When attending a Pilates class at a devoted studio, you’ll typically discover specialised gear like reformers or train balls. Nevertheless, in the event you’re seeking to follow at dwelling or in a fitness center, having a minimum of a primary mat is crucial on your exercise. Pilates may be very fluid, so the mats are thicker and extra slippery than yoga mats, permitting you to transition between workout routines and repetitions simply, says licensed Pilates teacher Julie Erickson, CPI, CPT.
To seek out the most effective 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 dwelling, 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 evaluate 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
Finest 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 strong cushioning and help, we are able to simply transfer via our complete follow with out taking a break on account of joint discomfort, which is widespread for us. We additionally love that this mat is giant sufficient for full-body workout routines with out us having to reposition ourselves.
Throughout testing, we liked its regular grip as we flowed via Pilates workout routines, 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 workout routines. With a mild, comfortable ribbed texture, it supplies glorious grip for our ft and palms, even once they get sweaty. Plus, it’s grippy sufficient to help 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 troublesome to hold round. It’s light-weight and may be transported if wanted, however we want to make use of it in our dwelling exercise area.
Most Useful Perception
“This mat has enhanced my Pilates follow by offering a cushty and supportive layer and safety from laborious flooring surfaces. I can transfer freely, doing full-body workout routines with no need to reposition or pause to permit my joints to relaxation. I’m fully centered on train actions versus the gear 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
Finest 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
Made out of naturally sourced supplies, Balanced Physique’s EcoWise Mat is our prime decide for many who prioritize help when looking for the correct Pilates mat. With thick cushioning and a raised sample that provides superior grip, this mat strikes the proper stability of stability and help. After we use this mat on our hardwood flooring and carpet, it stays fully in place. Plus, it grips our socks and naked ft nicely, stopping us from slipping and sliding, even once 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 straightforward to move and retailer.
Potential Flaws
- This Pilates mat didn’t fully flatten after unboxing, and a crease stays even after numerous use. Nevertheless, this didn’t influence our Pilates follow; the crease simply doesn’t look the most effective aesthetically.
Most Useful Perception
“This mat enhances my Pilates follow due to its elevated grip. I discover it extra steady 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 advocate this mat to others, particularly in the event that they’re in search of a pure possibility that gained’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
Finest for many who wish to spend money on a long-lasting, well-cushioned Pilates mat for a dwelling fitness center.
Why We Love It
If you happen to’re prepared to speculate in your house fitness center and know you wish to follow Pilates long-term, Bala’s The Play Mat ought to be on the prime of your checklist. This mat is skinny however gives unimaginable cushioning. It grips completely on our hardwood flooring and jute rug, and supplies comfortable help, particularly to our hips when mendacity on our aspect and knees once we’re on all fours. Plus, we really feel steady and safe, by no means dropping our grip, even throughout sweatier exercises.
Sturdiness is the place this Pilates mat shines—we have now used it for over a 12 months and haven’t seen any indicators of wear and tear and tear. It really 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 smooth design that curves on the prime. Plus, it is accessible in two thickness choices, so you may choose the correct amount of cushioning on your wants.
Potential Flaws
- This mat is pricier than different mats on our checklist. Nevertheless, 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 Useful Perception
“This mat is price its price, particularly due to its sturdiness. If you happen to’re prepared to splurge up-front, figuring out you gained’t have to interchange it, then I would definitely advocate it. It’s snug, sleek-looking, well-designed, and long-lasting.” —Abby Moore, Verywell Match product tester
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Glorious help, particularly for the again and elbows
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Simple to hold with hooked up 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
Finest for many who are inquisitive about attempting Pilates for the primary time or who’re fascinated with making it an everyday a part of their health routine.
Why We Love It
The additional thickness and help supplied by Stott’s Pilates Categorical Pilates Mat make it our prime decide in the event you’re easing your method into an everyday Pilates follow. Its glorious cushioning offered us with nice help, which we significantly observed when performing strikes whereas mendacity on our again and when holding elbow plank poses.
We love that it gives 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 outside on concrete. We discovered this mat simple to roll up and transport, due to its hooked up straps.
Potential Flaws
- After we used this mat outside, we discovered that it heated up shortly in direct daylight. If you happen to plan on utilizing this mat outside, you might wish to persist with a shady space.
Most Useful 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 every other mat I’ve ever used earlier than. Its thick cushioning lets my again sink in, and I really feel so supported and comfy. Its thick, mushy texture helps help 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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Strong grip on numerous surfaces, together with hardwood and carpet
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Supplies glorious joint help
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
Finest 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 nicely and helps us really feel supported and comfy all through each transfer of our follow. And, as exercisers who are likely 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.
Not like another mats we’ve used, this one has glorious grip on all surfaces, together with carpet and hardwood flooring. We felt protected and safe, by no means slipping or sliding, even throughout intense, sweaty exercises. Its easy texture makes it simple to wash, and it doesn’t maintain onto any odors. Plus, it’s light-weight and simple to hold, due to its included strap.
Potential Flaws
- Though light-weight, on account of its cushioning, it’s fairly thick when rolled up, which can make it more difficult to retailer.
Most Useful 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 capable of 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 last checklist of suggestions. Though we appreciated a few of this mat’s options, it finally didn’t meet our rigorous necessities to be chosen as a prime decide.
- Gaiam’s Necessities Health Mat gives a budget-friendly worth and an awesome grip on laborious flooring. Nevertheless, it felt inflexible and uncomfortable to make use of, and our palms and ft 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 most effective 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 really useful Pilates mat.
- We consulted a further knowledgeable, a licensed 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 essential indicators of Pilates mats versus different train mats you would possibly discover within the fitness center or at a yoga studio is thickness. This extra thickness supplies joint help for the backbone, knees, wrists, and extra. If you happen to are likely to expertise joint ache, take into account a thicker possibility for extra help.
- Cushion: Some mats supply extra cushioning than others—some are softer and extra pliable, whereas others are thick and agency. The kind of Pilates mat you select can improve the problem or present extra help throughout sure workout routines, says Erickson. Pilates teacher Laura Quinn, CPT, says that firmer mats present a steady, supportive floor best for sustaining your stability throughout numerous Pilates workout routines.
- Density and Materials: Density is commonly mistaken for thickness, however these are two separate elements to think about. 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 fabricated from closed-cell or high-density foam are denser, higher high quality, and face up to longer use.
- Floor Texture: The floor of Pilates mats tends to be easy or calmly textured. This helps you glide and carry out strikes extra fluidly. If you happen to are likely to get sweaty, you might wish to go for a calmly textured possibility for extra grip.
- Portability: If you happen to plan to take your mat on the go, you’ll need one which rolls up nicely, is light-weight, and comes with a strap for simple journey. Select a smaller, lighter mat in the event you plan on taking it with you typically. A heavier, bigger mat may fit finest in the event you plan on utilizing it in your house exercise area.
How We Examined the Pilates Mats
To seek out the most effective Pilates mats, we spent over 4,200 minutes testing prime choices at dwelling whereas performing numerous workout routines and stretches. When testing Pilates mats, we consider every possibility based mostly on the next key standards.
- Grip: To guage for grip, we take into account whether or not the mat supplies 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 modifications as soon as we begin to work up a sweat.
- Consolation: When contemplating consolation, we take into consideration whether or not the mat supplies sufficient cushioning and help throughout strikes that require sitting, mendacity down, standing, and kneeling. We additionally be aware 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 simple journey. We additionally be aware 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 preserve? Does it maintain onto any odors?
- Worth: We verify every mat’s worth after we consider all different key standards to evaluate whether or not it’s price 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 advocate to family and friends.
Our Specialists
We consulted specialists at every stage of our analysis, testing, and reporting course of. The next specialists 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 licensed 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
Steadily Requested Questions
How thick ought to a Pilates mat be?
Most Pilates mats are a minimum of a half-inch thick (12.5 millimeters) to help your backbone and tailbone through the class. Nevertheless, some extra transportable ones are as skinny as 6 millimeters (about 0.2 inches).
Can I exploit a yoga mat for Pilates?
Pilates mats are typically easy as an alternative of textured, and their thickness is designed to help your backbone throughout sure workout routines. You might discover that utilizing a skinny, grippy yoga mat makes some Pilates workout routines tougher and even uncomfortable.
What measurement mat is finest for Pilates?
Pilates mats are typically round 24 inches by 72 inches. Nevertheless, there are bigger choices accessible which will work higher for taller people and those that want to not reposition their mats for full-body workout routines.
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 far more motivating for an on-the-ground exercise than a stunning, useful Pilates mat.
Further reporting by Sarah Anzlovar
Sarah Anzlovar, MS, RD is a personal follow dietitian and author for Verywell Match. She enjoys Pilates lessons and is aware of how essential the proper mat is for sustaining correct type and getting via probably the most grueling exercises.
Each authors regarded over our testing insights from our lab to decide on our prime picks.
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