Yoga Mat Guide
Manduka PRO 6mm:
PROS:
The Cushion is the reason why I got this mat. Just perfect for everyone who struggles with achy joints or for a nice comfy Yin Practice.
The grip on the floor is great, which is especially important if you practice fast paced Vinyasa classes or lots of floats, jumps
Easy to clean
Extra long sizes available
Lifetime guarantee
Latex free and certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®️
CONS:
The mat is pretty heavy, which makes it hard to carry it around (unless you drive the car or ride a bike)
With 130$ it's relatively pricey, but to be honest- it's worth it.
If you sweat a lot, the grip lessens, although you can always use a Yoga Towel to make up for that
Overall rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Liforme Travel Mat 2mm
PROS:
Great!!! Grip, even if you sweat a little. If you’re sitting in a puddle, you need a Yoga towel anyway, but I love this mat for Hot Yoga. Ive been using this mat almost daily for about 2 years now and the grip is still the same
Super lightweight and therefore great to travel with and store without taking up much space
My favorite mat to practice handstands and jumpy, fast paced flows, since it does not move the finest bit on the floor and provides loads of stability
the alignment markers make it so easy to quickly check on your posture in all poses
This mat is PVC-free & biodegradable in 1-5 years in normal landfill conditions and with that being said, it's definitely a must have in your mat collection
If you need more cushion, you can just use a studio rental underneath OR get the yoga pad, which you can leave on your mat throughout the class on a spot where you usually drop your knees. (Or just use the pad as a handstand mat like I do)
By purchasing certain mats, Liforme donates different amounts to charity and earth conscious organizations
CONS:
If you use this mat without a base mat or yoga pad, it can feel pretty hard and joints might be slightly achy after a while (unless you consider the 4.2 mm regular yoga mat)
As every Yoga mat, you should be careful how and where to store it, but since it's biodegradable, I recommend to not use this mat outside or leave it in a sunny spot or the hot car.
Overall rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jade Yoga Harmony Mat 3mm
PROS:
The Mat is 3/16” thick, which is just perfect for cushioning and yet staying stable in balancing postures (on arms or feet)
Great Grip
they have wider and longer mats available
5$ of certain mats go to different Charities, depending on the color you choose PLUS JADE PLANTS A TREE FOR EVERY MAT SOLD
natural rubber tapped from rubber trees, no PVC, EVA or other synthetic rubber
made in the US in compliance with all US environmental, labor and consumer protection laws
CONS:
After a while, the material gets dry and doesn’t provide the same grip anymore, but please consider, I use my mats several times a day in different locations under different environmental circumstances. Just comparing to my other mats, this one looses the grip game after 2 years of almost daily use. If you use it in the studio twice a week, you will be able to enjoy it for much longer, promise.
The grip on the floor also gets less effective and stable over time, which is why I don’t use it for fast paced Vinyasa Flows anymore
Overall rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Lululemon The Mat 3mm
PROS:
Grip gets better when moist, therefore this one is great for super sweaty Flows
Natural rubber base
The mat is reversible! Flip as needed between the smooth, grippy side and the cushioned, natural rubber side
3mm cushion is great for Hatha or Vinyasa to provide stability and just enough cushion for non achy joints
pretty lightweight and great for storage or traveling
CONS:
contains latex, therefore the least sustainable and allergy friendly mat I've ever used.
the smell after purchasing is very uncomfortable and gets better VERY SLOWLY over time
Grip after 2 years of use is really not the best anymore & only works for me, if I spray it down with my DIY Matcleaner right before the practice
Overall rating:
⭐⭐⭐☆☆
