The Play Mat

Greetings, Fellow Mat Shoppers! Like many of you, my quest for "the perfect mat" has been kind of hit and miss. Let's see...I've tried the traditional PVC Gaiam mat (6mm), their TPE mat (5mm), a pricy Liforme PU/Rubber mat (4.2mm), and a very serviceable Gaiam Essentials NBR mat (10mm). The PVC and TPE mats were pretty unsupportive and quite stinky. The Liforme mat was gorgeous and a bit more supportive, but the PU top permanently soaked up everything it touched, the natural rubber never aired out (think tire store smell), and for such a thin yet heavy mat (6.6 pounds), hauling it around became a literal drag. I kept the super light Gaiam NBR mat as it's great for basic strength training and Pilates, doesn't smell, and at its super low price point, you can get a few extra to use outside gardening, for garage projects and such.

So, why did I buy this Bala Play Mat Plus? Well, not counting drooling over it for like two years on their site (its aesthetically stunning), plus the fact that I've already collected several of Bala's unique pieces (the Power Rings, a Beam, and the little capsule-shaped Bars) and been impressed with the feel and quality, I just had to go for it!

Material-wise, it's pretty identical to the Liforme mat formula: Polyurethane (PU) top layer, then natural rubber base, same diameter, and heavy so they stay put. BUT, it's almost twice as thick as the Liforme mat (and yes, that makes it heavier), and the underside is in a darker, matching shade instead of…