"They're great short-term, but I've seen them degrade over time, especially in garages with temperature swings."
Good point about temperature swings, but have you actually seen yoga mats degrade that quickly? I've had a mat under my washer and dryer setup for almost three years now—granted, it's indoors, but still sees plenty of vibration—and it's holding up surprisingly well. Maybe garage conditions are harsher, but I'm wondering if the mat's quality or thickness makes a significant difference in durability...?
I've noticed the same thing about yoga mats in garages. Indoors, they're usually fine, but garages can swing from freezing cold to blazing hot, and that really accelerates breakdown. Thicker mats or those made from denser materials (like rubber instead of foam) seem to hold up better. If yours is still going strong under your washer after three years, that's probably a good sign it's a higher-quality mat... garage conditions are just a whole different beast.
I've actually had foam mats hold up surprisingly well in my garage, even with the crazy temperature swings. Maybe it's more about the specific foam quality rather than just foam vs rubber? I picked up some cheap rubber mats once thinking they'd last forever, but they cracked pretty quickly in winter. Meanwhile, my old foam mat from college is still kicking around out there... go figure. Seems like there's more to it than just material density alone.
Interesting point about foam mats holding up better than expected. I've had mixed experiences myself—tried some cheaper foam tiles a while back, and they didn't survive the first winter without getting brittle and crumbly. But then again, I splurged on some pricier, denser foam mats for a workout area, and surprisingly, they've lasted through multiple seasons without any issues.
Honestly, I think you're onto something about quality rather than just material type. Rubber mats can be hit or miss too; I've noticed some of the recycled rubber ones seem to crack faster in the cold, probably because they're not as flexible. Maybe it's less about foam vs. rubber and more about how they're manufactured or treated?
Either way, it's a good reminder that price alone doesn't always predict durability. Sometimes the old stuff you expect to toss out ends up outlasting everything else... go figure.
I've noticed the same thing about recycled rubber mats—they seem great at first, but once winter hits, they can get pretty stiff and crack easily. I ended up switching to horse stall mats from a farm supply store. They're heavy as heck and a pain to move around, but they've held up amazingly well through several harsh winters. Sometimes the best solutions come from unexpected places...
