Rubber Mat for Gym and Training Areas

Walking into a sports equipment store or surfing the internet, you will soon discover that the notion of "rubber gym mat" is actually an umbrella name for various items that are quite different from one another. Indeed, you might choose a product that will look inappropriate or simply not work properly for your needs, such as insufficient shock absorption when working with a barbell or the movement of a mat while performing intensive exercises. 

The following information will help you make a proper choice.

Start With the Question: What's Actually Happening on This Floor?

Before going on to look at individual products, the best place to start is by asking what kind of load and motion the mat will need to absorb:

• A gym where heavy loads and dropping bars are involved needs maximum shock resistance and floor protection, which is quite different from for yoga or flexibility exercise.

• A gym where high traffic and sweat resistance (cardio areas, strength training, classes) are involved needs grip and hygiene above anything else, not just thick padding.

• Gyms that people share or rent need mats that don’t need adhesive to install and remove easily.

• Gyms that use large floors that need to go down as a continuous surface and need to hold up under daily all-day use by many people.

With one of those in mind, things will make much more sense.

Rhino Tile Gym Mat: Best for Heavy-Duty Weightlifting Zones

If you have a weightlifting platform, free-weight zone, or any zone in which barbells and heavy dumbbells get dropped constantly, you will need something durable enough to withstand this kind of punishment. This is when Rhino Tile Gym Mat comes into play. Its unique formula consists of premium-quality natural and recycled rubber that can be found in both thicker (2 cm thick) and larger (sheets) varieties because of two main reasons – the thicker the rubber, the more shock it can absorb from dropping weight; the bigger the sheets, the smaller the number of seams on your weightlifting platform there will be.

This is your choice if: you are designing a special zone for free weights or weightlifting, a CrossFit gym, or any other zone in which dropping weights is a constant thing. The catch is weight and price – they are heavier and denser, made specifically for one purpose.

Interlocking Gym Tile: Best for Full-Room Commercial Flooring

If your application requires more space, a continuous floor to be covered, whether it be the entire floor of a commercial gym, the space in a functional training room or any other multipurpose studio, you should look into the precision-cut interlocking system called the Interlocking Gym Tile that was made to create only one solid surface. Being 2.2cm thick and interlocking tile-by-tile, it will last for a long time under loads from various gym equipment, traffic and fallen weights in weight rooms, cardio zones and functional training areas without looking like a set of tiles.

Select it if: you have a commercial gym, fitness studio, physiotherapy centre, or another location where you need to create a professional-looking, continuous floor area.

Rubber Puzzle Mat: Best for Home Gyms and Lighter Training Zones

Interlocking mats such as the Rubber Puzzle Mat work well in DIY home gyms, yoga, and stretching areas because of their lightweight nature and small individual size tiles (50cm x 50cm), low weight (approximately 3kg per tile), and interlocking edges which do not require any adhesives and can be added to and rearranged in your workout area as you expand your training space.

This option is best used in situations where: 

• You are building out your home gym

• The space is temporary/rented, and you cannot have a permanent solution installed

• The area is mainly for light yoga or stretching exercises and does not require the shock absorption quality required by a weightlifting area.

Comparing the Three at a Glance

Thickness: Why It Matters More Than It Seems

Thickness is one of the key – and underestimated – criteria for selecting a gym mat. As a rule of thumb:

• Light exercise (yoga, stretching, body-weight exercise, low-impact cardio) is well-served by relatively thin mats 1.6 cm thick, since they provide enough grip and cushioning without much emphasis on shock absorption.

• Regular strength training and functional exercises require moderate thickness, about 2 cm, since they need a good balance between cushioning and stability.

• The heaviest free weights, barbell drops, and Olympic lifts really require the thickest and densest mats that can be found, because insufficient cushioning of the flooring with such loads not only damages the sub-floor but also leads to premature mat breakdown.

Selecting a mat only based on thickness regardless of workout type is a typical mistake – a thin mat is quickly worn out when used with heavy loads, and does not provide enough protection to the sub-floor; a mat with excessive thickness and density in the yoga room is useless and costly.

Installation Format: Interlocking vs. Large-Format Rolls

Aside from the thickness, the type of installation will play a role in both the ease of installation as well as future flexibility:

• Interlocking tiles (both large scale and puzzle pieces) can be installed easily without professionals, enable replacement of broken sections and also be added gradually to fit an expanding area.

• Larger format rolls and sheets will mean fewer seams on the floor, which is important in heavily impacted areas because the seams become weak points due to the repetitive dropped weights.

For the majority of home gyms, interlocking systems are better options. For professional weight lifting stations, larger format systems might work better.

Hygiene and Maintenance Across Gym Mat Types

The key benefits of rubber flooring, which are enjoyed by all three mats, include being non-porous and therefore resistant to sweat, moisture, and bacteria, as well as the ability to dry quickly, thus requiring simple cleaning procedures involving just sweeping and an occasional wash with a gentle cleaning product. This is especially important in the context of commercial gyms where many people use the floor each day.

Common Mistakes When Choosing a Gym Mat

• Specifying thinner than necessary in heavy lift areas, thus resulting in faster deterioration and insufficient floor protection.

• Specifying thicker than necessary in light-use areas, creating unnecessary expense and compromising balance stability for exercises.

• Selecting puzzle-type floor pieces when a larger format interlock or roll product could be used to create a smoother, more professional surface with fewer joints.

• Failing to consider installation format with respect to the area, especially in cases of rented or shared facilities where adhesives cannot be used.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right rubber mat for a fitness studio or workout zone depends on matching the format and the thickness to the actual usage of the floor space - tough roll-formatted rubber mats for designated weight lifting areas, interlocking tiles for commercial gym flooring, and thinner puzzle mats for residential gym floors. This is important for the protection of both the sub-flooring and the rubber mat, while failing to do so will be immediately evident through wear, noise, or instability when loaded.

Browse the complete gym flooring range to compare thickness, format, and pricing across all three options, and find the right fit for your specific training space.