Best Yoga Mats of 2024 – Buyer’s Guide & Reviews

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Yoga is a fantastic way to get healthy, stay flexible and mobile, lose some weight, and tone your muscles too. If you haven’t tried Yoga before, you might want to give it a try because it has numerous health benefits. Something that you will need to do Yoga on a regular basis is a good Yoga mat, but not just any Yoga mat, the best Yoga mat. That is why we are here today, to let you know exactly what to look out for before buying a Yoga mat, plus we also have a selection of the top 5 Yoga mats on the market today!

Summary: The Best Yoga Mats

Things To Look Out For Before Buying A Yoga Mat

There are a few different things that you need to pay attention to before buying a Yoga mat. Not keeping these few things in mind might cost you a bunch of money for nothing and leave you with a useless piece of foam.

Thickness

The first thing you need to look out for before you buy a Yoga mat is how thick it is. Remember that thicker is not always better, especially because a Yoga mat needs to be portable and light so you can take it to class. The Yoga mat in question should be between 5 and 7 mm thick. It needs to be thick enough to protect your joints and body from the ground, but thin enough to be versatile and convenient to handle.

Material

Now, what exactly the mat is made of is not all that important, but what ingredients it contains is. Things like normal foam or memory foam will do just fine, but you need to look at what went into making the mat. Many Yoga mats are made with harmful ingredients that can hurt you and the environment. The mat you get should be free of PVC, latex, rubbers, and other harmful materials.

Moisture

Something else that is very important when it comes to Yoga mats is if they are water resistant or water proof. A good Yoga mat needs to have some kind of coating to keep your sweat from being absorbed into it. Having a wet and sweaty Yoga mat is dirty, smelly, and disgusting. Also, a mat that absorbs moisture easily is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, plus it makes it really hard to clean as well.

Non-Slip

Yoga will inevitably involve sweating and that can make your mat very slippery. The Yoga mat you buy should have some kind of textured top side so that you don’t slip and plant your face into the ground while doing poses. Furthermore, it should also have a textured bottom so that it does not move along the ground while you are exercising.

Extras

A good Yoga mat should ideally come with some carrying straps and even a carrying case. At the very least, the mat should be able to roll up easily into a compact shape to make it portable and easy to carry around with you.

Yoga Mat Reviews

Our Rating

We really like this Yoga mat because it is fairly inexpensive, but it still manages to maintain a high level of quality for all of your Yoga endeavors.


Design

Something that we really like about the Clever Yoga Mat is that it has a special waterproof coating. This means that it won’t absorb sweat, get wet, or develop a foul odor with prolonged use, something which is important when doing Yoga. This also makes this particular Yoga mat very easy to clean. Just get a wet cloth and wipe down to make it good as new.

Another good part about this mat is that it has been made with a non-slip double sided surface. This makes it great because you won’t slip around on it, plus it won’t slide along the ground either. You can use both sides of the mat, plus it works for Yoga, Pilates, and other forms of exercise too.

Perhaps one of the best parts about the Clever Yoga Mat is that it is made with 10 percent recyclable and biodegradable material. Plus it is also free of silicone, phthalates, PVC, latex, and other harmful substances. You can rest assured that this mat won’t poison you or the environment. The final reason you will love this mat is because it is 25 inches long and 72 inches wide, making it nice and big. Plus it is also 1/4-inch thick, making it comfortable and perfect for working out on hard surfaces.

Value for money

This Yoga mat has an excellent value for its price. It comes in at just under 30 dollars, making it one of the cheapest options out there. However even though it is inexpensive, it still holds up to the more expensive models, being robust, comfortable, sweat proof, and environmentally friendly too.

Build quality

This yoga mat, even though it’s cheap, is of a superior quality. It won’t rip, break, tear, or fade over time. We really like the fact that it is sweat proof, which makes this a great find. It’s a Yoga mat that will last you for years, not to mention that it’s lightweight and easy to carry too.

Pros

  • Sweat proof
  • Lightweight
  • Durable
  • Non-slip coating
  • Cheap
  • Comes in a variety of colors

Cons

  • Gets a bit slippery when you sweat
  • Tends to unroll in storage

Our Rating

This is a good middle of the line Yoga mat that will protect your joints from the ground, doesn’t absorb sweat, and is lightweight and portable too.


Design

One of the best parts about the design of the Aurorae Yoga Mat is that is made out of special material that makes it both durable and lightweight at the same time. It won’t rip, tear, or wear out with use, and it is still nice and portable. It is also 24 inches wide and 72 inches long, making it the perfect size for you and the Yoga studio.

Another great factor about this mat is that it has been designed safe and non-toxic; it’s free of phthalates, phenols, PAHS, latex, silicone, and rubber. You can rest assured that it is safe for both you and the environment around you.

The next good aspect about this Yoga mat is that it is both water resistant and non-slippery. It won’t slip around on the ground as you do your Yoga exercises, and it won’t absorb your sweat and get all stinky either. This also makes the Aurorae Yoga Mat very easy to clean with a wet cloth.

Finally, we also really like this mat because it is a full 6 mm thick, making it extra comfortable and it ensures that this mat will protect your knees, elbows, and other parts of your body from the hard ground. Even though it is thick it is still fairly light and easy to carry around with you.

Value for money

We are very impressed with the value of this Yoga mat. It comes it at around 40 bucks so it’s not very expensive. However it is pretty durable, water-resistant, easy to clean, and will definitely last for a few years of Yoga.

Build quality

When it comes to the build quality of this particular Yoga mat there is nothing to complain about. Being waterproof, durable and tough, and lightweight all at the same time make this mat a great find indeed.

Pros

  • Not expensive
  • Has a durable build
  • Portable and light
  • Water resistant
  • Easy to clean
  • Coated non-slip surface

Cons

  • Has a rubbery smell
  • Need to use the rosin bag to stop slipping

Our Rating

This is one of our favorite choices of Yoga mats. It has everything that you need a Yoga mat to have, plus it’s not very expensive either. It even comes with some extras!


Design

The design of the Jiva Yoga mat is really great. It is a full 68 inches long and is the perfect size for any Yoga exercise, plus it’s also small enough to be lightweight and portable too. Also, it is 1/4-inch thick, making it really comfortable to perform a variety of Yoga exercises on. It will protect your joints and the rest of your body from damage during exercise.

The waffle weave texture is another good part about the design of this Yoga mat. It ensures that the mat won’t slip across the ground during Yoga poses, plus it makes sure that you don’t slip around on top of it either. It’s also really great that the Jiva Yoga Mat is made to be environmentally friendly and is made with no heavy metals, rubber, latex, or other toxic materials. This mat is designed to be tough, lightweight, and comfortable too.

Value for money

This Yoga mat has an excellent value for its price. It comes in at under 30 dollars and will definitely do the trick. It’s a tough and comfortable Yoga mat that will deliver quality and longevity.

Build quality

The build quality of this mat is pretty good, especially considering the fact that it’s very inexpensive. It’s durable, lightweight, and won’t break on you anytime soon.

Pros

  • Cheap
  • Lightweight
  • Portable
  • Strong and durable
  • Environmentally friendly

Cons

  • Can become slippery when wet

Our Rating

This is a superior quality Yoga mat that is sweat proof, comfortable, lightweight, and built with an emission-free process.


Design

The design of the Manduka PROlite Yoga Mat is amazing. First of all, it has been made with high-density foam which provides adequate cushioning between you and the floor. Moreover, they are made with sustainable engineering to make sure that it doesn’t peel, flake, or rip even with prolonged use.

This is actually backed up by a lifetime guarantee, so if it does wear down, you can get a new one free of charge. It also does not contain any latex, plus it was made with an emission-free process, thus greatly cutting down on pollution. It is also really nice that this Yoga mat is 79 inches by 24 inches long, making it ideal for all sizes of people.

We also really like the fact that this mat is made with a closed cell surface, meaning that it won’t let sweat or moisture seep into it. Another cool fact is that this Yoga mat has a fabric-like finish which makes it great to use on a variety of surfaces, plus it makes it slip resistant too, not to mention the dotted pattern on the bottom which makes sure it doesn’t move around on the ground.

Value for money

We really like this Yoga mat because it provides for optimal comfort, it’s slip resistant, has a good fabric-like finish, and it’s fairly large too. While this mat can cost up to 100 dollars, depending on which model you get, it will certainly keep you comfortable during your Yoga class.

Build quality

The build quality of the Manduka Yoga mat is outstanding. The special design means that it won’t rip or break over time. Also, this Yoga mat is 5 mm thick, making it perfect to keep you safe from the hard ground. The non-slip pattern on the bottom only adds to the quality, not to mention that being made without latex or built without polluting emissions is impressive as well.

Pros

  • Latex free
  • Manufactured without emissions
  • Big
  • Thick and comfortable
  • Non-slip coating on the bottom
  • Doesn’t let sweat seep into it

Cons

  • More expensive option
  • Can be slippery when wet
  • Needs some breaking in

Our Rating

This is a good Yoga mat that will keep you comfortable while exercising, it’s healthy, and it comes with a downloadable instructional Yoga DVD.


Design

Something that is great about this mat is that it is nice and big. It comes in at 24 inches by 68 inches, making it great for even the biggest of Yoga practitioners. It also makes for a great Yoga mat because it is 5 mm thick, thus giving you the perfect level of comfort and padding. It will protect you from the hard floor and keep you free of pain.

The Gaiam Yoga mat makes for a great purchase because it is lightweight and easy to transport, plus easy to roll up and put away too. Another great part about this mat is that it has a textured non-slip surface so it stays firmly on the ground and you won’t slip around on it either.

One of the things that we really like about the Gaiam Yoga Mat is that it is made with no harmful chemicals. This means that it does not contain any PVC, phthalates, and no DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, or DNOP. This means that you can feel comfortable knowing that you are doing Yoga on a mat that is healthy for your and the environment.

Value for money

The Gaiam Yoga mat costs under 30 dollars. It is a really good mat and for the price, it does make for a pretty good find. It’s solid, comfortable, free of harmful toxins, and has a non-slip surface too, which means that it will do everything that you need it to do.

Build quality

We really like the build quality of this Yoga mat, not only because it is thick and comfortable, or because it is large yet portable, but also because the makers have achieved this high-quality level without the need for PVC.

Pros

  • Perfect amount of cushioning
  • Made without harmful chemicals and toxins
  • Made with a non-slip surface
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Large and ideal for various size people

Cons

  • Color and look is not always the same as advertised
  • May become slippery when wet

Conclusion

The best yoga mat may be a little hard to find at first, but with one of the 5 options above, you should be able to find one that works for you. Like we said before, Yoga is a great type of exercise to take part in and it has many health benefits. Just remember what we said about choosing a specific Yoga mat and you shouldn’t have any trouble at all.

Feel free to leave a comment or ask us any questions!