Top 8 Best Exercise Mats for HIIT – Read Before You Buy

Are you looking for an exercise mat for high-impact workouts? A high-quality, non-slip exercise mat is necessary when you go in for HIIT (high-intensity interval training) like P90X, Skater Lunges, Tabata, CrossFit, Insanity, T25, Plyometrics, Burpees, Zumba, Russian twists, Mountain Climbers, and more. And a premium-quality exercise mat is the foundation of your entire home gym.

But with so many different varieties, how do we choose the best exercise mat for HIIT? A great HIIT workout mat can protect your joints, knees, elbows, and other parts of your body while performing high-intensity interval training. Most importantly, it ensures your safety and gives you a non-slip workout experience, helping you get the most out of your HIIT sessions.

I analyzed a wide range of different exercise mats of different brands, considering key factors such as thickness, cushioning, grip, aesthetics, and material. If you are looking for a HIIT training mat for specific floorings—such as the best exercise mat for carpet, or the top one for hardwood flooring—I also pick out some standard mats (such as Gorilla Mats) in that category to help further streamline your search.

For those who want to see my top picks of the best HIIT exercise mats, here you go.

• Gorilla Premium Extra Large Exercise Mat—Best Reviewed HIIT Mat
• Gxmmat Non-Slip Anti-Tear Exercise Mat—Our Best Choice
• Square36 Extra Large Exercise Mat—Best Exercise Mat for P90x, Insanity, T25, Plyometrics, Burpees
• AG ACTIVEGEAR HIIT Workout Mat
• HemingWeigh Extra Thick Foam Workout Mat
• We Sell Mats
• Gaiam Fitness Mat—Best Budget HIIT Mat
• Sivan Health & Fitness Comfort Foam HIIT Mat

Keep These in Mind While Choosing an Exercise Mat for HIIT

An exercise mat is a simple base that saves you from dusty floors. The vitality of its presence starts dawning once you start using it. Its importance booms up even more when you work out on the right mat, enhancing your overall exercising experience.

It is not wrong to say that an exercise mat is the backbone of your HIIT routine. So make a note of the following criteria before finalizing your exercise mat.

1. Non-Slip

Make sure to choose a non-slip exercise mat if you want to take part in HIIT workouts. A good HIIT mat should be slip-resistance and offers an excellent grip that can prevent you from sliding when you perform a high-intensity workout.

Compared to the rubber-based exercise mats, the mats made of PVC are the stickiest. But the rubber mats still have a great grip, and they have more traction than PVC mats. Other materials like jute, rubber, and cotton have more traction because of their raised texture.

The raised texture of certain types of material such as jute, rubber, and cotton offers more traction to the mat. But these exercise mats are not recommended.

2. Thickness

The thickness of the exercise mat matters as they offer you the necessary support and balance and decide your comfort level when performing HIIT training. The thicker the exercise mats, the more cushioning they can provide. And greater the thickness, better the protection from injuries and pain to the knee, back, elbows, spine, and joints.

A 7mm (to 12mm) HIIT mat (0.25 inches to 0.50 inches) is good enough to provide you with cushioning and help you get the most out of your training with the lowest impact on your body. But never choose thin mats, as they don’t give you enough cushioning and intrudes with your comfort levels while doing HIIT exercises.

3. Size

The size of the HIIT mat makes or breaks your training. A short exercise mat can’t contain your whole body, and you might end up hurting yourself. It will ruin your workout experience.

Choose a mat that fits your body length and width-wise within it: neither too long nor too short. The right size ensures that you don’t get hurt while doing exercises. And you don’t need to worry about the storage as they can be folded and stored easily.

4. Material Used

Some exercise mats are made from materials like resin and rubber. And they are more affordable choices compared to some high-end exercise mats made from natural rubber.

But exercising involves sweating, and if you want to ensure your exercise mat’s longevity level, you should go for these top-quality mats as they are more sweat-resistant and provide the greatest comfort and grip, meaning that you don’t need to worry about slipping and hurting yourself.

If you are allergic to the smell of rubber or latex, you should avoid picking these mats and find a PVC mat instead.

5. Weight

If you want to carry the exercise mat to your HIIT classes, it is always best to choose a lightweight and portable mat. Check the mat weight before finalizing your mat.

6. Color and Aesthetics

Brighter colors represent warmth not only with emotions but also with temperature. Dark colors represent strength, seriousness, and authority.

What color your mat is a matter of aesthetics, and aesthetics makes us happy. Color matters for your home gym and can be leveraged to affect your emotional levels and fitness performance.

So the color is important, but the choice is also relatively subjective. Find the color you like and start enjoying your HIIT training.

Top 8 Versatile & Best Exercise Mats for HIIT

Based on the points mentioned above, I have listed the top 8 HIIT mats to make your exercising experience blissful.

#1. Gorilla Mats – Premium Extra Large Exercise Mat

The idea of doing a HIIT workout in the comforts of your home is a great aspiration. But you cannot start doing crunches or squats on a floor that might be slippery.

You need a non-slip and spacious surface over which you can do any exercise. This is where the Gorilla mats come into the picture, offering the perfect cushioning, durability, and grip on hands and feet.

This mat comes with the perfect packaging with the help of two storage straps.

It is made from premium-quality material that can withstand your shoe impressions and is big enough for accommodating users of all body types to perform aerobics workouts.

You can do workouts such as P90, Insanity, T25, Plyometrics, Burpees, Zumba, Russian Twists, Plank-Ups, and more other high-intensity interval training workouts with this premium cushioned non-slip Gorilla mat without any extra pain on your joints or palms.

#2. Gxmmat Non-Slip Anti-Tear Exercise Mat

Are you fed up with replacing your exercise mats now and then? Here is a product that can last a lifetime with its commendable design and construction, guaranteeing a serene exercising experience to all.

With a Gxmmat exercise mat, you can perform the Perfect Burpee and P90X program on it.

The Gxmmat HIIT exercise mat is also an ideal choice if you are more into yoga, Pilates, poses, stretching, meditation, light cardio workouts, or those activities that can be done without wearing shoes.

The 7mm memory foam padding is not that thick but also provides users with enough stability and cushioning.

The non-skid surfaces on either side offer a good grip and are non-slippery while performing any exercise on the mat.

#3. Square36 Extra Large Exercise Mat

Though it’s not the thickest mat available in the market, it is built of dense foam that helps in offering much comfort when laid upon the floor surface.

Square36 is big enough—6 ft by 6 ft (hence the name square 36)—and weighs around 19 pounds, which makes it a great workout mat for light exercises in small spaces such as kettlebell swings, ropes workout, P90x, and other cardio workouts.

Its 7mm thickness makes it a high-impact exercise mat, and carrying it around is easy enough—anywhere from one room to another, to your fitness class or the park.

The manufacturer has produced these mats keeping the environment in mind as they are from non-toxic material and extremely durable.

#4. AG ACTIVEGEAR HIIT Workout Mat

Carry your home gym and start your HIIT training anywhere with the AG Activegear mat—an extremely easy to carry, simple to use, and almost twice as big as your normal yoga mat.

Exercising implies that you care about your health, and AG Activegear does its part in supporting the user in this endeavor by manufacturing eco-friendly mats from safe, non-toxic material.

Do any exercise right from weightlifting and cardio workouts to dance and HIIT workouts using this mat that comes with dense padding and a non-slip guarantee offering the perfect grip on every surface (carpet, tiles, or concrete in the comfort of your living room, garage, or even basement).

#5. HemingWeigh Extra Thick Foam Workout Mat

If you want a sturdy and non-slipping exercise mat, which is lightweight and also easy to carry around, the HemingWeigh mat is one of the best choices.

It provides cushioning to your back and knees and is suitable for HIIT training. The memory foam used keeps the mat cushy enough on both sides, offering better durability and comfort than your regular yoga mats.

#6. We Sell Mats

The first thing that attracts any buyer while trying to pick a mat is its color though this should be the last point in your checklist!

We Sell Mats understands that eyes are the keys to reach a buyer’s heart as they have manufactured their exercise mats in multiple colors—pink, purple, or even multicolor ones.

These beautiful mats come in three different sizes, which help the users pick the right one that could fit their room size.

This is the perfect choice for kids and young gymnasts and ideal for floor exercises and core work as the 2-inch foam thickness provides the perfect surface for practicing tumbling, cartwheels, back handsprings, and more.

You can equally excel performing exercises ranging from yoga to high-impact movements.

#7. Gaiam Fitness Mat—Best Budget HIIT Mat

For those focusing on performing yoga extensively, the Gaiam yoga mats should be your immediate pick.

They have a range of prints, designs, and colors such as mandala, sundial, and many more to wake up and express the inner yogi in every individual.

But please note that these mats must be unrolled and left to air out for a couple of days before using them as they release a harmless but a bit smelly odor during the initial days.

The mats are not only stylishly designed but are constructed using eco-friendly material that’s free of DEHP, DBP, DINP, BBP, and DNOP.

The cushioning is perfect here, providing a protective surface for your joints and whole body while doing yoga or any other HIIT activity.

#8. Sivan Health & Fitness Comfort Foam HIIT Mat

Yoga has become a regular fitness routine for many due to its extensive range of benefits. There are exclusive mats that cater to the needs of those individuals who practice yoga daily.

The Sivan exercise mat is a good pick for those traveling regularly or even for doing warm-up exercises or stretches on a day-to-day basis.

Take it wherever you go with the help of shoulder straps provided with the mat. The mat is made of 0.5-inch memory foam that protects the joints and knees from any impact while performing HIIT training.

Never worry about slippage, as the ribbed surface on one side of the mat provides an excellent grip on hands and feet and traction on the floor.

Final Words: Choosing the Best HIIT Mat

HIIT exercising involves intense jumping and movement, which causes an impact on your joints. Using a non-slip, high-quality exercise mat on a hard floor helps absorb the impact and relieve your body from side effects.

Choose a mat rather wisely, keeping important factors such as comfort, durability, value for the price, and exercise preferences in mind.

Go for an eco-friendly mat if just because you need a mat. It is surely doing good to your environment and yourself as well. Whatever exercise mat might be your final choice, always maintain hygiene by cleaning it after each use.

Read Also:

• Top 5 Best Heavy-Duty Exercise Mats for Deadlifting Platform
• Jump Rope Indoor: All You Need to Know
• Top 5 Best Durable Mats for Jumping Rope
• Top 5 Best Treadmill Mats for Carpet
• Best Exercise Bikes for HIIT Training Review
• Best Ellipticals for HIIT Workouts