5 Best Ab Mats in 2024
Reviewed by:Â Oleksiy Torokhtiy (21 years of Oly Lifting experience)
A fitness ab mat is a piece of equipment that you can use to improve your sit-ups experience. It’s essentially a board with a 30 degree arch covered with foam or any other material that will go easy on your back.So what’s the best ab mat? In this article, I’ll review my top 5 options to help make your decision easier.
I’ll also show you why an ab mat could be a wonderful addition to your gym routine,explain under what circumstances an ab mat becomes essential for you, and how best to use it for maximum effectiveness. I’ll also tell you what to look out for when shopping for an ab mat to ensure you don’t waste time and money for nothing. Are you ready? Awesome, let’s dive in.
In a hurry?
In a hurry and can’t keep reading? How about you check out the Yes4All Ab Exercise Mat.
Starting our list of the best ab mats is Yes4All Ab Exercise Mat. It comes with a 30 degree arch and a pad that protects your tailbone from stress and supports your back throughout your routine.
Top 5 Best Ab Mats Reviewed
- Yes4All Ab Exercise Mat — Top Pick
- Rogue Fitness AbMat
- Iron Bull Strength Abmat
- Power Guidance Ab Exercise Mat
- Elite Sportz Equipment Abmat
In this article, I will show you some popular plain protein powder on the market. I have compared all options by the most important characteristics: package, taste, ingredients, blending, and price-quality ratio. Find a brief summary in the table below and scroll down for the most interesting part!
Product | Total | Design | Support | Durability | Price/Quality |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes4All AbMat | 40 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Rogue Fitness | 39 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Iron Bull | 38 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
Power Guidance | 37 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
Elite Sportz Equipment | 36 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
1. Yes4All Ab Exercise Mat — Top Pick
- Product dimensions: 15.2 × 12.75 × 4.1 inches
- Weight: 29 ounces
- Material: PVC and PE foam
- Color: yellow, red, green, black, orange
The Yes4All Ab Exercise Mat is my best mat for sit ups. It’s a top quality mat made from PVC material and PE foam filling for maximum support and comfort. Furthermore, it comes with a 30 degree arch and a pad that protects your tailbone from stress and supports your back throughout your routine.It keeps you from slipping during exercises and is designed to fold for convenient storage and portable use.
Design
This ab mat is designed to provide support and comfort.It’s designed to help you maximize the effectiveness of your workout by giving you a full range of motion and targeting your abdominal, back, and oblique muscles. It’s also designed to fold for easy use and storage. You can use it anywhere and for different sit-up movements, and still enjoy its full benefits.
Support
With its tailbone protecting pad and 30 degree arch, the Yes4All ab mat provides excellent support for your tailbone and lower back. It’s made with top quality foam to give you a sturdy and firm support that’s still soft enough to keep your skin safe from bruising or blistering. The Yes4All ab mat is your go-to for quality support.
Durability
The Yes4All ab mat is built with top quality foam that won’t lose shape or fall apart no matter how much you use it. There’s also a PVC finish to provide you with a comfortable, non-slip surface. It’s a heavy duty mat, able to carry more than 300 pounds of weight without flinching. It will serve you well for a very long time.
Price/Quality
The Yes4All is, without any doubts, my best ab mat for sit-ups because it’s the complete package. It not only offers premium features and benefits, it doesn’t cost you much at all. You get excellent value for your money with this product. It will serve you well for a long time.
It’s a top quality mat made from PVC material and PE foam filling for maximum support and comfort.
Positives:
Could be better:
2. Rogue Fitness AbMat
- Product dimensions: 14.5 × 11.75 × 2.75 inches
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Material: polyurethane foam
- Color: Black
My second favorite entry on this list is the soft but firm Rogue Fitness ab mat. It's built with medical grade, closed cell material that makes this mat an absolute joy to use. It resists moisture and is extra dense to resist any flattening over time.
Design
Rogue Fitness have designed this mat as one piece, arched to 30 degrees and contoured professionally to give you the best experience, no matter what workout you're doing. Rogue Fitness have really outdone themselves with this one.
Support
The Rogue Fitness ab mat is quite soft to touch, but quite firm and sturdy when you use it. It's arched ergonomically and built to keep your back in the correct shape when you move. With its antibacterial, closed cell foam, you can be sure your back is getting premium treatment.
Durability
Rogue Fitness is also designed to last a long time. It's made with medical grade foam that will not flatten or tear under use. If you want an ab mat for a long time, you can't go wrong with Rogue Fitness.
Price/Quality
The Rogue Fitness ab mat costs more than the Yes4All mat, but still offers good value for money. It's effective, easy on your skin, and durable. It provides everything you want in your ab mat.
It's built with medical grade, closed cell material that makes this mat an absolute joy to use.
Positives:
Could be better:
3. Iron Bull Strength Abmat
- Product dimensions: 14.88 x 13.43 x 3.58 inches
- Weight: 0.6 pounds
- Material: ‎Foam, Polyurethane, Iron
- Color: Black
The Iron Bull Strength ab mat is built to help you maximize your training output, with top-notch contouring that gives your back good support and comfort. It's made with a high density foam core and a non slip polyurethane vinyl finish.
Design
The Iron Bull is designed to be ergonomically arched, with a top height of 3 inches. This design allows you to focus on your workouts and allows you to get a full range of motion. It's expertly made and very effective.
Support
With its quality material and ergonomic design, you're guaranteed to get good support for your back while working out . It protects your back and helps keep you in a proper form. The non slip polyurethane vinyl finish also keeps your skin comfortable and ensures your sweat doesn't cause you any issues.
Durability
The Iron Bull Strength ab mat is made from heavy-duty foam with a polyurethane vinyl finish to ensure quality and durability. Unlike several cheap materials that fall apart or flatten after use, the Iron Bull mat stays firm and fresh.
Price/Quality
You can get the Iron Bull Strength mat at a competitive price that won't make a massive dent on your bank account. You get durability, topnotch support, and excellent design all for a good price. It's good value for money, and you won't regret the investment.
The Iron Bull Strength ab mat is built to help you maximize your training output, with top-notch contouring that gives your back good support and comfort.
Positives:
Could be better:
4. Power Guidance Ab Exercise Mat
- Product dimensions: 14.72 x 11,81 x 2,76 inches
- Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Material: Foam, PVC leather finish
- Color: Black
The Power Guidance Ab Exercise Mat is only the second ab mat with tailbone protector on this list. It comes with a high density foam core and features a non-slip PVC leather finish. This mat is built to give you back support and full range motion.
Design
This foldable, ergonomically arched ab mat is designed to provide firm support for your back, keep you comfortable during workouts, and last a long time. You get full range motion, which makes your exercises much more effective, and an extra pad to protect your tailbone.
Support
Its ergonomic design and tailbone protecting pad make the Power Guidance ab exercise mat a joy to use. It gives your back topnotch support and keeps your form intact as you workout. The material is tough enough to stay firm no matter what movements you're doing, but soft enough to maintain comfort.
Durability
With the heavy-duty materials used to make this mat, you already know it won't wear off after a short time. This mat is one you'll be using for a long, long time. The foam core and PVC leather finish are professionally done and excellently crafted.
Price/Quality
The Power Guidance ab mat is more expensive than its fellow tailbone protecting mat, the Yes4All mat. That said, it still offers you quality value for your money. If you make the investment, you'll enjoy smooth and effective workouts for a long time.
The Power Guidance Ab Exercise Mat is only the second ab mat with tailbone protector on this list. It comes with a high density foam core and features a non-slip PVC leather finish.
Positives:
Could be better:
5. Elite Sportz Equipment Abmat
- Product dimensions: 14.5 x 12.32 x 3.11 inches
- Weight: 1.7 pounds
- Material: Foam
- Color: Black
Our final entry on the list is another good cushion for sit-ups. Elite Sportz abmat comes with a high-quality foam core and a gym grade vinyl finish to ensure quality and comfort. Its ergonomic design helps you achieve a full range of motion to reach your goals faster. It also comes with a free resistance band and access to a training video to help you to start .
Design
Like the other mats on this list, the Elite Sportz mat is designed to keep your back arched inwards and give you a full range of motion. The ergonomic design is excellently done for maximum effectiveness.
Support
The Elite Sportz mat is designed to give you quality support, and it's built with the right materials for it. It's heavy-duty foam and non-slip vinyl finish make it tough and comfortable at the same time to give you a seamless experience. When using this mat, you can forget about everything else and focus on getting the most out of your exercises.
Durability
The heavy duty foam core will not wear, flatten, or tear, no matter how much you use it. The non- slip vinyl finish also makes it comfortable to use and prevents moisture from complicating your exercise.
Price/Quality
The Elite Sportz mat is a bit more expensive than some entries on this list, but you still get good value for your money. It's good enough to serve you well, and it's strong enough to serve you long.
Elite Sportz abmat comes with a high-quality foam core and a gym grade vinyl finish to ensure quality and comfort.
Positives:
Could be better:
What are the Benefits of Ab Mats?
Now you know what ab mats provide the best sit-ups back support, but you might still be undecided whether to go for one or not. So what does an ab mat do? What are some benefits that might help push you over the fence? Let’s find out…
✅ Proper Form
When doing workouts like sit-ups and crunches, it can be difficult to maintain proper form. This is often because your back tends to bulge out instead of arching inwards. It can be difficult to keep your back arched as you work out, especially if you’re a beginner. An abs mat takes care of that.
Tips From the Champ
An abs mat provides support for your lower back, your tailbone specifically. Its 30 degree arch essentially helps push your back inward, so you can attain proper form. This makes your workout more effective and keeps you safe by reducing the stress on your spine.
Olympic Weightlifting Champion
✅ Full Range of Motion
Ab mats also offer you a full range of motion. Don’t worry, I’ll explain. Having a full range of motion simply means you can move as far as anatomically possible. When you use an ab mat, the 30 degree arch allows your spine and pelvis a full swing in either direction. This means you engage all your abdominal and back muscles every time you work out.
✅ Core Stabilization
With your entire group of muscles engaged, and your form perfected, your workouts will become more effective. Workouts like sit-ups and crunches are targeted at strengthening your core, and you get that much faster with an ab mat.
When do You Need an Ab Mat?
Now you know why you should even bother getting an ab mat. That said, there’s no use getting one if you really don’t need it. This leads to a new question. How can you know whether you require one or not? I can help you with that.
Ab mats are essential for anyone who does, among others, the following workouts:
- Sit-ups
- Side crunches
- Sit-up twists
- Reverse crunches
If you’re a fitness athlet, ab mats are almost essential for you because these movements are part of most WODs. If you’re not a fitness athlete but still looking to try out these movements, an ab mat will make your experience so much better.
What to Look Out for in Ab Mats?
If you’re still reading, it means you’ve decided to get an ab mat, and I couldn’t be happier for you. The next problem you have to tackle is picking the right ab mat for yourself. To help you make the best decision, here are some important things to look out for in your prospective ab mat.
1. Design
The design is an essential feature to look out for. A good ab mat will be designed to be ergonomic and arched at 30 degrees to provide good support. It's even better if it comes with a pad for tailbone protection. You need to have an ab may with a well-rounded and contoured design to ensure you get the best support and comfort.
2. Support
The toughness and design of the ab mat will give you an indication of how good the support will be. Support is the main benefit of an ab mat, so what good is your mat if you don't get what you bought it for? An extra tailbone protecting pad also helps beef up the support.
3. Durability
The materials used are usually the chief indicator of durability. You want an ab mat made from a tough but gentle material that can absorb all the pressure from your workouts without being harsh on your skin. Durability is a must-have for any purchase, and all the options on our list are top in that area.
4. Price/Quality
Your budget is probably the most important consideration to make. You want to find a good balance between low cost and high-quality to get the very best value for your money. Recognizable brands will probably have more expensive options that are awesome to go for, if you can afford them. If you can't, find a good alternative brand that offers you a warranty.
How to Use an Ab Mat?
- Set up your ab mat
If you have a foldable ab mat, open it up and set it down on the floor where you'd like to work out. If it's not foldable, still set it up wherever you want to work out. Make sure the floor isn't too solid on your back, especially if you're not using a foldable mat. - Get yourself into position
Sit with the ab mat touching your lower back. If it's a foldable mat, you want the arched part to hit your back as you sit down. Of course, remember to keep good form depending on what workout you'll be doing. - Enjoy your workout
If you're well set up, the arched part of the ab mat should be placed at the lowest part of your back. This makes the middle of your back the main target area, and you can lie down and come back up as your workout requires.
FAQs
Is an Ab Mat Worth It?
Absolutely! Ab mats provide your back with good support and allow you a full range of motion. This makes your workouts safer, more comfortable, and much more effective. I definitely recommend getting one.
How Thick should a Mat be for an Ab Workout?
It's important that your ab mat isn't too thick, as that could arch your back in too much. If it's too slim, you won't get much support. You need a 30 degree arch in with a thickness of about 2 to 4 inches
Is a Thicker Exercise Mat Better?
Not necessarily. If your mat is too thick, that could be too much for your back and might result in bruising or pain. It's better to maintain a good balance to get the best experience possible.
Conclusion
Now you know the best ab mat to go for. You also know exactly why you need an ab mat and what to look out for when shopping for one. Your pick will depend on your fitness goals and personal preference. My recommendation is the Yes4All Ab Exercise Mat, but any of the products on this list is still a good option.
Now it's your turn. Do you need an ab mat? Which of the options caught your interest the most? Is there anything you'd like me to add? Let's interact in the comments!
Also read:
- Sliders for Working Out
- Sweat Towels for Gym
- Best Gymnastic Rings
- Best Aerobic Steppers
- Best Ankle Straps For Cable Machine
- Best Pull up Tower
- How to Use Ab Roller
- Vibration Plate Exercises
- Core and Back Workout Program
- Best Easy Abs Workout for Women
- Nike Bumper Plates Review
References:
- How to do Sit-Up Twist // Exercise:
https://www.exercise.com/exercises/sit-up-twist/ - The Benefits of a Reverse Crunch and How to Do It Correctly // Healthline:
https://www.healthline.com/health/reverse-crunches
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Author: Ihor Shymechko
Pro Olympic Weightlifter, Coach
Best Results: Snatch – 208 kg,
C&J – 240 kg
Ihor has been a professional weightlifter since 1996, boasting over two decades of competition experience. His notable achievements include clinching the European Championship in 2009 and securing a silver medal in the 105kg division at the Senior World Championships in 2011. Ihor represented his country in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Olympics. After retiring from competitive weightlifting, he transitioned to coaching, leveraging his vast experience to guide athletes who now compete on both national and international stages.
Reviewed by: Oleksiy Torokhtiy
Olympic Weightlifting Champion
Best Results: Snatch – 200 kg,
C&J – 240 kg
Oleksiy Torokhtiy is a professional athlete boasting 20 years of experience in Olympic weightlifting. With multiple European and World titles under his belt, he has showcased his prowess in two Olympic Games (Beijing 2008 and London 2012). Upon concluding his illustrious career, Oleksiy dedicated himself to coaching. By 2022, he had conducted over 200 weightlifting seminars worldwide. He is the visionary behind an international sportswear and accessories brand known for its motto, “Warm Body Cold Mind.” Additionally, he is an esteemed author and the creator of a series of training programs and eBooks.
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