Looking for a good chef's mat

I rediscovered my cooking gene a while back, and for the most part, have been thoroughly enjoying myself. But oh, my aching feet!! I am thinking a chef's mat would be helpful, but it's hard to know from the sell copy which really do the job.

A few week's ago, Aldi had one on sale for $14.99 (2x3 in size), but I didn't get there to look it over. However, call me skeptical at that price. Costco has one (2x3) for $79.99 (on-line only) called the "Chef's Design Ultra Comfort Mat," and Bed Bath and Beyond offers the "Imprint Anti-Fatigue Comfort Mat" (20x36) for $59.99.

Costco.com link: http://www.costco.com/Chef%27s-Design-U ... 6B6YsAJxpc

BBB link: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=128267

The description for the Chef's Design mat at Costo sounds like just what I need, but I would prefer a recommendation from those "in-the-know," of course. Does anyone have experience with any of these, or others I should consider?

Thanks, as always!

I bought a couple of chef's mats from Kohl's. I think they cost me $15 each. They certainly help when I go on long cooking binges. I looked at pricier ones but couldn't wrap my head around a $99 mat.

The GP wrote:I bought a couple of chef's mats from Kohl's. I think they cost me $15 each. They certainly help when I go on long cooking binges. I looked at pricier ones but couldn't wrap my head around a $99 mat.

Scored an incredible deal at Kohl's this afternoon -- got a 20x54" "comfort mat" for a grand total of about $35 after a bunch of discounts. The regular retail price was $119.99. My feet already feel better!

Sharon

The Costco mat works well. Have something similar in front of my stove. I have a GelPro mat I bought from BB&B (using 20% coupon) and that's the best! I have that in front of my sink/prep area.

My next kitchen floors will be cork. I HATE hard tiles. They kill your back. Never had a problem at the old house (linoleum over hardwood).

dees_1 wrote:The Costco mat works well. Have something similar in front of my stove. I have a GelPro mat I bought from BB&B (using 20% coupon) and that's the best! I have that in front of my sink/prep area.

My next kitchen floors will be cork. I HATE hard tiles. They kill your back. Never had a problem at the old house (linoleum over hardwood).

So the GelPro is really worth the extra moolah? I am definitely noticing a difference by having cushioning under my feet; my goal now is to get better footwear, too! (Our flooring is also linoleum over what I imagine is hardwood, based on everything else we've found underneath '70s-era "improvements" made to our vintage house.)

Sharon

Keep an eye out at HomeGoods/Marshalls/TJ Maxx because they'll have them in every once in awhile. I got my mat there for about $70, I believe and it was about 20" by 48". I think it's a GelPro, but I'd have to look to be sure. I also have two from Kohl's that I picked up on Black Friday for about $20 each and the more expensive one is definitely better quality and more comfortable. When I do a cooking or candy making marathon, I'm usually on my feet in the kitchen for 8-12 hours and the GelPro is far superior to the Kohl's mats for keeping my feet from aching. It really may be some of the best money I've ever spent in my kitchen.

Thanks for the tip, rainy! I definitely need more padding in that area (while not so much in others)!

Sharon

Yes, the GelPro is worth the extra $$$. They are nice. However, I didn't "pay" for mine. I used a BB&B 20% off coupon with gift cards I got using my Discover Rewards points.

Just don't put the mat in a high traffic area. High heels and gel mats are not friends. I know we *all* cook in our high heels . Just a warning about it.

dees_1 wrote:Yes, the GelPro is worth the extra $$$. They are nice. However, I didn't "pay" for mine. I used a BB&B 20% off coupon with gift cards I got using my Discover Rewards points.

Just don't put the mat in a high traffic area. High heels and gel mats are not friends. I know we *all* cook in our high heels . Just a warning about it.

The mats don't like scissors or knives being dropped on them either. Fortunately, no toes were harmed in that research.

dees_1 wrote:Yes, the GelPro is worth the extra $$$. They are nice. However, I didn't "pay" for mine. I used a BB&B 20% off coupon with gift cards I got using my Discover Rewards points.

Just don't put the mat in a high traffic area. High heels and gel mats are not friends. I know we *all* cook in our high heels . Just a warning about it.

Funny, all the ads I've seen lately for the mats show a woman who is barefoot seeming to enjoy herself a bit too much, if you ask me ...

Gelpro is having a 20% off sale until the 22nd.

Geo

Just bumping this in case anyone hanging out online this weekend is interested. Thanks!

Hi Forumites,

I have a gelpro 20x72 mat, grey willow pattern as seen here:
http://www.gelpro.com/shop/gelpro-gel-m ... -Greystone

I purchased it on the recommendation of my physical therapist, and I love it. We used it for a couple of weeks before my husband determined that our height differential (he's a foot taller than me) is incompatible with the extra inches the mat adds to our workspace - he feels he is too high at the sink, head too close to pot rack etc now. So it seems we need to part with it.

Any takers? Retail is $199. We're just looking for best offer to salvage some of the costs of our lack of foresight. PM me if so; we are in Bucktown for pickup.