With so many choices, it can be seem daunting to choose the right gym flooring. There are so many details and nuances to each flooring option that finding the exact product for your home or recreational space can seem like a hassle.
Knowing a little bit about the basic characteristics of folding gymnastics mats will make the search much easier. Folding gymnastics mats seem to be listed in a complex code (V2, 18-oz vinyl, 2.5-inch, 5x10, polyethylene; the list goes one), but once all the labels make sense, it’ll be easy to find the perfect gym flooring for any area
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| comparing gymnastics mats |
Below is a guide to understand the different terminology and options for folding gym mats:
Comparing Folding Gymnastics Mats
4V vs. V2
(Connectors on 4 sides vs. 2 sides)
One of the main factors you need to decide on is having hook 'n loop connector strips on four sides of the mats, which is identified by ''4V,'' or hook 'n loop connectors on two sides of the mat, which is identified by ''V2.'' The desired layout of the gym mats will determine whether 4V or V2 gym mats are the right option.
4V has velcro on all four sides of the mat, which allows you to make connections from any side and create larger mat spaces for activities such as wrestling or martial arts. If the area where the mats are going to be used is wide and large, having velcro connectors on all four sides of the mats is the best option. V2 mats can be used for many different purposes, but because they only have connectors on two sides, they are best used for creating strips or runways of padding as opposed to completely filling a room. V2 mats are commonly used as wall padding for gyms and training areas.
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| foldable gym mat |
18 oz vs. 19 oz vinyl
One of the aspects you'll want to choose from is 18-ounce or 19-ounce vinyl for the cover of your mat. The purpose of the vinyl is that it protects the foam mat underneath and provides traction to athletes. This helps the mat both be a durable surface that also delivers cushion and softer landings to users.
If you are going to have a lot of friction and the potential for ripping, tearing, and wearing away the mat's covering, then you will probably want to choose the 19-ounce options. The 19-ounce vinyl will provide years of reliable use and will stand up to the continual abuse that is present with use day after day. However, the lighter 18-ounce option can still provide quality results to your gym.
1.5 vs. 2 vs. 2.5 inch thickness
The thickness of the mat will also matter. Thicker mats are advantageous as they provide more protection to athletes. However, as the mat gets thicker, it also gets heavier and bulkier to store, which makes many people choose the thinner option.
A 1.5 inch thick mats is lightweight enough while still providing adequate cushioning. It can be effective for kids' gymnastics and light workouts, and the lightness makes it better for temporary surfaces, such as gyms that host basketball as well as wrestling or judo.
2-inch thickness provides a well-balanced combination of strength and weight. The mat is also thick enough to cushion heavy adults during wrestling or jiu jitsu, but the mats are still lights enough to be moved around without much effort.
2.5-inch thickness provides the most cushion but can be heavy to move. This version also utilizes a combination of both closed and open celled foams. For used in a permanent space that requires plenty of padding on the floor, 2.5 inch thick mats are the best option.
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| gymnastics mats 10 feet |
4 vs. 5 vs. 6 foot width
Gym mats come in widths of four, five, or six feet to ensure that they can can exactly fill any space.
Four-foot mats are often the preferred choice if you simply need a narrow strip of padding. These mats are commonly used for activities such as fencing, but are also popular choices for uses at tumbling mats and gymnastics mats.
If you need a slightly larger strip of padding, or if you simply want to fill a larger room, you can choose five-foot widths as well. The five ft mats provide a large, quality surface with not being as difficult to handle as some mats of larger widths.
If an entire room is being permanently padded, six-foot mats are likely going to be the best choice. These will help you cover a large space quickly and allow you to get the large footage of padding you need. Six-foot widths are commonly chosen for covering walls as they provide head-to-toe protection for most athletes.
The Number of Panels
The overall length of the installation will be determined by the number of panels in the folding gymnastics mats. Most panels are two-feet wide, so the mats go up in overall length by increments of two. Mats typically come in the sizes of three panels (six feet), four panels (eight feet), five panels (10 feet) and six panels (12 feet).
Color Options
Gymnastics mats are available in a wide range of colors to match any existing color schemes. In most cases, the mats you select can come in blue, red, yellow, green, and many other colors. The mats can also be ordered in combinations and interchanging colors to add a design style to any installation.
One use for the different colors is organization. For a taekwondo class, different colored mats may help in spliting the class into two groups. You can use different floor coloring for different groups and send, as an example, students under 12 to the blue mats and students 12 and over to the red mats. The coloring of mats can also be used to mark boundaries of a competition space, such as wrestling boundaries or fencing strips.
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| folding gymnastic mats |
Polyethylene (Closed Cell) vs. Polyurethane (Open Cell) Foam Cores
There are two types of materials that are very popular for folding gymnastic mats. The first is polyethylene and the second is polyurethane. It’s important to understand the differences between the two materials to choose the right mats for any space.
Polyethylene is the most common type of foam available. It has a high-impact strength and can absorb a lot of energy without breaking. It can withstand high-impact use and is able to absorb a lot of kinetic energy without breaking or deforming. It is used in a cross-linked design, creating a closed-cell foam that is resistant to mildew and mold, as well as bacteria and rot. Polyethylene is commonly wrapped in vinyl to prevent the foam from being cut or gouged. It is a preferred material for cheerleading, gymnastics and wrestling.
Polyurethane foam provides better cushioning as it is an open-cell material. It has the consistency of a sponge or a loaf of bread, with air throughout the material to provide a softer landing. As this type of foam is very spongy it’s not the best choice for activities that include walking, running, or jumping. This form of foam is generally used in combination with the polyethylene foam in folding gymnastics mats that are 2.5 inches or thicker.
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| 4x8 gymnastics mat |
Choosing a Few of the Best Options
This 4x8 gym mat has four panels and velcro on all four sides. The layout makes it perfect for many different uses, including gymnastics and tumbling. This mats layout makes it a great choice for a wide array of uses including gymnastics and tumbling. It can be one of the most effective mats for filling a small space, and the 1.5-inch thickness makes this smaller mat perfect for temporary use, as it only weighs about 20 pounds.. These mats are light enough that even kids can handle them, making them a great choice for temporary padding of a gym floor.
If the space demands only the finest gym mats, this 5x10-foot foldable ma is the only way to go. It has two-inches of thickness, giving you plenty of padding and support, but the entire mat only weighs about 36 pounds, so most people can pick it up and fold it when needed. If the mat is too heavy for a single person to carry, it can easily be carried and layed out by two people. This is one of the most commonly used folding mats for judo or wrestling due to its thickness and connection versatility.
Available in 16 colors, this effective gym mat is perfect for flooring on many different surfaces. As this six panel mat is 12 ft in length, it can quickly and easily cover a large area. It has velcro on two sides, so it can be laid out side-to-side with other mats if needed. This is one of the longest gym mats available today, making it a perfect option for tumbling runs.
This 1.5 inch thick mat has a small profile, making it one of the lightest and most compact gym floor mats available. It comes in multiple colors and only weighs 18 pounds, so creating a padding surface and quickly removing the material is no problem at all. The mat comes in a wide range of colors, allowing for it to match the character and style of any space.
If heavier adults will be using the mat for higher impact activities, this folding gym mat will provide the cushion and safety needed. It has velcro on two sides so you can create long lengths of padding, and it has a total weight of only 26 pounds, making it manageable for many people. With a cross-linked PE layer topped with a PU layer in the core, it offers a much softer landing than any of the previous mentioned mats which strictly utilize the denser PE foam.
Great Mats Has Your Folding Gymnastics Mat
Greatmats' high-quality flooring will last for years of daily use.
When you need excellent gym floors, browse our selection of materials and you'll find everything you need for any home gym or recreational space!
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