The Best Yoga Mats for Staying Mindful Throughout Practice

A mat is a mat, right? Well, not when it comes to yoga.

In yoga, your mat is your private space. It’s where you come to find zen, strength, relief — whatever it is that drives your motivation in the discipline. But it’s hard to get there when you have a mat that messes with your flow. Even the most blissed-out yogi is going to experience some aggravation if their hands start sliding or their feet lose tackiness in the middle of a pose.

“If you practice regularly, you must invest in your own mat,” asserts Kristin McGee, a Peloton yoga instructor.

How to Choose a Yoga Mat

Yoga mats might seem simple at first glance, but there are a number of factors that can influence your sessions for better or worse. To find the perfect mat for your fitness regimen, be sure to take these features into consideration.

Grip

“A mat needs to have that good grip from the beginning,” says McGee. “If you find you’re sliding way too much, it’s not a good sign.” A good indicator to how tacky your yoga mat will be is whether it features an open-cell or closed-cell design. Open-cell mats can provide excellent traction thanks to their porous nature, but it’s important to routinely clean this style so as to prevent any unwanted odor or bacteria growth.

Closed-cell mats, on the other hand, can be great for low-intensity exercise that won’t see you sweat profusely from pose to pose. This style of yoga mat doesn’t absorb moisture, but can become slippery rather easily. Be sure to think about how you plan to use your mat prior to purchase so you can best determine how much grip you’ll need — and how much cleaning you’ll need to schedule.

Material

Your mat’s material can not only affect your traction, but also showcase your morals in relation to sustainability. “Most mats are made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC),” says Kevin Schaefer, gearhead and yoga instructor at outdoor e-retailer Backcountry. PVC is a popular material option for its easy-to-clean, non-porous makeup, but for those wanting less plastic in the world (as well as those wanting a little more security underfoot), there are more eco-friendly mats made from natural and recycled rubber or other natural materials. “Rubber is my go-to — it’s firm and great for balancing poses, but with some thickness, so it’s comfortable when you are embracing the floor and gravity.”

For yogis with a rubber or latex allergy, it’s important to consider the material your mat is made of, too. To avoid any health concerns, opt for a mat containing only natural materials.

Thickness

Comfort is another major factor for yogis, and there’s no sense in getting into a flow if the hard ground underfoot interferes with your state of bliss. As such, it’s important to choose a yoga mat with enough thickness to give your poses that perfect amount of plush.

“Your travel mats can be as thin as 1mm to the mid­-plush thickness of 3mm,” explains Schaefer. “Your usual home mat is going to be around 3­–6mm in thickness. And if you want some extra comfort, you can go 7mm-plus.” Some people need more padding than others, so it’s crucial to figure out what feels good to you (and your joints).

How to Clean a Yoga Mat

A good mat can be an investment, but it’s worth it. “If you take care of them, yoga mats can last for quite a long time — at least five years!” says McGee. That means wiping it down after you practice (every time would be great, but at least once a week) and giving it a deeper scrub and letting it hang dry once a month, she adds. McGee recommends the Jo-Sha Yoga Cleansing Wipes, but you can also use warm water and a few drops of dish soap.

To clean a yoga mat, the process is very simple.

• Lay your mat out on a flat surface
• Mix warm water and a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle or bowl
• Wet your cleaning rag and clean the mat from top to bottom in a circular motion
• Wipe the mat clean with a dry towel
• Air dry your yoga mat for at least 30 minutes, ensuring it’s completely dry before putting it away

There are also deodorants, like Swiff Spray, that you can use to treat your yoga mats so they maintain a stink-free condition in-between deep cleans. Also, it’s important to note that while every yoga mat can benefit from a routine scrub-down, open-cell mats will require a more regimented cleaning schedule to help avoid any deterioration or mold buildup.

How to Use a Yoga Mat

Yoga mats are pretty simple in nature, but understanding how to lay your equipment across the floor prior to practice can go a long way in ensuring your flow is as effective as ever. First, make sure to determine which side of the mat you want to train on. While some yoga mat profiles feature a dual-sided design for added versatility, others will come with a grippier surface underneath designed to maintain positioning across training floors and carpet. Additionally, it helps to roll your yoga mat out entirely to avoid rolled seams or edges that could become troublesome during poses. Allow the memory to leave your mat prior to practice, and you should be set.

How We Tested

Alo Yoga

BEST OVERALL YOGA MAT

Alo Yoga Warrior Mat

• $128.00 at Alo Yoga

• Material: Top: 100% Polyurethane Leather, Bottom: 100% Rubber
• Thickness: 5mm
• Length: 74″

We love this yoga mat thanks to its grippy top layer and exceptional length that’s ideal for even the tallest enthusiasts. We experienced no troubles with getting into more stretched poses across this lengthy Warrior Mat from Alo, and the polyurethane leather provides a premium level of tackiness that retains its grip in both hold and mild sessions. This is why this impressive mat is also a go-to for hot yoga sessions, too. We do caution, however, that you remove all jewelry from your hands and neck prior to practice.

Manduka

BEST UPGRADE YOGA MAT

Manduka Pro Yoga Mat 6mm

• $138.00 at manduka

• Material: PVC
• Thickness: 6mm
• Length: 71″

At 6mm thick and slightly longer and wider than average, the best-selling Manduka Pro has a little bit of everything. The fabric-like finish is grippy, the closed-cell surface keeps moisture and sweat from seeping into the material and the high-density cushioning keeps you comfortable. We found no stability issues thanks to the proprietary dot pattern underneath, whether practicing savasana on a hardwood floor or working tree pose on top of carpet. But the real selling point is the lifetime warranty — the brand will replace your mat if it shows any signs of manufacturer defects or irregular wear. Plus, the Pro yoga mat is available in a longer 85-inch silhouette, perfect for those taller yogis looking to upgrade their practice.

Amazon

BEST BUDGET YOGA MAT

BalanceFrom GoYoga Yoga Mat

• $15.00 at Amazon

• Material: High-Density Foam
• Thickness: 0.25″
• Length: 68″

For beginners and casual yogis, it’s okay to opt for a budget mat — as long as it doesn’t sacrifice function for savings. BalanceFrom’s GoYoga mat is over 6mm thick for added comfort and is made from lightweight, high-density foam with double-sided non-slip surfaces. It may not have the cache or durability (we’ve found this type of foam tends to flake over time) of some of the pricier options, but you could replace this yoga mat six times over and still ring up under the total cost of a name brand. That said, spending more on a mat that will last longer brings other benefits — including freedom from the guilt of throwing so much foam in the garbage.

Target

BEST THICK YOGA MAT

Decathlon Gentle Yoga Comfort Mat

• $60.00 at Target

• Material: 100% Foamed PVC
• Thickness: 8mm
• Length: 68.1″

A great yoga mat can provide excellent stability with an added zest of comfort, which is exactly what we found in the Decathlon Gentle Yoga Comfort Mat. The 8mm thickness can provide exceptional plush for beginner and veteran athletes alike, and the textured PVC foam provides great grip under our hands and feet, even during fast-paced flows. The mat also has a grooved line running down the middle, which is a nice visual aid for alignment, and it’s lightweight at just over four pounds — it even comes with a shoulder strap for convenient toting from home to studio.

Lululemon

BEST THIN YOGA MAT

Lululemon Carry Onwards Travel Yoga Mat

• $88.00 at Lululemon

• Material: Natural Rubber
• Thickness: 2mm
• Length: 71″

While the thin construction of the Carry Onwards Mat lends itself to more on-the-go practices, we found it to be an exceptional pick for finding that grounded feeling underfoot wherever you roam and flow. Made from sustainably-sourced rubber and microfiber, this travel-ready pick provides sufficient grip on concrete and hardwood floors, although we did feel some slippage when practicing in carpeted rooms. Clean-cut edges help protect the Carry Onwards from fraying, too — a common problem as the sessions begin to stack up. A convenient elastic strap is attached to the profile as well to ensure your folded mat doesn’t come undone during transport. Thin mats might not be for everyone, but for those wanting that grounded vibe, the Carry Onwards is an excellent choice.

Amazon

BEST CORK YOGA MAT

42 Birds Cork Lightweight Yoga Mat

• $72.00 at Amazon

• Material: Top: 100% Sustainable Cork, Bottom: Slip-Resistant Foam
• Thickness: 5mm
• Length: 72″

Cork can be an excellent material for those that want a sustainably-minded mat that doesn’t withhold errant moisture or funk over extended use. In our practice, we’ve failed to find a cork profile as performance laden as this lightweight option from 42 Birds. The smooth, easy-to-handle silhouette is great for finding that grounded sense in poses, and the top layer easily wipes clean to leave yesterday’s struggles in the past. While there is a sense of excitement to get into a practice atop this impressive mat, however, you may be better off letting this mat settle before use. Rolling out this 42 Birds mat before your workouts can allow the edges to flatten, leading to a better platform for training and less headaches across these problem areas in future flows.

Gaiam

BEST RUBBER-FREE YOGA MAT

Gaiam Performance Dry-Grip Yoga Mat

• $70.00 at gaiam.com

• Material: PVC
• Thickness: 5mm
• Length: 68″

The last thing you want when performing poses is to aggravate any allergies, and if you suffer from rubber sensitivity, it’s best to look at other yoga mat options like this latex-free Performance Dry-Grip mat from Gaiam. While PVC can carry with it a chemical-like scent at times, we found this to dissipate after a few uses. All that remained was a rubber-free profile that had more than enough grip, especially when wet. This was due in part to Gaiam’s special topcoat treatment that easily wicks away any pooling moisture, creating a tacky surface that allowed us to easily hold and maintain some of our favorite poses with ease. We also enjoyed practicing with this mat atop multiple flooring materials, although PVC can be heavier than other options. We’d recommend keeping this rubber-free option for at-home use, unless you really want to work those shoulders before and after sessions.

Amazon

BEST MAT FOR HOT YOGA

Aurorae Synergy 2-in-1 Yoga Mat

• $60.00 at Amazon

• Material: Top: Microfiber, Bottom: PER
• Thickness: 1″
• Length: 72″

There’s nothing less graceful than slipping and sliding around your mat, which is why excellent traction is especially crucial when you add high-sweat conditions to your practice. The Aurorae Synergy is layered with a non-slip, super absorbent microfiber towel to keep your hands and feet from losing their grip. Plus, the more you sweat, the grippier the mat gets. In fact, the brand recommends spritzing it with water before class to max out those tacky, sticky benefits. Just don’t spritz too much, as we found excess moisture can begin to pool at times. Underfoot, there’s a comfortable 5mm of mat made from Polymer Environmental Resin (PER), a biodegradable synthetic material. Plus, you can flip the mat over, for a more traditional surface, if you’re in a non-heated class.

Manduka

BEST YOGA MAT FOR TRAVEL

Manduka EKO Superlite Yoga Mat

• $42.00 at manduka
  $52.00 (20% off)

• Material: Natural Rubber
• Thickness: 1.5mm
• Length: 71–79″

One of the perks to practicing yoga is that you can get into flows wherever your heart desires, which is why many dedicated enthusiasts choose to travel with a personal mat. Across our testing, we couldn’t get enough of the EKO Superlite mat from Manduka. The thin 1.5mm thickness allowed us to achieve that desirable grounded feeling in each pose, and the Catch-Grip technology provided ample tackiness that never faltered when transitioning between poses. We also liked how compact we were able to get this mat when rolled or folded, allowing for easier storage in a gym bag, tote or suitcase. The EKO Superlite is plenty durable, too, which can help fuel your flows for years to come, but just make sure to be somewhat gentle when packing this pick — we did notice some scrapes and scuffs after a few rushed and rough packing instances.

Amazon

BEST FOLDABLE YOGA MAT

Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat

• $20.00 at Amazon
  $25.00 (20% off)

• Material: Non-Toxic PVC
• Thickness: 2mm
• Length: 68″

If you’re looking for a silhouette that folds compactly into itself like a wash towel or other fixture, this mat from Gaiam is just the ticket. We love how easy it is to travel with this foldable tote, as the stamped seams make achieving that uniform end shape a breeze. Plus, the 2mm thickness is plush enough for a slew of surfaces. In testing, though, we found it best to use this yoga mat on hard terrain — when practicing on grass, there’s too much room for the seams and panels to fold upward during steps and holds. For athletes that need some underfoot comfort that’s as mobile as their travel needs, look no further.

Amazon

BEST ECO-FRIENDLY YOGA MAT

Jade Harmony Yoga Mat

• $99.00 at Amazon

• Material: Natural Rubber
• Thickness: 0.19″
• Length: 68–74″

Jade Yoga’s best-selling mats are as ubiquitous in yoga classes as Lululemon shorts (in fact, you’ve probably rented one of these at a local studio). That’s because they’re known for their superior grip thanks to an open-cell construction. We also admire the available 68 and 74-inch lengths, opening the opportunities for taller yogis as well. And while the thickness and length are prime for practices, what really sets Jade Yoga apart is its commitment to sustainably-sourced materials. The natural rubber is entirely toxin-free materials with no PVC, phthalates, heavy metals or other harsh chemicals. Plus, for every mat sold, Jade plants a tree through their partnership with Trees for the Future.

Amazon

BEST YOGA MAT FOR ALIGNMENT

Liforme Original Yoga Mat

• $0.00 at Amazon

• Material: Rubber
• Thickness: 4.2mm
• Length: 72.83″

There’s no way to get all the body benefits of yoga if you’re not nailing the right form. Liforme’s yoga mat helps you stay centered — literally — with smart markings that point out where your hands, feet and center should be for proper positioning. (The marks are etched right into the surface of the mat, so they’ll be there as long as you are, too.) This mat is on the slimmer end of the spectrum at 4.2mm, but there’s an extra felt portion sandwiched between the natural rubber layers that provides additional support and stability. And at nearly 73 inches long, there’s plenty of room for you to deepen those lunges.

Jade Yoga

BEST YOGA MAT FOR GRIP

Jade XW Fusion Yoga Mat

• $200.00 at jadeyoga.com

• Material: Natural Rubber
• Thickness: 8mm
• Length: 80″

Don’t want to recenter your mat in the throws of a solid workout? This bulky, thick mat from Jade is prime for these types of setups. The tacky top layer keeps your feet and hands grounded no matter how hard you sweat, and we appreciate the heavier profile overall as it’s less likely to slide out from under you mid-session. Of course, that limits how totable this yoga mat is, but those valuing underfoot security should be able to look past the weight total. Additionally, we prefer this Fusion XW model, as the wider and taller dimensions allow even the lankiest athletes to stay grounded throughout practice without falling off the edge of the mat.

Lululemon

BEST MULTI-PURPOSE YOGA MAT

Lululemon Workout Mat

• $98.00 at Lululemon

• Material: Polyvinyl Butyral
• Thickness: 6mm
• Length: 71″

Yoga mats can also be great platforms for other fitness endeavors, yet there’s something to be said about a material that can stand up to the rigors of more intense training. Thanks to a Polyvinyl Butyral top layer, the Workout Mat from Lululemon can be an excellent one-stop-shop for all your home fitness needs. We love the textured pattern that provides ample grip across a bevy of workouts and flows, and the 6mm thickness provides enough cushioning to keep sessions comfortable yet still allows for worthwhile ground feel during strength-based exercise. If you are sensitive to that rubbery odor at unboxing, though, you may want to leave this mat in an open room before use.

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