Mats for fitness: varieties and choices

For sports in the hall, in the fresh air or at home, in most cases, additional functional products are used. Among this list, it is worth highlighting the rugs, which today are presented in a large species diversity.

Such specialized products are distinguished by their individual characteristics, thanks to which a person in sports can compensate for some inconvenience, make training as productive as possible.

That is why it is worth highlighting a number of basic tasks that fitness mats perform.

• Hygroscopicity is inherent in almost all products, due to which the products are able to absorb sweat from the body of a person placed on top. This feature requires the observance of special measures for the care of products, but in most cases it will be regarded as an advantage.
• The fundamental goal of sports mats is to provide a softer surface under the body of a person on the floor, ground or other surfaces. This characteristic allows you to minimize discomfort in the knees, wrists, lower legs and other parts of the body during training.
• Sports mats will help prevent colds, as well as dangerous drafts, which can seriously harm the health of athletes.
• A beautiful and functional thing for sports becomes an additional motivator for physical education.In the range of modern products there is a large number of attractive products for women and men.

However, sports mats for gyms or individual lessons are recommended to be used separately for each, in order to avoid contact with foreign bacteria that can remain on the surface and multiply.

Today on sale you can find fitness mats made from a large number of different raw materials. Each species has its own individual advantages and disadvantages. So, the division of products by type of material provides for the presence of several categories of goods.

Synthetic products are noteworthy due to their high performance regarding strength, in addition, such rugs have a minimum weight.

Besides, among the minuses of products for exercises it is worth highlighting a slippery surface, in light of which they can become a source of various injuries during intense training.

Another product option that is made from synthetic materials. It is notable for its hypoallergenic characteristics, the surface of the rugs is non-slip, the raw materials are quite soft and elastic. Products do not fade from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the average life is 3-4 years, depending on the intensity of use.

Products with a rubber component differ in their thickness, however, this characteristic is the main advantage for playing sports at home or in the hall, since thanks to it it will be possible to make the floor surface more comfortable for active exercises.

Among the minuses of the products, it is worth highlighting the large size and weight, which can add inconvenience to transportation.

Such products are made of light foam, on one side the surface is covered with aluminum foil. They are called karematy.

Buyers note good adhesion of limbs and body to the surface of the sports mat.

In light of the active use of modern technologies for the production of certain products in sports stores or specialized departments, it will be possible to purchase products from polyurethane containing a grid of conductive raw materials with built-in software inside. Such products recognize when a person is in a horizontal or vertical position on the mat, determines the weight and load on different parts of the body. All collected information is transmitted through a special application to a PC or other gadget, which positively affects the effectiveness of training.

Convenient for transportation models of sports products, a feature of which is the structure.

Such products are made from synthetic raw materials, in some cases, the surface of the rugs may consist of microfiber.

Another mobile kind of sports mat, which also consists of several segments. However, the difference from the previous version is the presence of one or more handles, in light of which the sectional model turns into a small handbag. A similar model of a rug can consist of foam, rubber and other raw materials.

In addition to the above materials, the following can be used to make fitness mats:

• latex;
• wool;
• cotton;
• polyurethane foam and more.

Based on the thickness and softness, rugs come in several forms.

Small items distinguished by density and stiffness. Among the shortcomings is the fact that these products will be moving. Its thickness can be more than 1 centimeter.

As a rule, such products for sports will be larger than the previous ones, however, they differ in greater softness. They look like puzzles because they consist of several segments. They have a non-slip surface, good cushioning, and the thickness may be less than 1 centimeter.

Products for professional sports, which can be used not only in the gym, but also at home. It is exploited for fitness, gymnastics and yoga. Among the features of the product, it is worth highlighting its high cost, as well as the minimum thickness - 1 centimeter.

As for the size, the rugs are:

• long - from 200 centimeters;
• short - up to 140-150 centimeters.

The first option is recommended for classes in a horizontal position of adults, the second model is most often purchased for children or classes in a sitting position.

Wide products are less in demand for group classes in fitness centers and gyms, as a rule, the average width of sports mats is 50-60 centimeters.

The products of this product line of several brands are most in demand.

Domestic manufacturer of sports products, the assortment of which also includes fitness mats. The cost of products will directly depend on the type of raw materials used for the manufacture of rugs. Among the proposed products, you can find models of different lengths and widths for every need.

An Asian brand that produces fitness or yoga mats. All products have a non-slip surface, are easy to care for, and quickly dry out after contact with moisture. In comparison with the previous manufacturer, the Chinese brand produces thicker rugs.

The best and very popular sports brand with a worldwide reputation, whose products occupy a leading position in the ratings of the quality of sports equipment, clothes and shoes, as well as rugs made from various materials. The range is represented by products with different sizes, thickness and softness of products.

An equally demanded brand among athletes, specializes in producing different quality rugs for fitness, Pilates and yoga. Products stand out for their external attractiveness, various sizes, colors and thickness. A case is included with some products.

In addition to the above manufacturers of sports mats, it is worth highlighting the following brands:

• Sklz;
• Airex
• Starfit and others.

In order for the purchased products to please their functionality and quality, in the process of choosing rugs should be guided by some important principles.

• If classes with a rug involve frequent frequent independent transportation to the gym, to fresh air or to another place on foot or by public transport, then before buying it is worth determining how convenient the product is, and most importantly - easy to carry. And also an important moment will be its dimensions when folded. As for the mass, products can weigh from 200-300 grams to 5-6 kilograms. The rest of the sizes should be selected individually.

• Before buying, try out the grip of the mat with the body. If it is too sliding, you should refuse to buy such a model in order to avoid injuries. It is best to dwell on products with a rubberized surface.
• Another criterion that should be taken into account is moisture permeability.This is the name of the ability of raw materials to absorb moisture, removing it from the base, where the product contacts the athlete’s body. Too wet a rug will become very slippery by the middle of classes, so it is most likely to give preference to products with a porous structure of raw materials. In this issue, the leading positions are occupied by latex and cotton.

• It is worth paying attention to the elasticity of the rugs. If the product you like is too stretchy, especially for rubber mats, then their life will be minimal. Especially if the product will be used frequently. The best option would be options with the addition of lavsan fibers, which will significantly extend the operational life of sports equipment.
• For many athletes, the color of the mat will be important. In this case, there are recommendations regarding the effect of color on the mood and psyche of a person, in light of which it is recommended to refuse black or other dark and depressing shades. Suitable colors for sports are yellow shades, blue, green, pink rugs.

• Product selection will also be based on the purpose of the sports mat. Today, fitness classes are presented in different directions, so the manufacturers of this product line recommend choosing segmented products of folding type for significant loads, for Pilates or stretching, you can focus on the Mind body options.
• As for the preferences regarding raw materials for fitness mats, you can use budget-friendly PVC products for training, but professional athletes prefer to purchase products from TPE. For active daily activities, you can purchase products from natural raw materials.

Like any other product that is used in direct contact with the human body, fitness mats will need some care. We list the general recommendations that are guaranteed to extend the operational life of the product.

• It is worthwhile after a purchase to study in detail the advice of manufacturers regarding further care. Since products from different brands may vary in composition, recommendations may also vary slightly.
• Folding mats and tightly bandaging them with rubber bands or other elements is worth it only if the mat consists of segments or quickly restores its original shape.

• If possible, store mats in expanded form.
• Synthetic products must be rinsed without the use of aggressive chemicals and washing machines in warm water and soap. After wet processing, they should be dried in an upright position. As for rugs made of natural materials, they must be looked after with a damp cloth.
• After long-term storage or active training, the mats must be hung out for airing in fresh air for several hours. So you can avoid an unpleasant odor.
• Halls and peeling will indicate that the product has become unusable. Such products are not recommended for further use.

To do fitness on your own at home, in the fresh air or in the gym, you can use alternative products that will become full-fledged substitutes for fitness mats. The following products may be replaced:

• good-density bedspread / rugs;
• thin mattress for orthopedic or conventional type beds;
• wicker track;
• yoga mat;
• Bath towels;
• beach litter.

However, not all of the above options will be able to be used for classes in the hall.

For this, it will be enough to purchase a base made from natural or synthetic raw materials, as well as a filler, if the material itself is too thin. Further, the base will need to be sewn with a filler, choosing the size of the mat according to the length of the person’s growth with an increase of 10-15 centimetersThe width of a homemade sports mat can be 60 or 80 centimeters. This option will save money and also allow you to use an exclusive, attractive and functional product in training.

About the varieties of yoga mats, fitness and choice features can be seen in the video below.