After buying a Peloton bike, the last thing you want is another shopping list. But before you start using the bike, you'll need some Peloton accessories. The most important of these is a sturdy bike mat, which protects your floor and stabilizes your bike while you ride. While Peloton sells its own bike mats at a significant additional cost, I wanted to talk to experts and test some other options to see which bike mat would work best on Peloton bikes.
expert
Joshua Bartlett is the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of the home improvement website I'll Just Fix It Myself. He is a home improvement expert and a fitness enthusiast.
David Mason is a British qualified personal trainer and writer and editor of fitness advice website Barbells Abroad.
Need a cushion under your Peloton?
Short answer? Yes. Peloton goes on record saying that they recommend using a mat underneath your bike. But to confirm, I reached out to a personal trainer and a flooring expert to weigh in.
David Mason, a qualified personal trainer, says: "Obviously you want to use them while exercising, but for that heavy equipment, pads are just as important. Place pads under the treadmill or bike to stabilize them, and Protects floors from scuffs and scratches.”
"While most exercise equipment is heavy and doesn't stay in place, certain flooring options (concrete or wood) or flooring equipment (exercise bikes or treadmills) that slide or move easily during use without adequate traction." While there are many options for flooring, make sure it has good traction and non-slip features. .
So whether you want to protect your hardwood floors, stabilize your bike on carpet, or simply minimize noise from your downstairs neighbors, mats are the way to go.
What to look for when buying Peloton:
Given that most exercise mats look alike and that their reviews, while helpful, can be difficult to sort through, I decided to test out some of the most popular cycling mats to use under your Peloton. After considering their materials, how waterproof they are, whether they can sit on hardwood floors and carpets, and the quality and durability of their designs, I feel confident recommending you the mats below (including a very good alternative) Peloton Bike Mats No to $30).
Ranking of Peloton Bike Mats I’ve Tested:
1. Best overall ($): BalanceFrom Equipment Mat
2. Runner-up ($$$): Peloton Bike Mat
3. Best for Small Spaces ($): Naisi Heavy Duty Indoor Exercise Cycling Mat
4. Narrower than Peloton Mats ($$): SuperMats Heavy Equipment Mats
5. Narrow, but more expensive ($$$) : CyclingDeal Bike Bicycle Trainer Floor Mat
Also great for sweaty riders ($$): TrubliFit Mat Sweat Towel
1. Best Peloton Bike Mat Overall
What I like about it:
- Excellent anti-slip function
- acceptable price
- Extra thickness protects your floors
- 11,000+ Amazon reviews
What I don't like about it:
- No known disadvantages
This BalanceFrom equipment mat has a lot of similarities to Peloton’s bike mat, and I can’t believe it’s a fraction of the price. During my initial search, I was impressed by the BalanceFrom Device Mat because it looked and performed most similarly to the Peloton-designed mats. When I opened it, I was impressed. They're both made from polyvinyl chloride, are just 1mm thick, and are exactly the same width as Peloton's pads. When I first opened the box of this mat, it did have a slight smell, but it went away within a few hours.
Side by side with Peloton's mat, it has a very similar texture on the top and bottom. When I tested it to see how much it slid, it performed similarly. The main differences between this mat and the Peloton mat are absorbency and length. It's slightly more absorbent than the Peloton mat (although water never seeps through the mat to the other side) and is 6 inches longer. Of course, keep your space in mind. But for most people, this much cheaper mat is the way to go. It's even thicker than the Peloton mat, giving your floors more cushioning.
Comfort score: 3/5 |Anti-slip score: 5/5 |Total score: 8/10
The picture on the left is the BalanceFrom bike mat, placed next to the Peloton bike mat. The textures are very similar, and they line up on the back so the BalanceFrom mat is 6 inches longer. The photo to the right is a close-up of the non-slip backing on the BalanceFrom bike mat.
Dimensions: 78 x 36 inches | Thickness: 5 mm | Material: PVC | Absorbent? Yes.
2. Home team mat
- Available at: Peloton, $75, DICK's Sporting Goods, $64
What I like about it:
- very durable
- Does not absorb water
- High quality details
- Perfect size for bike
What I don't like about it:
- price
I won’t deny that the Peloton bike mat is great. This is the stiffest and thinnest of all the pads I've tried, which probably translates to more stability and a closer surface to the ground. It is the least absorbent on this list and sweat will definitely not be absorbed by this pad. This mat has some slight aesthetic features that make it look better. For example, I like the slightly rounded edges and it really does feel like it's made by a high-end brand. If you're a brand loyalist willing to spend a little more, this might be your best option.
comfort score 3/5 | Anti-slip score: 5/5 | Overall score: 8/10
Dimensions: 72 x 36 inches | Thickness: 4mm | Material: PVC | Absorbent? No.
3. Best for small spaces
- Available at: Sears, $41
What I like about it:
- Smaller size and rounded edges
- Anti-slip function
- Does not absorb water
What I don't like about it:
- It's a bit soft so may be easier to damage
I'll be honest with you: I chose the Naisi Cycling Mat for testing because I live in a small apartment. While the two mats above are large in size, this mat is designed to be much smaller and still fit within the entire footprint of the Peloton Bike and Peloton Bike+. So if you live in a small space, or you place your Peloton in a room that's not just for the Peloton, you might want this mat. I also really like the rounded corners of this design, which makes it easier to fit into smaller spaces. This is similar in thickness to Peloton mats, but has a softer feel. It also has an anti-slip design on the front and back. This may be slightly less stable and secure than Peloton's mats. But after testing it, I don't think you'll notice.
Comfort score: 3/5 | Anti-slip score: 4/5 | Overall score: 7/10
On the left is the Naisi Exercise Bike Mat, which has rounded corners perfect for small spaces. On the right is the non-slip handle on the bottom of the Naisi bike mat.
Dimensions: 70.5 x 28.75 inches | Thickness: 4mm | Material: NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber) | Absorbent? No.
4.Narrower than the main car pad
- Available at: Wayfair, $39
What I like about it:
- Narrow design
- acceptable price
- 5,000+ reviews
What I don't like about it:
- It lacks anti-slip features on the bottom.
The SuperMat Equipment Mat is one of the most popular mats on the internet, which is a big reason why I wanted to test it up close. It's a few inches narrower than the Peloton pad, but so are the pads above and below it in the roundup. It's very comfortable to stand on, and has a similar thickness to Peloton's designed cushions. Aesthetically, this mat has a glossy finish, which you can see in the picture below. This mat gets the job done, but it's not my favorite and if it were a little more expensive it might be ranked lower on this list.
Comfort score: 4/5 | Anti-slip score: 1/5 | Overall score: 5/10
On the left, the SuperMats bike mat sits atop the Peloton bike mat. Same length, but a few inches narrower. On the right is the non-slip backing on Peloton mats and SuperMats bike mats. SuperMats bike mats may look textured, but they feel smooth to the touch
Dimensions: 72 x 30 inches | Thickness: 5mm | Material: Vinyl | Absorbent? Yes.
5. Cramped but expensive
- Available at: Walmart, $60
What I like about it:
- Narrow design
- Extra thickness protects your floors
- Nearly perfect Amazon rating
- 8,000+ reviews
What I don't like about it:
- No anti-slip function on the top surface
- price
Given the near-perfect Amazon reviews for this mat from CyclingDeal, I felt compelled to test this one out. It does have the highest overall rating on Amazon of all the mats on this list (a 4.8-star average rating isn’t easy to come by). But when I first unboxed it, I was a little surprised. While most mats I've tried have some texture on the top surface to help grip the bike, this mat is smooth. While it does have some texture on the bottom to help it stay on the floor, since the bike mat serves a dual purpose (protecting the floor and stabilizing the bike), the texture and grippy feel are important features to pay attention to on both sides. It's thicker than Peloton's pads and won't absorb any sweat. But since this mat is similar in size to the cheaper mats above, it doesn’t offer any additional benefits.
Comfort score: 4/5 | Anti-slip score: 2/5 | Overall score: 6/10
Tester Note: This mat scores higher than the mat directly above it, but is ranked lower on this list because it costs significantly more.
On the left, the CyclingDeal bike mat sits atop the Peloton mat, which is a few inches narrower than the Peloton mat. On the right are the non-slip surfaces of the Peloton mat (left) and the CyclingDeal mat (right).
Dimensions: 72 x 30 inches | Thickness: 7mm | Material: PVC | Absorbent? No.
Also great for sweaty riders
- Available at: Sears, $49
This sweat towel won’t go under your bike, but when I stumbled across it I knew I had to see it for myself. While every pad on this list can be easily wiped down to remove sweat, this is a quick fix that fits a standard Peloton bike. (Note: The cutouts on this towel do not fit the layout of the Peloton Bike+.) I easily slid it onto a standard Peloton bike and it fit perfectly. It's made from soft and not too bulky microfiber that absorbs sweat, and I especially like that it's machine washable.
The TrubliFit Sweat Towel fits standard Peloton bikes and wicks away sweat while you ride. It is also machine washable.
Dimensions: 78 x 38 inches | Thickness: N/A | Material: Microfiber | Absorbent? Yes.
How I picked these mats
I started my search for the best Peloton cycling mats with the OG pick, the Peloton mat itself. But since mats are expensive, I wanted to find some options that wouldn't let you down. I looked at materials, length, width, and thickness, perused Reddit posts, read hundreds of reviews, and finally settled on this set of mats. They include mats in a variety of price points, a variety of sizes, and a variety of thicknesses so I could test how they compared to the Peloton Bike Mats and whether they could be used under the bike.
how do i test them
I tested each pad for its waterproofness and absorbency, comfort, and how firm it held up under heavy pressure on hardwood floors. I placed each mat side by side and stood on each mat to determine which materials felt soft, which felt firm, and which felt comfortable and durable. I also placed each pad on the hardwood floor and weighted each pad at four points similar to the peloton's base, then tried moving the pad to determine its slip score. I also considered whether the mat had non-slip surfaces on both sides. Finally, I put a few drops of water on each pad to see how it absorbed over 30 minutes.
What are the dimensions of the Peloton Bike and Peloton Bike+?
The Peloton Bike and Peloton Bike+ have similar footprints. The Peloton Bike+ is slightly narrower, but most of the difference between the two bikes is in height. The Peloton bike measures 59 x 53 x 23 inches (LxHxW). The dimensions of the Peloton Bike+ are 59 x 59 x 22 inches (L x H x W).
More ways to improve your main car experience
Looking for the best riding experience? Check out this roundup of the best Peloton accessories, according to avid Peloton riders. And if you might need them, we've also reviewed the best Peloton shoes and the best seat cushions for your Peloton.
About the tester
Amy Biggart is a shopping researcher and product reviewer with five years of experience reviewing every product under the sun, from pillowcases for acne-prone skin, to hypoallergenic earrings, to fitness platform. She has ridden hundreds of hours on both spinning and stationary bikes, including a Peloton bike.
expert:
Joshua Bartlett is the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of the home improvement website I'll Just Fix It Myself. He is a home improvement expert and a fitness enthusiast.
David Mason is a British qualified personal trainer and writer and editor of fitness advice website Barbells Abroad.
