Crash Mat Advice

Kate O started this discussion · 3/27/2014

I've read a lot of the discussions here about crash mats, and thanks to old posts I've found this website which looks pretty good: http://poledancemat.co.uk/sales.html I am planning to go for the 4 feet diameter rather than the 6 feet, due to price and storage, but I'm torn between the 4 inch and the 6. I've heard that 5 inch mats are a good thickness, so surely 1 inch either side won't make much difference - the frugal girl in me says get the 4 but I kind of think the 6 might be worth it. Thoughts?

13 replies

TLizzard · 3/27/2014
I got a 4 and it is plenty for what I need and is very cushy. The pole studios I go to have both and the 4 has worked fine.
yrngrl · 3/28/2014
I have a 5 inch mat, and I love it. I've deliberately fallen and didn't feel a thing! The best part is having it has made me less afraid to try new moves that I know I should be strong enough for.
Tigerschic041721 · 3/28/2014
Lucky you are in the UK I really wanted a lulu mat but shipping was way too pricey to the US....anyway maybe this will help you decide from what they told me: The 1" protects for falls up to 2 metres and the 8" protects up to 4 metres. This is for the lulu mat but I assume it will apply for most mats. I ended up getting a yoga direct mat on amazon because it was the closest in diameter to the x-stage (lulu's is the exact size one reason I wanted it!) and round in case you land funny no worrying about cutting corners....I was more than pleased with the yoga direct mat in the 4" thickness I don't wish I'd gotten anything thicker and according to the above statement it seems that 4" thickness will provide plenty of protection for the average pole (under 10 feet). Hope this helps!
Kate O · 3/28/2014
That is helpful, thanks! My teacher has mats from this same website and she has recommended I go for the thickest. Hmm…
Kate O · 3/28/2014
Jesus Christ the Lulu mat is £485!!! How can they possibly justify that?! You could buy 3 Xpole Sport poles for that with money to spare!!
Amani · 3/28/2014
I have a 4 inch x5 foot from amazon for $250. I love it. It saves me whenever I need it. Just search "pole crash mat" on amazon.com and it will come up. Good luck.
Might Grip · 3/28/2014
Mighty Grip is still offering 10% off to Studio Veena members for our Dance Mats. We have both square and round. Use coupon code Veena01 www.mightygrip.com
jsheridan · 3/29/2014
I have the 4" Mighty grip mat, and I highly recommend it! Not too expensive, but I thought it was better quality than the yoga direct. Granted, I have a studio so it needs to hold up more, but I love it. And it ships really fast for less than the others I have seen.
Kate O · 3/29/2014
Thanks everyone, I'm in the UK though so what's the situation with delivery for the Mighty Grip mat? I think I might end up going with the 6 inch one from poledancemat.co.uk for price/delivery reasons, they are recommended by my teacher and I've used them in class before and I reckon it might be worth spending a little extra for the thickest one. I'll just have to sacrifice a takeaway or two to cover the difference :P
Beckypolegirl · 3/29/2014
I got my mat through a website called ceetax and I love it. Good quality and certainly cushions any falls ;)
Might Grip · 3/29/2014
At this time we can only ship the smallest mat outside the U.S. That would be 4Ft. X 4Ft. X 2In. thick. All the other sized mats must be shipped via either UPS, FEDEX, or DHL and the costs are outrageous for shipping outside the U.S. We are working with some private shippers to see if we can find a more reasonable cost of shipping outside the U.S. Joel
mwilsonstorey1589 · 3/30/2014
I am a very lucky girl in that I have 2 Lulu mats. (I did get them 2nd hand tho) I got the 1 inch first which I can't possibly see is enough for a 2 meter fall - and then the thick one which I think is 6 inches. Both are 6 foot wide and personally I would say width is important too as the 4 foot ones don't cover too much space when you are falling down! The thick lulu is quite firm so standing on it you don't squash down into into it as much as some of the other mats so I find it easier to invert & kick up off the mat than some of the cheaper mats. I did source some mats for my teacher & they were £97 delivered. I will find the seller & a pic & try and put them up - I'm in the UK
mwilsonstorey1589 · 3/30/2014
These are the mats but on eBay he has them with a buy it now of £145 but if you email him & ask what's the best price he will prob do a deal. We ordered 3 and they came up £97 each delivered.