ROLL UP, ROLL UP

A crucial component of any home gym set-up, protect yourself and your floors with Men's Fitness' pick of the best exercise mats for 2023

- Lucy Miller

Unless you want to risk discomfort or injury, you can’t really carry out prone yoga poses or more dynamic plyometric exercises on a hard gym or home floor.

The best way to perfect your Pilates or hammer out your HIIT sessions in comfort and safety is with an exercise mat. Despite their relative simplicity, though, not all mats are made equal. They vary in dimensions, cushioning and thickness, as well as materials, grip, weight and portability, so it’s important to find one that suits your needs.

Mat matters

Grip: A good grip between your hands, feet or other contact points and the mat surface is key to performing exercises with confidence, and therefore with proper form. The last thing you need when stretching out your hip flexors is a knee or groin strain caused by slipping off the mat. Look for options with a non-slip or textured surface that let you plant your limbs with confidence.

Stability: Another important factor to consider, as a mat that moves beneath you is as likely to annoy, distract or even injure you as one with little grip on the top layer. Heavier rubber or cork mats tend to lie flat more easily without curling at the corners like lighter foam options. Look out for mats that tend to bunch up in the middle, too.

Comfort: There’s usually a trade-off between comfort and portability, as thicker, heavier mats are harder to roll up and carry. But don’t ignore the comfort factor, particularly if you plan to work out on hard surfaces. There should be enough cushioning to do crunches without hurting your spine, but not too much that you lose your balance holding one-legged yoga poses. The average mat tends to be about 4-8mm thick, though there are some exceptions.