The BEST Yoga Mats

After purchasing many mats and years of use I have found the best all around yoga mats.

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I’ve been practicing yoga for over 11 years, teaching for 2. In this time I have purchased many a mat, tested many friends and students mats, and worn out my fair share of yoga mats.

Most new yogis begin with one of two mats-

1. A plush “workout“ style mat, meant for floor workouts

Or

2. A very inexpensive, paper thin, slippery mat from a department or discount store

While both of these make fine options for a brand new practitioner simply testing the yoga waters there are many cons to each-

My biggest worry when a newer yogi has one of these two mats is that they will become discouraged in their practice due to faults of their less than perfect mat and give up altogether.

For plush workout style mats- These do give some added comfort to wrists, hands, and knees but are often slippery, absorbent and hard to clean- flaky and peely, and so plush that they hinder most balancing poses.

For thin cheaper mats- These are a great intro mat, and are often the mats available to borrow in smaller studios. But they are SO thin that they offer little-no cushion for sensitive wrists and knees and even worse- they’re the slip n slides of the yoga mat world. One drop of sweat and you’re done for.

The best of the best mats will also have their cons.

For the most part, this is the cost. Or maybe that’s just how I feel because I know what it’s like to not have a lot of excess and I’m cheapskate at heart. But, I would bet that most people agree. Price point is a big factor in their decision. Especially when a high end mat can have anywhere from a $60-$200 start price point. *Gasp....... That’s making the $5 discount store mat look a lot more appealing huh?

These high price point mats put in work to make up for it with quality, selection, and extras though. So, if you’re looking to jump into the world of better yoga mats these are my recommendations-

My Runner Up Mat- Manduka Prolite - cost $79-$110

Pros- Lifetime guaranteed. Thick and comfortable without being cushiony soft. SO sturdy. Easy to clean. Doesn’t scuff or scratch easily. Doesn’t slide on the floor. Indoor/outdoor. Latex free. Emission-free manufacturing. Fade resistant. Seriously lasts forever. Amazing customer service. Only weighs 4 lb.

Cons- HAS TO BE BROKEN IN. While the Manduka brand offers many types of mats and towels, I purchased this mat because it was in my price range, higher quality, and I could find them semi-locally. Aka I could get my hands on it before I purchased it. I read reviews and instructions prior to purchasing. I knew it wouldn’t be amazingly non slip the second I unrolled it. But..... I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you how surprised I was by just how slippery it was. So surprised that I cried over it. Really. I had spent much time and money on inexpensive junky mats over the years that didn’t support my body or my sweaty practice. My husband surprised me by taking me to buy “the mat of my dreams” , that we could hardly afford, and as soon as I stepped on it for that first new-mat practice I slipped all over the place. I was heart broken. So, I proceeded to do all of the tricks and tips to break in the mat - found on the Manduka website. Salt scrubs, daily use, etc. After a couple of weeks IT WAS STILL SLIPPERY. I couldn’t believe it. I messaged their customer service who kindly gave me more choices and encouraged me to give it more time, more love, more practice, more sweat . Eventually it did lose its slippery coating , but man it took awhile (I’m talking 1-3 months). Now, 5ish years later, she’s just as beautiful as day one, has hardly any slip (even in those extra sweaty classes), has traveled all over the country with me, and helps me to teach every single class that I lead.

Top Choice- Jade Harmony Mat

Cost- $79

Pros- No-Slip / super grippy from day one- seriously , No-slip. Won’t slide on the floor. You could use this mat for Hot yoga , pool side, or just be a sweaty person like me- and still you probably won’t need a mat towel. Mid level support- not super soft or super stiff, great for an active practice. These mats aren’t just pretty- they work WELL and are seriously eco-friendly. Made from natural rubber and produced in the United States. A tree is planted for every mat sold. They work with a lot of causes- donating money from many types of mats to different organizations all year long.

Pro or Con?- Smells like rubber. Strongly, at first. I was worried because of how strong it was. But 3 years later the smell has been hardly detectable for much of that time, and to tell you the truth , I miss it. I want it back.

Cons- Only weighing 1lb more than the Manduka at 5 lb this mat still feels heavy. It’s a lot more “floppy” than other mats making the weight harder to lug around. Works best with a mat bag rather than a strap. Not so sturdy- my cat chased a toy across my mat and made noticeable scratches across the back. I also caught the corner with a vacuum while cleaning and it basically melted it ....... Speaking of cleaning - it’s not as easy to clean or wipe down. This mat is considered open cell design- making it more grippy but harder to keep clean . The Jade Harmony isn’t Jades thickest mat, it’s not the most supportive- If a discount store mat was a 1 ,and a plush workout mat a 10 on the scale of non supportive/ cushion to extra supportive and cushiony I would rate the Manduka Prolite a 6 and the Jade Harmony a 5.

Have you tried multiple mats? Found better, cheaper, more functional options? Had a terrible experience with a mat? I’d love to know!