Home Gym · Head-to-head
REP Fitness 4'x6' Floor Mats (3/4 in) vs Rubber-Cal Elephant Bark Rubber Flooring Roll (3/8 in)
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Home Gym Flooring: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
Dense 3/4 inch rubber mats are the most dependable base for racks and dropped weights. Elephant Bark covers big rooms in continuous rolls with fewer seams.
REP Fitness 4'x6' Floor Mats (3/4 in)
Buy itHeavy 3/4 inch urethane-bound rubber mats that stay flat under racks and take dropped weights.
- 3/4 inch thick, 88 lbs per mat, made by bonding recycled rubber with liquid urethane under heat and pressure.
- REP says they will not curl or change shape with temperature and do not absorb moisture.
- Untextured top is comfortable for push-ups and sit-ups, and the mats are made in the USA.
- At 88 lbs each, moving and placing them is a two-person job for most people.
- REP lists a 1/2 inch size tolerance, so small gaps between mats are normal.
- Minimum order of three mats, and REP suggests airing them out for a few days before use.
Rubber-Cal Elephant Bark Rubber Flooring Roll (3/8 in)
Buy itA recycled rubber roll sold by the foot that covers a whole room with few seams.
- 48 inch wide rolls in custom lengths from 4 feet to 50 feet, so big rooms need few seams.
- Recycled rubber with EPDM, 60 Shore A hardness, and Rubber-Cal rates it for indoor and outdoor use.
- Also sold in 5 mm and 1/4 inch thicknesses and several fleck colors.
- 3/8 inch is half the thickness of a 3/4 inch mat, so heavy iron plate drops need more protection.
- A full 50 foot roll is heavy and awkward to move and cut without help.
- Rubber-Cal suggests double-sided tape along edges for a temporary install, or adhesive for a permanent one.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| REP Fitness 4'x6' Floor Mats (3/4 in) Our pick | Rubber-Cal Elephant Bark Rubber Flooring Roll (3/8 in) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Garage and basement gyms with a rack and barbell work. | Covering a large gym or multipurpose room with continuous rubber for general training. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
| Format | 4 x 6 ft mats | 48 in wide rolls, cut to length |
| Material | Urethane-bound recycled rubber | Recycled rubber with EPDM |
| Thickness | 3/4 in | 3/8 in (also 5 mm, 1/4 in) |
| Weight per piece | 88 lbs per mat | About 2 lbs per sq ft |
| Installation | Lay in place, two people | Unroll, cut, tape edges or glue |
| Seams | Few, 1/2 in tolerance | Fewest |
| Under a rack and dropped weights | Yes | Yes for bumper drops; thicker for iron |
| Best for | Garage and basement gyms | Large rooms |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the REP Fitness 4'x6' Floor Mats (3/4 in) if
garage and basement gyms with a rack and barbell work.
Know before buying: at 88 lbs each, moving and placing them is a two-person job for most people.
Pick the Rubber-Cal Elephant Bark Rubber Flooring Roll (3/8 in) if
covering a large gym or multipurpose room with continuous rubber for general training.
Know before buying: 3/8 inch is half the thickness of a 3/4 inch mat, so heavy iron plate drops need more protection.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the REP Fitness 4'x6' Floor Mats (3/4 in) - Heavy 3/4 inch urethane-bound rubber mats that stay flat under racks and take dropped weights. Choose the Rubber-Cal Elephant Bark Rubber Flooring Roll (3/8 in) instead if covering a large gym or multipurpose room with continuous rubber for general training.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Home Gym Flooring: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).