Who made the anti fatigue mats?

[yetihunter]

From 2013, I think. One was $75 and the other was $125.
Made in the USA.  Inadvertently stepped on one at a dealer and my feet said, "Brain, we'd like to have this."  Alas, it was a promo, and I haven't the slightest knowledge of anti-fatigue mat manufacturers. 

 

[semenza]

From 2013, I think. One was $75 and the other was $125.
Made in the USA.  Inadvertently stepped on one at a dealer and my feet said, "Brain, we'd like to have this."  Alas, it was a promo, and I haven't the slightest knowledge of anti-fatigue mat manufacturers.

I don't what brand the Festool mats are. But a search should get many results. If you are getting actual anti-fatigue mats be prepared for sticker shock. I have one 3' x 10' along one side a work bench. Very nice and worth having. Not just feet, also legs and back like it. I don't remember where I ordered it or brand. It is a diamond tread pattern. I  think 5/8" thick. I got it from a place that did custom sizes in addition to presized. I have had for quite a few years and should get some more for other areas.

Seth

 

[yetihunter]

Coincidentally, about ten mintues after creating this thread, I landed one of the
aforementioned Festool mats.

3' x 10' ? 
$500-800?  Warm?

 

[semenza]

Coincidentally, about ten mintues after creating this thread, I landed one of the
aforementioned Festool mats.

3' x 10' ? 
$500-800?  Warm?

No, I think it was about  $200 or so. Still pricey but these are not the same as just getting a rubber floor mat for $20 - $50.  This is the most similar , might be the same one/brand, http://www.americanfloormats.com/ultrasoft-diamond-plate-anti-fatigue-mat/  Looks like 9/16" not 5/8" thick.

Seth

 

[WastedP]

It might be worth checking in with a restaurant supply house.  I have bought mats through a local place, and they were cheap and came in a variety of sizes.  The largest I've bought was 3'x8' (~$35), but they had larger sizes.  They will not last as long as the diamond tread ones, but mine have lasted for years with moderate use.

 

[Kevin D.]

I have both Festool mats and I like them.

I did buy the smaller one of these from LV, but I returned it as the location I had in mind really didn't need one and the price was too high to justify in this specific situation.  It was a better mat than the Festool ones.  Thicker.
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=71127&cat=1,43456,43465

 

[yetihunter]

Coincidentally, about ten mintues after creating this thread, I landed one of the
aforementioned Festool mats.

3' x 10' ? 
$500-800?  Warm?

No, I think it was about  $200 or so. Still pricey but these are not the same as just getting a rubber floor mat for $20 - $50.  This is the most similar , might be the same one/brand, http://www.americanfloormats.com/ultrasoft-diamond-plate-anti-fatigue-mat/  Looks like 9/16" not 5/8" thick.

Seth

Wild, I was on that page earlier today.  So many options.
The ones similar to (same?) what Kevin D. pointed out are on there.
There's also a closeout/discount section with offcuts, blems, overstock and whatnot. 

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Auntie Fatik mats huh? I'm looking at getting a pair of anti fatigue shoes, as mats are limited to the area they are laid out on. Anti fatigue shoes you have the benefit everywhere. I had a workplace with lots of terrazzo floors which really were hard on the knees and the back so I invested in shoes that had an extra layer of rubber they looked well functional and dorky really quite annoyingly bouncy but my knees and back pain disappeared quite quickly.

 

[Lou in DE]

Check these out - we picked one up for our kitchen work area just a few weeks ago (2 ft x 6ft) - like walking on a cloud [big grin] and come
with a 20yr warranty!

Not cheap but we have been through a lot of cheap ones through the years and they eventually find their way
scattered about my workshop  [embarassed]
http://www.frontgate.com/wellnessmats-c2ae-trellis-estate-collection-anti-fatigue-comfort-mat/959871

Lou

 

[Cheese]

Check these out - we picked one up for our kitchen work area just a few weeks ago (2 ft x 6ft) - like walking on a cloud [big grin] and come
with a 20yr warranty!http://www.frontgate.com/wellnessmats-c2ae-trellis-estate-collection-anti-fatigue-comfort-mat/959871

Lou

I agree...the Wellness brand is like walking on a cloud... [big grin] [big grin]

We had GelPro mats in the kitchen originally and while pretty nice, they're half as comfortable as Wellness and more expensive. The trouble is any knife that falls to the floor, always seems to land point down. [crying] That means the GelPro mats have a very short duty cycle.
Purchased our Wellness mats from Williams-Sonoma.

Plus, here's a 20% offer for 4 days.http://www.williams-sonoma.com/prod...wellness%2Fhomekeeping|1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH

For the shop I work on Snap-on mats, they're thick, supportive, stand up to most solvents & hot solder and most tools just bounce off of them. They've yet to been punctured in 10 years of use.
https://store.snapon.com/FLOOR-MATS-C629521.aspx

 

[semenza]

I think I went with the 9/16" thick partly due to price of thicker and also because I though thicker might make it hard to roll things around on casters.

Seth

 

[HAXIT]

One of the best place to buy this stuff is uline catalog. They have the best price and ship it fast.
Here is the one that I used and like it a lot. They come in few colors and a lot of different sizes and thickness,  but the best is they can custom size it for you and ship it in 10 days.https://www.uline.com/Product/Detai...ck-18-x-30-Gray?model=H-330GR&RootChecked=yes
Take a look in their catalog because they have a lot of options.

 

[Klemm]

what a useful topic:
I just copied the product description from the frontgate catalog for you:
"Crafted of 100% durable, recyclable polyurethane"
the operative word is "polyurethane".
It also explains why the good ones are expensive.
Having been involved in the development and manufacture of this type of product, I know why it is expensive to produce and sell.
One of the key take-aways for me was seeing how much the thickness and degree of resiliency of the chosen mat affects the ergonomics. Too soft has a destabilizing effect which the body has to constantly compensate for in a way that your body may let you know about after some extended use.
I see nothing in the ULINE catalog that encourages me, except that the price attracts buyers because of the price...

Anyone in FOG-land have any professional connections and/ore background to the interaction of anti-fatigue mats and the body? - or this topic in a technical sense?

Hans

 

[ergnut]

You might look at horse stall mats. Tractor supply has 'em and they are much cheaper than the fatigue mats. They aren't as squishy but they provide a lot of relief, prevent things from breaking when they hit the floor and you can cover a whole shop for not a lot. I used my TS 75 to cut the mats around corners and to fit the walls.

$35 - $40 for a 4'x6' 3/4" inch rubber mat with siping on the bottom and a diamond pattern top.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/rubber-mat-black-4-ft-x-6-ft

 

[bobbobbob]

I believe I have the same ones as Seth (except 36" width) and was lucky enough to score some brand new ones when Boeing Surplus was still around at a buck a pound (super deal).  Mine are direct on concrete and are great.  Boeing used them in their machinist areas so most of the time they were loaded with metal shavings but I kept an eye out until I found new ones.  Some were extremely long at 50' + feet ( good luck moving that much). Also they are super easy to keep clean and are roller friendly as Seth noted!

But here's a link for several other types (they also have anti-static ones):https://www.mcmaster.com/#antifatigue-mats/=175ha9z

 

[yetihunter]

This is quickly becoming the mother of all anti-fatigue mat threads.
The last time I worked in a supermarket, I was 16, so that's how I'm forgiving myself:
My co-worker used to be in retail operations, setting up new stores,
he gave me an "are you kidding me?" look when he found out that I went
to the internet for help on this.  He's like a walking dictionary, and he echoed many of the points brought up in this thread.

 

[travisj]

I can second the horse stall mats.  I had purchased a bunch to protect my snowmobile trailer from studded tracks and used some of the off-cuts in the garage at our old house.  I cut them with a straight edge and a utility knife.  They are firm enough to roll casters over, but still offer noticeable amounts of cushion.  The only drawback I have found is that they will trap condensation depending on your climate.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ben_r_]

This is quickly becoming the mother of all anti-fatigue mat threads.
The last time I worked in a supermarket, I was 16, so that's how I'm forgiving myself:
My co-worker used to be in retail operations, setting up new stores,
he gave me an "are you kidding me?" look when he found out that I went
to the internet for help on this.  He's like a walking dictionary, and he echoed many of the points brought up in this thread.

Lot of options there. Doesnt look like any are made of polyurethane though. If that really is something worth paying for in a floor mat.

 

[charley1968]

Got two from a local nickel and dime store. Doesn't do much for my fatigue but the cats love rippin' into it! Keeps them away from the couch, they're happy so i'm happy..