Finding high-quality mats for gymnastics is crucial for training and practice. However, how does one go about selecting the proper mat? There are certainly a lot of things you want to know, and you don’t know where to look for the answers.
Don’t freak out! Whether you’re a parent looking to buy a mat for your child’s first gymnastics class or a seasoned pro looking to share your knowledge with others, here are some insights that may be useful to you.
Gymnastic mats come in various styles and materials to accommodate multiple activities. So, consider factors like whether they need to prevent injury from a fall merely or whether you’ll use them for dynamic movements like tumbling while doing your thing.
Making the best choice out of the available options might be difficult. So, this article will discuss how to pick the right mat for your needs. Cost-effective and high-end gymnastic mats are both available, and therefore, it’s important to get the correct mat for your gymnastics training.
Mats for Tumbling (High-Density Foam)
These are the most popular and adaptable gymnastic mats ever created! These mats are filled with high-density foam and have a wear-resistant vinyl outer layer, making them suitable for tumbling practices where the fall elevation is less than 1.5 m.
High-density foam is not only stiff to the touch but also provides some “spring” when high-energy tumbling moves like cartwheels and handsprings are performed on it. Meanwhile, the most popular types of foams are EXP, EPE, and EVA, and their densities typically fall between 28 and 33 kg/m3. These mats come in various configurations, including a one-piece option and a folding design that makes them more convenient to store.
Crash Mats with Sponge Foam Filling
These protective surfaces, also known as landing mats, have a minimum thickness of about 10 cm and are installed in areas where a fall could cause injury. The foam density typically decreases with increasing foam depth to account for higher fall heights. For instance, a crash mat that is 20 cm thick might have a sponge foam density of 25 kg/m3. On the other hand, a crash mat that is 40 cm thick is typically decreased to 18 kg/m3 to provide a softer landing when a greater fall height is potentially involved.
Acrobatics, gymnastics, cheerleading, rock climbing, and other sports and activities where safety must be prioritised make extensive use of crash mats. As such, they come either as a single, unfolded mat or as a set of mats that may be joined together using the velcro fasteners included with each set.
Flexi Roll Mats
Flexi roll matting is frequently the material of choice when it comes to covering big surface areas. It has a cover that is either carpeted or made of vinyl, and it is constructed out of EPE foam with a high density. Gymnastics, acrobatics, dancing, and cheerleading are best practised on the carpet, whereas martial arts are better suited to vinyl flooring. Meanwhile, the lengths and widths of carpeted Flexi rolls are customisable.
The most commonly purchased widths are 1.83 m and 1.52 m, and the most frequently purchased lengths are 12 m. Depending on your needs, you can attach them side by side or end to end using velcro joining tape. Besides, Vinyl Flexi roll mats may be attached using joining tape and have a rough surface to prevent slipping. You can include this feature in the mat for a more permanent solution.
Do a happy cartwheel because you are now an expert! If you are a gymnast, wrestler, cheerleader, or martial arts fanatic, you now have the information you need to make an educated choice about the type of gymnastic mat you need.
