Before I installed my mat under the peloton tread, I spend hours online trying to find the best solution. In this article, I will explain if peloton tread needs a mat, and if so, which one is the best based on the type of floor you have.
As a whole, you do need a mat under the peloton tread, especially for hardwood and laminate floors because it will protect the floor, as well as reduce noise and vibrations. On the other hand, if you have a carpet or concrete floor, a mat isn’t necessary.
Keep in mind that placing the rubber mat on the hardwood floor over time will cause a noticeable difference in the floor color, similar to the rug (more on that later).
Does Peloton Have Tread Mat?
In short, the peloton doesn’t have a tread mat. It only sells bike mats to be placed under the bike and reversible exercise mats for your workouts.
However, the company does recommend using some type of hard and thick material to protect the floor and to help with stabilizing the tread.
What is the purpose of a treadmill mat? The peloton tread mat protects the flooring from scratches and damage, reduces noise and vibrations from the machine, and makes it easy to clean from dust and dirt. It also gives stability and stops the tread from sliding around.
What Kind of Mat Goes Under Peloton Tread?
There are several different types of mats that you can use including cork, rubber, foam, or even plastic.
The best thing to put under the peloton tread is rubber flooring because it’s the most stable and slip-resistant, which will prevent the tread from moving. Rubber flooring is also relatively affordable and comes in different forms like mats, tiles, and rolls.
The best mat under the peloton tread is made of high-density rubber that went through the vulcanization process.
What is vulcanization? In short, vulcanization is the chemical process of hardening and compressing natural or synthetic rubber into cross-linked polymers using sulfur. This helps to get the highest density while keeping the rubber relatively thin.
In other words, this process helps to improve rubber lifespan and durability.
Rubber mats can be used to cover the entire home gym or to be placed only under the peloton tread.
I personally prefer to cover the whole room because in my apartment, I have a large window and a lot of natural sunlight. Sunlight and UV light has an impact on the floor, which can fade and bleach the color.
The similar effect you have from placing a rug in the room.
Take a look at the picture below.
If you cover half of your room with a rubber mat, then a couple of years later half of your floor will be darker and half will be lighter.
So keep that in mind.
You can read more about how I managed to use the peloton in the apartment here.
Peloton Tread Mat For Hardwood Floor
For my home gym, I’ve chosen one of the most popular types of rubber flooring called horse stall mat.
What is a horse stall mat? In short, the horse stall mat is a durable and versatile rubber mat that not only protects the floor but also provides sound and shock absorption. The mat is made from recycled rubber or high-density foam usually used in horse stalls.
Normally, those types of rubber flooring you put directly on the concrete. However, several companies produce rubber tiles and mats that can be used on hard wooden floors.
You can learn more about how to put a peloton in the garage in my article here.
Benefits of Horse Stall Mat
There are several benefits and applications of horse stall mats, apart from stables:
- Versatile – Used in many commercial and residential applications like commercial gyms, children’s playgrounds, locker rooms, and ice asking rings.
- Easy to clean – What I like about rubber flooring is they are easy to clean and sanitize. All you need is a bucket of water and wash it just like you would clean your floor.
- Durable – Those mats are made to last. The rubber mats can range from 6mm to 25mm in thickness.
In general, the peloton tread mat is necessary on hardwood floors because it helps to protect from ruining your floor. It also provides a stable base so it prevents the treadmill from moving around and sliding.
Plus, rubber flooring also helps to absorb the shock and protect the joints from impact when training off the treadmill, which is another reason why I recommend covering the whole room.
Rubber flooring gives you extra protection on your joints when you do other peloton classes off the bike like HIIT cardio, high-impact, or plyometrics.
What about the laminate floor? In short, the peloton tread can ruin your laminate floor because it weighs 290lbs and over time can create flooring indentations. Placing the rubber mat or rubber tiles underneath your tread will protect the floor and reduce impact from running.
What about the tile floor? I would not recommend placing a treadmill on the tiles in the first place because the impact can break the tiles. Tiles are ok for push-ups and crunches, but you don’t want to place a 130 kg machine and run on it.
Peloton Tread Mat vs Tiles
The difference between rubber tiles and mat is that mat is already cut and measured to fit the space under your treadmill. The rubber mat is perfect if you have a small space and you only want to keep the treadmill on it.
On the other hand, rubber tiles (which look like puzzles) can always be expanded by adding more blocks. They can also be mixed with different colors to match the rest of your home gym design and decorations.
They not only allow to protect the floor but also reduce the noise from impact.
I use the tiles just because I wanted to cover my entire room. However, if your goal is to only place it underneath the tread, I recommend going for the mat.
Which is better for the peloton tread mat or tiles? As a whole, the rubber mat is better for peloton tread because it is easy to use and more affordable.
Do You Need a Mat for Peloton Tread on Carpet?
In general, you don’t need the mat for peloton tread on the carpet, as long as your carpet is thin and stable. Using the treadmill won’t damage the carpet. However, if the carpet is too thick it can make your treadmill unstable and wobbly.
Peloton recommends placing the tread on some stable and hard surfaces. If you have a thick carpet that makes your tread unstable, you can use a simple solution like rubber tiles to improve that stability.
See the picture below.
Adding a single layer of rubber flooring on top of the carpet is enough to make your treadmill less wobbly and less noisy.
Another reason for having a peloton tread mat on the carpet is the cleaning.
I sweat a lot whenever I run or when doing Bootcamp classes. This means if I don’t clean the area, my room starts to smell like a gym bag.
Having a mat makes it easy to wipe and clean after each workout.
What to put under the peloton on the carpet? In short, you can put a rubber mat or a yoga mat on the carpet underneath the peloton tread. The rubber mat will help to stabilize the treadmill, whereas the yoga mat makes it easy to clean.
Can I Use A Yoga Mat Under Peloton Tread?
As a whole, you can use a yoga mat as a temporary solution underneath the peloton tread because it does protect the floor from dirt and dust. However, even the best yoga mats don’t reduce the noise from running and prevent the treadmill from moving around.
I would use a yoga mat only if you have thin carpet flooring and you are not concerned about the noise from the tread.
Plus, for the sake of cleaning and sanitizing, it is much easier in the long term to wipe the mat, instead of washing the whole carpet and letting it dry.
Peloton Tread Mat vs Yoga Mat
The difference between the peloton tread mat and a yoga mat is that the rubber tread mat is more robust and can reduce any noise coming from the machine. Peloton treadmill generates around 80 to 90 dB, which is similar to lawnmowers or city traffic.
This can be very loud, especially in a small space. If you live in a tiny apartment, I would strongly recommend looking at the rubber flooring for better noise canceling, instead of the yoga mat.
On the other hand, a yoga mat only helps to keep the area clean and prevents carpet indentations, but it won’t reduce the noise.
What Size Mat Do I Need For Peloton Tread?
In short, you should get a mat that is 70 inches long and 40 inches wide, as long as you only use it for the peloton tread. For the peloton tread plus you need a mat that is 75 inches long and 45 inches wide.
As an alternative, you can also try BestXD high-density blocks. They are rubber square blocks that come in a pack of 6 and can be placed directly under the treadmill legs.
How To Clean Your Peloton Tread Mat
- Set up your peloton tread on an incline. This will elevate the whole machine and give you access to underneath.
- Start by vacuuming first. If you have pets around they can leave fur that can get under the mat.
- After vacuuming, take a cloth with soapy warm water and mop the entire mat.
- Leave the treadmill on an incline and let the mat dry for a couple of hours.
Conclusion
As a whole, the peloton tread mat is worth it because not only does it preserve the flooring but also reduces the noise.
The type of floor you have in your home gym will determine if you need a robust mat under your peloton treadmill. The floors made of wood, tiles, stone, and laminate need extra protection.
If you have a carpet you may get away with pacing a yoga mat to help you clean out the sweat.