These are the only 5 exercise mats worth your money, according to a Health Editor

So, you're on the hunt for the best exercise mats and want to invest in an option that won't slip all over the shop and fall apart within the year?

Lucky for you, I'm a Health Editor who gets to test fit kit for a living, so know a thing or two about the best home gym equipment. I've been putting mats through their paces for you and can confirm that the below five are the best exercise mats you can currently buy.

That's right - every mat in this round-up has been tested and come personally recommended by me. 

Why are they so great, you ask? Well, they're slip-free, grippy, and don't come with that awful gym mat smell, not to mention most are affordable, too. 

On the fence about whether you need a mat at all? Summer's finally here, and while you might have the best intentions of heading to the gym most mornings, schedules sometimes don't allow it. That's why having a few basic bits of kit at home can come in seriously handy, allowing you to get just as good a sweat on from the comfort of your own home. 

If you're part of the small army of people who now prefer a home workout and want to kit yourself out - keep scrolling for my top picks.

Don't miss my round-up of the best yoga mats, or if you're after more of an investment piece, the best treadmills, best spin bikes, and best rowing machines, while you're here.

Testing process for the best exercise mats

Good question. As someone who runs marathons for fun, I personally test all of the sports bras, workout leggings, running shorts, and general fit kit that ends up in these round-ups.

With exercise mats, the ones that made the edit had adequate cushioning, didn't move mid-workout, and didn't cost the earth, either. Spoiler alert: I don't think something you stand on to workout should cost a bomb, so do recommend the lower price point options (Decathlon and Adidas) if you're on a tight budget.

The above didn't stain, get too sweaty or slip, all essentials when spending your hard-earned £££ on kit. We tested for the following:

• Did they provide adequate cushioning?
• Were they grippy and slip-free?
• Did they come largely smell-free, and did they wipe clean easily?
• Were they easy to roll up and store post-workout?
• Were they an affordable price point?

Best exercise mats: 5 to buy

Do note here: the below aren't the interlocking exercise mats you see in actual gyms or Crossfit boxes, rather the sort of mats perfect for Joe Wicks workouts or weight training at home.

So how are they different to yoga mats? Short answer: some of them aren't but the ones that do differ are slightly thicker and more cushioned to support your joints during any high-intensity jumps and so on.

Best thick gym mat

If you want my honest opinion, this is one of the best exercise mats out there. Sure, it's not 100% slip-proof, but it's so cushioned, it makes up for it. 

At 15mm thick, I found it the perfect companion for both low and high-intensity workouts. I've even used it as a camping mat... that's how thick it is. 

Do note, though: I wouldn't recommend it as a mat to carry to and from classes, for this same reason. Opt for a thinner, lighter option, instead.

Best cheap gym mat

This adidas training mat is nowhere near as cushioned as the Decathlon option at just 10mm thick but has better grip and non-slip qualities for exercises like lunges, Bulgarian split squats, and so on. 

Thanks to its waterproof outer, it's wipe clean, too, meaning I found that it stays cleaner for longer than other alternatives.

Best gym mat for weights

This is my go-to mat for home workouts - I've had it for a few years now and it's just as grippy and cushioned as when I first got it. 

Sure, it's designed for yoga, and sure, it's just 6 mm thick, but I've always found it to be great for any workout, not just yoga, super cushioned, and mark-free post-workout, unlike many of the other mats I tried. Plus, I rate that it's made from eco-conscious materials. 

Best Pilates gym mat

I've had a Yogi Bare mat since I met the founder Kat around five years ago while working at Women's Health magazine, and love this new collaboration with Pilates instructor Lottie Murphy. 

When they say the mat is "extreme non-slip," they mean it - I've never slipped while using it - plus, they're planet-friendly, too, and made from sustainable rubber. I love that the closed-cell rubber used to make the mats is naturally bacteria-resistant, so it never -and I mean never - gets smelly.

Best luxury gym mat

If you are really wanting to treat yourself, I highly recommend this relatively new workout mat from Lululemon. It is the brand's first-ever mat designed specifically for high-intensity workouts and can withstand workouts with both shoes and weights.

It's a best-seller for a reason - after trying it out for a series of very sweaty HIIT sessions, I can confirm that it does just that. It is also engineered with a textured grip which meant that the mat didn't move an inch. The only downside? Because it's so grippy I found that it did pick up fluff from the floor, but after a quick wipe, you're good to go.