If you want a mat to last you a lifetime, and can also tick the boxes for grip, portability, and comfort, the Manduka PROlite is the way to go. This mat beat out its category contenders for longevity by a landslide. It’s an extremely durable, high-performing mat that’s stamped with a lifetime guarantee. Yoga teachers everywhere (including myself) agree that the Manduka PROlite gets better with age the more you use it, similar to a baseball glove. I’ll get upside-down to that. The PVC material and density of the mat make it competent under any condition — outdoors, in a heated room, in a non-heated studio, and with gentle-to-vigorous practices — which can’t be said for the majority of the mats tested here. I took this mat through a multitude of restorative and standing poses, sun salutations, arm balances, and inversions. I’m not the only one who ranks this mat at the top of the list. Boston’s 2014 Best Yoga Instructor and Owner of Sadhana Studio, Cunningham, has been using the Manduka Pro series mats for 14 years.
I’ve been using Manduka mats since 2001 and I still think they make the best overall mats out there in terms for grip, comfort, thickness, feel, size, and durability. I’ve been teaching for over 15 years and see a lot of ‘mat shrapnel’ on the studio floor, but I’ve never seen a Manduka Mat get worn out. In asanas that tend to be slightly harder on the knees, like Ustrasana (camel pose) and Anjaneyasana (low lunge), this mat provides just the right amount of support and cushion to feel ease and comfort throughout the pose, even when held for long periods of time. The mat also provides stabilization and joint protection during asanas that require more stability, balance, and impact (think: Tree pose, handstand, and jumping back to chaturangas). At the same time, it won’t compromise the ability to feel stable and connected to the ground. As far as texture, grip, and comfort go, I give this mat two thumbs up. The slip-resistant traction kept fidgeting to a minimum.
The surface, which isn’t super sticky, allowed for gliding transitions through quick vinyasas. The transition to take my foot into or out from a lunge felt effortless compared to when catching or sticking on mats made from a different textile (like some of the natural rubber mats did). Other than the first couple of uses during the “break-in period,” the manual labor for this mat is practically nonexistent. Its closed-cell technology makes it incredibly easy to clean and wipe down after class, and with a weight of around four pounds, it’s light and easy to carry. The mat comes in an assortment of colors and in two different sizes (71 and 79 inches) to accommodate style preference as well as the taller yogis out there. It’s fairly pricey for a yoga mat, but with a lifetime warranty, it provides outstanding value. Manduka PROlite is always my go-to. It’s easy to travel with, stays good for years, and [is] easy to clean since I’m a sweaty mess! I don’t always use a towel because I don’t need one with this mat.
Don’t just take my word for it, though. Based on research, and many conversations with other yoga practitioners, the Manduka company is considered the holy grail of yoga-mat brands. It continuously tops the charts in reviews. The Manduka PROlite series is a lighter, more portable version of the beloved Manduka Black Mat Pro, which has been on the market for 15 years. The PROlite mat receives accolades from a number of magazines and popular publications. It was voted the Top Pick Award by OutdoorGearLab, voted a “must have” by Yogi Approved, and is sold and used by the most popular yoga studios across Boston, New York City, and Los Angeles. CorePower Yoga Orange County’s regional manager, Calvert, says the Manduka PROlite is her favorite, and it’s the one the company carries in its studios all across the United States. We see over 500 clients a week using our Manduka mats for barre and yoga. I teach on them and take class with them, and I have no complaints — they are super durable.
We used to have Jade, but switched to Manduka because they are better performing overall. Barre & Soul Studios, found in several locations around the Boston area, provides the Manduka PRO series mats to its members for use in class. Manduka instructs consumers to scrub the mat down with coarse sea salt prior to using, which helps to remove a thin layer that is applied in the manufacturing process. Wearing this down actually helps improve the mat’s traction with continued use. This process may be a little more labor-intensive than you’d prefer, but there’s something comforting about having a mat get better with time and form to you. Cunningham likens the breaking-in process of the mat to that of a new baseball glove: You break it in and then it fits “like a glove.” Although some people, like Calvert, find the mat to grip fantastically with moisture, some evidence points to a few issues. In an email from the company, Manduka implies the mat does require a breaking-in period (although this is not always the case for everyone), meaning it could feel quite slippery for several uses until it has seen some action.
The traction for the Manduka PROlite is best used under dry conditions with minimal moisture, so ultra-sweaty practices and those done in a heated room may not benefit from this mat without the use of a towel on top of it. I recommend Lululemon’s “The Mat” for these conditions. In terms of eco-friendliness, the mat is made with PVC rather than natural rubber or another more environmentally friendly material. However, no toxic emissions are released during production, and its lifetime durability results in fewer landfill dumps, still making it a safe choice for the environment overall. If you are concerned with practicing on a mat that is made from eco-friendly material that’s still high performance, my recommendation is the Jade Harmony Professional (a top pick tested here). Lululemon’s “The Mat” is the other top-rated and much loved mat that you should consider, especially if hot yoga and heavy sweating is a part of your weekly routine. Yoga classes done in a heated studio are popular today (and let’s face it, many of us continuously perspire holding Warrior II), so I wanted to find a mat that would provide the best stick under super-sweaty conditions without having to rely on the use of a towel.
“The Mat” has an innovative moisture-absorbing design made to increase the grip with increased moisture. The mat features double sided technology, which means you can tailor it to your own practice. The top side of the mat, the “sticky” side, is made of a polyurethane material that absorbs moisture (hence the grip). The bottom side is made from an all-natural rubber that provides more cushion. It also comes in two different thicknesses: 3mm and 5mm, and a few colors to choose from. I was thoroughly impressed with how much grip I was able to maintain through sweaty and heated power vinyasa classes. I felt very secure practicing forearm stands for a few minutes while pouring sweat, and felt I could go deeper and comfortably hold downward-facing dog in a class set at 100 degrees and 40 percent humidity. I’m not alone in claiming its incredible grip. Graham, an international yoga teacher, says she’ll never use another mat.” I am unbiased when it comes to yoga mats because I’ve tried them all!
The best mat for all yogis is “The Mat” by Lululemon. You’ll never need a yogi toes (yoga towel) and it’s antimicrobial. I’ll never use any other kind of mat. As a bonus, “The Mat” has antimicrobial properties that help keep it clean. That being said, I did find that it stains easily. Within the first few uses, there were signs of dirt and evidence of accumulated sweat. Consumer reviews also suggest this is one of the drawbacks to the mat, especially if you have a lighter color like I do. So, one piece of advice is to go with black or a darker hue with this mat. In comparison to some of the others, I found this mat to be a tad uncomfortable, even with commonly practiced asanas such as Child’s Pose. My forehead felt as though I was resting it on a hardwood floor (I do have the thinner 3mm version of the mat, though). One thing to mention: It has a very strong smell when you first get it, which can make you a little light headed, especially when taking a nice big inhale through your nose.