The 6 Best Yoga Mats (2024), Tested by Beginners and Teachers

Published November 7, 2024 03:15PM

“What’s the best yoga mat?” It’s a question we hear all the time. Our answer is always, “It depends.” More specifically, it depends on how you practice, what you practice, and whether you practice in a way that prioritizes cushiness, grippiness, portability, affordability, sustainability, or any of many other qualities.

We asked 18 yoga teachers and students of varying experience levels to ditch their usual mats for more than a month of sweating, balancing, kneeling, and sitting cross-legged. We unrolled the contenders for best yoga mats at studios, stretched on them at home, tossed them in our car trunks, lugged them along city sidewalks, and (sometimes) scrubbed them down afterward. Then we did it again and again and again.

The following yoga mats are the ones we consider standouts for various reasons. Below, we’ve highlighted what our testers appreciated most about each to help you match one with your practice.

At a Glance

All mats in this guide were tested by multiple reviewers. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people on their mats. Learn more.

Best Yoga Mat You’ll Never Need to Replace

Manduka Pro

Material: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 PVC
Thickness: 6mm
Weight: 7.5 pounds
Dimensions: 71 x 26 inches

Pros and Cons
⊕ Lifetime guarantee
⊕ Dense cushioning
⊕ Easy to clean
⊕ Wider than many mats
⊕ Available in extra-long
⊗ Heavy
⊗ Slippery when sweaty

There’s a reason why so many yoga teachers consider the Manduka Pro their go-to mat. Actually, there are several reasons, including the mat’s “dense cushioning,” explained a teacher tester who’s practiced on the Pro for almost a decade. Also, the no-slip dot pattern on the bottom ensures the mat doesn’t wrinkle or slide, no matter how quickly you transition between poses, even as you make your way from Revolved Lunge facing one edge of the mat to Flying Monkey on the other.

A couple testers, including a yoga therapist, asserted that the Pro is supportive of “any type of practice” and that it adequately supports “all bodies.” That includes those with “achy knees,” whether you’re kneeling in Camel, arm balancing in Side Crow, or reclining in Legs Up the Wall.

In terms of upkeep, the Pro doesn’t absorb sweat, which makes cleaning a cinch. It also makes for a slippery experience if you sweat a lot. Throw down a towel if you’re taking hot yoga, cautioned one vinyasa-taking tester.

Also, the breaking-in process for Manduka mats is somewhat prolonged compared to most mats but worth the patience required. Read the packaging’s fine print on how to flatten those furled edges and tame any initial slickness.

Bonus: Manduka guarantees their mats will last a lifetime and you can choose from 13 colors.

Best Grip Yoga Mat

Jade Harmony Mat

Material: Natural rubber
Thickness: 4.7mm
Weight: 5 pounds
Dimensions: 68 x 24 inches

Pros and Cons
⊕ Grippy
⊕ Made of natural rubber
⊕ Available in extra-long and extra-wide
⊗ Attracts fuzz and fur
⊗ Tricky to clean
⊗ Not for outdoor use

Compared to other brands of yoga mats, Jade makes a textured surface that offers what one tester described as an “unearthly grip.” “Imagine you had Alien Tape suction cupping your hands and feet to the mat and that’s the grip you’ll experience,” she explained. Another tester who’s practiced on the Harmony mat for years swore, “It’s ideal for my chronically sweaty hands and feet. I never slide. NEVER.”

It pretty much delivers exactly what many of us want in a mat, which is “support, grip, and cushion,” explained a tester who practiced slow, yin, and restorative yoga on the Harmony. Another longtime teacher and student explained the mat has “a well-constructed feel for being relatively thin.” (He also cautions that some students might want a more cushioned foundation.)

Aesthetically speaking, everyone commented not just on its sturdiness and all-purposeness but its lovely and muted “earth colors” and “jewel tones” that are “less nondescript than most yoga mats.” However, that textured surface also holds onto fuzzies, fur, and anything else that’s airborne. It also attracts lint from towels when you wipe it down. A longtime Jade owner suggests you take the mat with you in the shower or hose it down—but only if you can allow several days for it to dry.

Testers also noted that they respect the company’s commitment to planting a tree for each mat sold. As do we.

Best Yoga Mat for Aesthetics

Yune Natural Rubber Yoga Mat

Material: PER (Polymer Environmental Resin)
Thickness: 6mm
Weight: 2 pounds
Dimensions: 72 x 24 inches

Pros and Cons
⊕ Array of color and design options
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Value
⊗ Modest cushioning

“Typically, when you buy a yoga mat, you’re confronted with a decision—function or fashion,” explained one of our testers who’s a graphic designer and yoga teacher. “Not with this one.” A handstander and arm balancer, the tester found the Yune to be the “perfect thickness” and “impossibly grippy.” She explained that it also “basically adheres to the floor,” which quickly earned her trust.

The grippy and design-savvy mat satisfied more than just arm balancers. Several other testers reported feeling “completely confident” on the Yune while practicing vinyasa. And everyone appreciated how it lies flat immediately out of the packaging and rolls up small for ease of storage as well as lugging it to and from class.

About those designs. Yune makes dozens of expressive patterns that are, according to its website, “printed digitally with UV inks,” which makes for minimal environmental impact. Your artful options include designs for specific astrological signs, contemporary art, even depictions of Peanuts characters.

Best Affordable Yoga Mat

All in Motion PU Natural Rubber Mat 5mm

Material: Natural rubber base with polyurethane surface
Thickness: 5mm
Weight: 5.5 pounds
Dimensions: 68 x 24 inches

Pros and Cons
⊕ Super grippy
⊕ Lies flat upon first use
⊕ Rolls up easily
⊕ Price
⊗ Contains polyurethane
⊗ Subtle synthetic smell

This easy-to-find and relatively affordable mat is rated five stars by users on Target.com. After practicing on it, we understand why. Despite its smooth surface, the mat boasts an almost uncannily strong grip. “I like this. I feel like I’m going to stay put,” said one tester who was new to yoga. Comparing it to several other budget mats she’d slid on while learning poses, she blurted out, “There’s no slippage with this [expletive]!”

A 78-year-old tester echoed that feeling of security. She appreciated how the All in Motion “holds you in place” during standing poses and felt like the mat allowed her to “sink in a tad—in a good way.” That grip easily releases as you move on the mat. Although a couple testers report occasional air bubbles beneath the mat when transitioning from pose to pose, the wrinkles dissipated as quickly as they appeared.

Although the mat was less cushioned than some others, according to our nearly octogenarian tester, it was surprisingly adequate for most testers compared to other budget brands. That said, anyone with achy joints or who simply prefers additional cushioning will prefer the thickness of a more expensive mat.

Our primary complaint is the origin of the surface material and its lingering smell the first day or two after removing it from the packaging.

Best Yoga Mat for Beginners

Gaiam Premium 5mm

Material: Latex-free PVC
Thickness: 5mm
Weight: 2.6 pounds
Dimensions: 68 x 24 inches

Pros and Cons
⊕ Super lightweight
⊕ Lifetime guarantee
⊕ Array of color and design options
⊕ Available in extra-long
⊗ Slightly slippery
⊗ Short

Typically, beginners to yoga are in the market for something that isn’t a splurge and helps them feel comfortable. When we asked yoga newbies to try several $30 and under mat options, the unanimous favorite was the Premium 5mm from longtime mat-maker Gaiam.

“Ooooh pretty!” commented a millennial tester as she stepped onto the pale turquoise mat. “And cushy!” She appreciated that she was exponentially more comfortable while learning sitting and kneeling poses than she was on other budget mats. She also felt more supported while wobbling in balancing postures. Our 78-year-old tester also experienced confidence standing and transitioning on the Premium 5mm and considered other mats in that price category to be “too hard” and “too slippery.” It allowed her to “slide a little” but much less so than other comparable mats.

Although it’s not as cushioned or durable as pricier mats, the Premium 5mm offers a respectable thickness and far less slippage for the money. We recommend it for beginners as an affordable option.

Note: There are a dizzying number of Gaiam mats labeled “Premium” with varying characteristics, colors, and designs. Our preference is anything with a 5mm thickness.

Best Thick Yoga Mat

Jade Yoga Fusion

Material: Natural rubber
Thickness: 8mm
Weight: 7.2 pounds
Dimensions: 24 x 68 inches

Pros and Cons
⊕ Cushioning, cushioning, cushioning
⊕ Grippy
⊕ Made of natural rubber
⊕ Available in extra-long and extra-wide
⊗ Heavy
⊗ Attracts fuzz and fur
⊗ Tricky to clean
⊗ Expensive

Few yoga mats dare to approximate an 8mm thickness—and those that do tend to feel dangerously unstable and more like a mattress than a mat. But everyone who tried the Fusion was surprised that it delivered luxe cushiness in a way that felt both sturdy and supportive. “Frankly, I was shocked that I loved this mat as much as I did,” explained one of our testers, a longtime teacher who switched her loyalty from a different brand after trying it.

For anyone with sore wrists or knees who craves more cushioning, whether during vinyasa or while stretching, this mat is a boon. But it’s not just about the cushiness. Multiple testers also commented on how they appreciated the mat’s support and grip.

We heard very few complaints. One drawback is that with additional material comes additional weight. A yoga and meditation student who considered the Fusion to be “very supportive” also found the mat’s heft to be a chore to roll and unroll as well as transport to the studio. However, he was quite content to practice on it at home, as was his four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, who bounced on it to Cosmic Kids Yoga.

The only other quibble we have relates to the mat’s textured surface. With great grip comes painstaking cleaning. “It seems to pick up every piece of dust and lint,” a tester reported. “I felt like it was kind of subtly shaming me for having a dusty house!”

Other Yoga Mats We Like

Manduka Pro Lite

This rendition of the Pro has all the attributes of the classic. There’s just less of it to practice on. The 1.3mm difference in thickness (the Manduka Pro is 6mm thick, the Pro Lite is 4.7mm) makes for a mat that’s less cushioned but easier to both roll and carry. It’s also considerably more affordable.

Liforme Printed

This mat from UK-based Liforme has become the darling of an increasing number of stateside hot yoga students in recent years. The mat has a natural rubber base and grippy but smooth eco-polyurethane surface that’s wider and longer than most competitors. It’s only modestly cushioned at 4mm although one of our testers loved it for practicing vinyasa on carpet at home.

One tester, a longtime hot yoga teacher, explained that “a little sweat can help with the tacky feel and grip” although “heavy sweaters may benefit from a mat towel.” Also, if aesthetics are important to you, know that “the surface can get a little smudged up and can be challenging to maintain that ‘new look.’” Consider yourself forewarned.

Speaking of visuals, testers were divided on the “alignment lines” printed on the mat. Some tester reported them to be helpful in finding proper positioning, while others found them distracting. “As an ‘A’ type, any mats with alignment markings can make me obsessive,” explained one tester.

As far as we’re concerned, the biggest disadvantage of this mat is its price point.

Yoga Mats to Avoid

Don’t race out to buy a yoga mat priced $19 to $30 to save a few bucks. After practicing on many of these in recent months, we can say with certainty that they tend to be exceptionally slippery, lack cushioning, slide on the floor, and wear out relatively quickly where you place your hands and feet. At best, most provide a little padding between you and the floor. Almost without exception, they cause more distraction than they’re worth.

How We Tested

We drew on the expertise and opinions of dozens of yoga teachers and students during our testing. First, we interviewed everyone we know who practices yoga about the mats they’ve been in long-term relationships with and why. This helped us understand more about durability, stability, grip, ease of cleaning, and other features that you can only appreciate—or curse—after practicing on a mat for months or years.

We also researched big-name, boutique, and lesser-known mat brands and scoured online reviews from users for close to 200 mats that come in an array of materials, sizes, designs, and price points. Then we narrowed down which mats we felt were top contenders and wanted to test.

Next, we asked 18 students and teachers—including two newbies—to take a twirl on different mats. Our testers ranged from millennials to near-octogenarians, hot yoga goers to yin and restorative regulars, novices to longtime teachers. Some seek comfort in a mat. Others demand grip and stability.

The test mats became part of each person’s regular yoga routine—whether at a studio or home practice space, for hot yoga or restorative yoga—for a minimum of three classes. We did our best to provide each tester with mats that are similar in form and function for comparison. Then we asked our testers questions. Lots and lots of questions.

Testers weren’t shy about letting us know which mats they felt were the most grippy, durable, cushioned, practical, portable, stylish, and affordable. (One tester even texted a photo of a skinned knee and a request not to ask them to practice on that mat again. We acquiesced—and took the mat out of contention.)

We also checked back in with testers long after they turned in their responses to inquire which, if any, of the mats they were still using after the required testing was over.

How to Choose a Yoga Mat

Don’t buy a mat right away. We know you’re enthused about settling into your practice and that’s terrific. But if you’re still figuring out the types of yoga you like to practice, you don’t yet know what you need in a yoga mat.

Explore Your Options

Pay the mat rental fee at your yoga studio a few times or maybe pick up a used mat for a few bucks at your local thrift store before investing in a brand-new mat. You’ll start to discern which features are important to you—including mat thickness, slickness, grippiness, rollability, portability, and, yes, the color and design. Knowing what matters to you most will be helpful when you do your research and make a purchase.

Also, if you see a mat in class that intrigues you, approach its owner after class and ask them about it. If they gush and insist that you’ll love it, it’s okay to prod a little for specific reasons why. That person may value grip and aesthetics whereas you may be seeking something with extra cushioning that’s easy to clean.

Once you’ve settled on what features matter to you, opt for a modestly priced mat and remind yourself that as your yoga practice changes, what you want in a mat may also change. Trust us when we caution you not to splurge right away.

Consider Your Needs

If you’re someone who walks several city blocks to class lugging your mat, you probably want something fairly lightweight. If you’re the sort of person who tends to put off washing dishes or scrubbing the bathroom floor (no judgment here), you’re better off with a mat that’s super easy to wipe down. If you experience knee or wrist pain, you’re going to want something cushier than budget mats provide. If you’re a heavy sweater (again, no judgment), look for a mat that won’t absorb sweat or become slick when wet.

Our point is that you’re probably not going to change your ways simply because you spent a lot of money on a mat. So rely on that self-awareness you’ve cultivated in your yoga practice and shop accordingly.

Also, watch those expectations. With any yoga mat, you will experience trade-offs. If you value cushioning over grip, the mat you buy may be a little heavy to carry and you may occasionally slip slightly. As you consider the pros and cons, try to set yourself up for the best experience rather than a perfect experience.

The Best Yoga Mats for Literally Everyone