Why should you place a treadmill mat under your treadmill? Treadmills, when in direct contact with your floor, are certain to create some friction while you work out and lead to noise. Also, when you work intensely, they seem to vibrate, adding an unpleasant experience.
However, when you place a treadmill mat underneath your machine, you can not only protect your floor from scratches but also reduce the noise caused during motion. Similarly, the vibrations are also diminished significantly, leading to trouble-free training sessions.
Apart from the above-mentioned reasons, another important motive is to improve the life of your treadmill. When there is a treadmill mat under it, the dust and carpet fibers do not accumulate in the moving parts or under the belt.
When allowed to settle in certain places of the machine, this dust can lead to overheating as it causes additional friction. This consequently shortens the treadmill’s lifespan as the parts deteriorate at a greater speed than they normally should.
The electrostatic charge created by moving parts attracts fine dust and lightweight thread scraps easily. A treadmill mat can successfully prevent the attraction of such particles by the treadmill as it gives no chance for them to exist around in the first place.
Treadmills, like any other machine, do require lubrication which sometimes might drip on the floor, leaving nasty stains. Even in such cases, a treadmill mat protects your floors.
How to Choose the Best Protective Mat for Your Treadmill to Minimize Vibration?
From size to material, there are several factors to consider while purchasing a treadmill mat. However, let us consider the most important three factors that cover most of the requirements of any treadmill.
Size
Buying an oversized mat will occupy your valuable area, and an undersized mat does not provide all advantages. So, the treadmill mat must be of the right size, i.e., 3 to 5 inches larger on all sides than the area your treadmill base occupies is an ideal size.
Thickness
Thick mats can absorb the impact better and help in reducing the sound as well as vibrations easily. They are a must for heavy treadmills or daily exercisers.
Material
If the material of a treadmill mat is Vinyl or rubber, then you get to enjoy better shock absorption. Moreover, these materials are eco-friendly.
Best Treadmill Mat for Carpet to Reduce Noice
Carpets are an integral part of some rooms, and you might need to place your treadmill on a carpeted area. There are high chances of damage to the carpet through indentation and oil drips by treadmills.
To prevent such havoc, you can place treadmill mats like TreadMat 30GS produced by SuperMats Inc. made in the USA. By placing a treadmill mat on the carpet prevent the wear and tear of carpet, which can also lead to holes in the carpet over time.
Size and Color
These treadmill mats come in a measure of 3’ x 8.5’, making them suitable not only for most treadmills but also for other fitness equipment types such as rowing machines, cross-country trainers, and elliptical trainers.
You can find only the black color for the recommended treadmill mat.
Construction
This high-density, waterproof Vinyl composite material made treadmill mat has great durability. It seems like rubber and is an eco-friendly material as it does not contain any harmful chemicals or heavy metals that might harm kids or pets. It is suitable for both carpeted floors and hardwood floors.
Best Treadmill Mat for Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are dented or scratched easily by impact or heavy objects. The Puzzle Exercise Mat by BalanceFrom is the most preferred treadmill mat that can be put under such floors. This hardwood floor treadmill mat is designed specifically for flat and hard surfaces.
Size and Color
This treadmill mat is made of interlocking tiles that are shaped like a puzzle and snap together easily. You get tiles measuring 24 inches on each side, and these square-shaped tiles can be put together as you prefer.
There are two thickness options available for this hardwood suitable treadmill mat. It comes in 1 ½ inch thickness and ¾ inch thickness kinds. The thicker the mat, the better is the noise reduction along with protection to the floor.
If you assemble the mat in 2 x 3 squares, it is capable of accommodating most treadmills. However, a very long treadmill might need a longer mat. The 12 puzzle pieces come with a finished edge and provide you with a choice of three colors, i.e., grey, black, or blue.
Construction
It is durable since the material used in making it is EVA foam. This ethylene-vinyl acetate foam has a high-density, good cushion and is water-resistant. It comes with a textured surface that keeps it from sliding on the floor and is easy to clean using mild soap and water.
As it is soft, it can effectively reduce noise. Similarly, managing vibrations is also easier using this interesting treadmill mat that absorbs the shock efficiently, even when placed on an uneven surface.
Best Anti-Vibration Pad for Treadmill
UPE Group Anti-vibration pads are a fantastic option for your treadmill to prevent it from vibrating. These pads come in handy for various other applications such as HVAC, Stereo equipment, Air Compressors, and more.
Can Treadmill Mat Reduce Noise?
As treadmill mats dampen the vibrations by absorbing them, leading to a reduction in noise, they are definitely a good option to prevent your treadmill from being noisy. However, not every treadmill mat is capable of reducing noise.
You need to choose a high-quality mat made of rubber that is elastic and soft yet strong enough to bear the wear and tear caused by usage. Both synthetic and natural rubber are capable of this type of service.
Similarly, synthetic materials such as foam and vinyl have comparable performance to rubber. They are durable and easy to clean, along with providing good grip and protection to your floor.
How to Determine If You Need a Treadmill Mat for Noise and Vibration Reduction?
A noisy treadmill gives a feeling of something is broken or is about to break and disturbs your concentration as it begs for your attention every time it creaks. This is a very distracting scenario, and on the contrary, a quiet treadmill is pleasant to work on.
Not to mention that constant ringing in your ears that pray for the session to end as soon as possible, taking away the excitement of training. The most bothersome thing about treadmill noise is the complaints from family or neighbors.
If the pets that run towards you all the time run away from you the moment you are on the treadmill, then it is a sure sign that you need a treadmill mat. It saves you from all these uncomfortable situations and restores your peace of mind.
Lesser noise means fewer vibrations and lower wear and tear. Proper lubrication, cleaning, and the right mat on the floor underneath a treadmill make it less prone to loud operation even during the optimum performance.
Why Does Your Treadmill Make a Noise?
The noise is produced due to the vibrations from the operation of the motor and belt. These vibrations amplify as they travel through the floor and walls. Also, when you run or walk on a treadmill, these vibrations increase further, causing louder noise.
While this is a general scenario, let us check each factor specifically that causes noise.
- A well-made treadmill is probable to make lesser noise than a flimsy built one.
- A heavy user generates greater force with each stride and creates more vibrations resulting in louder sounds.
- Uneven floor not only causes higher vibrations but also results in more wear and tear than usual.
- Improper lubrication or using unsuitable lubricant are both causes of a squeaking noise from the belt area.
- The type of floor and placement of the machine also contribute to the noise levels, especially when placed in a corner.
While these factors contribute to noise, treadmill mats are effective in controlling most forms of noise by absorbing the impact and subsequently reducing the vibrations leading to a reduction in noise.
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