Yoga might be all about minimalism but even the best yogi can benefit from a decent yoga mat, so imagine how good you could be with the very best yoga mat out there right now. From offering better grip to greater comfort, pushing the limits on your yoga mat quality will help you smash your own limits, stretching beyond anything you thought possible – well, you will still have to put the work in, of course.
As more and more yoga mat companies are cropping up, with the growing popularity of the practice, it's little wonder that the mats are getting more complex. Features to look out for range from grip, size and line markings to cushioning, lastability, absorption and, of course, eco-friendliness.
So, with all that in mind, here are the best yoga mats out there right now.
Liform manages to offer an eco-friendly natural rubber mat which also delivers grip and works dry or even sweaty classes. The line markings, dubbed AlignForMe, help you find the perfectly aligned position, from Warrior One to Down Dog. This leaves you feeling confident you're doing everything right – we even found ourselves stretching further thanks to that reassurance.
The extra width and length of this mat over some standard offerings also leaves you feeling more secure. The thickness is ideal, enough comfort for your bony bits while remaining slim enough for easy transport and wobble-free balance poses.
The PVC-free material is biodegradable in as little as one year but the mat will last you years if you treat it right. The material doesn't smell, like some others out there, yet sweat absorption is excellent – but you will need to give this a wipe down fairly regularly to keep it that way.
If you want the eco-friendly natural rubber of a top-end yoga mat that offers superb grip, in the wet or dry, but want it all on a budget, then the Yogi Bare Paws is for you.
Somehow the Yogi Bare gang have managed to offer much the same material as Lifeorm but at a far cheaper price. Sure it's slightly smaller in size and thinner too, but the grip is still there. Line markings aren't as useful but there are still a few that help with the basic moves.
There's enough support from the thickness but it does tend to bunch a bit at times, meaning you need to smooth it out again between moves, but only a little – we're nit-picking. For the price this is one of the best yoga mats out there for grip.
When it comes to comfort, Gaiam's 6mm thick Premium Yoga Mat is a tough one to beat – also tough is trying to stay awake when lying down in your savasana with this under you. For those with sensitive bones that do a lot of practice on hard floors, this is a great, affordable way to find comfort in your poses.
The non-slip grip makes this both hot and regular yoga friendly while the lifetime guarantee sets your mind at ease – although the PVC material may leave your eco-guilt tingling somewhat.
While Manduka does use PVC materials (latex free though) it's process is OEKO-TEX certified meaning it's friendlier to the environment and comes with a lifetime guarantee. The 4.7mm of thickness this offers is supported by dimpled cushioning making it super comfortable while also stopping sweat absorption to keep it cleaner for longer.
The grip could be better initially, but after a bit of use this improves. An initial processes of leaving this covered in sea salt for 24 hours is required for early-use grip – a bit of a faff but worth it. The weight and size is portable without compromising on comfort making it ideal for taking to classes with hard floors.
Some people will want a wider mat but for most this serves the basic needs while remaining mega mobile yet still thick enough to be comfortable even in awkward poses.
Jade Yoga prides itself on creating eco-friendly yoga mats while also dishing out some very eye catching colours that don't scrimp on surface grip. The result is a real all-rounder which manages to offer enough grip and thickness to support a beginner or a pro yogi and everyone in between too.
Three size options are available making this adaptable to suit taller and shorter yogis alike. The price is really impressive for what you get and the portability make this perfect for home use as well as taking out to classes. We love the purple colour but if you opt for teal $5 will be donated to a charity, varying depending on the mat size you opt for.
