:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwt-pilates-exercise-mats-apr-24-test-airex-190-jessica-christopher-09-cb26e5d1a1f84b53bfd5bb7290bed269.jpeg?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "We Discovered the Greatest Pilates Mats After 4,200+ Minutes of Planks, A whole bunch, & Extra")
When attending a Pilates class at a devoted studio, you’ll usually discover specialised tools like reformers or train balls. Nonetheless, when you’re seeking to follow at residence or in a health club, having not less than a primary mat is crucial to your exercise. Pilates may be very fluid, so the mats are thicker and extra slippery than yoga mats, permitting you to transition between workouts and repetitions simply, says licensed Pilates teacher Julie Erickson, CPI, CPT.
To seek out the very best Pilates mats, we spoke with licensed Pilates instructors to study extra about what key options to search for when looking for a high-quality possibility. Then, we spent over 4,200 minutes testing prime choices at residence, performing standing, mendacity, and kneeling Pilates strikes and stretches. We rated every possibility for grip, consolation, portability, sturdiness, and worth. We additionally had a yoga and Pilates teacher from our Overview Board evaluation this text for accuracy.
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Key Specs
Dimensions: 75 inches x 23 inches x 8 millimeters | Materials: Closed-cell foam | Weight: 3.1 kilos | Our General Score: 4.8/5
Who It’s For
Greatest for these seeking to improve their Pilates follow with a high-quality, well-cushioned Pilates mat.
Why We Love It
With Goldilocks-perfect cushioning and a non-slip grip on a number of surfaces, Airex’s Pilates 190 Mat was a shoo-in for our greatest total spot. Because of its stable cushioning and assist, we will simply transfer via our complete follow with out taking a break as a consequence of joint discomfort, which is frequent for us. We additionally love that this mat is massive sufficient for full-body workouts with out us having to reposition ourselves.
Throughout testing, we liked its regular grip as we flowed via Pilates workouts, together with cardio-driven sequences and static and dynamic actions. We by no means felt this mat transfer on the carpet, hardwood, or tile flooring, and we felt snug performing each slower- and faster-paced workouts. With a mild, comfortable ribbed texture, it offers glorious grip for our toes and fingers, even after they get sweaty. Plus, it’s grippy sufficient to assist completely different sock textures with out us sliding round. We additionally love that it’s a breeze to wipe clear with soapy water.
Potential Flaws
- As a result of this mat is so lengthy, it feels considerably cumbersome and tough to hold round. It’s light-weight and could be transported if wanted, however we want to make use of it in our residence exercise area.
Most Precious Perception
“This mat has enhanced my Pilates follow by offering a snug and supportive layer and safety from onerous flooring surfaces. I can transfer freely, doing full-body workouts while not having to reposition or pause to permit my joints to relaxation. I’m utterly targeted on train actions versus the tools I’m exercising with.” —Jessica Christopher, Verywell Match product tester
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Key Specs
Dimensions: 72 inches x 23 inches x 10 millimeters | Materials: Closed-cell foam | Weight: Not listed | Our General Score: 5/5
Who It’s For
Greatest for many who desire a supportive, grippy mat and/or have delicate pores and skin and wish an possibility made with out latex and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Why We Love It
Constituted of naturally sourced supplies, Balanced Physique’s EcoWise Mat is our prime choose for many who prioritize assist when trying to find the precise Pilates mat. With thick cushioning and a raised sample that gives superior grip, this mat strikes the right stability of stability and assist. Once we use this mat on our hardwood flooring and carpet, it stays utterly in place. Plus, it grips our socks and naked toes effectively, stopping us from slipping and sliding, even after we get sweaty throughout extra intense strikes.
We love that this mat is hypoallergenic, which makes us really feel snug touching it to our naked pores and skin with out worrying about any irritation. It’s tremendous simple to wash, and in contrast to another mats we’ve used prior to now, it doesn’t give off or maintain onto any odor. We wipe ours down with a disinfecting wipe after use and love that it dries extremely quick. We additionally love that it’s light-weight and simple to move and retailer.
Potential Flaws
- This Pilates mat didn’t utterly flatten after unboxing, and a crease stays even after a number of use. Nonetheless, this didn’t impression our Pilates follow; the crease simply doesn’t look the very best aesthetically.
Most Precious Perception
“This mat enhances my Pilates follow due to its elevated grip. I discover it extra secure and simpler to make use of than a thicker mat. I additionally love that it’s lengthy as a result of I can transfer round greater than I may with a smaller mat. I’d suggest this mat to others, particularly in the event that they’re searching for a pure possibility that received’t irritate their pores and skin.” —Danielle Auger, Verywell Match product tester
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Key Specs
Dimensions: 71 inches x 26 inches x 5 or 8 millimeters | Materials: Pure rubber | Weight: 1.2 kilos | Our General Score: 4.7/5
Who It’s For
Greatest for many who wish to spend money on a long-lasting, well-cushioned Pilates mat for a residence health club.
Why We Love It
In case you’re prepared to speculate in your house health club and know you wish to follow Pilates long-term, Bala’s The Play Mat must be on the prime of your listing. This mat is skinny however presents unimaginable cushioning. It grips completely on our hardwood flooring and jute rug, and offers comfortable assist, particularly to our hips when mendacity on our aspect and knees after we’re on all fours. Plus, we really feel secure and safe, by no means shedding our grip, even throughout sweatier exercises.
Sturdiness is the place this Pilates mat shines—we’ve used it for over a 12 months and haven’t seen any indicators of wear and tear and tear. It actually seems the identical because the day we acquired it. It doesn’t maintain onto any odor, and sweat marks are simple to wash with cleaning soap and water. We additionally love its aesthetically pleasing glossy design that curves on the prime. Plus, it is out there in two thickness choices, so you possibly can choose the correct quantity of cushioning to your wants.
Potential Flaws
- This mat is pricier than different mats on our listing. Nonetheless, we predict its high quality exceeds its worth.
- Whereas this mat isn’t essentially heavy, it’s a bit cumbersome to hold. To treatment this, we bought a mat strap to make transport simpler.
Most Precious Perception
“This mat is value its value, particularly due to its sturdiness. In case you’re keen to splurge up-front, figuring out you received’t have to exchange it, then I will surely suggest it. It’s snug, sleek-looking, well-designed, and long-lasting.” —Abby Moore, Verywell Match product tester
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Wonderful assist, particularly for the again and elbows
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Straightforward to hold with connected straps
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Price range-friendly
Key Specs
Dimensions: 70 inches x 22 inches x 10 millimeters | Materials: Closed-cell foam | Weight: 1.8 kilos | Our General Score: 4.8/5
Who It’s For
Greatest for many who are fascinated about attempting Pilates for the primary time or who’re desirous about making it an everyday a part of their health routine.
Why We Love It
The additional thickness and assist provided by Stott’s Pilates Categorical Pilates Mat make it our prime choose when you’re easing your approach into an everyday Pilates follow. Its glorious cushioning offered us with nice assist, which we significantly observed when performing strikes whereas mendacity on our again and when holding elbow plank poses.
We love that it presents top-notch grip, letting us circulate via our follow with out worrying about slipping or any mat motion, regardless if we apply it to hardwood flooring, tiles, or outdoor on concrete. We discovered this mat simple to roll up and transport, because of its connected straps.
Potential Flaws
- Once we used this mat outdoor, we discovered that it heated up rapidly in direct daylight. In case you plan on utilizing this mat outdoor, you might wish to stick with a shady space.
Most Precious Perception
“Consolation is the place this mat shines. My knees, elbows, and again really feel nice! My again, particularly, feels higher with this mat than some other mat I’ve ever used earlier than. Its thick cushioning lets my again sink in, and I really feel so supported and cozy. Its thick, tender texture helps assist my joints and bones, permitting for longevity in poses that require stress, like elbow planks.” —Samantha Aronson, manufacturing assistant and Verywell Match product tester
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Reminiscence foam-like cushioning that holds its form
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Stable grip on numerous surfaces, together with hardwood and carpet
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Offers glorious joint assist
Key Specs
Dimensions: 70 inches x 23 inches x 25 millimeters | Materials: Excessive-density foam, rubber | Weight: 3.2 kilos | Our General Score: 4.8/5
Who It’s For
Greatest for many who desire a excessive degree of cushioning and luxury throughout their Pilates follow.
Why We Love It
If you wish to really feel such as you’re training Pilates on a cloud, you’ll love HemingWeigh’s 1” Thick Yoga Mat. Its thick, reminiscence foam-like cushioning holds its form effectively and helps us really feel supported and cozy all through each transfer of our follow. And, as exercisers who are inclined to get sore hand and wrist joints, this mat helped us carry out strikes we beforehand felt discomfort doing when utilizing our thinner, much less supportive mats.
In contrast to another mats we’ve used, this one has glorious grip on all surfaces, together with carpet and hardwood flooring. We felt secure and safe, by no means slipping or sliding, even throughout intense, sweaty exercises. Its clean texture makes it simple to wash, and it doesn’t maintain onto any odors. Plus, it’s light-weight and simple to hold, because of its included strap.
Potential Flaws
- Though light-weight, as a consequence of its cushioning, it’s fairly thick when rolled up, which can make it tougher to retailer.
Most Precious Perception
“This mat may be very snug. The truth that it’s one inch thick may be very noticeable. It has a reminiscence foam really feel, which feels nice on my fragile joints. I like that I’m in a position to put extra stress on my joints due to this mat.” —Jacob Fox, Verywell Match product tester
Pilates Mats We Additionally Examined
We spent over 4,200 minutes testing prime Pilates mats, however solely 5 impressed us sufficient to make our ultimate listing of suggestions. Though we favored a few of this mat’s options, it finally didn’t meet our rigorous necessities to be chosen as a prime choose.
- Gaiam’s Necessities Health Mat presents a budget-friendly value and a fantastic grip on onerous flooring. Nonetheless, it felt inflexible and uncomfortable to make use of, and our fingers and toes slipped as we turned sweaty. Our nails scratched this mat’s floor simply, and it held indentations lengthy after our follow ended.
What We’ve Up to date
- Since publishing our preliminary research-based roundup of the very best Pilates mats, we’ve re-evaluated our earlier picks and spent over 4,200 minutes hands-on testing prime choices. That is now a totally examined article, solely offering our hands-on expertise with every advisable Pilates mat.
- We consulted a further knowledgeable, an authorized private coach and Pilates teacher, to make sure that our recommendation on selecting Pilates mats is correct and updated.
What to Search for When Searching for Pilates Mats
- Thickness: One of many foremost indicators of Pilates mats versus different train mats you may discover within the health club or at a yoga studio is thickness. This extra thickness offers joint assist for the backbone, knees, wrists, and extra. In case you are inclined to expertise joint ache, take into account a thicker possibility for added assist.
- Cushion: Some mats provide extra cushioning than others—some are softer and extra pliable, whereas others are thick and agency. The kind of Pilates mat you select can enhance the problem or present extra assist throughout sure workouts, says Erickson. Pilates teacher Laura Quinn, CPT, says that firmer mats present a secure, supportive floor superb for sustaining your stability throughout numerous Pilates workouts.
- Density and Materials: Density is commonly mistaken for thickness, however these are two separate elements to contemplate. A denser mat sometimes means it’s extra sturdy and can maintain as much as positions held for longer intervals with out leaving indentations within the mat. Mats manufactured from closed-cell or high-density foam are denser, higher high quality, and stand up to longer use.
- Floor Texture: The floor of Pilates mats tends to be clean or flippantly textured. This helps you glide and carry out strikes extra fluidly. In case you are inclined to get sweaty, you might wish to go for a flippantly textured possibility for added grip.
- Portability: In case you plan to take your mat on the go, you’ll need one which rolls up effectively, is light-weight, and comes with a strap for straightforward journey. Select a smaller, lighter mat when you plan on taking it with you usually. A heavier, bigger mat may match finest when you plan on utilizing it in your house exercise area.
How We Examined the Pilates Mats
To seek out the very best Pilates mats, we spent over 4,200 minutes testing prime choices at residence whereas performing numerous workouts and stretches. When testing Pilates mats, we consider every possibility primarily based on the next key standards.
- Grip: To guage for grip, we take into account whether or not the mat offers sufficient grip to maneuver via our follow comfortably. We attempt the mats on numerous surfaces, together with hardwood, tile, and carpet, and see whether or not their grip adjustments as soon as we begin to work up a sweat.
- Consolation: When contemplating consolation, we take into consideration whether or not the mat offers ample cushioning and assist throughout strikes that require sitting, mendacity down, standing, and kneeling. We additionally notice if we really feel any stress factors or discomfort when utilizing the mat.
- Portability: When assessing portability, we take into account how mild the mat is, how simply it rolls up, and whether or not it comes with a strap for straightforward journey. We additionally notice how simple it’s to retailer.
- Sturdiness: When taking a look at sturdiness, we ask ourselves if the mat exhibits any indicators of wear and tear and tear over time. Is it simple to wash and keep? Does it maintain onto any odors?
- Worth: We examine every mat’s value after we consider all different key standards to evaluate whether or not it’s value it. Do we predict it’s priced pretty? Would we solely purchase it on sale? We prioritize Pilates mats whose high quality exceeds their worth and that we’d suggest to family and friends.
Our Consultants
We consulted consultants at every stage of our analysis, testing, and reporting course of. The next consultants suggested us on what key options to search for when looking for a high-quality Pilates mat. Though we select merchandise independently, knowledgeable enter helps inform our choices.
- Julie Erickson, CPI, CPT, licensed Pilates teacher and authorized private coach at Pilates for Life
- Anne Bertram, MFA, CMA, CHHC, licensed motion analyst, licensed Pilates teacher, and director of Structural Parts LAB
- Laura Quinn, CPT, licensed private coach and head Pilates Teacher at Alo Strikes
Incessantly Requested Questions
How thick ought to a Pilates mat be?
Most Pilates mats are not less than a half-inch thick (12.5 millimeters) to assist your backbone and tailbone throughout the class. Nonetheless, some extra moveable ones are as skinny as 6 millimeters (about 0.2 inches).
Can I exploit a yoga mat for Pilates?
Pilates mats are typically clean as an alternative of textured, and their thickness is designed to assist your backbone throughout sure workouts. It’s possible you’ll discover that utilizing a skinny, grippy yoga mat makes some Pilates workouts tougher and even uncomfortable.
What measurement mat is finest for Pilates?
Pilates mats are typically round 24 inches by 72 inches. Nonetheless, there are bigger choices out there which will work higher for taller people and those that want to not reposition their mats for full-body workouts.
Why Belief Verywell Match
Amanda Berkey, M.Ed., is a Pennsylvania-based health teacher and health author for Verywell Match. She’s obsessed with discovering stability, whether or not performing lots of or attempting to nail the king pigeon pose. She believes there’s not way more motivating for an on-the-ground exercise than a beautiful, practical Pilates mat.
Further reporting by Sarah Anzlovar
Sarah Anzlovar, MS, RD is a non-public follow dietitian and author for Verywell Match. She enjoys Pilates courses and is aware of how necessary the right mat is for sustaining correct type and getting via essentially the most grueling exercises.