An Ab Mat is a mat that makes sit-ups easy and more comfortable for you, and also it protects your back. These mats can also improve your exercise session, especially sit-ups as it takes the pressure out of the hips and places it more on the abdominal muscles. The Ab mats are also familiarly known as sit-up pads.
Ab Mats are mostly found in gyms where sit-ups are done in huge sets. It is one of the reasons for the huge popularity of Ab Mats, and they also help you build healthier and stronger core muscles.
Best Ab Mats Reviewed – Our Top Picks
- EDITORS CHOICE – Rogue Fitness Ab-2 Ab Mat
- Athlos Fitness Ab Mat
- AbMat Silver
- Rogue Fitness Ab Mat Original
- Epitome Fitness Ab Mat
Here you can find the 10 best Ab Mats that can help you choose the best one for you and help you build stronger muscles.
EDITORS CHOICE – Rogue Fitness Ab-2 Ab Mat
![Best Ab Mat [year]](https://www.attacktheback.com/wp-content/uploads/ce-logos/icon_roguefitness-com.png "Best Ab Mat [year]"){kind=icon}
Roguefitness.com
Rogue Fitness Ab-2 Ab Mat is firm and soft to touch, it is the latest and enhanced Ab Mat that contains the latest design with a new single-piece structure, and contains constructed ISP (Integral Skin Polyurethane) foam. The closed-cell and medical-grade material provides moisture-resistant and antibacterial properties and also offers the structural integrity and density of the mat. The design of the Ab-2 Ab mat prevents the arch from crushing out when you use it for a longer time, which means it provides consistent abdominal workout sessions regularly, year to year.
Features
- One size fits all
- Made in the United States
- Single molded-piece comes with integral skin
- Dimensions: 2.7″ H x 11.74″ W x 14.5″ L
- Firm for use and soft to touch
- Closed Cell Antibacterial foam that holds its shape and moisture resistant
- Textured finish
- No set-up and easy portability
- Non-skid back, smooth
- One-year Warranty
- Easy-to-clean and easy-to-maintain
- Molded design for the best comfort and a choice of motion on push-ups, sit-ups, crunches, couch stretches, hand-stand push-ups, and
- other mobility and core exercises.
Pros:
- Strong and sturdy structure
- six-seat position offers a range of options for weight training and upper body exercises
- High-quality steel
- ready-to-use
- Firm pad
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- A bit expensive
Athlos Fitness Ab Mat
![Best Ab Mat [year]](https://www.attacktheback.com/wp-content/plugins/content-egg/res/img/blank.gif "Best Ab Mat [year]"){kind=small}
Amazon.com
The Athlos Fitness Ab Mat is designed to support your back during workout sessions. The Ab Mat contains an extra cushion that relieves the pain that you may have experienced while doing high capacity Ab workout. The lightweight and portable design of Athlos Fitness makes it easy to travel with and easy-to-store.
The Athlos Ab exercise takes the hip flexor out and detaches the abs so that you can do perfect sit-ups. High-quality fitness equipment offers total isolation of your stomach during crunches, sit-ups, and leg lifts.
A comfortable and safe molded design gives relief to your lower back and the cushion offers back support and prevents injury. It is created to provide a complete range of motion at the same time it aims at the abdominal muscle. Athlos Fitness Ab Mat is the perfect mat for a home gym, and a perfect mat for both men and women, and one size fits all.
Features
- Full range of motion
- High-quality workout Mat
- Work your entire core
- One-year warranty
- Top-quality Ab mat
- Weight: 1.5 lbs
- Dimensions: 14.7 x 12.6 x 3.3 inches
Pros:
- Provides back support
- Versatile
- One size fits all
- Affordable
- One-year warranty
Cons:
- Not durable
AbMat Silver
The Ab Mat offers a full range of motion to your body and works on the entire abdominal muscle group to its maximum. It is not just a perfect AbMat for building strong Abs, but also perfect for core strengthening in your oblique and back. ABMat silver is designed for comfortable workout sessions and designed to support your lower back and helps you prevent back injuries while performing high-intensity abdominal exercises.
It is an amazingly versatile Ab Mat that can be used for different exercises that isolate lower or upper abs and the lower back muscles and obliques. Also, it is the best option compared to Ab roller, Ab carver, and Ab wheel.
Features:
- Best Ab Mat for Abdominal exercise equipment
- Amazingly versatile that allows you to use it for a range of exercises
- Designed for safe and comfortable Ab workouts
- Safe and Stable
- Made in the United States of America.
Pros:
- High-quality brand and design
- Simple and very effective
- Versatile
- Perfect for abdominal exercises
Cons:
- Ab Mat silver is a bit expensive compared to other brands
- A bit hard finish, which makes it is less comfortable
Rogue Fitness Ab Mat
Rouge Fitness Ab Mat is one of the best mats and the perfect option for the fundamental core training equipment. It supports the back, flexes the spine to build the abdominal muscles for more efficient sit-ups using complex movements. The AbMat is made in the USA and designed uniquely to offer the complete range of motion that is required to train the full abdominal muscle groups.
Rogue fitness Ab Mat supports your lower back when you are placed under the back as this molded design of Ab Mat facilitates a complete extension of the abdominals at the by tilting the spine at the beginning of sit-ups, which you cannot do on a flat surface. Also, it alleviates the pelvis as you revolt, allowing the abs to completely contract. This Ab Mat enables you to get complete and more efficient core training of the oblique, abdominal, and back muscles.
Features:
- One size fits all
- Made in the USA
- Durable vinyl construction and Low compression set foam
- Dimensions: 15″ L x 12″ W x 2.5″ H
- Molded design for best comfort and range of motion on sit-ups and other exercises
- Stable positioning on all surfaces
Pros:
- Antibacterial Foam
- Single Molded Piece
- Firm
- Portable
- Easy-to-clean
- Non-skid back
Cons:
- Expensive
Epitome Fitness Ab Mat
Epitome Fitness Ab Mat is the next-gen power core PII Mat that makes every crunch comfortable and safe. Epitome Fitness Ab Mat helps you make your workout sessions more interesting and helpful. You can use the fitness Ab mat for crunches, sit-ups, construct hardcore, and leg raises.
With this Epitome power core PII, you can make your workout sessions more interesting and get more than what you expected. The Ab Mat improves your midsection workouts with fewer sit-ups. It engages every muscle group and reduces the strain on your lower back, and helps you prevent injury, and helps you obtain core easily.
With this Epitome Fitness Ab Mat, you don’t need to worry about the slide and slip, as the manufacturers know that the core workouts are not good if you do not have a non-slip mat. That is why his fitness Ab mat is designed for sit-ups as they contain a reliable rubber-grip base.
Features:
- Non Slip
- Upgrade your Form
- Quality of the core
- Fitness for life
- The portable Pad
Pros:
- Great device for core exercises
- Top-quality materials and construction
- Provides outstanding support
- Relieves Back Pain
- Firm Back Support
Cons:
- Too hard and tall
Highly Commended Ab Mats
Rage Fitness Ab Mat
The Rage Fitness Ab Mat is designed to support your back and strengthen your core. It allows you to improve your core strength by boosting the ROM (Range of Motion). The Rage Fitness Ab mat work towards enhancing your goals by improving your abdominal strength. This fitness Ab Mat helps you tone and reinforce your core as it is built using vinyl-covered padding. This frim Ab Mat offers durability and maximum comfort and supports your spine. Rage Fitness Ab Mat is the best option for a complete range of abdominal exercises.
The mat cushion supports the back and relieves from stress during rigorous workout sessions. It is efficient equipment for your routine Abs workouts. Rage Fitness is one of the best and most durable functional fitness Mat that helps individuals to intensify their set-ups and other exercises safely and comfortably. This Ab Mat is the perfect option for people who lift, push, jump, kick, climb, run, flip, catch, sweat, recover, and resist. Rage Fitness Ab Mat brand is designed in 2008; soon it became popular equipment for gyms, garages, boxes, and fitness clubs all over the world.
Features:
- One Size Fits All
- Firm foam and cushions support the back during abdominal exercises
- Imported
- Vinyl-covered padded Ab Mat offers non-slip surface, durability, and comfort
- 14.75″ L x 11.5″ W
Pros:
- Skid-proof
- Compact
- Multipurpose
- Affordable
Cons
- Not durable
Solofit Ab Mat
Solofit Ab Mat makes sit-up and workout sessions more comfortable. The Ab Mat is not too hard neither too soft, and it provides perfect support to the back and helps you do your sit-ups comfortably and easily. Solfit Ab Mat gives the confidence to do sit-ups and exercises regularly with less strain. The Ab Mat provides a complete range of motion as it is designed to offer you full motion when you are performing your sit-ups. This mat helps you focus on the entire abdominal area and letting your abs to obtain a complete stretch in the bottom part and perfect reduction at the top.
Solofit Ab Mat provides lower back support so that you can perform your sit-ups and other exercises easily and painlessly. The curved design is suitable for lumbar support and soothing the tailbone.
Features:
- Offers a full range of motion
- Makes sit-ups more easy and comfortable
- Provides Lumbar Support
- Strong and Durable
- Ergonomic Design
Pros:
- Curved Design
- Quality construction
- Non-slip Mat
- Suitable for various exercises
- Ultimate Ab work out
- Durable
- Easy-to-use
- Lightweight
- Multipurpose
Cons:
- Expensive
Yes4all AB Mat
Yes4all Ab Mat offers a complete range of motion that helps you work out on the entire stomach muscle group. The Mat is designed to strengthen the obliques, complete abdominal chain, and lower back. It is made with soft but high-density foam that shapes your body impeccably and supports your lower back and spine while performing abdominal sit-ups.
Yes4all Ab Mat helps you get the right position and helps you prevent injury. This uniquely designed mat provides safe and comfortable during workouts. The non-slip base of the Yes4all Ab Mat always keeps the mat in place during your workout sessions. The Ab mat will not roll, move, or wobble so that you can concentrate on your workout.
Features:
- High-density foam mat supports your lower back
- Dimension 15 inch L x 12 inch W x 2.75 inch H
- One size fits all
- Complete core training and exercises for the Back, Abs, and Obliques
- Relieves pain and protects the spine
Pros:
- Help you work on a complete range of motion, improving flexibility
- Facilitates you to strengthen both larger and smaller muscles alike
- Reduces injury risks and prevents lower back pain
- Aims the lower back, oblique, and lower and upper abs
- Perfect for cross crunches, stretching, sit-ups, heel touches, leg lifts
Cons:
- Too firm and stiff
Redipo AB Mat
Redipo AB Mat is strong and durable as it is designed with high-density foam support plat and non-slip durable PVC leather that offers great support and a comfortable backrest. Also, fine assures high-quality during highly-rep training and it will not bend even with heavy use. The advanced design makes the Redipo Ab Mat perfect for abs workout sessions and it is the ideal size to support your lower back. The curved design protects your tailbone and lower back, and it is the perfect choice for head or neck support for individuals who are learning handstand push-ups.
Redipo AB Mat provides a full series of abdominal exercises that allow complete extension and support your spine as well. Also, it reduces the pressure on your lower back and allows you to work oblique, abs, back muscles completely. This one-size-fit all fitness mat comes with non-slip tailbone supports back during working abs. The portable design makes Redipo AB Mat easy to fold and easy-to-store.
Features:
- Comfortable design
- Strong Applicability
- Effective
- Work your entire core
- Good quality
- Your private Gym
- Multiple types of exercises
- Dimensions:14.5 x 12 x 2.75 inches; 2.43 Pounds
Pros:
- Strong
- Tailbone Support
- Multipurpose
Cons:
- Thin Tailbone Pad
Gym Reapers Ab Mat
Gym Reapers Ab Mat can increase muscle growth and expansion for your abs and offers stability and support. The Ab Mat allows you to perform a full abdominal exercise group safely and comfortably. The function and form of the Ab mat were made to offer a full effective range of motion to work the entire stomach muscle.
Gym Reapers Ab Mat helps you focus on your core and abs as it is designed in round shape to support your lower back during your abs and sit-ups workout sessions. Also, it prevents pain, discomfort, or injury during exercising. The Gym Reaper Ab Mat is made with dense and durable foam core with a base that gives you the complete support that you need during workout sessions. With stable padding and a durable thick base makes this Ab Mat best for abs workouts.
Features:
- Effective Design
- Dense, durable foam core with a stable base
- Focus on your core and abs
- Premium quality and support
- 100-percent satisfaction guarantee
Pros:
- Lifetime Warranty
- Affordable
- Non-slip
- Durable
- Reinforced stitching
Cons:
- Not a perfect choice for tall people
Overall
Many people plonk themselves down on the floor to do endless bouts of sit-ups in the hopes of losing belly fat, tone their abs and getting that elusive six pack. Of course, to anyone in the know, there’s plenty of things wrong with that previous sentence, including the dual myths of both spot-fat removal and toning (neither of which exist/are possible). But is the crunch even a worthwhile exercise?
Many say no. Many people claim that it’s more effective to do big compound exercises such as deadlifts and squats to develop the entire core, and thus develop the coveted abs, without actually directly working the abdominal sheet of muscles. Some say that you should directly work the abs but by doing exercises like hanging leg raises, roman chairs, weight reverse cable crunches, etc.
Now crunches do work. They can work very well. The problem with crunches is that anatomically, you don’t get the proper range of motion by doing crunches with a flat back against the flat. For crunches to work and actually be effective, you have to be able to arch your back further back, as if you were sinking backwards into the floor.
Obviously, this is impossible, so the next best thing is to use an ab mat. These are like a cushion where your back can retreat further back, increasing the range of motion and allowing you to work your abs much better but without having to hang from a pull-up bar, without having to use a cable machine and other generally unnecessary methods.
Don’t be one of those people that spend hours on the floor doing countless crunches and then never having anything to show for it. Get an ab mat and finally reap all rewards of your hard work.
How to Build a Core of Steel
There’s a lot talked about core strength and many of us think that the most important way that we can show that ours is in tip-top condition is having a rippling six-pack. While this is a manifestation of being in good shape – the sort of shape that you need to be to do well in wrestling – it’s only part of the story.
When we talk about your core it’s not just the abdominal muscles that we’re describing and to understand this it’s time for a quick anatomy lesson. That’s because the core muscles on your stomach are in three layers and each one needs to be conditioned for strength. Particularly important are the innermost muscles, the transverse abdominis, because they create the greatest stability for your spine and pelvis. Your back muscles are also important because these also stabilise the spinal column and the diaphragm that controls breathing.
As well as improving overall strength and stablilty, a strong core is also very important for preventing injury, an especially important consideration in a sport like wrestling so whenever you’re planning an exercise regime, while calorie-burning cardio is important, you should also factor in time for core strengthening too. Here are five exercises that can help.
The Plank
This is the quintessential exercise to build up a strong core. It’s also the sort of exercise that involves the minimum of movement but the maximum of effort. The idea is to hold your spine as straight as you can while you support your weight on your forearms and your toes. To make it even harder extend your hands so you’re supported by them instead.
The Boat
Settle down on the floor and bend your knees. Then lean back concentrating on keeping a straight back. Hold your arms out in front and slowly raise your legs keeping your feet together. Slowly straighten your legs to create a V-shape with your body and hold this pose for an increasing amount of time.
Dead Beetle
Lay down with your back on the floor and stretch your arms up towards the ceiling. Raise your legs with knees bent at 90 degrees. Lower your opposite arm and leg at the same time to just above the floor and hold. Alternate and repeat for an increasing number of repetitions and prolonged periods in hold.
Plank Push-Away
As your core strength increases you can start to crank up the exercise. In this, you adopt the plank position with your arms resting on a gym ball. Gradually roll away the ball, keeping your back straight all the time. Then gradually roll the ball back towards yourself.
Hanging Knee Raise
Using a set of dip bars, hold yourself upright with straight arms. Slowly raise your knees towards your chest and lower them in a controlled way as slowly as you can manage. For an even more effective exercise, you can also do this exercise hanging from a pull-up bar.
Of course, there are many other ways that you can build up your core strength, from sit-ups to Reformer Pilates. Whichever you use, the secret of success is going to be building up gradually then, very soon, you really will start to have not just abs but a whole core of steel!