Gel mats!!

September 14, 2010 1:41 PM

Please share advice on gel mats for kitchen.

My kitchen has a tile floor. My feet and back become uncomfortable after standing in there doing work for just a few minutes, but after several hours, I just want to die! So I'm thinking of purchasing a gel mat to help my body out.

I'm looking for advice on brands, styles, sizes, retailers (online dealers shipping to USA), etc., and also how I should arrange the mats to benefit me most.

The relevant area of the kitchen is L-shaped with one side (A) being ~ 5 feet long and the other (B) being about 7 feet. Side A has my main counter area (about 3 feet of it) and side B includes the sink and stove. All 3 areas are places I'll stand for extended amounts of time working.

I can't think of anything else I should add, but let me know if you need more info. Thanks so much for your help!!

posted by hansbrough to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

I have this gel mat and it has made a huge huge difference for my back. I don't have a dishwasher, so I spend lots of time standing in front of my sink.

It's a bit on the pricey side, but, in my opinion, absolutely worth it if you spend any amount of time on your feet in your kitchen.

I got mine at Bed Bath and Beyond. I've also seen them in SkyMall!
posted by chatongriffes at 1:48 PM on September 14, 2010

I solved this problem by wearing good shoes if I need to be on my feet in the kitchen for a while. I really don't like wearing shoes, but it really made it much easier for me to do hours long stints in there. The best ones so far have been my Birkenstock Super Birkies.
posted by advicepig at 2:23 PM on September 14, 2010

I've found Crocs to be a cheap alternative.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 2:43 PM on September 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

Almost anything that gets you off the tile will be an improvement. Even something like the fake grass carpets at Home Depot that come in different colors can work. I have found that some of the really cushy one's caused leg fatigue, but I have bad knees, and abused my legs when I was younger.
posted by lobstah at 2:49 PM on September 14, 2010

I researched this recently and found Rubber Cal, which sells a wide variety of flooring by the sq. foot. They have a product section for anti-fatigue flooring. Not gel, but a cheaper alternative. They also have recycled rubber products.
posted by ljshapiro at 3:11 PM on September 14, 2010

Response by poster: Hmm. I don't know if shoes are going to solve it for me. I have moody feet and have never found anything that I could wear while standing in one place for hours on end without the shoes bothering me (I've tried Crocs and also Dansko clogs).
posted by hansbrough at 3:43 PM on September 14, 2010

At Home Depot in the Chicago area, I've found the exact same thick rubber matting I've seen in innumerable restaurant kitchens. It's black, about an inch total thick, with round holes cut in, so the piece is actually kind of a "web". I know inot describing this well, but it was about 5 bucks a YARD, which is about a tenth the price of Gel Mats. Might be worth checking out, if money is an issue.
posted by OneMonkeysUncle at 6:09 PM on September 14, 2010

gel mats are not magical items that will cure your problems—people who work standing up in kitchens for hours every day for years have both really good shoes and those rubber mats onemonkeysuncle mentioned going for them.

did you try the working line of crocs, or just the regular ones? they're apparently pretty differently built inside. also, you mention your feet are moody—have you ever seen an orthopedist? perhaps custom orthotics are the solution for you. they'll probably be cheaper than a gel mat.
posted by lia at 6:56 PM on September 14, 2010