A thin mat gives you better footing because it yields less than a thick one. The cushioning effect is less and bones and joints are less cushioned.
- Thicker mats (from 1.5 cm) are particularly suitable for dynamic exercises or jumping exercises, such as aerobics or weight training. Also, if you do a lot of exercises lying or sitting, you will have a more pleasant lying comfort with thicker padded gym mats. Because of the thicker padding, thicker exercise mats are equally well suited for therapy and rehabilitation. The good padding also allows older or physically impaired people to exercise without pain.
A rule of thumb says: the thinner the mat, the better the grip and traction.
What are the dimensions of exercise mats?
Just as with thickness, gym mats are available in numerous measurements and sizes. In order to have enough space on the exercise mat, it is important that you pay attention to your body size when choosing one. On average, they have a length of 175 cm to 190 cm. The width of exercise mats can also vary. Standard gym mats are typically 50 to 70 cm wide. In addition to regular sizes, there are also extra wide or long versions, where the length can be up to 200 cm and the width up to 100 cm. To choose the right mat, you can use your height as a guideline for the length of the mat. You should make sure that it is long enough so that your head and feet do not protrude over the edges. This means that you should choose a mat that is a little longer than you are.
How do I clean my gym mat?
Since many exercises, such as yoga, are performed barefoot or you lie down on the mat for certain exercises, hygiene plays an important role. To ensure that you can use your gym mat for as long as possible, you should clean it regularly. To remove sweat, dust or dirt, you can fill a bucket with water and soapy water for hygienic cleaning. To clean the mat, you can either wipe it with a damp cloth or fill a spray bottle with soapy water and spray it on the training mat. Then wipe off the soapy water with a clean cloth. For more stubborn stains, leave it to soak in for a while. However, due to the material of exercise mats, aggressive cleaning agents should not be used. After cleaning, it is especially important that the mat dries sufficiently, otherwise it could start to smell or, even worse, to mold. To increase the lifespan of your gym mat, we recommend that you always step on it with clean feet. Before using the mat, you can also place a large towel underneath. This is the best way to prevent sweat residue on the exercise mat. Some manufacturers state that the mats are machine washable, but there are always risks involved. Make sure that your mat is suitable for the washing machine.
Buying exercise mats from AIREX
If you are looking for your perfect mat for sports, you will be happy with AIREX®. This is because AIREX® exercise mats are special on the market. The mats from the Swiss manufacturer are made of 96% air and also have very good insulating properties, providing you with a reliable and safe surface for any workout. The innovative foam that the gym mats are made of allows you to train in a way that is easy on your joints and tendons. With AIREX® mats, you can safely perform your exercises even on slippery floors without slipping away. The maintenance of the mat is also very easy and any dirt can be easily removed with water or soapy water.