If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best treadmill mat to protect home flooring is, then I’d recommend the BalanceFrom GoFit High Density Treadmill Exercise Bike Equipment Mat as the best one.
Treadmills aren’t quiet and still. They vibrate and can rough up your carpet or flooring regardless of workout intensity.
That’s where a mat comes in handy. It provides a protective layer, saving you from future headaches.
Below is a guide and reviews of five mats to help you find the best treadmill mat that can withstand the shock from your machine.
Here are the top treadmill mats we’ll be reviewing:
- XMark Fitness XMat Ultra Thick Equipment Mat
- BalanceFrom GoFit High Density Treadmill Exercise Bike Equipment Mat
- Stamina Fold-to-Fit Folding Equipment Mat
- Body-Solid Tools Treadmill Mat
- SuperMats Heavy Duty Equipment Mat
Treadmill Mats – Buyer’s Guide
As you’re on the hunt for the right treadmill mat, learning what you can about them can help you make the decision that will work best for your needs.
How Useful Are Treadmill Mats?
Although they do provide a cleaner look to your gym area, mats do serve a purpose beyond aesthetics:
- Stability: A durable mat can give your treadmill a more stable base. This might be more helpful if you have a treadmill that has too much vibration while in use.
- Noise Reduction: Since a treadmill mat can cut down on vibration, you may not hear the typical loudness of the machine rattling about while you exercise. A reduction in noise may benefit those in apartment dwellings or spaces where noise can be an issue.
- Floor Protection: With a mat covering your floor or carpet, you limit the risk of the machine scratching up the floor or pulling out carpet fibers. A high-quality treadmill mat can even withstand impact that can usually dent a floor.
Type of Material
The quality of a treadmill mat can determine just how well it will hold up to your exercises.
Because these mats can see so much abuse, it’s common to find them made out of proven tough material such as PVC.
It’s a material that’s known for its durability.
At the same time, you may find some mats constructed from recycled rubber material.
These types are more heavy duty and designed to last longer. You may even see these types of mats used more often in professional gyms.
Beyond that, it might be best to focus on aspects such as texture. A textured surface on top can help keep the machine in place.
Meanwhile, many mats are designed with a non-slip base so everything stays where it’s supposed to stay to prevent damages or injury.
Importance of Size
Treadmills are obviously not all made the same, so it would figure that mats aren’t either.
You want to be sure you have the right sized mat for the treadmill or it will do little to help. It’s almost standard though that mats can leave you with some extra space.
Another factor to consider is the thickness.
A common thickness on the lower end is about ¼ in.
If you find a mat thinner than that, then it may get too flimsy and lack any real support to absorb impact and vibration.
Others can scale up to ½ in thickness. These types of mats are usually made from rubber and offer a solid support foundation.
Of course, going any thicker runs the risk of a mat that can’t hold the treadmill steady.
Additional Factors to Consider
When you think of absorption as a quality in treadmill mats, you may only focus on the shock absorption aspect.
In fact, some mats are designed to actually absorb moisture.
It’s a given that you’re going to sweat during your workout, so a firm mat underneath that can handle it can make maintenance easier.
On the topic of maintenance, try to consider a mat that’s easy to manage. Some work better for carpets, boasting a material and color that won’t bleed through.
In addition, quality mats are easy and quick to wipe down so you can move on after your workout rather than spend too much time on cleaning.
Best Treadmill Mat – Top 5 Reviewed
XMark Fitness XMat Ultra Thick Equipment Mat
The XMark Fitness XMat Ultra Thick Equipment Mat is constructed from recycled rubber. This material improves its durability, limiting how often you have to replace it.
The dense mat does weigh around 75lbs though. So, it might be best to place it exactly where you want it as moving it may require help.
In spite of its heaviness, the material can help make the mat easier to maintain. Moisture is simple to get off so even if you sweat, a quick wipe down is all it takes to clean it up.
The rubber mat features a textured, non-slip surface. It comes flat out of the box and maintains its shape well enough so that you and your treadmill will stay in place.
Though reliable, the mat may not be ideal at completely absorbing noise. It does well in reducing vibration, however, for good stability overall.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Made from dense, heavy duty recycled rubber
- Stays flat and maintains its shape well
Cons
- May be too heavy for one person to move and place
- Could do better at absorbing sound
BalanceFrom GoFit High Density Treadmill Exercise Bike Equipment Mat
This Equipment Mat from BalanceFrom is the best treadmill mat for many users due largely because of its high quality not being sacrificed in spite of its affordability.
It’s 3×6.5ft, large enough to handle most treadmill while still giving you some breathing room.
The high density PVC material is not the thickest around, but it is just firm enough to keep your floors scuff and dent-free.
It also does a rather good job at absorbing vibration to keep the treadmill still as well as relatively quiet, a factor that may benefit apartment dwellers especially.
There are rigid patterns on both sides of the mat so that it’s anti-slip. Also, the material is intended to be easier to wipe clean with soap and water.
Cleaning it right away may be helpful as it can emit a powerful chemical smell. In addition, in some cases, it may absorb moisture too well and leave faint stains behind.
Pros
- Weight is good enough to keep it from unintentionally folding
- Provides a good amount of stiffness
- Good size that leaves extra room around the sides
Cons
- May emit a strong chemical smell
- Surface can absorb moisture and leave stains
Stamina Fold-to-Fit Folding Equipment Mat
Stamina Fold-to-Fit Folding Equipment Mat is a versatile mat that you can fold and cut in order to shape it as you see fit.
This feature may also personalize the mat more to your specific treadmill.
Alongside the personalization, the folding aspect can work out for storage purposes. If you plan on folding your treadmill when it is not in use, the mat can simply fold up as well.
This might help if you need to make some room in a small space.
To keep everything in place, the mat uses a grip texture that does a solid job.
However, the surface can still get slippery from sweat, so it may be in your best interest to ensure that it’s wiped down after each use.
The material is simple enough to clean with just soap and water.
Pros
- Good grip texture to prevent sliding
- Lessens the impact well enough to reduce noise
- Folds up well for storage if needed
Cons
- Folds prevent the mat from lying completely flat
- Top surface can get slippery from moisture
Body-Solid Tools Treadmill Mat
The Body-Solid Tools Treadmill Mat’s durable PVC construction makes it another frontrunner for the best treadmill mat title.
It weighs around 8lbs, so it does have a decent lightweight factor to it. This may allow you to place wherever you need it easier.
Its weight may play against it though as it can come across as too thin.
You may be better off using this mat on a hard surface rather than a carpet as it can better grip the hardwood rather than lay unevenly on carpet.
Nevertheless, the mat does balance off firmness and cushioning to provide a stable surface for your treadmill to rest on.
Though it arrives rolled up, it’s quick and easy to get everything, edges included, to lie flat on hard floors.
It isn’t prone to tearing up either or leaving residue and scratches on your floors.
Pros
- Good balance of cushion and firmness
- No issues with tearing on hardwood floors
- Edges and corners stay flat
Cons
- Gathers dust and lint so it requires frequent cleaning
- May be too thin for proper use over a carpet
SuperMats Heavy Duty Equipment Mat
SuperMats Heavy Duty Equipment Mat is an adequate size for most treadmills. In fact, it is designed to work with a number of different exercise machines.
It has a rough ¼ in thickness, which gives it just enough cushioning to protect the floor and still provide support.
This thickness can also work well at absorbing vibrations in order to prevent movement and cutting down on the noise.
With an even distribution of weight, you may get a sturdier, more secure workout on the treadmill.
Cleaning is not much of a hassle either.
Typically, moisture rests on top so you can just wipe it down.
However, the surface itself can still get a bit slick, more so with sweat, so you might want to take caution and wipe the mat down more frequently than usual.
Pros
- Does a good job at properly distributing weight from the machine
- Works well on both hard and carpeted flooring
- Quick to wipe down the mat for cleaning
Cons
- Requires a good deal of airing out to get rid of odor
- Top surface can get slick at times
Final Thoughts
Our reviews and buyer’s guide should teach you a bit more about these types of equipment mats, but as for the best treadmill mat out of the bunch, we’ve decided on the BalanceFrom GoFit High Density Treadmill Exercise Bike Equipment Mat.
The heavy duty PVC does great at keeping the mat together on various surfaces while also withstanding the movement from a treadmill.
It is a good size as well as you still should have some space around the sides even with larger treadmills.
BalanceFrom GoFit Mat doesn’t even leave behind any residue or dark marks on your flooring.
Best of all, even with the features, it’s still affordable with good longevity.
