Treadmills can leave indentations and scratches on your floor in addition to vibrations and noise. This only gets worse with the intensity of your running.
What Should You Put Under A Treadmill?
A treadmill mat is a smart investment for your machine.
Here are the best treadmill mats:
Why You Need a Mat for a Treadmill?
The reason why you need a mat for your treadmill is because it reduces noise, protects the floor from damage and scratches, and helps prolong the life of your treadmill by preventing carpet fibers and dust from collecting underneath.
If carpet fibers and dust work their way under the belt and into the mechanical parts. This may create additional friction and overheating and may shorten the life of your treadmill.
The moving parts actually create an electrostatic charge that attracts dust particles. These moving parts may also drip small amounts of lubricants that can stain flooring. A quality mat will reduce the amount of dust and fibers under the machine and also prevent stains from lubricants.
Factors to consider when getting a protective mat:
- The Size: Make sure it is sizeable enough to accommodate the whole machine and protect from grime and oil.
- Thickness is important: Thicker mats are the best for use with heavier treadmills or if you exercise every day. They absorb more impact.
- Material is important too: the best mat material is rubber or Vinyl. They are eco-friendly and better shock absorbers.
Best Treadmill Mat for Carpet
What to Put Under a Treadmill on Carpet?
If your treadmill will be used in a carpeted room, I recommend the TreadMat 30GS, produced in the USA by SuperMats Inc (Amazon). This mat will not only reduce noise but will also protect your carpet from damage. When you consider the weight of a treadmill, combined with the weight of the user, it’s easy to understand why the treadmill legs leave permanent indentations in carpeting. After time, this friction can even wear away the carpet fibers and backing, leaving a permanent hole in your carpeting.
Size and Color
The TreadMat measures 3 feet by 8.5 feet so it’s big enough for large treadmills and also for many rowing machines, elliptical trainers, cross-country trainers, and other types of fitness equipment. Black is the only color available.
Construction
The TreadMat is made of a high-density vinyl composite that is durable and waterproof. This rubber-like material does not contain heavy metals or harmful chemicals so you won’t need to worry about having it in your home if you have children or pets. It also performs well on hard floors.
Best Treadmill Mat For Hardwood Floors
What to Put Under a Treadmill on Hardwood Floor?
Although hardwood floors are beautiful and easy to maintain, they can also be easily scratched or dented by heavy objects or impacts. To protect hardwood floors my top pick is the Puzzle Exercise Mat by BalanceFrom (Amazon). It is designed specifically for hard, flat surfaces.
Size and Color
The Puzzle Mat is made of six lightweight, interlocking tiles that easily snap together like puzzle pieces. Each tile measures 24 inches square and is made the same on all sides so you can customize the shape of the mat. Two thicknesses are available – one-half inch and three-quarters inch. A thicker mat provides more noise reduction and more support for the frame of the treadmill.
Assembling the pieces two wide by three long will accommodate most treadmills. If you have a very large treadmill you may need a longer mat, perhaps up to 7 feet. The Puzzle Mat comes with 12 24-inch strips that create a finished edge. The total coverage of one mat is 24 square feet. You can choose from three colors – blue, gray or black.
Construction
The Puzzle Mat is made of high-density EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) foam and provides a durable cushion between your treadmill and your flooring. This textured foam material is water-resistant, easy to clean with water and mild soap, and won’t slide on hard floors. It is soft and flexible like rubber and effective in reducing noise. This mat will also help compensate for vibrations caused by placing the treadmill on a surface that isn’t perfectly level.
Best Anti-Vibration Pad
Use treadmill Anti-Vibration pads. I personally recommend UPE Group Anti-vibration pads (Amazon) designed for Indoor and Outdoor applications such as: (Air Compressors, HVAC, Stereo Equipment, Treadmills, and more).
Do Treadmill Mats Really Reduce Noise?
Absolutely treadmill mats reduce noise! A high-quality mat placed under the treadmill should absorb or dampen the vibrations and thereby reduce the noise. Rubber mats, both natural and synthetic, are a popular choice since they are soft and elastic enough to absorb vibrations but still strong enough to withstand the weight of your treadmill. Other synthetic materials, such as vinyl and foam, also perform well because they have properties similar to rubber.
Is Your Treadmill Loud
Would you agree that a quiet treadmill is less stressful than a noisy one? Loud noise is not only stressful but also distracting.
- Is your treadmill so loud that it’s hard for you to focus on your workout?
- Do your ears ring when you’re finished?
- Are family members complaining about the noise or leaving the house to avoid it?
- Do your pets run for the door or try to hide when you turn on the machine?
- Are your neighbors banging on the wall or the front door?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then it’s probably time to make some improvements to your workout space.
A treadmill operating at its optimum is usually quieter than one needing maintenance or repair. Less noise equals less vibration and the result is reduced wear and tear on your treadmill and on your flooring. A well-maintained machine on a quality mat will help protect both your treadmill and your home.
Why Does My Treadmill Make a Noise?
Treadmills are noisy because the motor and belt vibrate and these vibrations travel to the walls and floor. The impact of your stride when you walk or run on a treadmill produces more vibrations and adds to the noise.
Many factors contribute to the noise level created by treadmills. A few things to consider for home workouts are:
- Craftsmanship: Vibrations are minimized in a well-constructed treadmill. The result is more efficient operation and less noise.
- User: The heavier the bodyweight of the user the more force is generated with each stride. More force equals more vibration.
- Floor Surface: Is the floor level? An uneven surface will cause more vibration and the result is more noise and more wear and tear on your machine and flooring.
- Treadmill Belt: A squeaking treadmill can indicate your belt needs lubrication. If that’s the case I recommend using a 100% Silicone Treadmill Belt Lubricant (Amazon).
- Location: The type of subfloor and the proximity of the treadmill to walls will also affect noise output. Some floors vibrate more than others creating more noise. If you place your treadmill in the corner of a room, the noise may bounce off the walls.
Conclusion
I hope my recommendations will help you choose the right mat for your home – one that will help protect your treadmill and flooring, and your hearing and also important relationships. Whatever mat you choose, the most important thing is to use your treadmill to get and stay fit!