When attending a Pilates class at a devoted studio, you’ll usually discover specialised gear like reformers or train balls. Nonetheless, in case you’re seeking to follow at dwelling or in a fitness center, having at the least a fundamental mat is crucial in your exercise. Pilates could 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 search 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 choice. Then, we spent over 4,200 minutes testing prime choices at dwelling, performing standing, mendacity, and kneeling Pilates strikes and stretches. We rated every choice for grip, consolation, portability, sturdiness, and worth. We additionally had a yoga and Pilates teacher from our Evaluate Board assessment 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 Total Ranking: 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 are able to simply transfer via our complete follow with out taking a break attributable to joint discomfort, which is widespread for us. We additionally love that this mat is massive sufficient for full-body workouts with out us having to reposition ourselves.Â
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, cozy ribbed texture, it gives wonderful grip for our ft and arms, 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 troublesome to hold round. Nonetheless, it’s light-weight and may be transported if wanted, however we want to make use of it in our dwelling exercise house.
Most Worthwhile Perception
“This mat has enhanced my Pilates follow by offering a cushty 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 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 Total Ranking: 5/5
Who It’s For
Greatest for individuals who desire a supportive, grippy mat and/or have delicate pores and skin and want an choice made with out latex and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Why We Love It
Produced from naturally sourced supplies, Balanced Physique’s EcoWise Mat is our prime decide for individuals who prioritize assist when looking for the suitable Pilates mat. With thick cushioning and a raised sample that gives superior grip, this mat strikes the proper steadiness of stability and assist. After we use this mat on our hardwood flooring and carpet, it stays utterly in place. Plus, it grips our socks and naked ft properly, 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 straightforward to scrub, 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.Â
Potential Flaws
- This Pilates mat didn’t utterly flatten after unboxing, and a crease stays even after a lot of use. Nonetheless, this didn’t impression our Pilates follow; the crease simply doesn’t look the most effective aesthetically.
Most Worthwhile 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 might with a smaller mat. I’d suggest this mat to others, particularly in the event that they’re searching for a pure choice that gained’t irritate their pores and skin.” —Danielle Auger, Verywell Match product tester
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Key Specs
Dimensions: 71 inches x 23 inches x 5 or 8 millimeters | Materials: Pure rubber | Weight: 1.2 kilos | Our Total Ranking: 4.7/5
Who It’s For
Greatest for individuals who need to put money into a long-lasting, well-cushioned Pilates mat for a dwelling fitness center.
Why We Love It
In the event you’re prepared to take a position in your house fitness center and know you need to follow Pilates long-term, Bala’s The Play Mat must be on the prime of your checklist. This mat is skinny however provides unbelievable cushioning. It grips completely on our hardwood flooring and jute rug, and gives cozy assist, particularly to our hips when mendacity on our facet 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.Â
Sturdiness is the place this Pilates mat shines—we’ve got used it for over a 12 months and haven’t seen any indicators of damage and tear. It actually seems the identical because the day we obtained it. It doesn’t maintain onto any odor, and sweat marks are straightforward to scrub with cleaning soap and water. We additionally love its aesthetically pleasing glossy design that curves on the prime. Plus, it is accessible in two thickness choices, so you possibly can choose the correct quantity of cushioning in your wants.
Potential Flaws
- This mat is pricier than different mats on our checklist. Nonetheless, we expect 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.Â
Most Worthwhile Perception
“This mat is value its value, particularly due to its sturdiness. In the event you’re prepared to splurge up-front, figuring out you gained’t have to interchange it, then I would definitely suggest it. It’s snug, glossy trying, well-designed, and long-lasting.” —Abby Moore, Verywell Match product tester
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Glorious assist, particularly for the again and elbows
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Straightforward to hold with hooked up straps
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Finances-friendly
Key Specs
Dimensions: 70 inches x 22 inches x 10 millimeters | Materials: Closed-cell foam | Weight: 1.8 kilos | Our Total Ranking: 4.8/5Â
Who It’s For
Greatest for individuals who are taken with attempting Pilates for the primary time or who’re desirous about making it a daily a part of their health routine.
Why We Love It
The additional thickness and assist supplied by Stott’s Pilates Specific Pilates Mat make it our prime decide in case you’re easing your approach into a daily Pilates follow. Its wonderful cushioning supplied us with nice assist, which we notably seen when performing strikes whereas mendacity on our again and when holding elbow plank poses.Â
We love that it provides top-notch grip, letting us movement via our follow with out worrying about slipping or any mat motion, regardless if we apply it to hardwood flooring, tiles, or open air on concrete. We discovered this mat straightforward to roll up and transport, because of its hooked up straps.Â
Potential Flaws
- After we used this mat open air, we discovered that it heated up shortly in direct daylight. In the event you plan on utilizing this mat open air, you could need to keep on with a shady space.
Most Worthwhile Perception
“Consolation is the place this mat shines. My knees, elbows, and again really feel nice! My again, specifically, 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, tender texture helps assist my joints and bones, permitting for longevity in poses that require strain, like elbow planks.” —Samantha Aronson, commerce manufacturing assistant and Verywell Match product tester
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Reminiscence foam-like cushioning that holds its form
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Glorious grip on numerous surfaces, together with hardwood and carpet
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Offers wonderful joint assist
Key Specs
Dimensions: 70 inches x 23 inches x 25 millimeters | Materials: Excessive-density foam, rubber | Weight: 3.2 kilos | Our Total Ranking: 4.8/5Â
Who It’s For
Greatest for individuals 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 working towards Pilates on a cloud, you’ll love HemingWeigh’s 1” Thick Yoga Mat. Its thick, reminiscence foam-like cushioning holds its form properly 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 wonderful 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 straightforward to scrub, and it doesn’t maintain onto any odors. Plus, it’s light-weight and straightforward to hold, because of its included strap.Â
Potential Flaws
- Though light-weight, attributable to its cushioning, it’s fairly thick when rolled up, which can make it tougher to retailer.Â
Most Worthwhile Perception
“This mat could be very snug. The truth that it’s 1-inch thick could 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 strain 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 preferred a few of this mat’s options, it finally didn’t meet our rigorous testing necessities to be chosen as a prime decide.
- Gaiam’s Necessities Health Mat provides a budget-friendly worth and an excellent grip on onerous flooring. Nonetheless, it felt inflexible and uncomfortable to make use of, and our arms 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 absolutely examined article, solely offering our hands-on expertise with every advisable Pilates mat.
- We consulted an extra professional, an authorized private coach and Pilates teacher, to make sure that our recommendation on selecting Pilates mats is correct and updated.Â
What to Search for When Searching for Pilates MatsÂ
- Thickness: One of many predominant indicators of Pilates mats versus different train mats you would possibly discover within the fitness center or at a yoga studio is their thickness. This extra thickness gives joint assist for the backbone, knees, wrists, and extra. In the event you are likely to expertise joint ache, take into account a thicker choice for added assist.
- 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 assist throughout sure workouts, says Erikson. Pilates teacher Laura Quinn, CPT, says that firmer mats present a secure, supportive floor preferrred for sustaining your steadiness throughout numerous Pilates workouts.Â
- Density and Materials: Density is commonly mistaken for thickness, however these are two separate components to contemplate. A denser mat sometimes means it’s extra sturdy and can maintain as much as positions held for longer durations with out leaving indentations within the mat. Mats made 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 calmly textured. This helps you glide and carry out strikes extra fluidly. In the event you are likely to get sweaty, you could need to go for a calmly textured choice for added grip.
- Portability: In the event you plan to take your mat on the go, you’ll need one which rolls up properly, is light-weight, and comes with a strap for simple journey. Select a smaller, lighter mat in case you plan on taking it with you usually. A Heavier, bigger mat may go greatest in case you plan on utilizing it in your house exercise house.
How We Examined the Pilates Mats
To search out the most effective Pilates mats, we spent over 4,200 minutes testing prime choices at dwelling whereas performing numerous workouts and stretches. When testing Pilates mats, we consider every choice based mostly on the next key standards.
- Grip: To judge for grip, we take into account whether or not the mat gives sufficient grip to maneuver via our follow comfortably. We attempt the mats on numerous surfaces, together with hardwood, tile, and carpet, and spot 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 gives ample cushioning and assist throughout strikes that require sitting, mendacity down, standing, and kneeling. We additionally notice if we really feel any strain 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 notice how straightforward it’s to retailer.Â
- Sturdiness: When sturdiness, we ask ourselves if the mat exhibits any indicators of damage and tear over time. Is it straightforward to scrub and preserve? Does it maintain onto any odors?
- Worth: We examine every mat’s worth after we consider all different key standards to evaluate whether or not it’s value it. Do we expect 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.Â
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, professional enter helps inform our selections.Â
- Julie Erikson, 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 Components LAB
- Laura Quinn, CPT, licensed private coach and head Pilates Teacher at Alo Strikes
Regularly Requested Questions
How thick ought to a Pilates mat be?
Most Pilates mats are at the least a half-inch thick to assist your backbone and tailbone in the course of the class. Nonetheless, 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 usually clean as a substitute of textured, and their thickness is designed to assist your backbone throughout sure workouts. It’s possible you’ll discover that utilizing a grippy yoga mat makes some Pilates workouts tougher and even uncomfortable.
What measurement mat is greatest for Pilates?
Pilates mats are usually round 24 inches by 72 inches. Nonetheless, there are bigger choices accessible which will work higher for taller people and people who 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. She’s captivated with discovering steadiness, whether or not performing tons 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.Â
Extra reporting by Sarah Anzlovar
Sarah Anzlovar, MS, RD is a non-public follow dietitian who works as a contract author, recipe developer, meals photographer, and model guide. She enjoys Pilates courses and is aware of how vital the proper mat is for sustaining correct kind and getting via probably the most grueling exercises.