Living Fit Gym Mat Review (2024)
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Have you ever tried working out on tiles or hardwood floors? If you have and you didn’t lose your balance, congrats! It’s doable (technically), but it’s not recommended, and the same goes for carpets, rugs, and anything else that’s not an actual gym floor.
Our Living Fit gym mat review is just what you need if you have a home gym that doesn’t have a proper gym mat or floor. Although this aspect of home gyms is overlooked most of the time, it’s very important for a safe, hygienic, effective workout setup.
![living fit gym mat rubber review](https://torokhtiy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/living-fit-gym-mat-rubber-review-1024x683.jpg)
Living Fit Gym Mat Review Quick Summary
Living Fit is a relatively new brand, but they’re backed by a team with a lot of experience. The founder, Jay Perkins, has previously co-founded Kettlebell Kings, a brand that’s well-known for their exceptional service and quality products.
What you’re working out on matters more than you think, which means you shouldn’t be exercising on just anything. This gym mat is great, especially for home use, and you don’t need to use it just as a gym mat.
The mat that we’ve tested is rubber. This mat comes in a set of 4 pieces and each piece measures 19.09 inches by 19.09 inches. The thickness is decent – 0.4 inches gives you stability, but it wouldn’t hurt if it was thicker. There are straight edges included with every order, so the coverage is nice and seamless.
Its primary use is as a gym mat, of course, but you can also use it to create a safe playing space for kids in playrooms or basements, it’s good for outdoor decks, patios, even boats. It may not be ideal for commercial gyms, however, because it’s not the most durable mat out there, but it will do just fine in home settings.
The mat has spike-resistant properties, which is supposed to make it last very long and it should have self-healing properties. That sounds great on paper, but like previously mentioned, it’s not as durable as some other options on the market.
The good thing is that it comes with a 6-year warranty, so if anything happens to it in that timeframe, you’ll get a replacement.
It’s very easy to set it up because the pieces fit perfectly together, and they lock securely. They’re relatively lightweight and you need minimal effort to keep it clean.
This mat comes in a set of 4 pieces and each piece measures 19.09 inches by 19.09 inches.
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Who and What Is Living Fit Gym Mat For?
Since this is very versatile, there’s hardly anyone that this isn’t meant for. It fits in any home gym, playroom, basement, deck, patio… It’s not ideal for commercial settings, however, especially gyms.
Living Fit claims that, apart from commercial gyms, this will work for locker rooms and pet care facilities, but in reality, this won’t last too long in anything other than a home setting.
Its surface is not slippery so you’ll probably really enjoy using it and it will make your workouts a whole lot safer.
The Living Fit Gym Mat Review
1. Protection
Protection is decent. More than enough if you’re not planning on dropping super heavy weights from overhead on it. If you do that, the floor underneath the mat might get damaged. If you need a place to practice and focus on Olympic lifts you need to think about platform.
2. Material Quality
You can choose between rubber or EVA, and both are great, plus the pieces lock perfectly together. EVA fits better for warm-up zones, EVA is better for workout zone and we would recommend it as a base coverage for home gym.
3. Durability
After a while, you’ll notice some minor wear and tear, like indentations or surface wear. This won’t render it useless, so don’t worry about having to replace it as soon as it starts showing imperfections.
4. Maintenance
Gyms can be filled with all sorts of bacteria, so you need to make sure to keep your mat clean. The good news is you don’t need to do much to keep this mat clean. Wipe it down with a damp cloth or mild cleanser to remove any sweat or debris and that’s it.
5. Ease of Assembly
There’s practically nothing to it. All you do is lay the pieces out and connect them. Easy-peasy! There are also an extra straight edges that cover sides that do not interlock with other tiles.
6. Value for Money
Good not great, that’s the best way to describe it. This isn’t an expensive mat but it’s not the most affordable either and it’s not crazy durable, so you’ll need to figure it out for yourself whether it’s worth it or not.
Living Fit Gym Mat Alternatives
Living Fit Gym Mat | American Floor Mats Fit-Lock | Dinoflex Rubber King Tiles | |
---|---|---|---|
Best For | General flooring, warm-ups | Weight rooms, fitness centers, home gym | High-traffic areas, commercial use |
Material | EVA or rubber | Commercial-grade, recycled rubber | High-quality rubber |
Size | 19.09’’ x 19.09’’, 10mm (0.4’’) thickness | 24’’ x 24’’, 0.38’’ thickness | 19’’ x 19’’, 6mm (0.24’’) thickness |
Shape | Square with interlocking edges | Square with interlocking edges | Square with interlocking edges |
Special Features | Straight edges for non-interlocking sides | Heat-resistant, mold and mildew resistant | Durable, suitable for heavy equipment |
Weight | 22 lbs per set (4-pack) | 8 lbs per tile (4-pack) | 28.6 lbs per pack (10-pack) |
Price Range Indicator | $$ | $$ | $$$ |
1. Living Fit Gym Mat Vs American Floor Mats Fit-Lock
This option is a bit thinner than the mat that Living Fit offers, but it’s made specially to absorb shock and pressure, which makes it great for heavy lifting and intense workouts because this type of flooring can prevent falls.
Despite being thinner, it does its job well. Living Fit mat focuses more on comfort and cushioning during workouts, while this one is better for more intense exercises because it absorbs impact better.
Both are super easy to install, and both have an interlocking design. Another thing they have in common is ease of maintenance. American Floor Mats Fit-Lock tiles come in only one material, and that’s rubber, which means it can have a bit of a smell when you first get it.
The biggest difference is in the price – the Living Fit mat is significantly cheaper.
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2. Living Fit Gym Mat Vs Dinoflex Rubber King Tiles
The second alternative comes from Dinoflex. Their Rubber King tiles are made of, like the name would suggest, rubber. They are highly customizable, and you can cut out the flat-edge pieces with a knife to tailor the coverage.
You’ll probably notice that they don’t sit perfectly flush, and the matting surface has a bit of play, so be really careful when you’re cutting the edges off. Living Fit’s mat is easier to work with because the tiles fit together perfectly and there’s no play.
The main selling point of Rubber King tiles is that they absorb sounds, which means you can jump rope at 4AM without annoying anyone. Living Fit’s mat isn’t as impressive in this aspect.
Much like the previous alternative, this one is also more expensive than what Living Fit offers, so before you decide to invest in these, you may want to give something cheaper a try first.
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FAQ
Is This Gym Flooring Soundproofing Enough?
Yes, it is.
Is This Gym Flooring Sweat-Resistant?
Yes, it is.
Is This Gym Flooring Material Slip-Resistant?
Yes – provides good traction and stays in place without any adhesive.
How Does It Face the Dropping With Weights From Overhead or Front Rack Position?
The flooring itself handles dropping the weights very well. However, it is not thick enough to protect the surface beneath when dropping weights. I would suggest building a platform on top if you plan to drop weights.
What Is It Good For? Warm-up Zone? Lifting Zone? Other Suggestions?
This flooring is excellent as the base flooring for any gym.
Is It Good Enough to Be a One Layer for the Home Gym? Or Should It Be Combined With Others?
It is good enough for one layer unless dropping weights. If dropping weights, you should build a platform in order to protect the surface beneath the flooring.
Conclusion
And that’s that on the Living Fit gym mat; now you know all there is to know about it! To sum up – it’s excellent for home gyms, just don’t drop any weights on it. It doesn’t cost too much, and the material will hold up well over time. All in all – a good buy and if you don’t already have a gym floor, what are you waiting for?
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References:
- Bethany Keenan, K. Hallas, Amy Drahota, and S. L. Evans, "A comparison of floor surfaces for injury prevention in care settings: impact forces and horizontal pulling force required to move wheeled equipment," Osteoporosis International 31, no. 12 (2020).
- Nabanita Mukherjee, Scot E. Dowd, Andy Wise, Sapna Kedia, Varun Vohra, and Pratik Banerjee, "Diversity of Bacterial Communities of Fitness Center Surfaces in a U.S. Metropolitan Area," International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11, no. 12 (2014): 12544–12561.
- Photos made by Torokhtiy Media Team.
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Author: Jon Alvarez
Gym Owner / Coach
Jon is Torokhtiy Level II and USA Weightlifting National Coach. He is taking up cycling already 10 years and is also competing in triathlon events. He is the owner and Head Coach of Group III Barbell gym in Madison, WI for 5 years. If having enough time, Jon is still working out and is competing in weightlifting events.
Still have questions after reading our article? Unlock your full potential by engaging with our experts and community! Don’t hesitate — leave a comment below and Jon Alvarez will provide a personalized answer and insights to help you reach your goals.