If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best folding exercise mat for core workouts are, then I’d recommend the BestMassage 4-Panel Gymnastic Tumbling Mat as the best one.
Training your core has a lot of benefits, but it can be difficult and distracting to workout on a hard surface.
Exercise mats can be an effective way to cushion your joints and keep your body from absorbing so much impact while exercising on hard surfaces.
If you want to make sure that you’re able to focus and make your core workouts as efficient as possible, then you may want to try a folding exercise mat.
However, these products aren’t all made the same.
So, choosing the best folding exercise mat for core workouts will depend on a few different variables.
Here are the top folding exercise mats we’ll be reviewing:
- ProsourceFit Tri-Fold Exercise Mat with Carrying Handles
- We Sell Mats Folding Exercise Gym Mats
- BalanceFrom Tri-Fold Folding Exercise Mat with Carrying Handles
- BestMassage 4-Panel Gymnastic Tumbling Mat
- Everlast Folding Mat
How to Choose the Best Folding Exercise Mat?
When deciding on an exercise mat you’ll probably want to make sure that it’s well-made and convenient to use.
However, there are a few other aspects that you may want to focus on as well.
Here are some factors to consider when you want to choose the best folding exercise mat for your needs.
Budget
Exercise mats come in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials and price ranges.
If you’re on a tight budget then you can find quality folding exercise mats for less than $30.
The higher-quality mats that offer more features may cost over $50.
Size and Shape
Depending on what you’re planning to use an exercise mat for, you may want to look at the dimensions and thickness.
Some mats are rectangular and long, which are great for doing planks or practicing cartwheels.
While other mats are more rectangular and cover a greater surface area, which can make them more suitable for practicing gymnastics, wrestling, and martial arts.
Sections
The best folding exercise mats will have the option of adding sections by attaching them to Velcro.
Some mats don’t have this capability, so if you get a smaller mat you won’t be able to add any surface area without surrounding mats slipping and sliding.
Folding exercise mats can be made of multiple sections generally ranging from 2, 3 and 4 panels.
The number of sections will dictate how large the mat is when it’s folded and unfolded.
This will impact where you can store the mat, how easy it is to carry, and how much space it will take up when expanded.
What are the Benefits of the Best Folding Exercise Mat?
The best folding exercise mats are convenient, easy to use and store, and portable.
They’re specifically made to make your workouts safer and more comfortable, especially when you’re laying on the floor for extended periods of time working on your core strength and stability.
While folding exercise mats have many uses such as providing cushioning for gymnastics practice, wrestling, and martial arts, they’re particularly effective for giving you a supportive surface for core workouts.
They can add cushion to protect your knees, wrists, elbows, neck, and back while indoors or outdoors.
Folding exercise mats should be easily portable, simple to store, and convenient to transport so that you can use them anywhere, whether it be at home on a hardwood floor or out at a public park.
Things to Look for that Differentiate Folding Exercise Mats
Since all folding exercise mats are not created equal, there may be a few things that you’ll want to look for when choosing the best folding exercise mat for core workouts.
Handles
Most folding exercise mats have carrying handles attached.
They add convenience in that they make it a lot easier to transport them, and to pull them in and out of wherever they’re being stored.
The best folding exercise mats will have handles that are securely stitched onto the outer mats for secure and easy portability.
Material
Foldable exercise mats are often made of EPE foam and covered with less absorbent material.
EPE foam is soft and resilient which makes it easy for people to train on all surfaces while providing strong support and keeping you comfortable.
The outer shell is usually made from vinyl or another type of smooth, durable material that’s easy to wipe clean in order to maintain a hygienic surface that won’t hold onto odors or bacteria.
Thickness
How thick you’d like for your mat to be will probably depend on the activity that you’re using it for, and your personal preference.
For a lot of people, a thicker mat will provide extra cushioning while they’re working out on the floor.
However, some people who have less sensitive and more conditioned joints may not mind a thinner surface and need less cushion.
Mats generally range from 1.5in to 2in in thickness.
Velcro
Some mats come with velcro on all sides, which can give you the ability to change the shape and size of the mat area at will.
This is a convenient feature that allows you to use a foldable exercise mat in various locations without worrying about having too little or too much space.
Plus, it can be convenient in making your mat surface area large enough to accommodate more people if necessary.
You can also change the shape of your mat using the velcro attachments. Different activities may require a different shape.
For instance, if you’re doing an exercise where your body is sprawled out it may help to have more of a square shape.
Whereas, if you’re doing a stationary plank then a long and narrow surface area may be sufficient.
Weight
While folding exercise mats are made to be portable and convenient, some can be a bit heavier than others.
Some are extra light-weight and may only be a little over a pound, while others can weigh up to about 10lbs.
The Best Folding Exercise Mats Reviewed
ProsourceFit Tri-Fold Exercise Mat with Carrying Handles
The ProsourceFit Tri-Fold Exercise Mat is available in 4 colors. You can choose from black, blue, grey and pink.
It’s a thickly cushioned mat that’s made of dense EPE foam.
The interior foam is thick and resilient, which allows it to keep its shape for a longer period of time and extends its usability.
The outer shell of the ProsourceFit folding exercise mat is made of vinyl, which makes it water-resistant and more durable.
The vinyl cover should make the surface resistant to tearing and stretching. Plus, it makes it easy to clean the mat.
You can simply use soap and water to wipe it clean.
Made to be convenient and easy to carry, the ProsourceFit folding exercise mat has 2 handles attached.
There are 3 sections that fold up, giving it a tri-fold design. The dimensions of the unfolded mat are 6ft by 2ft with a 1.5in thickness.
Pros
- no odors from the material
- excellent customer service, respond quickly and will replace the product if any defects
- foam is thick and strong
- easy to carry with handles and lightweight
Cons
- may stick to you if you sweat
- material isn’t tight so it moves independently of the foam interior
- might be too slippery to practice gymnastics
- mat is hard
We Sell Mats Folding Exercise Gym Mats
We Sell Mats Folding Exercise Gym Mats offers a range of folding exercise mats in a variety of colors and sizes.
You can choose from multi-colored, solid color, or a 2-colored double section mat. All of the mats are 2in thick.
You can also pick from the following sizes:
- 2ft by 6ft
- 4ft by 8ft
- 4ft by 10ft
You can choose the number of sections you’d like, either 2 folding sections or 4.
There is velcro on all sides of each section which makes it easier to attach the mats in order to make the surface area bigger.
This allows you to customize your mats into a long run for tumbling, or a more rectangular area.
With the addition of handles on each mat, the We Sell Mats folding exercise mat is very portable and easy to carry.
These mats are made from polyethylene foam and covered in a safe, non-toxic, and lead-free ECO vinyl material.
Pros
- great for kids to practice cheerleading moves and gymnastics
- can buy multiple mats and connect them for an even bigger cushioned surface
- the 2in thickness is really comfortable for exercising
- heavyweight, and durable cover
Cons
- velcro can stick to carpet or clothes
- might be a bit stiff and hard at first and cause sore elbows/knees
- doesn’t fold up tightly
BalanceFrom Tri-Fold Folding Exercise Mat with Carrying Handles
The BalanceFrom Tri-Fold exercise mat is available in 4 colors: black, blue, purple and pink. It’s 6ft by 2ft and 2in thick.
This product is also made from EPE foam. It’s high-density and very cushioned to give your joints the most protection.
Its outer cover is made from puncture-resistant and non-absorbent vinyl which makes it easy to clean and prevents it from holding odors.
Since it’s resistant to moisture you can wash these mats with soap and water to extend their use.
They’re lightweight and feature carrying handles to make them easy to transport.
They have a 3-panel design, with the handles being on the outer sections.
This feature helps to keep the mats together, which makes them easier to carry.
The folded dimensions are 2ft by 2ft, with a 6in thickness.
And the unfolded dimensions are 6ft long by 2ft wide, with a thickness of 2in.
BalanceFrom also offers a 2-year warranty in case something goes wrong with your mat.
Pros
- padding is great with plenty of cushion and won’t make you sore
- much lighter than expected, easy to carry
- soft and spacious
Cons
- may not be durable, might tear or rip within a few weeks of use
- not made very well
- seams aren’t strong
BestMassage 4-Panel Gymnastic Tumbling Mat
The BestMassage 4-Panel Gymnastic Tumbling Mat has 3 color options, which include multi-colored, black and burgundy.
They’re 2in thick and feature velcro strips on each side, which allows for the addition of other mats to be connected in case you want to do tumbling exercises.
These mats are heavier than the other folding mats mentioned on this list, however, they also have 4 panels which add to the total weight.
They come with a strong tote bag, which makes carrying easier.
They’re made from high-density EPE material and have an outer cover made from PU leather.
This is a nice feature because you can quickly wipe the mats down with soap and water to get rid of bacteria and prevent odors.
You can use these mats for indoor or outdoor sports, as well as camping. They’re larger than the other mats listed, measuring 4ft by 8ft.
This provides you with about 32 square feet of surface area which should be big enough to accommodate most people in a variety of activities.
Another aspect of this product that adds to the quality is the sewing along the edges, which contributes to the overall durability and aesthetic.
Pros
- feel professional grade
- foam is solid but bouncy
- high-quality and reasonably priced
- velcro attachment seam is very strong and the mats stay in place
Cons
- the gap between panels might be a little too wide
- not as firm as a traditional wrestling mat
- dimensions may be a little off, could be smaller than 8ft by 4ft
Everlast Folding Mat
The Everlast Folding mat is made with a non-absorbent outer covering, and the handles are sewn on to make transportation easier.
This is a 2-panel mat that folds in half, which makes it easy to carry and to store.
It’s simple to clean, thanks to the non-absorbent outer shell. You can just wipe it down with soap and water to remove dirt and disinfect it after use.
This mat is 6ft by 2ft and is 1 ⅝in thick. The interior is composed of bonded foam which adds to the softness and comfort provided by this mat. It’s also about 8.85lbs in weight.
Pros
- can reduce impact while jumping or doing plyometric exercises
- easy to keep clean and doesn’t retain odors, even kept outside
- exterior shell seems thick and durable, very comfortable
Cons
- not firm enough for push-ups
- slides on the floor (carpet and hardwood)
Conclusion
Our pick for the best folding exercise mat for core workouts is the BestMassage 4-Panel Gymnastic Tumbling Mat.
It’s soft and cushioned, which will help to protect your joints whether you’re doing sit-ups or planks.
Plus it’s made of EPE, high-density, resilient foam which holds shape well.
In addition to the durable interior, these mats are covered in synthetic leather which will also withstand a lot of wear and tear and adds to their durability.
They feature 4 panels and give you the most space while also including velcro around the edges in case you want to extend the surface area by adding more mats.
The carrying handles and velcro around the edges, to hold the mats together while folded, makes this one of the easiest and most convenient mats to carry.
As far as quality and versatility, this is one of the best folding exercise mats available to make your core workouts more effective.
