Best Yoga Mat Review Guide

Posted on 2019-03-04

The Best Yoga Mats of 2019

What are the best yoga mats today?

Whether you're just getting started or have been practicing yoga for years, you need to have the right mat to work on. There are many options out there, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the choices.

We set out to find the best yoga mats. When you’re twisting yourself into more knots that the average pretzel, you want to feel well-supported by a mat that doesn’t slip or stink. We looked at how the mats held up in terms of comfort, durability, hygiene, and how easy they were to carry.

In the end, we’ve narrowed it down to the very best yoga mats on the market today. Whether you’re looking for the best yoga mat for hot yoga or the best yoga mat for Ashtanga yoga, to travel with or practice at home, you’ll find it on this buying guide.

The Liforme Yoga Mat

liforme yoga mat purple

Specs.

Weight 2,5kg
Size 185cm long x 68 cm wide
A thickness of approx 4,2 mm
Material natural rubber, polyurethane
Colors, Pink, Blue, Green, Purple

Pros

Surface is non-slip
Can be wiped down easily
Has alignment markings on it
Is a nice length

Cons

Price
The surface can feel a little bit dusty but it is easy to wipe off with a wet cloth.
that it comes with a bag that is not as plush as the mat itself

This comes up as our best yoga mat 2019. It is in the higher price range, but we felt that it was worth it.

The mat grips the floor well, so there’s no need to worry about it sailing off in another direction when you strike a pose. It has a rubber base and a polyurethane top that is smooth and comfortable. It got our vote as one of the best yoga mats for hot yoga – no matter how high the temperature reached, it adhered to the floor.

Cleans Up Well

The smooth top is composed of closed cells. This makes it a breeze to wipe down after a session. You will notice that the water leaves a mark initially, but this will fade when it’s dry.

Alignment Marks

This is not something that we thought would actually make much of a difference. In all honesty, we felt that these were a bit gimmicky – something that worked well in theory but wasn’t helpful.

As it turned out, we were wrong. The lines on the mat help you achieve the perfect angle when striking a pose. They’re spaced out well, and there are several different lines to cater for people of different heights.

Longer than Most

The best feature of this mat is the length. You get about half a foot more than with your standard mat. This is something you’ll appreciate if you’re taller.

Less Cushioning

If there’s one thing that we had to gripe about, it would be that this mat is on the thin side. If you have a particularly sensitive frame, you might find the Hugger Mugger Mat a better option. The upside of it being thin is that it is easy to carry around and store.

Overall, this is a good option for most people.

Special Editions

Liforme love mat, Liforme zodiak animal yoga mats

Travel yoga mat

Yes you can get Liforme in the regular colors as 2 mm travel mat

Best yoga mat suited for

Vinyasa practice

The Manduka Pro

Specs.

Weight standard 3,4kg, extra long 4,0kg
Size standard 180cm long x 66 cm wide, extra long 215cm long x 66 wide
A thickness of approx 6 mm
Material natural rubber, polyurethane
You can get Manduka pro in around 10 different colors

Pros

Durable
Lifetime guarantee
Plush
Sustainably made
OKEO-TEX certified
Easy to clean

Cons

Pricey
Heavy
Slippery when wet

Manduka has built its reputation on high-quality products for yogis at all levels. This is an extra thick deluxe yoga mat.

Durable with a Lifetime Guarantee

You’ll no doubt want to change out your mats every few years as a matter of course. The advantage here is that Mandukas don’t wear nearly as quickly as other models. The lifetime guarantee also means that if it does wear out, you get a replacement.

Plush

If you have pain issues, this is the most comfortable of all the mats that we’ve reviewed.

Eco-Friendly

Manduka is made from sustainably sourced materials, namely PVC that is OKEO-TEX certified, so no harmful chemicals have been used in creating it. You van be sure that you are buying an ecofriendly yoga mat.

Pricey

This is a top of the line deluxe yoga mat and something of a splurge. That said, it will outlast the competition by a long shot.

Heavy

You can opt for the lite version that weighs less. The traditional version comes in at over five pounds so you’ll need help carrying it.

Slippery Surface

When you use this the first time, you’ll find that it’s harder to get a grip with your hands and feet. As you wear it in, though, it becomes a lot better. Some people sprinkle salt over the top and let it sit there for twenty-four hours before wiping it away with warm water.

Best yoga mat suited for

Home practice, Vinyasa, Ashtanga and more

More from Manduka

Manuka has a variety of yoga mats, yoga towels, block, straps, clothes, and other yoga accessories.

The Best Yoga Mats for Hot Yoga

There’s no denying that hot yoga has many benefits. There’s nothing quite like it in terms of the workout that you get. Given the temperature conditions, it is necessary to choose the mat you’ll be using carefully. You need something that has low maintenance and that will stay put. The material has to be something with closed cells like TPE or to some degree natural rubber yoga mats.

The Alo Yoga Warrior Mat

Specs.

Weight standard 3,4kg, extra long 4,0kg
Size 185cm long x 68 cm wide
A thickness of approx 4 mm
Material natural rubber, polyurethane
Only available in black color

Pros

Grips the surface well
Lights flat against the floor
Simple to wipe down
For any type of yoga

Cons

There are no alignment marks
It only comes in black

Overall, the limited color range and lack of alignment marks are small issues and not deal-breakers.

Grips Very Well

Good luck getting this sucker to slip and slide around on the floor. If you want to make your best impression of Tom Cruise in Risky Business, this is not going to work for you. However, for the humid conditions in a hot yoga session, it’s ideal.

Cleans Up Nicely

Usually, there is some trade-off when it comes to a mat being easy to clean and being able to maintain its grip on the floor. However, the smooth polyurethane on top of alo warrior mat can be cleaned with just a wipe or two. This is one of the best yoga mats for hot yoga because it is easy to maintain hygiene.

Lies Completely Flat

It sounds crazy to have to say this, but sometimes mats have a problem with the edges rolling up. The manufacturers have designed the Alo well enough so that it doesn’t do that. You can change positions with confidence without having to readjust it.

Limited Color Range

The manufacturers must have taken Henry Ford’s advice to heart. When he released his first Model T Ford, he said, “You can have it in any color you like, as long as it’s black.” What we don’t like about this color is that it shows smudges and dust easily.

No Alignment Marks

This is where the Liforme might have spoiled things a little for us. We know that these marks don’t come standard with most models, but we feel as though they should. They’re very helpful for newbies who are still getting the hang of things.

Best yoga mat suited for

Home practice, Vinyasa, Ashtanga and more

Travel Yoga Mat

Alo does have a travel yoga mat and it is called AIR MAT that is ultra light and of natural rubber material.

More from Alo

Alo has a variety of yoga mats, yoga pants, yoga blocks, straps, and other yoga accessories.

Runner up Yoga mat for Hot Yoga

Kulae tpECO

kulaue yoga mat

Specs.

Weight 0,91 - 1,81 kg
Size 188cm long x 61 cm wide
A thickness choice between 3, 5, 8 mm
Material TPE, closed cell technology
Colors, Various colors

Pros

Made from 100% recyclable
Easy to clean
Lightweight, therefore easy to travel with
Won’t slip

Cons

Need a yoga towel if practicing vinyasa
If the ongoing onslaught against the environmental concerns you, this model is a good option
Durability, Not as strong as rubber mats but if you use a towel over it has good cushion and works perfectly for Bikram yoga

Hot Yoga Mat

This was the first yoga mat I bought for Bikram yoga and to this day TPE is the eco-friendly material I recommend to all Bikram yogis. If you are a heavy sweater and you will need a towel on top because the mat won't absorb anything due to the closed cell technology. So it is very easy to just rinse off in the shower after class and it hang dries in no time.

Best yoga mat suited for

Hot yoga, Bikram yoga, Hot pilates

Travel Yoga Mat

Kulae has been long in the market and was one of the first starting to use TPE as material for their yoga mats. TPE is a very lightweight material so these mats are excellent as travel yoga mats. Especially the 3mm that folds easy to fit in any suitcase.

The Mat for Eco-Warriors:

The Hugger Mugger Para Rubber Yoga Mat

Specs.

Weight 2,5kg
Size 177cm long x 60 cm wide
A thickness of approx 6 mm
Material natural rubber
Colors, Juniper, River, Lotus, Storm

Pros

Made from renewable materials
Sustainably produced
Excellent quality
Comfortable
Won’t slip

Cons

A little bit smaller than the others
We’d like to have it in a longer length
Smells like rubber
If the ongoing onslaught against the environmental concerns you, this model is a good option.

Renewable Materials and Sustainable Production

The manufacturers have committed to creating this product in as environmentally-sound a way as possible. They’ve chosen to use renewable materials in production and opted for sustainable manufacturing techniques.

Comfortable

If you have a sensitive frame and need more protection from the floor, this is the right option for you. It’s thicker than most and feels plusher, too. It’s comfortable enough to lay out on.

Grips Well

Once it’s been put down, it won’t shift in a hurry. Considering the lower price, this came as a pleasant surprise for us.

Smaller

Not only is it shorter in length, but it is narrower than most as well. Perhaps the manufacturers did this to offset the weight a little. If you prefer a larger option, then choose the extra-large size. It is quite a bit bigger.

Heavy

You’re going to get a bit of a workout when you’re moving this around. We advise that you get a strap or a carry case to make lugging it around easier. At just over six and a half pounds, this won’t win any awards as the best travel yoga mat.

Smell is Not Great

We weren’t keen on the smell of this option. It does dissipate over time, but it always has a faint whiff of rubber to it. Another downside of the materials used is that they’re naturally porous. That means that you’ll spend more time cleaning it.

We don’t advise this option when you’ll be sweating a lot.

The Best Cushioning – The Jade Fusion Mat

Specs.

Weight 2,7 - 3,7 kg
Size 173cm or 188cm long x 61 cm or option 71,1 cm wide
A thickness of approx 8 mm
Material natural rubber
Colors purple, green, dark blue

Pros

Extremely comfortable and plush
You have a choice of sizes
Fusion mat grips well

Cons

Bulkier than normal
Not so easy to clean
Very high price

Extra Cushioning

Jade fusion mat is plush enough to make getting down on the floor a pleasure. It’s perfect if you have a problem with pain and will make your entire session more comfortable.

Grips Well

The Jade does grip the floor nicely. We did find it a little slippery after a sweat session so we wouldn’t use it for hot sessions, but for regular use, it’s okay.

Multiple Sizes Available

The standard size for Jade yoga is more than ample if you’re a bit shorter. The longer size is great for taller people.

Grips Well

You might think that the extra plushness would mean that you’d have less stability. This isn’t the case here at all. You don’t have to worry about slipping and sliding on this model.

Bulky

The tradeoff for the extra comfort is that this makes a bulky package to carry. Extra thick at 5.4 pounds, it’s on the heavier side as well. We’d opt for a strap or bag to carry this around in to make things easier. Because it is so bulky, it may not suit you if you’re going to travel.

Difficult Cleaning

The top of the mat is textured, making it possible for sweat and dust to settle in the dips. This, in conjunction with the sticky surface, makes it more difficult to clean. It attracts dirt, hair, and dust, so this is something to consider as well.

Best yoga mat suited for

Home practice, Vinyasa, Ashtanga and more.

More from Jade

Jade has jute yoga mats, yoga towels, block, straps, and other yoga accessories.

What not to buy?

PVC yoga mat

We would not recommend PVC mat to anybody. It is the most toxic material and is hard to keep clean because it takes up all moister and collect lots of bacteria. Most yoga mats under $20 dollar are made from PVC. Our only advice stay away!

Travel yoga mats

Almost all big yoga mat manufacturers have a travel yoga mat in their range. These mats are not for yogis with bad knees then they are all ultra thin and a yoga towel handy could be good to have as a cushion for postures that are demanding on the knees. All travel mats are made of eco-friendly material.

Liforme travel mat 2mm (Feels stable on the ground)
Jade travel 3mm (Almost to good grip, watch those toes in vinyasas)
Alo AIR MAT 2mm (Good grip and grounded)
Kulae travel mat 3 mm (most lightweight)
Hugger Mugger Tapas travel yoga mat 2mm (Cheap option)
Manduka EKO SuperLite 1,5mm (Many colors)

Finding the Best Match for Your Needs

Those are the options that we thought came out on top. Everyone is different, though, so it pays you to put in a little research upfront to get the best possible match. Here are some things to consider when looking for a new mat.

Materials

Getting the right material is essential. PVC won’t set you back as much as latex or rubber, but it could also contain harmful chemicals. You need to find the best material for you. We find that natural rubber works best in most situations. What is coming up in the market lately are cork yoga mats and if you choose one of those ones, Natural rubber as the base is needed for the cork mat to lay still on the ground. We have tested a few that had TPE material as the base but those mats won't lay still on the ground.

Size

If you’re a taller person, you’ll naturally want more length. That’s also true if you’re a more advanced practitioner. Our advice? It’s better to get something that is too large than too small. You don’t want half your body hanging off the edge.

For comfort, look for something that is full-length. If you won’t be traveling with it, consider an extra-large model for additional comfort.

Portability

Any way that you slice it, these mats are pretty unwieldy. They’re long and can be bulky. When choosing, think about how much you’re going to have to carry it around. A strap or carry bag can make it easier to handle, but they’ll add to the cost. The thinner and smaller the model, the easier it will be to manage.

Budget

We’re not advocating blowing your budget, but do consider getting something that will last a bit longer. If you’re starting out and not sure that you want to continue, set the budget a little lower. If you’re going to be practicing every day or a few times a week, it’s worth spending a little more for comfort.

Wrapping Things Up

We hope that you have found this review enlightening and helpful. Choosing a good mat is the first step in making sure that you get the most out of your sessions. What is most important to you – durability, comfort, or portability? Some options combine all three nicely, but only you can decide whether or not to focus on one above the others.