Athletic turf has become a staple in fitness centers, home gyms, and sports facilities around the world. Whether you’re setting up a training area or revamping your fitness space, understanding the unique benefits and characteristics of athletic turf is key to choosing the right product for your needs. In this post, we’ll explore the top seven things you should know about athletic turf, how it is used, and why it is a great choice for high-performance environments.
- Versatile Use in Different Settings
Athletic turf, also known as fitness turf or sports turf, is designed to accommodate a wide range of activities. It is popular in commercial fitness centers, home gyms, CrossFit boxes, and sports training facilities. Its versatility makes it an excellent choice for any space where high-impact workouts, agility drills, or resistance training occur.
From sled pushes to agility ladders, athletic turf provides a durable surface that can handle heavy foot traffic, intense movement, and high levels of wear and tear. This is why you’ll often find athletic turf in:
- Fitness Centers: Provides a non-slip, resilient surface for group training classes and functional fitness areas.
- Home Gyms: A comfortable and durable flooring option that’s easy to maintain.
- Sports Facilities: Ideal for drills, sprinting, and agility training, simulating the feel of grass while being more durable.
Andrew Arredondo, owner of FIT Brea, uses Smart Turf’s Xtreme Play Turf in his gym: “We needed a surface that could handle the intensity of our workouts, from heavy sled pushes to HIIT exercises. Xtreme Play has been the perfect solution—durable, easy to clean, and it gives our members the feel of a real athletic field indoors.”
- Designed for Durability and Performance
One of the standout features of athletic turf is its durability. Unlike traditional flooring, which can wear down over time, fitness turf is specifically designed to withstand rigorous use. It is made from high-quality, UV-resistant materials that can handle everything from heavy equipment to daily workouts.
Our Xtreme Play Turf is engineered to absorb impact with a 5 mm attached cushion, making it ideal for high-intensity training environments where safety is a priority. Whether you’re dropping weights, sprinting, or doing explosive movements, the surface of Xtreme Play turf can reduce the risk of injuries and fatigue by providing a stable yet forgiving base.
Take a look at OC Fast Twitch in Fountain Valley, California. They called on us to help transform their outdoor space so their Sports Performance team can help train their athletes jump higher, run faster, and build strength.
- Low Maintenance Requirements
Athletic turf is not only durable but also incredibly low maintenance. Unlike natural grass, it doesn’t require watering, mowing, or fertilizing. Instead, it maintains its lush appearance with minimal effort.
Cleaning is simple—regular brushing or vacuuming can remove dirt and debris. This makes it an attractive option for fitness centers and home gym owners who want a hassle-free surface that still looks great.
- Enhanced Safety Features
Safety is a critical concern for any fitness environment, and athletic turf is specifically designed to minimize injury risks. High-quality fitness turf provides excellent traction, reducing the chance of slips and falls even during the most intense workouts.
Additionally, the cushioned layer beneath sports turf acts as a shock absorber, protecting joints during high-impact exercises like jumping, running, and heavy lifting. This added layer of protection is especially important for athletes and gym-goers looking to train at high intensity without risking injury.
- Customizable for Your Specific Needs
Athletic turf is available in a variety of thicknesses, colors, and styles, allowing you to customize your space based on your specific needs. For example:
- Thicker Turf: Offers more of the look and feel of real grass and is ideal for outdoor sports facilities.
- Shorter Pile Turf: Ideal for sled pushes and agility drills where less resistance is desired.
- Color and Design Options: Many facilities opt for customized logos or lines to be integrated into the turf for branding or marking training zones.
- Additional Padding: High-impact exercises may call for additional shock absorption.
The ability to tailor your sports turf to match your fitness area’s aesthetic or functional needs makes it a top choice for many gym owners and trainers.
Smart Turf’s Athletic Turf is available in the traditional green. Along with that, we now offer black, red, white, and blue!
- Cost-Effective and Long-Lasting
While the initial investment in athletic turf may be higher than some traditional flooring options, its longevity and low maintenance make it a cost-effective choice in the long run. Quality fitness turf is designed to last for years, even in high-traffic areas, without showing signs of wear or tear.
For home gym owners, this means a one-time purchase that can withstand intense personal use. For commercial gyms, it translates to fewer replacements and repairs over time, ensuring a consistent training surface for members.
- Microban Antimicrobial Technology for a Cleaner Space
A key feature of our athletic turf is the integration of Microban® antimicrobial technology. In high-traffic environments like fitness centers and home gyms, where sweat and moisture are common, keeping the training surface clean and hygienic is a top priority. Smart Turf athletic turf comes equipped with Microban, which inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew while reducing odors by up to 99%.
This means that even after the most intense workouts, your athletic turf stays fresh and clean. The antimicrobial protection is built directly into the turf’s fibers, ensuring long-lasting hygiene that won’t wear off over time. This technology is especially beneficial in gyms and fitness centers, where maintaining a sanitary workout space can be challenging due to heavy use and constant perspiration. Choosing athletic turf with Microban helps create a cleaner training. It is an essential feature for any space focused on maintaining high standards of cleanliness and performance.
Rob Riches Partners with Smart Turf for High-Performance Fitness Spaces
We are proud to partner with fitness expert Rob Riches (Instagram: @robrichesfitness). Known for his expertise in fitness training and bodybuilding, Rob chose Smart Turf when building out his home garage gym and private fitness studio. He recognized the importance of a high-quality, durable surface that could handle intense workouts and heavy equipment. Our athletic turf, with its combination of durability and integrated Microban antimicrobial technology, was the perfect fit for Rob’s needs, providing a professional-grade training environment right in his own home. His decision to partner with us underscores the brand’s reputation as a top choice among fitness professionals who demand the best for their workout spaces.
Wrap Up
Athletic turf offers a unique blend of durability, safety, and versatility, making it a top choice for fitness centers, home gyms, and sports facilities. Whether you’re an athlete looking for a reliable training surface or a gym owner wanting a professional and low-maintenance floor, fitness turf is an excellent investment.
As Andrew Arredondo from FIT Brea notes, choosing the right turf can make all the difference: “Our gym’s success relies on providing a safe and effective environment for our members, and Xtreme Play athletic turf has been instrumental in delivering that. It is a game-changer for our workouts, allowing us to offer the best to our clients.”