Friday, August 10, 2018

Recycled vs. Virgin and Plyometric Rubber Gym Flooring

There are many different materials that are now being used to make gym floor mats, including plastics and rubbers. Every flooring material has its own unique advantages and best use cases.

You can find recycled rubber gym mats, which provide environmental benefits while delivering quality performance, or you can find virgin rubber, which is often more durable and visually appealing. Plyometric rubber mats are another variety of rubber mats that are designed specifically for jumping and lunging exercises.
recycled vs. virgin rubber
recycled vs. virgin rubber



Learn below about the advantages of recycled, virgin, and plyometric rubber.

Comparing Rubber Gym Flooring Materials

Recycled Rubber Flooring

Why Recycled Rubber?
The vast majority of rubber material is used to manufacture tires. So recycled rubber mats and other recycled rubber flooring is made from old tires.

There are many advantages to choosing recycled material over mats made from virgin rubber.

Price: First of all, it can be much more affordable than most other rubbers. One of the main benefits of recycled rubber is that it is often far less natural or synthetic rubbers. Recycled rubber often costs less than half of what comparable non-recycled rubber would.

Environmental Impact: If you consider yourself an environmentally-conscious person, you will likely appreciate the eco-friendly nature of recycled rubber. Producing gym flooring mats from recycled rubber requires fewer resources to be used and less energy be expended in the creation of the flooring. Recycling also keeps material about of the landfill and lowers the need for the harvesting of fresh material. Getting rid of old rubber materials is actually a difficult process. By its very nature, rubber is tough and durable. While this is what makes it so popular in the first place, it also makes it incredibly hard to dispose of properly.

Despite the advantages of of recycled rubber, many used tires go to waste. Around the world, tons of rubber is buried in landfills and not recycled for use in future products. But when recycled rubber gym floor mats and other recycled rubber products are purchased, it’s helping to keep rubber out of landfills and protect the earth’s natural resources.

There are many ways that rubber can be recycled. This includes acid reclamation, which utilizes sulfuric acid to breakdown the material, alkali recovery, which treats the material with heated alkali, and pyrolysis, which heats the rubber in an oxygen-free vacuum.

virgin rubber vs recycled rubber
virgin rubber vs recycled rubber

Below are some of the recycled rubber products that Greatmats proudly offers:


These rubber flooring rolls are made from recycled material that is durable, pliable, and easy to install. These rubber rolls are 1/4 inches thick and are great for used in weight rooms and workout rooms as they provide traction to feet and shoes.

These mats are made in the U.S.A. and have a 10 percent color confetti design. The rolls have tiny flecks in them that form a varying color pattern which give personality and vibrance to the room. With strong materials and an easy installation process, these mats are perfect for home or commercial use. They can even be used for industrial areas, giving you better traction on the floor.


This black rubber tile mat is perfect for gyms and weight rooms due to its durable and rugged design. Using a puzzle-edge interlocking design, the mats fit together in a firm hold that allows you to fill large or small rooms. The mat is made from 99% premium recycled rubber, and is guaranteed to be free of wire or other fibers.

This recycled rubber mat requires almost no maintenance outside of regular cleaning, and the material is non-absorbent, so it won't harbor bacteria or mold-growing water.


This rubber mat is stylish from its black or gray flecks that are in the rubber tile. This gives the mat visual depth and character and lets you add a little style to your workout center or weight room.  

This product, like many of our products, is made from recycled tires. It has a beveled-edge construction that results in no gaps, and it comes with a 5-year warranty, giving you added peace-of-mind when you purchase. As these made are made with an advanced wet-jet cutting technology, they fit together perfectly forming clean interlocks.


The unique appearance and peak performance of these interlocking tiles sets them apart among similar rubber mats. You can choose between colors like ''Steel Appeal 2,'' ''Mocha Latte 2,'' or ''Blue Premium,'' allowing you to get the perfect design for your personal taste.

These tiles are great for busy workout areas that have lound exercise machines and free weights. This is because these tiles are both shock absorbent and sound absorbent. They can also be used for tracks, making them one of the most versatile gym floor mats you can find.

Virgin Rubber Flooring

virgin rubber
virgin rubber


Why Virgin Rubber?
While recycled material certainly has its advantages, there are many reasons that you may want to choose virgin rubber instead. Whether the reason behind the choice is the appearance of the virgin rubber flooring or their long-term performance, new rubber might be the best solution of a specific rooms needs.

Appearance:Many people feel that virgin rubber has a better appearance than recycled. New rubber often has a bold solid color all throughout the material, even when the surface is worn away. A problem with some recycled-rubber mats is that once the surface is worn away, the mats will carry a full or faded appearance. This is not typically the case with virgin rubber.

Smell:The smell is also another advantage of new rubber. In some cases, recycled mats can have a rubbery tire smell, which is off-putting to many people. Because of this many gyms and workout facilities will choose new rubber over recycled rubber. In an enclosed area, such as a weight room with low ceilings, sometimes new rubber is a better options because of the smell.

Longevity: In some cases new rubber will have better long-term performance when compared to recycled rubber. Often times virgin rubber will have superior shock absorption and will be able to provide cushion for longer. If you are going to put your rubber mats through years of abuse from exercise shoes, free weights, cardio activities, and workout machines, then you may want to choose new rubber. This is of particular concern if the mats are considered a long-term investment. People who need mats for businesses or municipal workout centers, which often receive lots of traffic, will often prefer new rubber.

Below are some of the amazing virgin rubber flooring products that Greatmats offers:


Made with a recycled rubber base and virgin rubber top, these mats are durable and effective, making them an ideal choice for college weight rooms and workout facilities. The mats are built with precision to exact specifications and are made using high-quality rubber. This results in these tiles creating a workout surface that is both soft yet durables.

This material is perfect for any facility that will use lots of workout equipment, and they can be placed over interior flooring to provide protection for gym floors and other surfaces. By using a dowel-pin connection system, these mats will hold together and can be used to cover large rooms.

These 3x3 tiles can be used to fill a large workout facility, giving you better traction and protection for the flooring. These rubber tiles have a puzzle-edge connection system, which allows them to fit together quickly and not require the use of adhesives or pins of installation. Because they are made from a blend of recycled and new rubber, they also have a low odor, making them ideal for small indoor facilities.

While these mats are great for facilities, they can also be used for home gyms. To create the perfect home workout area while also still protection the homes interior flooring, these virgin rubber blend tiles are perfect.

Plyometric Rubber Rolls

what is virgin rubber
what is virgin rubber


Why Plyometric Rubber?
Plyometric rubber flooring is a softer alternative to traditional rubber flooring. It is made specifically for plyometric exercises, which involves a heavy amount of jumping. The flooring is designed specifically to be used for plyometric exercises, which involves a heavy amount of jumping, but can also be used for other aerobic exercises. In fact, ''plyometrics'' is by definition a jump-training workout. Plyometric rubber is less dense than most rubber mats, so it has a more cushioning for joints and absorbs shocks better than many other materials. It also has a smooth surface that is perfect for push ups, planks, and handstands.


This product is a perfect example of the benefits of plyometric rubber flooring mats. It has a shock-absorbing body that allows you to perform many different exercise, including jumping and lunging. This rubber product can be easily rolled up if it needs to be stored, and is light enough for anyone to handle. If you are using it for temporary surfaces, you don't need extra materials, but if you are going to place it permanently, securing it with tape or adhesives is suggested.

For maintenance of this roll, all you have to do is vacuum as needed and occasionally mop the surface. Please give the rolled rubber time to dry being storing it.

The Perfect Rubber Gym Floor Mat is Waiting for You!

Greatmats offers a wide selection of gym floor mats, so there is a perfect flooring material out there for every home or facility.

Whether you want eco-friendly recycled material or the long-lasting durability of new rubber, you'll find everything you need, including selection, service, and reliability, when you purchase from Greatmats.com!

rubber recycled mats
rubber recycled mats


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