How to lay a gym sled track
Installing a gym sled track is a powerful way to enhance your commercial gym or functional training space. A professionally fitted track adds visual impact, improves durability under heavy use, and creates a clear zone for sled work, sprint training, and conditioning. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the full sled track installation process, helping you achieve a seamless fit and long-lasting finish alongside your existing gym flooring.
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Essential Tools and Materials
Before you begin, gather the necessary tools and materials. You'll need sled tracks, adhesive, a measuring tape, a utility knife, and a roller. Ensure you have a clean and dry surface for optimal adhesion.
Preparing the surface
Clean the surface thoroughly, removing any dust or debris. A clean surface ensures better adhesion and longevity of the sled tracks. Allow the area to dry completely before proceeding.
Precise Measurements
Start by measuring the area where you plan to lay the sled tracks. Accurate measurements are crucial to ensure a perfect fit and avoid any gaps or overlaps. Ideally you'd get the sled track in and lay your gym tiles around it.
Step 0: Choose the Best Sled Track
To ensure optimal results, start by selecting the right gym sled track for your space. At Recharge Fitness, we offer three core options, each suited to different commercial gym flooring setups:
• Fully Bespoke Sled Tracks – Our most popular choice, custom-designed to match your branding, layout, and training needs.
• 2m x 10m Tracks – Available in black or green, these are ideal for standard sled lanes and conditioning zones.
• Plain Sled Tracks – A great budget-friendly option that still offers excellent performance and visual impact.
When choosing a supplier, look at company reviews, track thickness (ours are primarily 15mm, ideal for commercial use), and density (higher-density tracks deliver better durability under heavy sled use). Our plain track is 12mm thick and a solid option for value-driven gym fit-outs.
Step 1: Layout Planning
Plan your sled track installation carefully. Consider the flow of foot traffic and sled use within your gym. Mark out the route using chalk or masking tape, ensuring straight lines and accurate alignment with the surrounding gym flooring.
Step 2: Cutting the Track
Most gym sled tracks we supply are pre-cut to fit your space. However, if you need to make adjustments, use a sharp utility knife and a metal ruler for clean, straight cuts. This ensures a professional finish and smooth integration with your surrounding rubber gym flooring.
Step 3: Preparing the Subbase
A solid and level subbase is essential. When using a 15mm sled track alongside 20mm gym floor tiles, you can usually lay the track directly onto an even concrete floor, leaving a small 5mm height difference. If you're installing alongside 30mm tiles or want a completely flush finish, you'll need to raise the base. Options include laying thin rubber tiles underneath with strong adhesive or placing plywood sheets securely to level the height before installation.
Step 4: Applying Adhesive
Once your track is correctly positioned, secure one end using heavy weights, bumper plates work perfectly. Roll up one half of the sled track, apply adhesive to both the floor and the underside of the rolled section, then wait until tacky. Unroll the track one metre at a time, pressing it firmly into place. Repeat the process for the other half, switching the weights over as you go.
Step 5: Ensuring Adhesion
With the track fully laid, use a weighted sled or similar flat object to press down the surface and eliminate air bubbles. Add weights to edges, corners, and joins. Leave the sled track untouched for 24 hours, and avoid using sleds or heavy equipment on it for at least 48 hours. Keep the room temperature between 5°C and 25°C for best adhesive performance.
Step 6: Final Touches
Inspect the full sled track installation for any loose sections and apply additional adhesive if needed. Vacuum the surface thoroughly, even small bits of debris can cause wear or damage when pushed by a heavy sled. Regular cleaning helps preserve the surface and maintain top performance.
