If you have been playing dart for a while, you should by now be aware that mistakes are inevitable. Doesn’t matter how good you’re at it, being a perfectionist is impossible.
This means that every time you throw a dart, it doesn’t have to hit the correct spot. Many are times it would land on the wall or floor.
And because it’s your responsibility to protect your investments, you should consider buying a dart mat.
In today’s article, we take you through the best dart mats, complete with a buying guide to help you make the best choice.
Let’s jump right into it!
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Best Dart Mats In 2021
If life is color, then the Winmau Xtreme Dart Mat undoubtedly gives its users the right dosage of life.
This heavy-duty mat comes in an attractive classic black design, complete with an ooze of yellow to give it a sophisticated appearance.
And because of this, I find it most suitable for typically any game room. Be it at home to soothe you after a long day, or at a club when hanging out with friends.
You can also tag it along to your office, for a little bit of “distraction” during break time.
Most individuals seem to enjoy a little bit of color, so you can never go wrong with this.
Besides, it comes with official tournament oche measurements, making it easy for you to practice for your next game.
If you are planning on taking dart as a profession, you better start getting used to the rules as soon as possible, and what better way than this?
Because of its heavy-duty nature, the Winmau Xtreme Dart Mat tends to lay correctly on the floor, giving you ease time as you play.
You won’t have to deal with annoying episodes of curling up, especially when you’re seriously trying to weigh your skills.
Another thing that I love about this dart mat is its ability to roll away quickly and with ease, making storage pretty easy and saving you on space.
You can keep it in your car, shelf, closet or specialized cabinet whenever not in use.
This mat is made from solid rubber, therefore guaranteeing users sustainability and durability.
It protects your floor from all stray darts, and won’t slide to cause unnecessary accidents.
So, if yours is a hardwood floor, this mat makes an ideal choice. Besides, it can withstand lots of pressure and can still service well under severe wear and tear.
And because this dart mat is narrow, it’s better used within limited space, not unless you’re okay with it not arresting every stray dart.
- Suitable for many game rooms
- Gorgeous appearance
- Sturdy solid rubber construction
- Comes with official measurements
- Not suitable for wide space due to its narrowness.
Viper is well known for its top-notch range of dart products. Their Viper Padded Throw/Toe Line Dart Mat is not any different.
This mat is ideally crafted to accommodate even the steel and electronic darts, something that sets it above the bar within its range.
I also love the fact that it’s made from a soft vinyl material, which is not only soft for the hands and feet but also gives a perfect cushion to the floor.
All this, while protecting your floor finishing from stray darts and all sorts of bounce-outs.
There’s nothing as costly as those random accidental damages.
Like the Winmau Xtreme, this mat is also heavy-duty, to ensure longevity.
But that’s not all, the Viper Padded Throw/Toe Line Dart Mat is a non-slip, so you don’t have to worry about it curling up or moving around as you enjoy your game.
The dart mat measures around 117” x 24” x ¼., which isn’t too narrow. It should comfortably serve your needs as you get acquitted with your darts.
I love how easy it’s to roll up this mat after every game. You should also set-it-up within no time.
Since it isn’t too heavy and can be rolled, you can carry it with you wherever you go and enjoy playing.
This dart mat comes with a regulation distance embossed toe line for both steel tip darts and soft tip darts.
So, you get to play from the correct distance, maintaining fairness as you compete with family and friends.
If you’re a beginner player, you should find this very convenient and helpful.
With all these fantastic features, I am not surprised at the price tag of this dart mat. So, if you got cash to spend, it sure is a worthwhile investment.
- Visibly comfortable cushioned vinyl
- It’s a non-slip
- Easy to store and transport
- Potent construction for durability
- It takes up to 4 hours break to reach its maximum size.
- Narrow, can’t protect a wide space.
The Dart World Let’s Play Darts Dart Mat is themed black and white.
It is made out of rubber and proudly displays a 3mm body build.
And because of this, the mat makes a perfect match for both home and professional use.
This is the kind of dart mat you can confidently invest in, knowing you will grow with it from beginner to professional level.
Because of its bulky nature, it’s unlikely for this dart mat to move out of place as you play.
You can use it on any type of flooring, but a massive number of hardwood floor users praise it for its effectiveness in protecting their floor from the notorious steep tip darts.
The mat comes with a professional measurement of 8-feet, and it’s professionally marked with throw lines to ensure fairness.
I love the rubber material of this mat as it’s a sure way of protecting darts from being damaged.
Therefore, you can play with ease knowing those random bounce-outs won’t harm your investment.
And although some individuals might not be comfortable with the rubber smell produced by this mat, when new, it does fade-off with time.
So, you simply have to bear with it at the beginning and focus on the game. It should be off after a few games, or so.
- Thick to comfortably accommodate trapped darts
- It’s anti-slip to ensure safety
- Comes with regulation measurements
- Durable construction
- Easy storage
- The rubber smell is a deal-breaker for some individuals.
If what you want is a professional-looking dart mat at an affordable price, the Target Darts World Champion Darts Mat makes an ideal pick.
This mat like the Let’s Play Darts Dart Mat is black and white themed, which can loosely translate to serious business for professional players.
It, however, is lightweight, unlike the Winmau Xtreme, making it a comfortable tag-along companion even for those long trips.
The top side of this dart mat is smooth and appealing to the eyes.
On the other hand, the bottom side contains non-slip rubber backing to ensure it stays in place.
Although you can’t compare this mat to a standard floor carpet, it’s large enough to cover enough space. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about those bounce-outs destroying your floor.
Plus it comes with dual layers for sufficient cushioning against throws.
I also love the fact that this dart mat comes complete with three oche lines to guide you on the best distance to keep from the dartboard.
Rolling up this dart mat is as easy as ABC, and it takes up very little storage space due to its compact nature.
- Odorless fabric
- An excellent pick for both professional and fan use
- Light-weight
- Takes little storage space
- An ideal pick for on-the-move dart players
- Non-slip
- Might not provide sufficient protection against powerful throws due to its light material.
If a choice to choose between black and red is your ideal shopping experience, the Anlik Dart Mat will offer you that, precisely.
The easy to roll-up and store dart mat comes in two colors (black & red), so you get to choose according to preference.
This eye-catching mat is made of soft cushioned nylon, which is BPA free.
Although the material is soft to touch, it offers sufficient protection to your floor against darts, while at the same time protecting your darts from the hard impact of hitting a hard flooring.
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The mat comes with a slip-resistant backing, which ensures it stays in place throughout the game to guarantee a safe environment for all.
The manufacturers of this dart mat ensured to mark it professionally, so you simply have to play according to your present level.
I particularly love the fact that this dart is very easy to clean, washable and guarantees durability to its users.
You can decide to either hand wash it or use a washing machine (of course with the correct settings).
As long as you don’t bleach it, it will serve you for long, or at least until you decide to upgrade your game room accessories.
- Hand/machine washable
- Professionally marked
- Non-slip
- Provides easy transportation and storage
- Two-color options
- Little protection due to the absence of rubber.
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Do You Need A Dart Mat?
This is probably one of the most asked questions I come across in my line of work.
In fact, some individuals don’t even see the importance of investing in a dartboard mat. To them, it’s another complimentary accessory they can do without well unless they have extra cash to “waste”.
But is that really the truth? Do you need a dart mat? Let’s discuss below:
First, it’s important to note that no player is perfect. No, not even those pro players you look up to.
They throw out of target often, and when that happens, the dart ends up on either the floor or the wall. And when that happens, they cause damages on the specific surfaces.
It’s for this reason that you will need a mat in every playing session. The dart mat will hold the darts as they fall, therefore preventing them from forming holes or any messy marks on the floor.
But if by any chance you choose to ignore this and leave your floor uncovered, be ready to foot hefty bills when the damage becomes too much and requires professional repair/renovation.
Another genuine reason to own a dart mat is its ability to help you adjust accordingly to the throw line.
This should be evident from the above reviews as most of these mats come with throw lines for accurate gameplay.
Lastly, the pain that comes with sliding on the floor as you throw the dart is unbearable. In fact, you might end up with a broken bone or limps that will take you days to heal.
A mat provides stability.
Most of them are non-slip and will ensure your feet are stable as you play. When your feet are secure in place, you can comfortably concentrate on hitting the bullseye.
Types of Dart Mats
The current marketplace is filled with different types of dart mats. The distinguishing factor between these three is the durability, pricing and of course the quality.
Floor/Wall Mat
These mats come in two different types, based on how you hang them.
The floor mat, for example, tends to be thicker, tear-resistant and non-slip. It has to withstand all the pressure of being stood on and the falling darts.
The wall mat, on the other hand, can afford to be a little bit thin, as they aren’t stepped on. They protect the wall and provide an extra layer to secure the dart tips.
Home Dart Mats
They are popularly known to be just for fun. And as a result, they aren’t the best quality out there but nonetheless fulfil their purpose.
The home dart mats are cheaper and not very sophisticated. They also tend to serve for long because they don’t host any tournament.
Commercial/Industrial Dart Mats
These mats are of the highest quality. And because of that, they offer longevity. They are used for professional games and are non-slip.
Due to the nature of their work, they are hard to curl up and offer a flat playing ground suitable for tournaments.
What to Look for While Purchasing A Dart Mat
If you go purchasing a dart mat blindly, you might end up compromising a lot. That’s why it’s essential to concentrate on the following things while purchasing your dart mat:
The Material
The material of the mat determines its quality. If the combination of materials isn’t correct, the mat will end up useless.
In this category, there are three commonly used materials, and they include foam, rubber and vinyl.
For instance, foam is the cheapest material. So, you can afford this even if you’re on a tight budget.
It also provides decent cushioning to your darts and floor. You should, however, be ready to replace it often, because it tends to flatten very fast, especially when stepped on by many people.
Vinyl, on the other hand, is a standard quality material that’s pretty affordable.
You can step on it as much as you want, without the fear of flattening. It, however, tends to wear out quickly and shows those tiny holes. If you’re a heavy player, this isn’t a material to go for.
Of all the three, rubber is the most durable and consequently costly. It will withstand all the pressure of constant playing without displaying signs of wear and tear. It also tends to stay in place once set firmly.
The major downside is that it has the strongest smell, but that shouldn’t be a problem as it fades with time.
Value for Money
The difference between the cheapest dart mat and the most expensive isn’t that huge. Because of this, most individuals tend to pick mats without considering the value they stand to gain. Don’t be like them.
Instead, ensure you get the most value out of your investment. The longer the mat stands to serve you, the better.
That’s why it’s advisable to go for heavy-duty dart mats.
You can never go wrong with rubber. And while at it, ensure the marked lines are visible, complete with other relevant measurement indicators.
Also, even if the size of the mats is almost the same, always go for the largest one. Yes, you might have to top-up a few bucks, but for someone serious about playing, the value you will get will serve you longest.
The Size
The size of a dart mat usually begins with at the toe-line/oche.
Since most mats come already marked, yours is to ensure the protection area is large enough. That’s the space between the board and yourself.
In this case, a distance of 8-10ft is ideal.
Also, focus on the narrowness of the mat. The narrow it’s the more vulnerable your floor will be. You need good surface coverage to avoid damages.
The Features
What convenience features does the dart mat offer? Is it professionally marked? Is it easy to roll-up for storage? And light enough for transportation?
Can it stay in place to withstand long playing periods? Non-slip perhaps? You need to enjoy the game, and one sure way to ensure that is by investing in a mat that offers you all the awesome features.
The Brand
Yes, a brand isn’t everything. But when it comes to some products, such as the dart mat, it matters.
Some brands are known to produce the best mats.
Reputable companies usually try to maintain quality. Their products are well-thought of and professionally crafted to suit the current needs.
From our reviews, you can already tell that some brands such as Winmau and Viper stand out. And so does all the other brands featured in this article.
They have their products featured in professional games, which could only mean that they are of the top-notch quality.
Yes, they might be a little bit pricey, but every penny is worth it.
Conclusion
When you think about these two: darts and your flooring, which one is the easiest to replace?
If your answer is as good as mine, you must be aware of how expensive it is. So, the best thing is to avoid making the mistake of playing without a mat.
And while these mats don’t come cheap, you can’t compare their pricing with that repairing a damaged floor.
Besides, they ensure your safety as you play. So never overlook its importance. Use the guide provided here to make a worthwhile purchase, as soon as today!
