Once you have made the commitment to your Pilates Mat classes you may wonder what the best mat is to use during class. Ultimately, you want to choose a mat that is comfortable, and suits your specific needs. Pilates Anytime instructor Kristi Cooper White provides this short video review of the pros and cons of five different mats. Comfort, price, weight, storage and special considerations are addressed in the review.

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Airex Fitline 180 Mat

Price approximately US$ 75
Dimensions: 72 x 23 x 0.4 inches
Weight: 3.6 pounds

Pros
Very comfortable when performing rolling exercises.
Rolls up for storage easily.
Relatively lightweight

Cons
Mat uncurls if not stored against something.
Directed pressure on the mat allows the mat to stretch which can feel unstable.
Sweat makes the mat slippery for the hands.

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Gaiam Yoga Mat

Price approximately US$ 20
Dimensions: 24 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches
Weight: 2.0 pounds

Pros
Inexpensive.
Very light; easy to transport and store.
If you also take Yoga you can use in both classes.
Pretty design.

Cons
It is thin so it can be uncomfortable when performing rolling exercises.

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Manduka Black Mat PRO

Price approximately US$ 95
Dimensions: 71 x 26 x 0.25 inches
Weight:7.0 pounds;

Pros
Thin yet still supportive enough for rolling exercises.
Sticks to the surface without feeling "sticky."
Durable and easy to wipe clean.

Cons
Expensive.
At about 8lbs it is heavy if you plan to travel with it.

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Crescent Moon Earth Friendly ECOmat

Price approximately US $35
Dimensions: 69 x 24 x 0.2 inches
Weight: 2.7 pounds

Pros
Cool design that prevents the floor side of mat from touching the part you lie on.
Stores easily without the possibility of unrolling.
This mat contains no PVC, latex or rubber, and uses no toxic materials in production.
Comfortable.

Cons
Accordion style can sometimes buckle during movement.

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Gratz High Mat #188

Price approximately US$ 450 + US$ 100 shipping
Dimensions: 80 x 24 x 5 inches
Weight: 65 pounds

Pros
Very comfortable when performing rolling exercises.
Very solid base when performing exercises.
Available in many colors.
Should last a lifetime.

Cons
Expensive.
Takes up a lot of space.
Heavy

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Kristi has also filmed a review of Magic Circles.