It can be overwhelming with so many options, so I’ve outlined some of my favorite yoga mats and given a brief description of the pros and cons of each.
Dope Yogi is not affiliated with any of these companies, and we don’t get any kickbacks if you buy their products. This is just simply what we love and what we use, and we want to share it with you. Enjoy!
What I’m currently practicing on:
Liforme Yoga Mat
Non-Slippiness
I’ve been a long time loyal Manduka mat lover for many many years, but for the last 7 months I’ve been practicing on the Liforme Yoga Mat. I practice both heated and unheated vinyasa yoga, and this mat does well in both settings.
My favorite thing about this mat is that it does not slide around on the floor – like, at all! It has a grippy rubber bottom, and a smooth, but sticky top layer. It’s grippy enough to where you don’t slide around, even in the hot room, but smooth enough that it doesn’t catch when transitioning between poses.
One thing I will say is that after about a year my hands slide a bit in down dog at the beginning of practice unless I dribble a little water on top.
Thickness
For me, it’s the perfect thickness. Not quite a thick as the Manduka Prolite or Pro, but that’s one of the things that I love so much about it. After using Manduka for almost a decade, it feels good to switch it up.
I am able to feel the ground more because the Lifome is less cushy, but not in a bad way. I have pretty sensitive knees, and this does not bother my joints, but if you are someone who prefers more thickness in their mat, you might want to go with another option.
For me, I feel more grounded in balancing shapes, and it helps me root more through my palms in downward facing dog.
Alignment Markings & Extra Length
Not gonna lie – at first I was a bit skeptical about the alignment marks, but they are actually a nice touch. There is a centerline that helps you to maintain symmetry, and there are angled markings on the back of the mat which help to align the feet at 45 degrees.
I don’t use them all the time, but it’s a nice touch, and if you’re not a fan you can always just ignore them. Another bonus is that this mat is a about 5 inches longer than your “standard mat length”. It’s nice to have the extra space, and the length is especially nice for taller yogis to be able to stretch out without their hands and feet hanging off.
Other Stuff to Note
- Higher price point at $140
- It comes with a convenient mat bag
- Easy to clean
- Eco Friendly
- It doesn’t dry very quickly, I recommend leaving it unrolled to dry
Long Time Favorite:
Manduka Pro & Pro-lite
Quality & Thickness
Although not my favorite mat to practice on in a heated class, Manduka makes an amazing product, and it does last literally forever in terms of the yoga-mat-lifespan.
I had my first Manduka mat for 6 years, before it was lost – and I firmly believe that if it had not been misplaced I would still have it and practice on it today.
The quality of this mat is awesome. It’s thicker than the Liforme mat, so if your joints are sensitive this is a good option for you. It’s a great mat for a serious practice, and offers extra support for your spine and knees with the extra thickness. Even with it being thicker, it’s still very easy to feel grounded and supported.
I still have a Manduka, but only use it for home practice because it’s quite heavy.
Slippi-ness
It does tend to get slippery, especially when you start to sweat. Some people say they don’t slide on this mat, but if you’ve ever taken a Manduka Pro or Prolite into the hot room, I think you would beg to differ.
As someone who sweats a lot – even when I’m not practicing in the heat, I can tell you that this is not a truly non-slip mat. That doesn’t make me love it any less, I just prefer not to use this mat in heated classes.
Other Stuff To Note:
- Manduka has a lifetime warranty on the Black Pro Mat
- The Pro is REALLY heavy in terms of yoga mats (around 7 ibs), so if you’re planning to tote your mat around the city with you, not the most ideal option
- If you have sensitive joints, this is a better option than the Liforme Mat as it’s thicker
Best Non-slip Mat I’ve found
B Mat – “Strong”
Great For Heated Classes
If you are an avid heated yoga practitioner, this is the best non-slip option I’ve come across. The only downside is that if you are using this mat on a daily basis it does not last as long as I wish it would.
I had my B mat for about 5 of 6 months before it started pilling where my hands and feed land. It’s not cheap (around $90), so it was unfortunate, because I really did enjoy the stickiness of this mat, and the thickness of it as well. It is extra cushy, but not in the way that Manduka is cushy. The best way I can describe it is that it’s a “comfortable” mat.
I’ve heard from friends that B Mat will replace your mat if it starts to pill like mine did. If you are in the market for a cushy yoga mat that’s not too heavy, I do recommend this one!
I still have mine and still use it, but I also have 2 other mats that I use, so it’s not an “every day” mat for me. I mostly just practice with it in heated classes once or twice a week.
Why I Don’t Practice on Jade Mats Anymore
Jade
I’ll probably get some shade thrown at me for this, but I’m just being honest!
I used to love Jade mats, and I know lots of yogis that still use this brand and love it. I’m not saying rule it out completely, I’m just saying I don’t love it. I went through a couple of Jade mats before I decided to give up on this brand.
Here are the problems I found with Jade:
- They start to come apart, and it doesn’t take that long for this to happen if you’re practicing a lot.
- They appear to have a non-slip surface, but when you start sweating, you start slipping.
- The most annoying part about this mat which ended up being my deal breaker was that the bottom side of the mat starts to lose its grip. Meaning, after a few months when you’re jumping from downward facing dog to the top of your mat, you jump and the whole mat slides across the floor! Literally. Not only is this really annoying, it’s also really dangerous.
I want to love this brand, I really do, but the truth is that it’s not cheap, and I’ve found much better products that last much longer and that I am much happier with.
Final Thoughts
There are tons of different brands out there selling yoga apparel and gear. You can take our advice, or do a little research on your own.
Ultimately, you get what you pay for.
Any of the brands mentioned above will be much longer lasting and more enjoyable to practice on than a generic Target mat. You might end up spending more up front, but there is a reason these products cost more. They last longer, and if you’re planning to stick with your yoga practice you’re going to want a solid, long lasting mat.
Thanks for reading! Happy practicing! 🙂
*Dope Yogi is not affiliated with any of these brands, nor do we get anything if you purchase them.*
