The PR Grip mat is a 16 by 26 inch traction mat for lifting. You lay it on a bench, seat or machine pad, and it grips the pad on one side and you on the other. It costs $119.99 USD on prgrip.com, and it is built for the lifter who slides an inch every heavy set and pretends that was the plan.
Disclosure: PRGRIP is the official sponsor of Proof of Chalk, and both are run by PRGRIP LLC. We make money if you buy a mat. Every spec and price below comes from prgrip.com, read on October 31, 2026. Prices can change, so check the product page before you buy.
What is the PR Grip mat?
It is a double-sided grip mat. PRGRIP calls the grip surface Hexatrac and describes it as raised hexagonal faces with channels between them on both sides. In PRGRIP's words, "the mat does not move on the bench, and you do not move on the mat."
There is no glue involved. PRGRIP says the mat holds by friction rather than adhesive, so it leaves nothing on the pad. That matters if your gym staff already watch you like you are about to open a chalk bucket.
How does it grip?
PRGRIP says pressure makes it grip harder. The more force you drive through the mat, the harder it locks. So the mat should work best on exactly the sets where sliding costs you the most, like the third rep of a heavy bench where your upper back starts its slow migration toward the floor.
There is no setup. PRGRIP lists no straps, no rigging and no resetting between sets. You lay it down and lie on it.
What size is it, and how do you clean it?
- Size: 16 x 26 inches. PRGRIP says that covers the contact area on almost anything in the building.
- Carrying: it rolls up and fits in a gym bag.
- Cleaning: wipe it down between sessions. When it needs more, PRGRIP says to machine wash it cold and hang it to dry.
That last part beats a bench towel, which after a month is mostly a biology project.
Where can you use it?
PRGRIP says it locks to vinyl, leather and foam, and lists flat, incline and decline benches, seats, pads and platforms. Here are the lifts and machines named on prgrip.com:
- Bench press, incline bench and overhead press
- Leg press and hack squat
- Hip thrust and Bulgarian split squat
- Preacher curl
- Barbell squat and deadlift
The site also pitches it for gyms that ban chalk, since there is no powder and no residue. If you are hunting for a gym where chalk is fine, start with our chalk friendly gyms list. If you are stuck at one where it isn't, this is the version of grip that nobody at the front desk can see.
How much does it cost?
- PR Grip Mat, Founders Edition: $119.99 USD, listed down from $149.
- Founder Duo, 2 mats: $199 USD. One for the gym bag, one for the home bench, or one for the training partner who keeps borrowing yours.
PRGRIP says the Founders Edition is the first production run. It ships free, comes with a numbered Founder Card in the box and includes early access to future PR Grip releases.
What is the return policy?
PRGRIP offers 30 days. The site says to train on it, and if it is not for you, email contact@prgrip.com within 30 days of delivery and send it back for a full refund.
PRGRIP also says 71 lifters tested the mat before it went on sale.
Common questions
What size is the PR Grip mat?
PRGRIP lists it at 16 x 26 inches.
Does the PR Grip mat use adhesive?
No. PRGRIP says it grips by friction, using raised hexagonal faces on both sides, and leaves no residue on the pad.
Can you wash the PR Grip mat?
Yes. PRGRIP says to machine wash it cold and hang it to dry, and to wipe it down between sessions.
How much is the PR Grip mat?
$119.99 USD for one mat or $199 USD for two, according to prgrip.com on October 31, 2026.
Can you return it?
PRGRIP offers a full refund if you email contact@prgrip.com and send it back within 30 days of delivery.
Keep reading
Anti-slip bench mats: do they work, and who needs one?
Why lifters slide on benches and machine pads, what towels and chalk can and cannot fix, and an honest look at the PR Grip mat, from the company that runs Proof of Chalk.
Liquid chalk vs block chalk: which one your gym allows
How liquid and block chalk differ, why gyms treat them differently, and what a few chains say in their own words.
What to bring to the gym for lifting: a gym bag checklist
A practical gym bag list for lifters: the basics every gym expects, the lifting gear worth carrying, what to check before your first visit, and what to leave home.
