With on-demand videos and free YouTube videos at your fingertips, at-home workouts are becoming increasingly popular. While you can certainly pull off home workouts without any fancy equipment, exercise mats just make the session a little more pleasant. But with so many options, which one should you choose? We tested out the Gorilla Mats Premium Extra-Large Exercise Mat to see what it has to offer and if it could help turn your home into a home gym.
Design: Easy to use but difficult to transport
This extra-large mat, which is one piece that measures 8 x 4 feet and a ¼-inch thick, comes in three cool tones. We chose the midnight blue option, but the mat is also available in the company’s signature gorilla black and a silverback gray. Setting up the exercise mat was simple. All we needed to do was unstrap it from its carrying bag and roll it out on the floor. Because the mat is so big, though, it is pretty heavy. It weighs 18 pounds, which makes it a little difficult to carry around. We found the drawstring carry bag to be a nice storage solution, but we would have liked it better if the carry bag had a strap you could sling over your shoulder. It would have made it a lot easier to move from room to room. There are two velcro straps that you can use to secure the rolled-up mat, though, and the manufacturers also included a microfiber exercise towel, which was a nice added touch that we weren’t expecting.
Material: Great for all kinds of surfaces
We absolutely loved the material. The bottom of the mat has circle-pattern grips that keep it firmly in place. Unlike interlocking mats that need to be set up on a hard surface, the Gorilla Mats exercise mat is designed to work well on any surface, including carpet, hardwood floors, tile, and concrete. The top of the mat has padding and a cushion that’s both comfortable and durable.
Performance: Better than we expected
When it comes to exercise mats, one of the major things we look for is some type of anti-slip technology and this exercise mat definitely delivered. It didn’t budge during any of our workouts. First, we tested it out in our living room, which is carpeted, because we’ve seen a lot of yoga mats and exercise mats that don’t work well on softer surfaces. We also tried the mat on the hardwood floor in our office. The mat didn’t creak or make any noises on either type of surface. We went through both a yoga routine and a 20-minute HIIT-style cardio routine and we were largely impressed at how well the mat stood up to both types of workouts. Our hands didn’t slip on the top surface of the mat during any of the workouts, either, which is a common problem that we’ve seen with lots of other exercise mats, especially during a yoga session.
Durability: Can handle a beating
This exercise mat is solid. It’s thick, durable and can handle any type of workout you throw at it. A lot of exercise mats require you to take off your shoes before using them, but the Gorilla Mats exercise mats are durable enough for you to leave them on. We actually prefer to workout barefoot most of the time, but like to keep our shoes on for strength training workouts for safety reasons. We thought it was a huge perk that you can transition between any type of workout and not worry about taking your shoes off. Gorilla Mats also offers a lifetime warranty, so if you’re not satisfied with the mat, or it breaks down for some reason, they’ll replace it at no extra cost to you.
Price: Worth the price
The 8 x 4-foot mat retails for roughly $160, which may seem expensive at first glance. The price tag is well worth it, though, especially with such a solid warranty. When it comes to durability and performance, cheaper exercise mats and yoga mats don’t even come close to the Gorilla Mats Exercise Mat. If you’re looking to set up a larger workout area or you need to squeeze the mat into a smaller space, Gorilla Mats also offers their product in a few different sizes including 6 x 4 feet, 7 x 4 feet, 7 x 5 feet, 9 x 6 feet, and 10 x 4 feet.
Competition: In a class of its own
Prosource Puzzle Exercise Mat: The Prosource Puzzle Exercise Mat contains six interlocking “tiles” that connect to cover a surface area of 24 square feet. The benefit of the interlocking tiles is that you can set them up any way you’d like.In our experience, though, they’re not very durable and may require you to replace them more often, depending on the type of exercise you’re doing on them. You may be okay with that since it’s under $25, but we prefer something that lasts longer. Sorbus Wood Grain Floor Mats: If you want something that doesn’t scream “exercise mat,” the Sorbus Wood Grain Floor Mats might be a good option for you. They come in different colors of wood grain, like cherry, gray, and pine, as well as a marble option. Like the Prosource Puzzle Set, these wood grain floor mats interlock to cover an area of 24 to 32 square feet. Depending on which option you choose, the mats will set you back between $17 and $25 dollars. The Gorilla Mats Premium Extra-Large Exercise Mat will likely be the last exercise mat you’ll ever need. It’s large, durable, and non-slip and you can use it for cardio exercise, yoga, or as an extra cushion underneath your exercise equipment. Although it’s more expensive than other mats, its durability and lifetime warranty make the investment well worth it.
