Have you ever wondered what type of yoga mat is the best? Discover your new favorite mat and upgrade your practice with our Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Yoga Mat!
One of the biggest investments in beginning a yoga practice is the purchase of a yoga mat (unless you have an addiction to matching Lululemon outfits that is).
A good mat can make or break your practice. I’ve practiced on several mats over the years and did a lot of research before purchasing mats for my own studio. To save you the headache of buying and returning mats as I have, I’ve put together a guide to help you meet your yoga mat match!
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Do I Need a Yoga Mat?
You might be wondering, does a yoga mat really matter? That answer rests entirely with you. I adore a good mat, while other teachers I know practice with a generic supermarket mat, and still others practice with no mat at all. Here’s why I choose to practice with a mat and why you may want to consider it:
- A mat helps you stay focused – If you’re anything like me, your mind tends to wander throughout the day. I’ve chosen to make my mat a space for me to be away from the world – almost a sacred place. I don’t use my phone while on my mat, and I only use it for yoga and meditation. I do my best to leave everything else off the mat and stay tuned into my body, which allows my mind to focus and relax.
- A mat can make your practice more comfortable – If you have sensitive wrists or knees, a mat will provide much-appreciated cushioning. Some mats have a grippy or sticky texture which can help you stay in a pose without slipping and sliding.
- A mat helps you stay dedicated to your practice – Having a yoga mat that sits somewhere visible makes it more likely that you’ll sign up for a class or roll it out for home practice. A mat is an investment in your practice, one that you won’t likely regret.
What Kind of Yoga Mat Should I Buy?
What type of yoga mat you purchase varies depending on your yoga practice. Consider these three questions when choosing a yoga mat:
What type of yoga do you practice most often?
If your practice is gentle or mostly seated, you may want a softer, well-cushioned mat for comfort. If your practice involves a significant amount of balancing poses or frequent movement, you may want less cushioning and a more rigid mat for stability. For specialty types of yoga, there are mats and accessories to aid your practice as well.
How often do you practice?
If you practice once a week or less, you can definitely get by with an inexpensive mat. If you’re practicing 2-3 times a week, a higher quality mat will hold up longer. If you practice more than three times a week, you’ll want to invest in a durable mat that will keep your practice safe and comfortable for many sessions to come.
Where do you practice?
In my opinion, this is a big factor in choosing a mat. If the majority of your practice is done on a hard surface like you’d find in a studio, gym, or wood flooring, you can choose just about any type of mat. If you like to feel connected to the ground and want the easiest surface for balancing, choose a thin, lightweight mat. The downside to this is that there’s not a lot of cushioning between you and the ground, so keep that in mind when you make your choice. A thicker, more cushioned mat is also a great choice on hard floors because it makes the ground more comfortable.
If you practice mostly on soft surfaces like carpet or grass, you may find that you need less padding. A thinner mat will move with you, letting you sink into the surface a bit more, and a thicker mat will keep you “floating” above the surface where you’ll feel less of the ground beneath you. I personally enjoy a thicker mat when I’m in the studio and a thinner mat when I’m practicing outdoors, but that opinion varies from person to person.
What Qualities Should I Look for in a Yoga Mat?
It would be easy to take a deep dive into all the qualities and variations of yoga mats, but we’re going to keep it simple here. The top 4 things I consider when choosing a mat are material, thickness, texture, and durability:
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Yoga mat Material
Yoga mats are not all created equal when it comes to materials. There are mats made entirely from natural materials, others from man-made products, and some with a mix of the two. The most common yoga mat materials are:
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – PVC mats are made from plastic and vary greatly in quality.
- Pros: durable, generally latex-free, easy to clean, grippy when dry.
- Cons: can become slippery if wet or sweaty, thin options often lack padding.
- Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) – TPE mats are generally made of plastic and rubber, and are sometimes recyclable.
- Pros: more eco-friendly than PVC mats.
- Cons: less durable than other mat types.
- Natural material mats – These mats can be made from rubber or woven materials.
- Pros: generally the most eco-friendly type of mat, provides a more natural feeling texture if you enjoy it.
- Cons: Often less durable, prone to wear in highly used spots, not as sticky or grippy.
yoga mat Thickness
Like most other factors in purchasing a yoga mat, this is very personal. Yoga mats come in varying thicknesses, usually broken down into three categories:
- Light Mats – Commonly referred to as a “travel mat,” these are thin mats with a thickness of less than 2mm. They are lightweight and convenient if you find yourself carrying your mat often. The trade-off here is that there is little padding, so if you enjoy some cushion under your body, consider a thicker mat.
- Weight: Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat 1.5mm Standard length mat weighs in at 2 lbs.
- Standard Thickness Mats – These mats are often considered the sweet spot between cushion and convenience. They’re the type of mat you’re most likely to see as the in-house mats at a studio and by teachers and students alike. They are generally 3-5 mm thick, with the typical mat coming in just under 5 mm. Standard thickness mats will be a bit more unwieldy to carry between classes, but will provide you with more cushion for your joints.
- Weight: Manduka PROlite Yoga Mat 4.7mm Standard length mat weighs 4 lbs.
- Thick Mats – These may be the Cadillacs of yoga mats. They’ve got plenty of cushion and are known to be very comfortable to practice on with 6+mm of material underneath you. Be aware though that that comfort will cost you. Thick mats are heavy. You could see this as a good thing if you enjoy doing a bit of weightlifting before your yoga class.
- Weight: Manduka PRO Yoga Mat 6mm Standard length mat weighs 7.5 lbs.
Different brand mats may weigh more or less than the examples given here, so if weight is a concern for you, try picking them up in-store before purchasing to make sure they will be comfortable for your yoga commute if you have one.
Yoga Mat Texture & Grip
The texture of your mat can make all the difference in your practice. Some mats have a smooth surface, while others have a textured one. The surface of your mat can be made of the same material the rest of your mat is, or it might have a top layer made from a different material. A smooth, slick-surfaced mat is a great choice if you’re doing mostly seated poses and won’t be putting it under tension or using it to balance frequently.
A mat with a textured surface will better serve you if you are pressing or stretching the mat (think Three-leg Dog or Warrior II). A textured surface will give you better traction throughout your practice, wet or dry. A sticky or grippy textured mat will take some getting used to if you’ve been using one with a smooth surface, since your body won’t slide as easily across it. Whichever type of surface you choose, be sure to choose a mat with a non-slip surface to keep you safe and reduce the risk of injury during your practice.
Yoga mat Durability
How long your yoga mat lasts will depend on what type of yoga you do and how often you practice. For those practicing occasionally, an inexpensive mat may last several years. The more regularly you practice, the more wear your mat will have, so choose a mat that matches your practice. Some yoga mats come with a guarantee, either for several years or for some high-end mats, they may come with a lifetime guarantee. When you choose your mat, think about how often you want to replace it. If and when you need to let go of an old mat, consider repurposing or recycling it where possible.
Meet Your ‘Mat’ch
If you’re buying a mat for the first time, all this may seem overwhelming; I know it certainly was for me. I visited several stores over a month or two, searching for that perfect mat. I finally met my match – my personal favorite and the one I practice on each day. To save you hours spent in a sporting goods store, here are three mats highly recommended by yoga teachers around the world:
Favorite Mat for: Travel, budget
1/8 inch (3mm) Hugger Muger Tapas Original Mat – https://amzn.to/3WAb7C6 (paid link)
Favorite Mat for: Studio classes, texture
4.7mm Manduka ProLite Mat – https://amzn.to/3WAb7C6 (paid link)
Favorite Mat for: high cushion, durable
6mm Manduka Pro Mat – https://amzn.to/46Gg4hf (paid link)
While not always necessary, the right tools can make an incredible difference in your life, and yoga mats are no exception. When you find a good mat, it becomes more than just a place to move your body. It is a place for learning, growth, and transformation.
Do you have a favorite yoga mat? Tell us about it in the comments!
