Stiftung Warentest summarizes the most important materials of yoga mats or fitness mats in a short overview. best flooring knee pads the conventional gymnastics mat for sports is made of plastic. It is particularly inexpensive and convinces a non-slip surface. A non-slip gymnastics mat is the most important criterion when it comes to safety during floor exercises.
Attention: Some plastic gymnastic mats contain replacement plasticizers such as phthalate. This can lead to skin intolerance. Pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions and use plastic mats without this replacement plasticizer if possible.
In addition to the plastic mats, you can opt for gymnastic mats made of rubber, cork, or jute. The material natural rubber or cotton is particularly convincing when it comes to sustainable gymnastic mats. The company Southern Shores, therefore, offers the “Ocean Mat”, which is made of cotton and natural rubber. According to the manufacturer, no waste is generated during production, production and logistics are CO2-neutral and the gymnastics mat is free of harmful substances.
Buying advice: What distinguishes a good gymnastics mat and which criteria are decisive for the purchase?
For sports and exercise, you sometimes need nothing more than your own body. Whether you are doing Pilates or yoga exercises, these exercises can be optimally performed with or without a pad. In many gyms or classes, you will often find a gymnastics mat or yoga mat, which makes floor training a little more comfortable and enjoyable. Gymnastic mats with eyelets are particularly useful if they are to be stowed away sensibly and are space-saving.
Many gyms use this small and practical feature for gymnastic mats. For the home, however, a foldable gymnastics mat is also sufficient, if you do not have space to hang it in your rooms. There are some other important criteria that you should consider before buying a gymnastics mat or yoga mat. Here you can find out more about length, size, mat thickness, and dimensional stability.
What is phthalate?
Phthalate compounds consist of phthalic acid. They are so-called replacement plasticizers that can be found in various products such as clothing, cosmetics, or plastic materials and plastic packaging. According to the Consumer Center, such plasticizers have a negative effect on our physical health.
Which mat size makes sense?
The length, width, and thickness of a gymnastics mat basically depend on the desired exercises and the sport you want to perform. Various Internet tests for the gymnastics mat recommend a mat size that fits your own body and a gymnastics mat, on which you can lie with your whole body. With a length of 180 to 200 cm, you should definitely do everything right. The regular gymnastics mat is 80 cm wide. Such mat sizes are designed for one person.
Are you looking for a large gymnastics mat on which you can train with a second or third person? Then you can also choose from various XXL gymnastics mats or gymnastics mats with 2 x 2 m. Note, however, that the larger the mat, the more it weighs. If you need a gymnastics mat for on the go, you should then especially resort to a gymnastics mat with a bag or carrying strap. This facilitates transportation to the next course. Particularly large gymnastic mats are less suitable for transport. Bags and carrying straps are not included with all manufacturers. It is best to read the manufacturer’s instructions before buying.
Mat thickness
The material thickness of a gymnastics mat is not unimportant. benefit powerlift knee pads depending on which exercises you perform and what your body needs, a thickness between 0.5 and 3 cm is suitable. Internet tests on gymnastic mats recommend a mat on which you lie comfortably and comfortably. Often a thickness of 1 to 2 cm is sufficient here. If the joints are to be spared a little more, you can also choose a mat with a thickness of 2 to 3 cm.
This is how thick a gymnastics mat should be: The classic gymnastics mat should be between 2 cm and 4 cm thick. Internet tests on such sports mats also confirm pleasant padding for sufficient dynamic movement sequences.