Best Gymnastics Mats For Tumbling & Home Use
Best High End
BalanceFrom GoGym All-Purpose 4'x10'x2''
Best Mid Range
Polar Aurora 4'x10'x2 Thick Folding Gymnastics Exercise Mat
Best Inexpensive
BalanceFrom 2" Thick Tri-Fold Folding Exercise Mat
Last Updated: 10th Mar, 2023
Here's our review of 5 of the Best Gymnastics Mats plus an in-depth buyer's guide for your reference. Whether you're looking for a tumbling mat or a mat to place the below the gymnastics bar, we've got you covered.
If you have kids, you know how active they are. They love to run, jump and play all day. So how do you deal with all that energy?
You may have heard that you should take them to gymnastics, or perhaps karate. That would certainly get their energy out! But what if you can't afford that? Or what if they want more?
Well, an excellent way for you to handle this would be to buy a gymnastics tumbling mat to have in your own home! This way, your kids have a place to get out all their energy, without you ever having to leave the house.
Maybe you can't get your kids out of your hair. Maybe they're just not happy and need more activity. Either way, getting them a home gymnastics mat would be a great fix. Then comes the daunting task of finding one. You have to consider the size, price, and durability.
But don't worry! We have rounded up the top 5 gymnastics mats for your home.
Our Top Picks for The Best Gymnastics Mats For Home
- BalanceFrom GoGym All-Purpose 4'x10'x2'' Extra Thick High Density- Pro Pick
- Polar Aurora 4'x10'x2" Thick Folding Gymnastics Exercise Mat - Editor's Pick
- BalanceFrom 2" Thick Tri-Fold Folding Exercise Mat - Excellent Value
- AK Sport Air Track Inflatable Gymnastics Tumbling Mat - Best Inflatable air track tumbling mat
- ProsourceFit Tri-Fold Folding Thick Exercise Mat 6'x2' - Budget Pick
1. BalanceFrom GoGym All-Purpose Mats
Specs:
- Dimensions: 10' (L) x 4' (W)
- Folded dimensions: 4' (L) x 2.5' (W) x 1.2' (D)
- Thickness: 2''
- Material: High density EPE foam with puncture resistant vinyl top
- Color: Black, Blue, Purple, Pink
- Warranty: 2-year
This is by far one of the best gymnastics mats for your buck. It is loved by hundreds of people and would make a great mat for your home. This mat also happens to be the amazon best-seller with 5-star rating across 800+ reviews.
At 10 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 2 inches thick, this mat is sure to provide plenty of space for whatever you need. The mat is full 2'' thick and is made out of high-density foam, providing excellent support and padding. You can feel safe using this mat or giving it to your kids.
The BalanceFrom GoGym mat is made with non-toxic, lead-free, and puncture-resistant vinyl. It is also moisture-resistant, making it a breeze to wash! All you need is some soap and water, and it will be good as new.
And the best part? This mat is portable! It is made of four panels that easily fold up for simple transportation and storage. When folded, it is only 48" by 30" by 8"!
With a 2-year guaranteed warranty, you can be sure that you will be satisfied with your purchase. And for under a hundred dollars, this mat comes at a great price!
Top Features:
- Easily foldable for travel and storage
- Thick, high-density, puncture-resistant foam
- Moisture-resistance for easy washing
Final Note:
This mat will not disappoint. Whether you do gymnastics, karate, or any other martial art, the BalanceFrom GoGym All-Purpose Mat is a great choice for you. And it comes in a variety of color options! If you are looking for something durable yet portable, then this is the best mat for you.
2. Polar Aurora 4’x10’x2” Thick Folding Gymnastics Exercise Mat
Specs:
- Dimensions: 9.8' (L) x 3.8' (W)
- Folded dimensions: 4' (L) x 2.45' (W) x 1.2' (D)
- Thickness: 2''
- Material: High density EPE foam enclosed in PU leather cover
- Color: Blue, Purple, Green, Pink
- Warranty: No information
This mat is one of our favorites. It is made of high density EPE foam, making it incredibly sturdy and durable. It offers excellent shock absorption making it ideal for low to high impact activities. And it's still super soft and comfortable!
At 10 feet by 4 feet and 2 inches thick, this is another large mat. It is perfect for any manner of activities. From gymnastics to tae-kwon-do, this mat will provide the support you need.
The foam is covered in a smooth leather case, making it nice and sleek. This leather also makes cleaning a breeze - all you need is some soap and water. It also helps to make the mat incredibly long-lasting, so you don't have to replace it.
This mat is also made of four panels, which easily fold for movement and storage. There are handles sewn into each end, for easy grabbing and carrying. There are also Velcro straps included at each end of the mat. So you can easily connect as many mats as you need, making it perfect for tumbling runs!
This mat has hundreds of positive reviews to its name and comes in at a price tag of $100, making it a popular choice among home users. But there's one more feature that makes it wonderful for children: the colors! There are over a dozen options to choose from. Some are solid colors, some are combinations, and some even have patterns! So whatever you or your child's taste, you can certainly find a mat that will fit what you want.
Top Features:
- Durable, smooth, long-lasting leather cover
- Easily foldable for movement and storage
- Velcro straps to connect more mats
- Over a dozen color options
Final note:
This is a great choice for both beginners and experts. It has the durability and flexibility that makes any mat great. It is sleek and soft for maximum comfort. And you can connect as many mats as you need! It also comes in a variety of colors. If you are looking for a fun, durable mat, then this is the best option for you.
3. BalanceFrom 2” Thick Tri-Fold Exercise Mat
Specs:
- Dimensions: 6' (L) x 2' (W)
- Folded dimensions: 2' (L) x 2' (W) x 1' (D)
- Thickness: 2''
- Material: High density EPE foam
- Color: Blue, Purple, Green, Pink
- Warranty: 2-year
Another mat from BalanceFrom, and this one is just as great. It has over 1,000 positive reviews on Amazon and can meet all of your tumbling mat needs.
This mat is smaller, measuring out at six feet long, two feet wide, and two inches thick. It is made with firm, high density EPE foam, so it can provide excellent support and padding. But it doesn't sacrifice any comfort - this mat is soft and easy on your body.
The surface is durable, non-toxic, lead-free, puncture-resistant, and non-absorbent vinyl. That's a lot of words, but their meaning is simple. It is strong and safe for you and your kids. It is resistant to being punctured, helping it to be long-lasting. And thanks to moisture-resistant technology, it is easy to wash. All you need is some soap and water to rinse the outside and then dry it, and none of the water will get inside!
This mat is also foldable. It has three panels that, when folded, create a shape that is only 24 "x24" x6"! It folds into a nice, small shape that is great for storage or transportation. And the handles on the sides make it easy to carry.
Coming it at under 50 dollars, this mat is not only great quality but a great value. Its durability and resilience provide a great balance. This mat is great for gymnastics and virtually any martial art, and small enough to fit in any room. And with four color options, you can get whatever you prefer!
Top Features:
- Thick, high density, puncture-resistant foam
- Moisture resistance technology for easy washing
- Easily foldable for storage and portability
- Small and lightweight to fit wherever you need
Final Note:
If you're looking for a great value, then this is the perfect mat for you. It is small and lightweight, but also durable and resilient. It is foldable and compact, with handles for easy carrying. And it's small enough to fit in any room. And with all this under $50, it's too good a deal to pass up.
4. AKSPORT Airtrack Inflatable Gymnastics Mats
Specs:
- Dimensions: 10ft, 13ft, 16ft, 20ft
- Folded dimensions: N/A
- Thickness: 3.9''
- Material: 1000D double wall PVC
- Color: Black, Dark blue, Mint green, Orange
- Warranty: No information
This mat is different from many others in that it is inflatable. Inflatable mats have a lot of benefits to them, and this brand is one of the best in the business.
Inflatable mats come with a lot more flexibility than regular mats, especially with AKSPORT. You can set the pressure to whatever you prefer, so you control the firmness of your mat. It can be set to be almost as firm as your average gymnastics mat, making it perfect for practice. But it can also be made softer, even bouncy. This can create more fun and can be less painful when you have a bad landing. It is also great for children, so they can practice and play on a softer surface.
This mat is durable and resistant to deformation. It is made out of high quality PVC tarpaulin. Its durability means that you don't have to worry about it breaking. And without deformation, it will stay firm, and in shape you want it. You also don't have to worry about injuries from rough contact, because the mat is sure to stay inflated and reliable.
That's not all that's great, though. The mat is leak-resistant, guaranteed to hold all of its air. And it can be inflated and deflated in only a minute!
When deflated, this mat fits in a small, travel-sized bag. This makes it great for storage and transportation. This mat can be used anywhere, with very little setup time!
And there are many, many options, so you can get whichever one suits you best. It comes in a wide range of sizes and colors. It's perfect for gyms, homes, kids, adults, and everyone in between! This mat is definitely multi-purpose and fits almost any needs.
Top Features:
- Durable, leak-resistant material
- Quick and easy inflation and deflation
- Flexibility for all needs
- A wide range of colors and sizes
Final Note:
If you are looking for a mat that you can shape to fit all of your needs, then this is the right one for you. It is durable and sure to last. It provides more comfort and protection than your average gymnastics mat. And it comes in many different sizes and colors, so you can get whatever you like best. This is the best inflatable air track tumbling mat, and is an excellent choice for you.
5. ProsourceFit Tri-Fold Exercise Mat
Specs:
- Dimensions: 6' (L) x 2' (W) x
- Folded dimensions: N/A
- Thickness: 1 1/2''
- Material: Dense EPE foam
- Color: blue, grey, and black
- Warranty: No information
This mat is a fantastic choice for a small budget. Coming in at under 40 dollars, this mat is affordable but sacrifices no functionality.
When extended, it measures 72" x 24" x 1.5". It provides plenty of room for running, jumping, cartwheeling, and any other manner of activities.
Its cushion is thick and durable. It provides great support for whatever activity you're doing, so you can be sure you won't get hurt. It is also great for both indoor and outdoor use, because of how durable it is!
The material is entirely waterproof, so washing it should be a breeze. Plus, you never have to worry about mold destroying the inside! And it is slip-resistant, so the mat will stay put and not slide all around when you're using it.
This mat is also a tri-fold mat. Its three panels fold up into a compact item that is easy to carry and store. So it's a great item for travel or for any room.
Top Features:
- Waterproof and slip-resistant material
- Thick and durable cushion
- Tri-fold for travel and storage
Final Note:
If you're looking for a great mat that will fit your budget, then this is it. It is light, durable, and sure to work for all of your needs. Excellent build quality at an affordable price makes this mat is a great choice for budget conscious buyers!
Buyer's Guide for Gymnastics Mats
Gymnastics mats are designed to absorb the shock and reduce the impact on the body. But not all mats are the same, although they may look similar. Depending on where and how you're going to use the gymnastics mat, will decide what type and thickness you should choose.
If you're looking for a mat to place below the gymnastics bar or balance beam, then you should look for 1 to 2 inch thick mat. The mat should be large enough to cover the whole base without leaving any area unprotected. However, if the requirement is just to practice tumbling, you should not settle for a mat with less than 2-inch thickness.
Whether it's for gymnastics, karate, yoga, martial arts, or other activities, it's important that you get a mat that works for you. To help you make your choice, we've gathered some of the top things you should consider when buying a mat. We sincerely hope this will help with your decision!
Key Considerations
<Size>
This is one of the most important considerations. You want a mat that is big enough to fit all the common gymnastics moves like cartwheel, forward roll, front walkover and more. So the size that you want largely depends on what type of activities you want to do.
Shorter or narrower mats are good for small-space activities. These can include stretching, yoga, and stationary exercises. But if you want to practice cartwheeling, tumbling or similar moves, you're going to need more space. This is when choosing a longer mat, or connecting multiple mats together, comes in handy. A 10 x 4 feet mat should be more than ideal for young gymnasts.
<Thickness>
Thickness is probably the most important thing, because it keeps you safe! Different thicknesses are good for different activities. Typically, mats come in either 1.5" or 2" thickness.
1.5" thickness is great for low impact activities. Such mats are ideal dor stretching, yoga, or aerobics. They provide you the cushion you need without extra toughness. This thickness is also great for kids because their activities will have softer impacts.
Higher-impact activities though, such as martial arts, tumbling, and gymnastics, need more thickness. This will help to protect your body from injury. For these activities, it's best to choose a 2" thickness. This is also good for layering and doing multi-level exercises!
<Firmness>
The difference between a quality and cheaper mat boils down to firmness. A firm mat does not bottom out during practice, is safer and durable. But firm mats are more expensive the standard mats.
Standard mats, on the other hand, are geared towards casual and younger gymnasts.
Lookwise you can't make out much of a difference between firm and a standard mat. But when you take a closer look, you'll find that the bottom-most layer of a firm mat is high capacity ILD (Indentation Load Deflection) foam. In contrast, standard mats either don't come with ILD foam or come with a lower capacity one. You can find more info about this here.
For home usage, standards gymnastics mats are more than sufficient unless you're looking to practice full-fledged cartwheels or backflips.
<Price>
As when buying anything, the price will be a consideration for you. What's important to remember here is to get a mat that fits with your price but still has all of the other features you need! Gymnastics mats come in all sorts of prices ranges from $40 to as high as $100.
Here, a higher price does not necessarily mean better quality. So, it's best to stick with a mat within a price range of $50 to $70 where you get the best value. Avoid cheaper mats as they come with lower quality foam, which would not last long.
Let’s Wrap Things Up
Home gymnastics mats are a great way to exercise, have fun, and burn off energy. And there are so many options to choose from! So when deciding which mat you want to buy, remember to consider all of your needs, and find one that will fit for you. If you do that, you are guaranteed to have loads of fun and be certain of your safety. If your kids are any serious about gymnastics, it's best to choose a top-rated mat to accommodate the future needs of your kid.
We sincerely hope you found this gymnastics mat buying guide helpful and could find the right mat for your needs. If you've any questions or queries, please leave a comment below.
