Soft Mats
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Soft Landing Mats Buying Guide: How to find the right soft mat for your sports hall
Soft landing mats are used daily in school and club sports halls, in kindergartens and primary schools, as well as in bouldering gyms. They reliably absorb landings, cushion jumps from different heights, secure movement landscapes and practice areas, and serve as an anchor point or resting zone in mat games. Which soft mat is right for which use, and what you should look out for when buying, you’ll find in our Sport-Thieme buying guide:
- What is the purpose of a soft landing mat?
- How do soft landing mats differ from conventional gymnastics mats?
- Why are the top and bottom sides of a soft landing mat different?
- What is inside the core of a soft landing mat?
- Which accessories are useful for soft landing mats?
1. What is the purpose of a soft landing mat?
A soft landing mat is a highly shock-absorbing sports mat, mainly used to secure jumps, landings and falls and to help prevent injuries when dismounting from equipment or landing after a jump. Compared with classic gymnastics mats, it has a softer structure and absorbs impact forces much more effectively. This makes it ideal for use with gymnastics equipment, in movement landscapes and for playful movement activities.
Especially in schools and clubs, soft landing mats fulfil a dual role: they increase safety and at the same time expand the range of exercises in lessons or training. Depending on the model, they can be used for traditional apparatus gymnastics, children’s gymnastics or free movement activities.
The choice of mat should be based on the following criteria:
- Age group/body weight (primary vs. secondary level)
- Performance level of the pupils
- Type of movement task
- Jump or fall height
- Type of landing
To ensure maximum safety in gymnastics, a mat must provide optimal cushioning while still being firm enough. In principle, mats are divided into 10 types. Soft landing mats belong to types 7 and 8. The safety requirements for damping properties are: max. deceleration ≤ 35 or 20 g, penetration depth ≤ 185 or 250 mm and rebound height ≤ 25%.
You can find detailed information in our Mattentipps.
Our Sport-Thieme soft landing mats of types 7 and 8 are manufactured according to DIN EN 12503-1 and are suitable for exercises with a maximum fall height of 2 m. The so-called penetration depth describes how far the mat deforms under load. A greater penetration depth means the mat compresses more under pressure and therefore gives way more.
2. How do soft landing mats differ from conventional gymnastics mats?
The key difference lies in the cushioning behaviour. Soft landing mats are designed for higher shock absorption and softer landings. Gymnastics mats are firmer and better suited to general floor exercises, simple gymnastics or less impact-intensive movements.
The feeling underfoot also differs. On a gymnastics mat you usually stand more stably, while a soft landing mat yields more. This is exactly what you want for landings, but it can be less suitable for other types of exercises. That’s why a soft landing mat should always be used where its strong cushioning is really needed.
Good to know: For controlled dismounts, we recommend firmer low-level landing mats. They allow a safe landing in an upright stance. Soft landing mats and low-level landing mats can also be combined.3. Why are the top and bottom sides of a soft landing mat different?
This has a functional reason. The top side is optimised for use, cushioning and body contact. The underside is designed to ensure a stable position on the sports hall floor and to match the overall construction of the mat. Depending on the model, the surface, coating or structure is deliberately different.- Top side: Soft landing mats consist of a foam core and a protective cover made of PVC tarpaulin or gymnastics mat fabric. The top side is usually made of smooth tarpaulin fabric. This is pleasantly soft on the skin and extremely tear-resistant.
- Underside: The underside of a soft landing mat is often made of gymnastics mat fabric. This has particularly non-slip properties and makes landings from greater heights safer. Nubby gymnastics mat fabric is even more slip-resistant thanks to its special texture. Additional protection is provided by a special anti-slip underlay, available as an accessory.
4. What is inside the core of a soft landing mat?
Soft landing mats have a foam core surrounded by a tear-resistant, hard-wearing polyester tarpaulin cover. Sport-Thieme soft landing mats use a high-quality, elastic special foam RG 20 or RG 22. The density (RG) describes the quality of the foam core. Mats with a density of 20 (type 7) allow deeper sinking at the same compression hardness. In mats with RG 22, the foam content is higher than in RG 20 mats. This results in a higher mat weight and longer service life. Because the RG 22 soft landing mat is more durable, we recommend it for intensive use and for use by adults.
Good to know: You’ll find all details on area of use, application, cover and core in the product descriptions of your chosen mat.
5. Which accessories are useful for soft landing mats?
Accessories make everyday use of soft landing mats easier. Whether they are useful depends on where and how the mats are used. In sports halls with regular set-up and take-down, transport and protection are key. For longer distances, mat trolleys are a very practical addition.
Especially useful are:
- Transport trolleys for quick relocation.
- Protective covers or sleeves for clean storage.
- Wall brackets to save space and keep the equipment room tidy.
- Connecting elements such as hook-and-loop straps to join several mats so they lie securely side by side.
Do you have specific requirements for your soft landing mat or need information on use, delivery or replacement covers? Feel free to contact us!