Marley is about 2mm of vinyl. It gives you the right surface and almost none of the shock absorption your joints need for jumps, leaps and pointe work. Over concrete, tile or laminate, the cushioning has to come from a layer underneath.
The 3/8 inch subfloor tiles ($7.96 per 2 by 2 foot tile) are the affordable base for practice corners. The Home Sprung Floor Kit (from $162.99) is the real thing: a high-density EVA foam base under a firm top layer, 3/4 inch total, and the one we rate as pointe-safe. If you would rather buy the floor and the cushion together, the VersaStep Pro Kit and ProStep Kit box pre-cut marley, subfloor tiles and tape in one order.
We recommend the full sprung kit for pointe: foam base plus firm top, 3/4 inch total. The 3/8 inch tiles take the edge off hard floors for general practice, but pointe landings deserve the most cushioning you can give them.
Can I put subfloor tiles over carpet?
Foam subfloor over carpet gets spongy and uneven. Over carpet, start with rigid interlocking floor tiles instead; they bridge the soft pile and give marley a firm base.
Do studios need this too?
A purpose-built studio usually already has a sprung floor under its marley, so no. These systems exist to give home spaces, garages and stages the cushioning a studio gets from construction.