Buying Wrestling Mats

Whether you're an aspiring professional wrestler, a high school wrestling coach equipping a gym or just someone who enjoys tossing friends around in the basement, you'll want to avoid serious injuries by placing something between the grapplers and the floor. A good product that meets this need is a wrestling mat. The decision on what type of wrestling mats to buy will depend upon budgets, durability, the storage space available and the size of the wrestling area. Wrestling mats can be purchased at sporting goods stores, from exercise equipment manufacturers or on the Internet.

Instructions

    • 1

      Wrestling mats are made with either polyethylene foam or polyvinylchloride (PVC) foam. Polyethylene foam is the lighter of the two, making it a good choice when the mats must be carried or transported long distances to the wrestling area. On the other hand, they do not roll up tightly so their storage area needs to be larger. Polyethylene foam mats can be thicker than those made with PVC, but they do not last as long and are more expensive.

    • 2

      Wrestling mats made of polyvinylchloride foam are heavier than poyethylene mats but provide greater shock absorption. Most mat suppliers also sell carriers to make moving mats less strenuous. PVC mats last longer and can be repaired to extend their usability even further.

    • 3

      Wrestling mats are available in a variety of sizes, from 10-by-10 feet up to 42-by-42 feet, the size required for collegiate wrestling meets. For home use, 10-by-10 feet or 12-by-12 feet mats are usually sufficient. If you're attempting to cover an odd-shaped space, most manufacturers will customize their mats to your specifications.

    • 4

      Wrestling mats can be ordered in a variety of color combinations and can be customized with school mascots and insignias.

    • 5

      If your budget is tight, some equipment suppliers provide reconditioned PVC mats at reduced prices.