Both horse stall mats and gym mats are widely used floor coverings that are preferred for their heavy-duty and versatile working. Another major similarity among the two is the fact that both are designed with rubber, however the rest of features and functionalities are quite different. And it goes without saying that it’s really important to be aware of all to make suitable decisions.
If you’ve also been in the search of a perfect matting for any crucial or commercial-grade setting or let’s say you’re torn between the choices of horse stall mats and gym mats, PVC Vinyl Flooring has got an incredibly interesting piece of information for you. Our buying guide contains streamlined descriptions of the features, pros and cons of both the matting options.
Horse Stall Mats In Comparison To Gym Floor Mats | Benefits, Applications And More
For your convenience, we’ve mentioned all the structural and utility details of horse stall mats and gym floor mats across a range of aspects. This will help you determine the right nature of both and whether or not you should consider getting them for your desired purposes.
Construction And Profile
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Horse Stall Mats
Horse stall mats feature recycled crumb rubber manufacturing (mostly from tires) and are quite heavyweight. Oftentimes, they are also made of high-density EVA foam and can be vulcanized as well. Their thickness ranges between ¾ inches and 1 inch and they come in multiple sizes starting from 4 ft x 6 ft and reaching all the way to 12 ft x 12 ft.
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Gym Floor Mats
Gym floor mats are primarily made with rubber but can also feature foam, PVC, vinyl and even fabric as construction materials. Their weight varies with types and the thickness is usually between ¼ inches and 1 inch. The most common thickness of gym mats is ⅜ inches. Their sizes vary greatly with the type and extent of usage.
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This aspect will be a tie as the structure of both mats can effectively cater to different requirements.
Appearance And Versatility
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Horse Stall Mats
Since designed primarily for horse stalls and farms, these mats have rough, rigged and textured surfaces, hence not very attractive to look at. Their structures are usually big and bulky with an average level of comfort provision. Besides, they come with a pungent smell of rubber, but it fades with time.
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Gym Floor Mats
As gym floor mats have wider personal and professional uses, they come in a range of attractive designs and profiles. Their surfaces are smooth and one can find many specialized versions depending on the activity they wish to indulge in, such as yoga or intense workouts. They are soft and comfy to step and be on and have a smooth surface.
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Gym Mats are the option to go for, in case you particularly want a matting which is vibrant and aesthetically pleasing.
Extent Of Heavy-dutiness
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Horse Stall Mats
Mats for stalls are extremely heavy-duty and hard-wearing and can resist all levels of foot
traffic and impact damage. This also makes them a perfect choice for commercial gyms and intense exercises on an individual level. Moreover, as they have a higher thickness, they offer excellent shock absorption and the textured surfaces provide great grips.
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Gym Floor Mats
Whether or not gym rubber mats are sturdy and hard-wearing depends on their type, meaning the extent of resilience varies with the usage. If you get thinner mats, they won’t be able to put up with a lot of foot traffic, impact and accidents. If good grip and traction are your major requirements, you’ll need to get particular versions made for weightlifting.
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Horse Stall Mats lead in this regard, as they are more resilient, heavy-duty and can withstand all kinds of wear and tear.
Level Of Durability
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Horse Stall Mats
Horse stall mats are known for their extreme durability, as their primary purpose is to work as floor treatments for horses. This way, they are able to withstand the impact of heavy equipment and excessive plus intense movements. The credit for a remarkable resilience leading to greater longevity also goes to the thickness of these mats.
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Gym Floor Mats
Again, the durability levels of mats for gyms depend on the kind you get. Specialized heavy-duty options can offer a decent level of durability, but you cannot expect thinner versions to last long or even stay the same under intense usage scenarios. Thinner gym mats are also likely to show signs of different damages such as tears, abrasions or cracks.
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Horse Stall Mats make a more durable matting, due to their resilient and thick structures.
Requirements Of Maintenance
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Horse Stall Mats
Stall mats can be easily cleaned with soapy water and do not require any specific cleaning or maintenance products and procedures. As they are made of thick rubber, they have a high resistance against stains. However, their deep cleaning is much likely to require a lot of effort as they are heavyweight with textured surfaces which trap dirt and dust.
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Gym Floor Mats
Gym floors are generally considered easy to maintain, however, they also come with specific cleaning requirements like dedicated agents, depending on the type. Plus, they are more quick at absorbing liquids, hence highly prone to staining and need to be addressed frequently. Still, their lighter profiles make it easy to perform deep cleanups.
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This aspect will be a tie too, as both the mats are easy to deal with in most cases but can be high-maintenance under some circumstances.
Areas Of Application
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Horse Stall Mats
These mats are foremostly designed for stalls and stables in order to comfort animals and also to protect and maintain the floors underneath. Since they are very heavy-duty, they also have various other applications such as usage in garages, entryways, workshops, outdoor spaces, basements, sports facilities and multiple other areas.
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Gym Floor Mats
The primary purpose of these mats is to provide comfort and cushioning during workouts and to prevent discomfort and injuries. They have abundant uses ranging from fitness activities to recreational ones. Moreover, they can be used as a regular floor covering for insulation, noise reduction and safety enhancing purposes.
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Both floor mats fulfill a broad range of purposes and can be used in many ways other than their major objectives.
Pricing And Cost-effectivity
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Horse Stall Mats
Horse stall mats are usually quite affordable and their high longevity offers a good value for money. Moreover, they are generally sold in bulk packs at budget-friendly rates and one can benefit from this large, thick and hard-wearing matting in many areas. But, their installation is not easy and most of the time you need to pay for professional services.
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Gym Floor Mats
The pricing of gym mats depends on their type and style. This means you can get both budget-friendly options for basic uses and more costly, opulent choices for high-end requirements. However, even expensive gym mats are likely to get damaged ahead of time, which means they do not offer a very good or impressive level of cost-effectivity.
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Horse Stall Mats are the ultimate winner as they are cheap and at the same extremely value-for-money as well. Plus, their multipurpose functionality also makes them a better matting to invest in, offering extensive benefits in the long run.
In The End
Choosing the right kind of floor mats is the first step to creating a space that’s equally comfortable and useful for just about any kind of purpose. And when it comes to matting choices, horse stall mats and gym floor mats are amongst the most popular and heavy-duty options. However, not every choice can be suitable for a certain requirement or setting, which leads to the need of learning prior to making any decisions. Ultimately, the best choice will be defined according to your unique requirements. We hope that you get all your desired answers in the aforementioned precise info and find it easy to go for the most favorable choices.
