Yoga Lifestyle The 8 Best Yoga Mats of 2020 Stay comfortable and safe through all of your moves By Alexa Erickson instagram Alexa Erickson is a Newport, California-based writer who covers travel, health, wellness, home decor, food and drink, fashion, beauty, and scientific news. Learn about our editorial process Alexa Erickson Fact checked by Fact checked by Shereen Lehman, MS on April 03, 2020 Shereen Lehman, MS, is a healthcare journalist and fact checker. She has co-authored two books for the popular Dummies Series (as Shereen Jegtvig). Learn about our editorial process Shereen Lehman, MS Updated on April 23, 2020 Print More in Yoga Lifestyle Beginners Popular Types Yoga and Your Health Books and Videos Sequences for Home Practice Poses Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Gaiam Performance Dry-Grip Yoga Mat at Amazon "Get deeper into postures, thanks to a moisture-wicking topcoat." Best Heavy Duty: Manduka Pro Yoga Mat at Amazon "Avoid sweat absorption and its leftover odor." Best for Hot Yoga: Aurorae Synergy Yoga Mat at Amazon "The more you sweat, the grippier the mat gets." Best Budget: BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap at Amazon "Praised for its great price and comfort." Best for Travel: Lululemon The Reversible (Un) Mat Lightweight Travel at Lululemon "An extremely lightweight mat perfect for your yoga on the go." Best Extra-Large: Hugger Mugger Para Rubber XL Yoga Mat at Amazon "Measures 78”x 28”, so your long limbs have plenty of space." Best Eco-Friendly: Jade Yoga Jade Harmony Yoga Mat at Amazon "The mats are made sustainably with natural rubber." Best Design: Gaiam Premium Print Yoga Mat at Amazon "Infuses your Vinyasa with a bit of color." It’s hard to flow into a deep cobra pose when your yoga mat keeps slipping out from underneath you. To get the most out of your next Hatha class, you may want to invest in a moisture-wicking, thick yoga mat. But with so many mats on the market, it can be overwhelming to know which one to choose. The good news? There’s a yoga mat for almost every type of yoga. Check out what our experts have to say about these top products. Best Overall: Gaiam Performance Dry-Grip Yoga Mat 3.9 Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Gaim has always offered a really basic and wonderfully reliable mat. The dry-grip option is the brand’s best selling yoga mat and features a mat that is sticky with or without a sweat. While some mats can move all over the place—sliding around the floor—this option stays put. Even if you start to sweat and need to put a yoga towel down, it provides a nice gripping surface. The mat allows you to get deeper into poses thanks to a topcoat that wicks away moisture and makes for a great grip as you sweat. The 5mm mat made from PVC is great for anyone who can’t use a rubber mat due to a latex sensitivity. The lightweight and durable mat also provide plenty of cushioning to support your joints. Gaiam Performance Dry-Grip Yoga Mat Review Best Heavy Duty: Manduka Pro Yoga Mat 3.2 Buy on Amazon Buy on Manduka.com If you need a super resilient mat, get the Manduka Pro Yoga Mat. While it’s not ideal for a hot yoga class, it’s great for your home practice or a non-heated flow. Due to its 6mm thickness, the mat has superb knee support. For people who really want to avoid sweat absorption and its leftover odor, this mat provides just what you’re looking for. It’s also made with eco-certified safe PVC and is free from toxins like phthalate. These 9 Yoga Pants Will Help You Get the Most Out of Your Practice Manduka PRO Yoga Mat Review Best for Hot Yoga: Aurorae Synergy Yoga Mat 4.2 Buy on Amazon Buy on Yogaoutlet.com You know you’re going to sweat a lot in a hot yoga class, be it Bikram style or a heated vinyasa flow. This means you need a mat that provides a non-slip surface. The Aurorae Synergy 2-in-1 Yoga Mat is your best bet, as its top layer is a non-slip, ultra-absorbent microfiber towel that’s connected to a 5mm-thick PER Polymer Environmental Resin) yoga mat. The more you sweat, the grippier the mat gets, allowing you to focus on your long holds, flows, and inversions without fear of slipping and injuring yourself. If you mix up your practice between hot classes and non-heated, you can simply flip the mat over to use the PER side. The 7 Best Yoga Towels Aurorae Synergy Hot Yoga Mat Review Best Budget: BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap 4 Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart If you are looking for an all-purpose mat that can work for at-home workout routines, simple yoga moves, and more, the GoYoga Mat is right for you. At 1/2-inch thickness, it is a little cushioned for some advanced yogis, but if you like added padding this is just the thing. The price is also very reasonable, so if you are just starting out on your fitness journey and aren't sure what you really like yet, this is a good starting point. It comes in six different color options and comes with a handy carrying strap to take to the gym or when you travel. BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Yoga Mat Review Best for Travel: Lululemon The Reversible (Un) Mat Lightweight Travel 4.2 Buy on Lululemon While an extra large heavy duty rubber mat might be great for your home or studio yoga practice, its weight and size make it impossible for travel. If you want to throw your mat in your bike basket and go to the park, or even want to take it with you as you jet off for vacation, you need to make sure you have something that’s lightweight but gets the job done. Lululemon’s The Reversible (Un) Mat is an extremely lightweight mat perfect for your yoga on the go. The easy to pack mat, which measures 71" x 30", is made with a polyurethane top layer, which absorbs moisture so that you can work hard, break a sweat, and still have a nice grip. The mat’s thickness measures 1.5mm. The 7 Best Yoga Mat Bags Lululemon The Reversible (Un) Mat Review Best Extra-Large: Hugger Mugger Para Rubber XL Yoga Mat Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart A standard yoga mat measures approximately 68 inches by 24 inches. But if you’re really tall, that’s not exactly ideal. Hugger Mugger’s Para Rubber XL Yoga Mat measures 78 inches by 28 inches, so your long limbs have plenty of space on the mat. Even someone who fits great on a standard mat will like the extra surface for creative sequences that have you utilizing every inch of your mat. The mat also features superior grip on both sides, is made of natural rubber that is extremely durable and has a 6mm thickness with excellent cushion and shock absorption. Best Eco-Friendly: Jade Yoga Jade Harmony Yoga Mat Buy on Amazon Buy on Dick's Buy on Rei.com This 4.8mm yoga mat is Jade’s most popular mat. It offers impeccable traction and just enough cushion while also being extremely light. The grip is another notable feature. Due to the mat’s open-cell design, it absorbs moisture, so you can keep from sliding all over the place. It’s not quite as absorbent as mats designed for hot yoga, but the brand’s terry cloth yoga towel lays down nicely and will stick well if you’re sweating quite a bit. Jade products take eco-friendly to another level. The mats are made sustainably with natural rubber tapped from rubber trees, which is a rapidly renewable resource. They’re made in the United States and are in compliance with all U.S. environmental, labor and consumer protection laws as well. In addition to that, for every mat sold, Jade plants a tree! Best Design: Gaiam Premium Print Yoga Mat Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart While solid colors are the norm for yoga mats sometimes you want something with a little more style. Gaiam's Premium Print yoga mat infuses your vinyasa with a bit of color and pattern with over 24 designs. What's more, the pad is extra thick providing you with support where you need it and is non-slip, helping you keep up your flow without falling. Reviewers are happy with the designs to spice up their at-home workouts, and many think the thickness is just right for practicing yoga. What to Look for in a Yoga Mat Thickness: Yoga mats can range dramatically in terms of thickness: Some travel-friendly mats are a mere 1/16 inches thick, while premium options can be up to 1/2 inches thick. The thicker your mat is, the more cushion it’ll provide during poses—ideal for those with sensitive knees or wrists. However, the tradeoff is that thick mats are bulkier to transport and store. They can also be a bit wobbly during balance poses.Material: You’ll come across a few common materials as you shop for yoga mats. The majority are made from PVC (or vinyl), which has the perfect amount of give and doesn’t retain moisture or odors. However, PVC isn’t the most eco-friendly material, which is why many yogis prefer mats made from rubber, jute, or cotton.Texture: Some mats are textured while others are completely smooth. Textured mats usually provide better traction, so you won’t be slipping out of your downward dog, while some people find smooth mats to be more comfortable on their hands. It all depends on your personal preferences. What Experts Say “When choosing a yoga mat, it’s important to consider the thickness. A thicker mat will give you more support for your joints but can add an extra stability challenge. The texture and stickiness of the surface are also important factors since they can determine comfort and help prevent slipping on your mat.”—Kasey Kotarak, NASM certified trainer at Fit Body Boot Camp Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! If you've never tried it before, starting a yoga practice can feel overwhelming. Our email series can get you ready to roll out the mat. 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