The Best Exercise Mats For HIIT, Yoga, And More

When exercising at home, at the gym, in a yoga studio, or on the road, having a reliable exercise mat can help make fitness feasible for those with crowded schedules. Exercise mats can be the foundation you use during strength and conditioning workouts, and they can also be where you slow things down for recovery and meditation. However you choose to use your mat, it’s important to have the right cushion, space, and texture for your preferred exercise. 

The differences between exercise mats can be nuanced, but choosing the one most suited to your preferences can significantly improve your experience. If you’re doing HIIT workouts, you’ll want something with more than 3 mm of padding to cushion your high impact work. If you’re doing yoga, you may want something thinner so you can really feel each pose as you flow. We’ve gathered up some of our favorite exercise mats for various purposes to help keep you grounded during your workouts. 

Best Exercise Mats

• Best Exercise Mat Overall: Rogue Individual Mat
• Best Exercise Mat for the Money: Rogue Yoga Mat
• Best Exercise Mat for HIIT: IUGA Pro Non Slip Yoga Mat
• Best Non-Slip Exercise Mat: Finer Form Exercise Mat
• Best Exercise Mat for Yoga: Rogue Yoga Mat
• Best Exercise Mat for Outside: Rogue Individual Mat
• Best Exercise Mat for Grip: Heathyoga Eco Friendly Non Slip Yoga Mat
• Best Cork Exercise Mat: Gaiam Yoga Mat Cork
• Best Large Exercise Mat: Rogue Comp Mat
• Best Exercise Flooring: Regupol Aktiv Flooring

Best Exercise Mat Overall

Our top pick is one of the most versatile mats you’ll find, offering a 36- x 72-inch space to complete weight circuits, core exercises, stretching, and more. 

Rogue Individual Mat

Made of a high-performance athletic foam, the Rogue Individual Mat is a great base for strength training, as well as recovery workouts. It’s only 36 x 72 inches, so it may fall a bit short for lateral movements that need a little more space, but its slip-resistant vinyl coating will keep it intact through even the toughest of lifting sessions. Arguably one of its coolest characteristics is its roll-up feature — the whole mat is made of foam strips connected to a single piece of material, so when you roll it up, instead of altering the mat’s shape, it folds and rolls by strip.

Who Should Buy The Rogue Individual Mat

• Anyone who wants a mat that’s good for strength training and recovery exercises. 
• Athletes who want a portable mat that folds easily and can come with you on-the-go. 
• Customers looking for a mat that doesn’t take up too much space. 
• Anyone looking for a super thick mat — this one is 15 mm.

Who Shouldn’t Buy The Rogue Individual Mat

• Folks who are looking for a cost-effective option — this mat is a little pricey. 
• Anyone who wants a smooth surface for working out — this mat’s roll-up feature does mean there are subtle divisions along the surface of the mat. 

For a durable, compact, and easy-to-roll option, the Rogue Individual Mat checks a lot of boxes — as long as you aren’t doing a ton of lateral work that would require more than 6 feet in length, this exercise mat has your strength circuit covered. 

Best Exercise Mat for the Money

When you’re looking for a yoga mat, you’ll want something that keeps you from slipping and sliding in those extra-challenging poses — this pick’s textured top will hold you steady, and it won’t break the bank.

Rogue Yoga Mat

Measuring 68 inches long by 24 inches wide, this is the perfect size mat for a yoga session or flexibility block. At 3 mm thick, you’ll get a little padding, but you’ll still be able to feel each pose through the mat. It’s also made of a textured, non-slip PVC foam to ensure you won’t slide out of downward dog even if things get a little sweaty in hot yoga class. The Rogue Yoga Mat is a sleek, matte black that can roll up with ease after you say namaste. However, if you are looking for a mat that has a little extra cushion, you will find others out there that are 5 mm or even 7 mm — but of course, these will sell at a higher price point. 

Who Should Buy The Rogue Yoga Mat

• Hot yoga aficionados who need a textured top to avoid sweat slippage in difficult poses. 
• Anyone looking for a basic, durable yoga mat — no frills involved. 
• Customers who want a less expensive option — this mat goes for just $16. 
• Yogis who want a thinner surface, so they can still feel each pose. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy The Rogue Yoga Mat

• Athletes who want a thick mat for comfort when they’re working their core on their backs. 
• Folks who want a larger mat they can use for things outside of yoga.

If you’re in the market for a basic yoga mat that will keep you balanced and steady when you start tackling more difficult poses, the Rogue Yoga Mat has you covered. Its textured top coat and matte black look will have you looking sleek in class and on the streets, all for a low cost.

Best Exercise Mat for HIIT

High intensity interval training requires a mat with a solid combination of stability and cushion. When you’re jumping around, this pick can help protect your joints and ensure your mat doesn’t slide out from beneath you. 

IUGA Pro Non Slip Yoga Mat

Weighing only 2.5 pounds, the IUGA Pro Non Slip Yoga Mat is a great option for HIIT-lovers who like to take their quick 20-minute workouts on-the-go. Made of biodegradable and sustainably harvested tree rubber, this mat offers a 5 mm base for extra comfort and stability when you’re hitting those squat jumps and burpees. Plus, the polyurethane top layer ensures you’ve got a good grip and won’t slip away when the sweat hits. At 72 inches long by 26 inches wide, this mat has a little extra space than your average yoga mat, but if you’re hitting any intense lateral jumps, you may still want a little more length than this mat offers.

Who Should Buy The IUGA Pro Non Slip Yoga Mat

• HIIT enthusiasts who need a cushioned base that won’t slip when they start jumping. 
• Athletes who want a portable, lightweight exercise mat.
• Anyone who prefers an entirely eco-friendly product. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy The IUGA Pro Non Slip Yoga Mat

• Folks who want something a little longer for lateral movements. 
• Buyers looking for a less expensive find — though not the most expensive on the market, this mat is still pricier than many.

The IUGA Pro Non Slip Yoga Mat is lightweight, durable, eco-friendly, and great for on-the-go HIIT workouts. Its 5mm base keeps jumpers cushioned and provides a comfortable space to stretch out after your workout. 

Best Non-Slip Exercise Mat

Designed to keep your exercise bikes or workout benches from sliding around while they’re in use, this exercise mat will also make sure you aren’t slipping around in reverse warrior or any bodyweight work. 

Finer Form Exercise Mat

The Finer Form Exercise Mat’s anti-slip surface was designed specifically to keep exercise equipment (and humans) in place. It’s water resistant as well, so even if you start sweating onto the mat, it won’t affect your stability throughout your session. It’s 6 mm thick and 6 feet long by 3.3 feet wide, so there’s plenty of room for all types of strength work, bodyweight HIIT, yoga, and recovery stretches — though it’s worth mentioning that the 6-foot length may feel a bit short if you’re big on lateral movements or happen to be as tall as Shaquille O’Neal. After you’re done, simply roll this mat up and store it under the bed or in a closet corner — it’s compact enough to squeeze pretty much anywhere in your home gym space.

Who Should Buy The Finer Form Exercise Mat

• Athletes who want a mat to support a piece of exercise equipment, and keep it from damaging the floor. 
• Customers who sweat a lot and need a water resistant mat that will keep them from slipping.
• Folks who want a mat compact enough to store under a bed when it’s not in use. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy The Finer Form Exercise Mat

• Tall athletes who favor lateral movements and need a little extra length, so they don’t step off the mat in a lateral lunge. 
• Buyers looking for a cost-effective option — this mat is not the least expensive find on the market or even on this list. 

While you may spend a touch more for this mat than others, its non-slip, water-resistant surface will ensure a safe and effective workout. Plus, the 6 mm of cushion definitely won’t hurt anyone who’s throwing a couple jump lunges into their HIIT routines.

Best Exercise Mat for Yoga

When you’re focusing on hitting tree pose or nailing standing bow for the first time, the last thing you want to be thinking about is slipping on your mat. This pick stands out when it comes to mastering yoga. 

Rogue Yoga Mat

The Rogue Yoga Mat is 3 mm thick and 68 inches long by 24 inches wide, which is exactly what you expect when it comes to yoga mats. It’s made of a textured, non-slip PVC foam to ensure you stay in your pose even when you take a trip to hot yoga and end up sweating a pool onto your mat. Its matte black look will keep you looking fly in and out of class, and it’s both latex- and phthalate-free. However, if you want more than 3 mm of cushion, you can find yoga mats that are up to 7 mm thick.

Who Should Buy The Rogue Yoga Mat

• Yogis looking for a basic, matte black yoga mat without any extra frills. 
• Athletes who want a mat with a textured, non-slip surface that helps with grip. 
• Anyone who wants a compact mat they can throw in the car and bring to a yoga class.
• Buyers who want a thin surface that still allows them to feel each yoga pose through the mat. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy The Rogue Yoga Mat

• Folks who want a large mat — this mat is made for yoga, not circuit training or anything that would require extra length. 
• Anyone who wants a yoga mat with alignment lines to make sure they’re nailing their form. 
• Customers who want more than 3 mm of cushion. 

For a no frills yoga mat that will keep your feet steady as you fly your crow, look no further than the Rogue Yoga Mat. Its textured non-slip surface will help you stay gripped through even the sweatiest of hot yoga classes. 

Best Exercise Mat for Outside

When it comes to outdoor workouts, you want a mat that can form to your surface and stay put underneath you — even on grass or sand. This pick’s flexible form and high performance athletic foam will keep you stable on even the most outdoorsy of surfaces.

Rogue Individual Mat

Made from high performance athletic foam and coated in slip-resistance vinyl, this mat was designed for stability. With ⅝-inch thick cushioning and 36 inches by 72 inches of surface space, this mat is both versatile and durable. Set it up and use it outside then roll it up after to toss it back into garage storage when you’re done. Its easy roll-up feature makes this mat extra portable — it’s composed of foam strips attached to a single piece of material so rolling is more like folding, and not only will your mat hold its shape better than traditional mats, but it will also eb and flow with whatever surface you place it on.

Who Should Buy The Rogue Individual Mat

• Athletes who need a durable and sturdy exercise mat that can hold up outdoors. 
• Anyone who wants a mat that easily rolls up into a more compact form. 
• Folks who want a mat that will form to the outdoor surface beneath it. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy The Rogue Individual Mat

• Customers looking for a cost-effective option — this mat is fairly expensive. 
• Anyone who wants a small exercise mat — this one is much wider than most. 

A versatile pick, the Rogue Individual Mat provides a great surface for most exercises, and if you choose to take those exercises outdoors, this mat will keep you stable and working hard, no matter the surface beneath you. 

Best Exercise Mat for Grip

When it comes to stability during yoga or even classic strength training, good grip is key for nailing your movements. This pick has both a textured surface and bottom, so as long as your hands or feet are planted on the mat, you shouldn’t be sliding anywhere else.

Healthyoga Eco Friendly Non Slip Yoga Mat

This mat’s textured non-slip surface will ensure your grip stays solid no matter where your flow (or circuit) takes you. The diamond-shaped textured surface is ideal for maintaining grip while the tire tread bottom provides great traction on any surface. Another cool feature for advanced and amateur yogis alike is that this mat has alignment lines that show you exactly where to place your hands and feet through your flows. On the topic of flows, the Healthyoga Eco Friendly Non Slip Yoga Mat is a solid 6 mm thick, so while you’ll have plenty of cushion, you may not be able to feel each pose as well as you would with a 3 mm mat.

Who Should Buy The Healthyoga Eco Friendly Non Slip Yoga Mat

• Anyone who’s extra concerned with slipping when they’re trying out new or complicated movements. 
• Yogis who need guidance when it comes to alignment and prefer to have markings on their mat leading the way.
• Athletes who want a solid 6 mm of cushioning in their mat. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy The Healthyoga Eco Friendly Non Slip Yoga Mat

• Athletes who use their mats for basic stretching or strength work, and don’t need alignment lines for yoga. 
• Yogis who want a thinner surface that really allows them to feel each pose. 

This is a great pick for stability — the textured surface will keep you steady throughout workouts and yoga flows alike. Though mats of similar quality may run on the expensive side, this mat won’t break the bank. 

Best Cork Exercise Mat

A cork mat is not only great for aesthetic purposes, but as things heat up, cork softens, making this pick especially great for hot yoga — as the temperature rises, the softer cork becomes easier to grip.

Gaiam Yoga Mat Cork

The Gaiam Yoga Mat Cork is made of a sustainable cork top layer and a non-toxic, lightweight TPE rubber bottom layer. It’s 5 mm thick and measures 68 inches by 24 inches, weighing in at about 4.5 pounds. Cork mats are especially useful when a lot of sweat is involved, so whether you’re bringing this mat to a hot yoga class or just using it for a sweaty HIIT workout in the summer heat, hotter temperatures lead to the softening of the cork top layer. This helps improve grip and add extra cushion, which is ideal for heavy-sweaters who are typically concerned with slippage on their mats. 

Who Should Buy The Gaiam Yoga Mat Cork

• Anyone who consistently works out in a hot environment and wants something that works well with sweat. 
• Customers who want a reasonably priced exercise mat. 
• Folks who want a soft surface and extra cushioning.

Who Shouldn’t Buy The Gaiam Yoga Mat Cork

• Customers who don’t plan on using their mat in a hot environment.

Cork mats are ideal for hot workouts as they soften under the heat for added cushion and better grip. That being said, if you aren’t using your cork mat in a hot environment, this won’t be a standout product. 

Best Large Exercise Mat

Large exercise mats are typically used to outfit a public training space or floor of a home gym. This pick is extra thick and provides a great base for both group or individual training. 

Rogue Comp Mat

At 1.25 inches thick and 72 inches wide, the Rogue Comp Mat is customizable to your space. While Rogue does offer a few stock lengths, you can also select a custom length to fit your individual space. Another perk is that this product has an easy-to-roll feature — its bottom is split into foam sections that allow for quick and compact rolling. Since this is designed for affiliates, competition areas, gymnastics complexes, fight clubs, and professional garage gyms, it’s not going to be ideal for an individual yoga flow or on-the-go strength session. But if you’re looking for a base for your entire home gym or exercise facility, the Rogue Comp Mat has the customization you need. 

Who Should Buy The Rogue Comp Mat

• Commercial gym owners who need to add padded flooring to their space. 
• Anyone who needs to be able to roll up their flooring and store it when it’s not in use. 
• Those who need extra thick cushioning for high impact exercise. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy The Rogue Comp Mat

• Folks who are looking for an individual exercise mat. 
• Customers looking for a cost-effective option — this flooring is not going to be particularly easy on the bank. 

While the Rogue Comp Mat has a significant amount of cushion and can easily fold up and store away, it’s not made for every athlete. This product will only be useful to you if you are trying to build out a large gym space or want to cover an entire floor — if you’re looking for an individual mat, scoot along. 

Best Exercise Flooring

Exercise flooring is most often used to fill a commercial exercise facility, though you can use it for a home gym if you’re covering a lot of space. This pick is ideal for group training or public gym spaces that have a few extra square feet to cover. 

Regupol Aktiv Flooring

The Regupol Aktiv Flooring comes in a variety of sizes: 5/16”, ⅜”, ½″, or 8 mm in thickness and 25 feet x 4 feet and 50 feet x 4 feet in size. With nine different color options, this mat feels like one big yoga mat. It’s not going to be as padded as some comp mats, but it comes in the same thickness options as yoga mats, so it will definitely be more cushioned than a hardwood floor or tile surface. It’s made of material that comes from recycled tires, so you can rest assured that this floor is going to be durable and supportive for many years’ worth of athletes coming through your facility. Just note, this isn’t going to be an ideal option for individual use — its sizing and pricing is meant for larger spaces.

Who Should Buy The Regupol Aktiv Flooring

• Anyone looking to cover hard floor space in a commercial exercise facility with a little extra padding. 
• Athletes who want to add padding to a large home gym space. 
• Folks who need durable flooring that will protect joints and cushion strength and conditioning work better than a hard floor would.

Who Shouldn’t Buy The Regupol Aktiv Flooring

• Those who are just looking for an individual exercise mat. 
• Commercial facility owners who want extra thick padding for high impact work or competition. 

This flooring is a solid option for anyone looking to build out their large home gym or commercial exercise facility with a little extra padding. Even though this flooring is a similar thickness to yoga mats, it’s not meant for individual use — it only comes in options as small as 200 square feet. 

Before Buying an Exercise Mat Consider

Exercise mats encompass a wide range of different workout surfaces — from yoga mats to full padded flooring, you have to know exactly what you are looking for before you go on the hunt. Make sure you’re considering length, thickness, and texture before deciding on your new exercise mat. 

Length

For the most part, individual mats will fall in a range of 68 to 72 inches. Longer or shorter is not necessarily better than the other, aside from accommodating height and lateral movements. Of course, if you are particularly tall or tend to favor lateral movements for exercise, you’ll want to dig up a longer mat. But more generally, an informed choice on what would best suit your needs will likely depend on where the individual mat will be used for exercise. Wherever you plan to train, try to be sure that the mat will be able to unfurl fully and that you will have enough space to maneuver from position to position on it.

When it comes to comp mats and flooring, the lengths are generally customizable. You’ll be able to choose exactly how long you want your mat in order to fit your exercise facility or home gym space. While it’s nice to be able to choose your length, this option isn’t ideal for individual exercise — you’ll want something a little more maneuverable in that case. So with these, again, consider how and where you will be using the mat most often to determine what length you will need. 

Thickness

Probably the biggest varying factor between exercise mats is how thick they are. The thickness is usually indicative of how much padding it has; thicker has more padding, thinner has less. The thicker end of the spectrum is 5 mm to 7 mm while the thinner options are around 3 mm.

Most mats intended specifically for yoga will be on the thinner side while more general exercise mats will be thicker to offer more comfort and support. 

The correct thickness for you will depend on how much support you want for your joints, what exercises you will be performing, and the type of floor on which the mat will be used. Exercising on carpets, such as a living room or hotel room, will likely not need the additional padding, whereas training on a hardwood floor might be more conducive to thicker options. 

Texture

The texture on these mats is intended for safety. Functionally, a texture or ribbing should keep the mat from slipping on the floor and your feet from slipping on the mat (assuming it is textured on both sides). If a mat fails to meet a solid standard of slip resistance then it opens the window for accidents when exercising that could be avoided. 

Cases where texture and grip tend to be more important include yoga and HIIT training. Since you are mostly grounded for strength training, grip is going to be less of a concern. When doing yoga or jumping through HIIT workouts, it’s important that you don’t have a surface slipping out from beneath you while you’re moving around. If you favor either of these forms of exercise, a textured mat is going to be key for you. 

How We Decide the Best

As we were creating this list, we wanted to make sure it catered to both strength and conditioning athletes and yogis alike. While versatility was key, we also considered durability, price, texture, and cushion before picking our favorites. 

Texture 

Since texture is a huge concern when it comes to safety, it was a huge concern to us when making this list. Texture provides grip, and grip is key for stability in both HIIT movements and yoga. Without a solid grip, you run the risk of falling out of a yoga pose or slipping on the mat while you’re jumping through HIIT movements. 

While some of these picks are more textured than others, they all have non-slip properties. Rest assured that whichever mat you choose off this list, you’ll be getting a product that will keep you safe throughout any movements where slippage is of concern. 

Cushion

Just as texture is a concern for safety, so is cushion. Cushion is, of course, just nice to have for comfort purposes, but it is also imperative for keeping your joints protected — especially during high impact exercises. The more time you spend jumping around, the more cushion you should have on your mat. Likewise, if you’re just doing yoga, you’re probably going to want to feel your poses a little more and therefore, will not want as much cushion. We’ve included options as thin as 3mm and as thick as 1.25 inches, so you can pick the proper cushion for your preferred exercise.

Price

We know everyone is on a different budget, so we kept that in mind while making this list. You’ll find mats on the lower end of the price range, under $20, all the way up to over $500 for flooring. Since most individual mats tend to be between $20 and $100, we have included quality picks at varying price points in that range. Comp mats and flooring are much more expensive and put themselves in an entirely different category, but within that category, we have also included options that range from around $100 up to that $500 mark. No matter your budget, we’ve secured a high-quality pick for you. 

Final Word

A good exercise mat should help improve your fitness and flexibility, not be an obstacle. Being educated on the subtle differences between mats and which types are more suitable for you can make shopping so much easier. What kind of cushioning do I need for my particular exercise routine? Do I need something longer to accommodate lateral movements, or will an average-sized mat do the trick? 

Remember to look for an option that will match your particular needs, rather than choosing the sleek option that will have you feeling the most suave as you walk home from the gym. With workout style, texture, and cushioning in mind, snagging the right pick off this list should be a breeze. 

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