Best Non-Flat Standing Mats

May 2, 2023

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Non-Flat Standing Mat Reviews
Topo Anti Fatigue Mat
The Topo Mat in action, featuring its artificial slope

There’s an interesting new wrinkle to the conventional non-flat standing desk mats that go beyond the usual expansion of colors, sizes, and designs. So-called calculated terrain mats (a.k.a. “non-flat standing mats” or “active standing mats”) are a new subcategory of standing mats that appears to be exploding onto the scene—with new competitors rushing in to nip at the heels of Topo Mat, the progenitor of this entire niche. We put these newfangled comfort mats to the test to see if they’re as game-changing as their makers say, or just a passing fad.

Each standing mat we tested bears very specific topographical features to promote interaction with its user. From angled slopes for stretching to massage mounds for plantar fasciitis relief, these calculated terrain mats offer something different for everyone.

While many of these mats can be visually attractive to potential users, the unique features they offer may not always perform as well as intended. In fact, some features can be so poorly designed or even gimmicky, that they may as well not be there. However, through our research, we have found that there are some quality options for you to choose from.

To help you decide, we’ve broken up these non-conventional standing mats into three different categories, with calculated terrain mats now referring exclusively to mats with earth-like topographic features. Since the Topo Mat, an emergent host of competing variations has made it necessary to split these mats up even further according to their surface features:

  1. Calculated Terrain Mats. Originators. Also known as topographic mats. Imitating earth’s topographic features like ridges and rocks, these mats are best for promoting proprioception and active standing.
  2. Non-flat mats. Providing too little topography to be considered ‘calculated terrain’ and offering no special features to promote activity, these mats are a more interesting-looking alternative to flat mats.
  3. Active mats. Active standing mats don’t necessarily have to feature calculated terrain. Some models come with balls while others have integrated fidget bars.

What’s Really Different About “Calculated Terrain Mats”

Go back in time a few thousand years and you’ll find our human ancestors were designed to stand and walk across a widely varied terrain — from loamy soil to rocky hills. Fast forward to the modern-day era and you’ll find the exact opposite as humans in first world countries have become accustomed to walking across completely flat floors and sidewalks, in flat-soled shoes, for most of their adult existence.

In accordance with the law of unintended consequences, this has led to a variety of new health-related issues —including an assortment of foot maladies, and even premature loss of balance. The latter due to reduced stimulation of the proprioceptor nerves in our feet due to walking primarily on flat terrain, and leading to an inordinate propensity for premature hip fractures among our senior citizen population, among other things (as expounded upon in the bestseller Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen).

Even with the introduction of standing mats as stalwart companions to standing desks in the fight against sedentary office habits, many have found standing for too long to sometimes be just as bad as sitting for too long. Studies have shown that rigid standing for too long is causing people to experience circulation problems in the legs, joint pain, and most importantly compression of the spine leading to low back pain. Combined with the idea that our human ancestors were designed to walk across variable terrain, you can see how calculated terrain anti-fatigue mats make sense as a way to promote movement while standing, all in the effort to prevent those unwanted health consequences.

Things to Keep in Mind

As stated earlier, some mat features can be gimmicky and offer little to no use for the user, so it’s always good to keep in mind what it is that you want in a standing mat.

Another aspect to think about is where the mat is manufactured. There’s a huge difference in the environmental regulation compliance requirements of US-made versus Chinese made products when it comes to the materials typically found in comfort mats.

Organizations like ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and NFSI (National Floor Safety Institute) lab certify mats for quality, and we recommend only purchasing mats that have passed neutral third-party testing. While it costs more to buy a high quality, environmentally friendly mat, if you want durability, longevity, and clean air, these products are the wiser way to go for savvy consumers.

Less expensive mats also tend to exude odors that can make users nauseous, especially in closed spaces. We have noticed that some Chinese-made mats can reek of de-molding fluid, which also leaves them slick and prone to slippage, versus quality US-made mats that are thoroughly washed before shipping to the consumer. The biggest difference between makers, however, comes down to material formulation. There’s a vast difference in both the chemical formulation and the density of material used in imported versus domestic products, which affects their performance.

All that said, there are no calculated terrain mats made in the USA at this time. All the contenders, at least for now, hail from China. And their relative quality falls along a spectrum from reasonable quality (not as good as American-made flat mats, but good enough) to something that would smell up your home or office.

The best policy is to thoroughly read our expert staff’s reviews, coupled with user reviews from verifiable buyers (which we link to from each of our expert reviews), and not simply accept manufacturers’ marketing claims at face value. They often sound too good to be true, because they are.

Looking For Flat Standing Mats?

If you aren’t interested in Calculated Terrain Mats but you are interested in more of a standard but quality standing mat, check out our Standing Mat Guide or Standing Mat Comparison Review page for expert analysis on the most popular standing desk mats in the marketplace.

Calculated Terrain Mat Review Comparisons

Below, you’ll find abstracts of each of our standing mat reviews. Click on the product name to go to the full review.

1. CubeFit TerraMat Review

Experts’ Rating: 4-Stars

Size: 30.5″ x 27.5″ (3.5″ depth)
Construction: 100% Polyurethane
Colors: Black
Warranty: 100% Money Back Guarantee

Summary: Though it can improve in areas in terms of stiffness and rigidity, the CubeFit TerraMat is a durable standing mat designed to provide you with a variety of features, keeping you energized and moving at your workstation. By using your feet to shift positions, you can reduce body strains, improve balance, and keep your body engaged throughout the day. You will find yourself more energized at your work station – just remember to tuck the mat away when you’re done to prevent tripping hazards.

Price: $84.99

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


2. Flexispot Anti-Fatigue Standing Desk Mat Review

Experts’ Rating: 4-Stars

Size: 32.3″ x 20.5″ x 0.98″~2.0″
Construction: 100% Polyurethane
Colors: Black
Warranty: 1 year

Summary: Flexispot Ergonomic Office Anti-Fatigue Mat is one of the thickest non-flat mats we’ve tested. Providing all the benefits a solid polyurethane mat can offer, this one also features massage nodes that may provide relief for sensitive feet and further improve blood circulation. Simple design allows for plenty real estate while grippy underside gives the mat solid traction.

Price: $74.99

Read our full review Buy on FlexiSpot


3. Ergodriven Topo Mat Review

Experts’ Rating: 3.5-Stars

Size: 26.25″ x 29″ (2.7″ depth)
Construction: 100% polyurethane
Colors: Black, Grey, Blue, Purple, and Green
Warranty: Seven-year warranty against manufacturing defects

Summary: While quality mats provide a standing surface that’s both robust and comfortable, the Topo mat from Ergodriven takes things to the next level with its irregular surface. Unique calculated terrain features keep users engaged in a wide variety of foot positions, encouraging continual movement throughout the day. These features are novel, but for the price, you’d expect more basic comfort from your standing mat, and the ridges leave a lot of users feeling too constrained.

Price: $99

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


4. Topo Mini Standing Mat Review – IN PROGRESS

Size: 25.2″ x 19.2″ (2.47″ deep)
Construction: 100% Polyurethane
Colors: Black, Grey
Warranty: 100% Money Back Guarantee

Summary: This review is in process. Please subscribe to our free newsletter to stay abreast of all our office fitness product reviews as soon as they are published.

Price: $69

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


Non-Flat Standing Mats

Non-flat standing mats are for those who find themselves halfway between wanting a flat standing mat and a feature-heavy mat (active or calculated terrain). If flat mats don’t appeal to your senses (be it a sense of touch or aesthetic taste) and active mats or topographic mats seem too restricting—or perhaps, too big for you to be able to take advantage of their features—a non-flat standing mat is an excellent alternative.

Non-flat mats are numerous. They all originate from the calculated terrain subcategory, and as much as they provide little use for proprioception, massage, or activity, they are usually more intriguing design-wise than all the others. Only this category brings as much variety as you might find in a popular toy store.

1. Butterfly Anti-Fatigue Mat Review

Experts’ Rating: 3-Stars

Size: 36″ x 24″ (1.4″ depth)
Construction: Polyurethane and PVC blend
Colors: Black, Blue, and Purple
Warranty: 100% Money Back Guarantee

Summary: If you’re bored by the very idea of plain rectangular standing mats and want something with a little more flair, perhaps to serve as an expression of your own creativity, this is one you should seriously consider. The PVC outer layer compromises the quality of the mat and may not offer the same buoyancy or durability of a 100% polyurethane alternative. Nevertheless, the eye-catching design and ergonomic credentials make the Butterfly mat a great choice for the right buyer.

Price: $82.95

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


2. Ergoslant Standing Mat Review – IN PROGRESS

Size: 34″ x 22″ (2″ depth)
Construction: 100% Polyurethane
Colors: Gray
Warranty: 100% Money Back Guarantee

Summary: This review is in process. Please subscribe to our free newsletter to stay abreast of all our office fitness product reviews as soon as they are published.

Price: $69.99

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


Active Mats

Active mats can vary significantly in both concept and execution. Some may come with topographic layouts among other things while others look like traditional flat mats with ultra special features that include massage balls and foot bars. The upside of active accessories like massage balls is that they ensure movement rather than forcing you to rely on subconscious body adjustments. But they share a downside with the calculated terrain mats in lack of safety. You can easily trip and fall if you’re not mindful about removing the balls when they’re not in use.

1. Wurf Board Review

Experts’ Rating: 4-Stars

Size: Size Small – 28.3″ x 14.2″, size Medium – 30.9″ x 16.7″, size Large – 32.9″ x 17.7″; Wurf Board Maui size – 30.6″ x 16.6″
Construction: Aerospace grade materials
Colors: White and Dark Brown, Tan and Dark Brown, Tan, Light and Dark Brown, Ocean Blue, Dolphin Grey, Kona Coffee (Brown)
Warranty: 2-year warranty against manufacturer’s defect, including parts and pieces that come with the board.

Summary: Wurf is an inflatable mat that you can use as a wall decoration if you so wish, but really it promotes activity throughout the day unlike a flat polyurethane mat. Although it’s not as ergonomic, the Wurf board offers some relief from heel pain and enough cushioning to keep your feet happier.

Price: $99-$139

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


Don’t Miss

If you’re looking for something even more engaging that will keep you moving throughout the day, read our comprehensive review of Standing Desk Balance Boards. And if you prefer classic mats, go check out our round-up of Flat Standing Mats. Subscribe to our free newsletter to not miss our new non-flat anti-fatigue mat reviews.



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Anti-Fatigue Standing Mats


Discontinued Standing Mats

At WorkWhileWalking we’ve been lab testing and writing reviews of ergonomic office furniture and accessories for over a decade. In that time, we have seen many of the products we reviewed fall by the wayside. This is inevitable due to the cycle of continuous improvement, with new models supplanting their predecessors. Of course in some cases products weren’t as competitive as they needed to be, or their manufacturers ran into financial challenges (which very much accelerated as a result of the post-pandemic economy).

For whatever reason, these products now fall into the discontinued category, but we will still keep their reviews published and available to read. Whether you want to know more about the desk, monitor arm, etc. that you bought years ago, need more info because someone is selling one second hand, or just want to compare current offerings with what was available in the past, these reviews will remain here for your reference.

1. Ergohead Standing Desk Mat

Experts’ Rating: 2.5-Stars

Aside from having the obvious detriments like low density and unpleasant smell, the Ergohead mat can accommodate users who are looking for more cushioning during their standing desk experience. Since there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all in calculated terrain mats, this one would be a good choice for individuals over 5’4.

Price: $199.99

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


2. Ergocomfy Non-Flat Standing Mat

Experts’ Rating: 2.5-Stars

Ergocomfy is another Topo Mat imitator hailing from China. Just like the previous contender we reviewed, Ergohead, it fails to deliver on its promise of various standing positions and increased blood circulation simply because it’s too soft and poorly designed.

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


3. ErgoGo Standing Mat

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


4. Batman Batmat Standing Mat

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


5. Licloud Standing Desk Mat

Experts’ Rating: 3.5-Stars

The Licloud Standing Desk Mat is yet another Asian-imported competitor to the Topo Mat and the TerraMat (the American progenitors of the calculated terrain mat business). It combines topographic features with a special feature from the Varidesk Groove Mat—massage balls. Does it achieve the best of both worlds? Not really. But it gives you two different mats in one for the same price.

Price: $55.99

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


6. Varidesk ActiveMat

Price: $95

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


7. Varidesk ActiveMat Rocker

Price: $95

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


8. Varidesk ActiveMat Groove Standing Mat

Price: $75

Read our full review Buy on Amazon


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3 Comments

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  • Jess July 5, 2017

    What is the ETA on the reviews for rest of the calculated terrain mats?

    • Review Staff July 21, 2017

      Hi Jess, a new calculated terrain mat (Licloud Standing Desk Mat) is due into our labs in a couple weeks. We’ll test it out and publish the review shortly thereafter. As new mats arrive over the summer/fall, we’ll review them and update this page.

    • Patricia L Shaw-Allen August 2, 2018

      4 stars: I received my Topo Mini last week and so far, I love it. It is made for shorter folks like myself (5’5″). I do not feel at all constrained by the sides, but it is too small for my 6’2″ hubby and 5’8″ daughter . The massage features are really appreciated. as are what I call the “open arch docks” in the back.

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