How to Choose an Air Track: Sizes, Thickness & Space Guide
Quick answer: for most homes, a 20cm thick air track that is 3m or 4m long and 1m wide is the best first choice. Go longer (5m to 8m) if you have the room and want to link skills into full tumbling passes, or choose a 2m wide track for extra landing room or two users. Allow about 3m of extra length for run-up and landing.
Already know what you need? Shop all air track mats. Every Powertrain air track is 20cm thick, from 1m air spots to 8m tumbling tracks.
Choosing an air track comes down to three questions: how much space you have, who will use it, and which skills they are working on. This guide walks through each one.
What is an air track, and how does it differ from a traditional tumbling mat?
An air track is an inflatable tumbling mat that you pump up with an electric or manual pump. It's made from PVC with a drop-stitch core: thousands of fine threads join the top and bottom layers, so the mat inflates to a flat, even surface for tumbling and gymnastics practice.
Compared with a foam tumbling mat, an air track is thicker and has more bounce, which absorbs more of the impact on landings. You can also change how firm it is by adding or letting out air: softer for learning new skills, firmer for power tumbling.
Air tracks deflate and roll up for storage and transport, which makes them a good fit for homes with limited space or for training in more than one place. For a full comparison with foam mats and spring tumble tracks, see gymnastics mats for home: air track vs foam mat vs tumble track.
What type of air track do I need?
Inflatable gymnastics equipment comes in a few main shapes:
- Air spots: round 1m mats used as a launch pad, for jumps and rolls, or at the end of a longer track. See the Powertrain 1m air spot.
- Air tracks: rectangular air track mats from 3m to 8m long, in 1m and 2m widths. This is what most people buy first.
- Air barrels (rollers): inflatable cylinders used for back walkover and flip drills, balance and core work.
How thick should an air track be?
For gymnastics and cheer, 20cm is the better choice. In Australia, air tracks for home use come in two thicknesses: 10cm and 20cm.
10cm mats cost less, but they have less bounce and less landing protection, and they don't work as well at the low pressure beginners need. Most people outgrow them once skills move past the basics.
A 20cm air track gives more rebound on tumbling passes and more protection on landings, and it still feels cushioned at low pressure. That's why every Powertrain air track is 20cm thick.
What size air track should I buy?
Match the length to the skills being practised. Longer tracks let you link more skills together in one pass, and 2m wide tracks give more room for landings and twists.
| Stage | Typical skills | Suggested size |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Forward rolls, cartwheels, handstands | 3m x 1m, or a 1m air spot |
| Building skills | Round-offs, walkovers, back handsprings | 4m x 1m or 5m x 1m |
| Linking skills | Two skills in one pass, e.g. round-off back handspring | 5m x 1m or 6m x 1m |
| Advanced and cheer | Full tumbling passes | 7m x 1m or 8m x 1m |
| Wide landings or two users | Twists, floor routines, siblings sharing | 4m x 2m or 6m x 2m |
If you're unsure between two sizes, choose the longer one if your space allows: it gives room to grow. Prices for every size are in our air track size guide.
Do I have enough room for tumble training?
To use an air track safely you need clear space at the start for a run-up, at the end for landing off the track, and at the sides. The chart below shows the minimum recommended space for each size.
| Air Track size | Minimum recommended space | Shop |
|---|---|---|
| 1m x 1m x 20cm | 3m x 3m | 1m air spot |
| 3m x 1m x 20cm | 6m x 3m | 3m air track |
| 4m x 1m x 20cm | 7m x 3m | 4m air track |
| 5m x 1m x 20cm | 8m x 3m | 5m air track |
| 6m x 1m x 20cm | 9m x 3m | 6m air track |
| 7m x 1m x 20cm | 10m x 3m | 7m air track |
| 8m x 1m x 20cm | 11m x 3m | 8m air track |
| 4m x 2m x 20cm | 7m x 4m | 4m x 2m air track |
| 6m x 2m x 20cm | 9m x 4m | 6m x 2m air track |
Can I use my air track outdoors?
Yes. Set it up on grass or another flat, smooth surface, and avoid rough or abrasive ground such as concrete or gravel. Keep it away from sharp objects, and deflate and store it out of the sun after use, as long exposure to the Australian sun shortens its life.
How do I inflate and maintain my air track?
Air tracks use the standard SUP valve and are usually run at 40 to 100 mbar (about 0.6 to 1.5 PSI). Our air track pumps and inflation guide covers which pump to use, the right pressure for each skill level, and what to do if you don't have a pump.
What is an air roller?
An air roller, also called an air barrel or gymnastics barrel, is an inflatable cylinder used in gyms and at home. Gymnasts use it as a training aid for skills such as back walkovers, back handsprings and front tucks, and dancers and cheerleaders use it for warm-ups, balance and flexibility work. Powertrain air barrels are 120cm x 75cm. See our range of air rollers.
Air track buying checklist
- Thickness: 20cm for gymnastics and cheer.
- Length: 3m or 4m for beginners, 5m to 8m for linking skills and full passes.
- Width: 1m for most homes, 2m for wider landings or two users.
- Space: track length plus about 3m, and about 3m wide (4m for 2m wide tracks).
- Pump: an electric pump for home, plus a manual pump for parks and travel.
Ready to choose? Browse the full range of Powertrain air track mats, all 20cm thick and available in 1m and 2m widths.