*While stall mats for the home are the #1 option for most, the Chicken explains why they weren’t the best option for him. He also gives some alternative recommendations.
An outline of this article includes:
Introduction
So you’re starting a home gym, and one of the first things to consider is, what will I be lifting on? This article will go over a couple of different options at different price points. Starting with a low-budget choice on concrete to possibilities for an unlimited budget, and then what I ended up going with.
Low Budget
First, let’s discuss the best options for the consumer who would preferably put their money towards the equipment instead of the floor it will be resting on. The absolute cheapest options are what is noted in the article headline, horse stall mats. Some of you may be surprised that interlocking foam tile flooring isn’t always more inexpensive than a ¾” 4×6′ piece of rubber, but here we are. Horse stall mats are widely considered the standard for home gym flooring; they will provide solid protection from deadlifts or any other exercise that would risk cracking the concrete of a basement or garage. Stall mats are also a good choice if lifting in a house or apartment complex; you can double them up to add extra noise control and padding.
So is that all? Not quite. We have other often overlooked things to consider regarding horse stall mats; many of us (myself included) have our home gyms in our basements. This is ideal as it is a cool area of the house that often has no purpose but to contain mechanical equipment and storage items. The main issue is that not all basements are waterproofed or finished spaces. Then, combined with the fact that horse stall mats are typically ribbed or grooved (their real purpose is to allow water and moisture to flow through them in a barn setting), what ends up happening is they become an ideal ecosystem to house crawling insects, spiders, and other unwanted pests. After noticing spiders in my house after never having any before, I decided to lift, clean, and exterminate what (to my surprise) had been growing underneath them. Although this is a somewhat specific situation, I felt it worth mentioning as not many people would consider this before buying stall mats. That being said, if you are lifting in a finished basement or a dry garage etc., stall mats may very well be the most cost-effective and efficient choice for your home gym flooring.
High Budget
Now for those consumers willing to spend the extra coin on their flooring, there as some fascinating options to consider. If we look at what is outfitted in commercial gyms, we typically will find seamless rubber flooring. This will come in a roll and is customizable to the user in colors, flake patterns, etc. Another option we have in this price range is astroturf. This is typically found in a larger facility where it could be a dedicated space for sprints, pushing a prowler, etc. – not exactly something most home gym owners would be able to do, but an excellent option to consider nonetheless.
My Choice
Now that we have discussed a few options, I will go over what I decided for my home gym. Initially, as many of you probably decided, I also went with the tried and true horse stall mats. As I explained previously, after I found several critters under the mats and started to make themselves comfortable around my gym, I decided to toss out the stall mats! What a difference, the area, smells better, and I haven’t seen a bug in weeks. Now, of course, for my deadlift and squatting areas, I still use the stall mats (with a plywood sub base to keep them high and dry) because the primary purpose of a home gym flooring is at the end of the day to protect the floor from the abuse of dropping weights on it.
Conclusion
So there we have it! The most common home gym flooring options and some examples of how they could work for you. I am sure most of you reading this will agree that horse stall mats are typically the way to go but now may see some reasons why you shouldn’t horse stall mat 😉
Bak bak,
Comments