The Best Yoga Mats To Use In 2022 Reviewed

Yoga mats are a highly versatile piece of fitness equipment that is an essential component of many home workout programs. Whether you practice at a local studio or at home, having a quality yoga mat that gives the correct amount of grip and support is vital. While selecting a mat may appear simple, there are other variables to consider, including mobility, grip and feel, padding and thickness.

 

We acquired 16 yoga mats and tested them at The Verywell Testing Lab to find the best yoga mats. We assessed how well each mat laid flat, how effectively the cushioning and thickness supported each tester’s exercise, if the mat provided a non-slip surface, and how portable each mat was.

 

Best Overall: Alo Yoga Warrior Mat

Pros	Cons
Versatile	Heavy
Rolls up tightly	Colorful versions may show dirt
Available in 10 colors
Easy care instructions

The Alo Yoga Warrior Mat is our top option in the test after a day of practicing more than 160 sun salutations. We found it thick and spacious, with ample yoga room for an intermediate vinyasa sequence.

It provided the ideal amount of cushioning support while preventing wrist fatigue in positions like Downward Facing Dog. This Alo mat also had a firm grip right out of the box and didn’t require any break-in time—one tester reported she didn’t slip once while using it. The five-millimeter thickness provides adequate knee support when maintaining poses like lizard pose or frog pose for extended periods of time during a yin yoga practice.

It’s not a light mat, weighing somewhat more than 6 pounds. It does, however, roll up into a tight coil, which makes it very portable. We noted that dirt shows up easily on this mat because we tested it in a light hue. Sweat and water also leave a light, transitory stain on the mat, which disappears after a few minutes of flat drying.

Materials: Sustainably-sourced rubber and polyurethane leather | Size: 74.5 x 26.5 inches | Weight: 6.2 pounds

Best Budget: IUGA Pro Non-Slip Yoga Mat

Pros	Cons
Lightweight	Takes time to lay completely flat
Includes carrying strap	Shows stains and dirt
Available in 5 colors	Lingering chemical odor

While most natural rubber mats are heavy, the IUGA Pro Non Slip Yoga Mat is a relatively light and easy-to-carry 2.2 pounds. In fact, it gained a five-star rating for portability because it has a carrying strap. The disadvantage of having a light mat is that it lacks the heaviness to lay precisely flat out of the box, which is why it only scored a two out of five for unboxing.

The 5-millimeter-thick IUGA mat holds the distinction of being one of the test’s most grippy mats. It felt sticky at times, according to our tester. This mat performed admirably in our sweat test, making it an excellent choice for anyone who often does hot yoga.

We should also mention that while the company claims this mat is odorless, our tester reported a rubbery stench when her head was reclining on the mat during Child’s Pose.

Material: Sustainably harvested rubber | Size: 72 x 26 inches | Weight: 2.5 pounds

 

Extra-Long: Lululemon The Reversible (Big) Mat 5mm

Pros	Cons
Wide	Lingering rubber smell on one side
Easy care instructions	Heavy
Quick-drying

Tall people will appreciate Lululemon’s extra-large mat. It is the broadest of all the mats we examined at 28 inches, and it is only second in length to the Manduka PRO. Its size was easily the most noticeable to our testers. “As a six-foot-tall person, I can lay flat and still have enough area to walk around comfortably,” one tester stated of the mat.

Throughout our tests, 5-millimeter-thick mats received the top ratings for padding and thicknes, and this Lululemon mat was no exception. We discovered that this mat provided the ideal soft-yet-firm cushion that supported our flow while also keeping our testers grounded.

While this mat is reversible, we preferred the polyurethane side, which was more absorbent and gave greater grip (during both the dry and sweat testing) than the textured rubber side, which showed more dirt, was slipping, and had a stronger lasting odor.

Materials: Natural rubber, synthetic rubbers, polyurethane, polyester, and nylon | Size: 84 x 28 inches | Weight: 7.05 pounds

Non-Slip: Manduka PRO Yoga Mat

Pros	Cons
Available in 2 lengths	Expensive
Available in 8 colors	Heavy
Lifetime guarantee	High-maintenance care instructions
Latex-free

If you’ve been looking yoga mats with the purpose of making a long-term investment, chances are you’ve heard about the Manduka PRO Yoga Mat. The Manduka PRO is recognized for requiring some break-in time before it becomes the non-slip mat that customers adore. In comparison to some of the other mats we tried, we were thrilled by its out-of-the-box grip, giving it a five-star rating. Our tester did not need to use a yoga towel to keep from slipping, as the brand suggested.

We tested the long one of this mat (there are two lengths available), and with length comes weight. The Manduka PRO was by far the heaviest mat we tested, weighing 8.8 pounds. It would have been wonderful if the brand had provided a bag or carrying strap with the mat for such a heavy mat and at this higher price range. As a result of these factors, this had one of the lowest portability, storage, and care score of the entire test (a three out of five).

Material: PVC | Sizes: 71 x 26 inche and 85 x 26 inche | Weight: 7.5 pounds and 8.8 pounds

Thick Mat: BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Yoga Mat

 

Pros	Cons
Lightweight	Squeaks occasionally
Versatile	Takes time to lay completely flat
Available in 7 colors	May not be durable over time
Includes carrying strap

This mat was definitely the thickest in our test, measuring over 13 millimeters. And the foam material is softer and more elastic than any other we tested, making it ideal for anyone with delicate joints or looking for a multipurpose mat to aid in bodyweight exercises. We awarded this mat a five out of five for cushioning and thickness since its thickness makes it a multipurpose mat.

However, a thick mat may make you feel less steady or grounded in certain poses, particularly while focusing on balance. A thinner one may be better for yoga, but a thicker mat may be better for Pilates or other workouts. 

Despite providing strong grip even during the sweat test (we scored it four out of five for grip and feel), we discovered that the mat made squeaking noises when transitioning into certain postures. We wouldn’t suggest it to someone who prefers a more peaceful practice because the loudness was distracting.

Materials: High-density foam | Sizes: 71 x 24 inches | Weight: 2 pounds

For Hot Yoga: Jade Yoga Harmony Mat

Pros	Cons
Available in 3 lengths	Lingering rubber smell
Available in 12 colors

Whether you prefer hot yoga or simply want to sweat as you practice, the Jade Yoga Harmony Yoga Mat is an excellent choice. Our testers gave the 5-millimeter-thick mat five out of five stars for comfort and thickness.

We discovered that it provided an adequate level of padding without being overly fluffy. Furthermore, because natural rubber absorbs moisture, the mat provides exceptional traction during any workout.

This Jade mat weighs little under 5 pounds, so it will rest flat for the first use. It’s not the lightest mat on the market, but it’s also not the heaviest we tried. While it doesn’t come with a bag or strap, it rolls up tightly and isn’t too heavy to transport from your house to the studio and back.

Materials: Naturally-sourced tree rubber | Size: 68 x 24 inches and 74 x 24 inches | Weight: 4.8 pounds

Best For Home: Liforme Original Yoga Mat

Pros	Cons
Alignment guide marked on mat	Expensive
Includes carrying bag	Care instructions are difficult to find
Available in 5 colors	Shows stains and dirt
Quick-drying

The Liforme mat is distinguished by its eye-catching ‘AlignForMe’ system, which is engraved on the polyurethane top layer of the mat. While this can be useful in studio courses, it’s truly a standout feature for at-home practices when you don’t have the luxury of a yoga instructor to help you modify your form. A tiny manual attached to the carrying bag explains the alignment method in greater detail.

The length and width are also larger than typical size mats, so you’ll have plenty of room for dynamic flows and stretching. The 4.2-millimeter thickness gave just the proper amount of cushion and support, while the mat’s surface produced an excellent grip in both wet and dry tests.

The surface is PVC-free, and while our tester found that dirt and water stains were easily visible, the top layer is absorbent and rapid drying, so the water and perspiration didn’t interfere with her workout.

This mat shares some characteristics with the Alo Yoga Warrior Mat, our Best Overall selection, according to our testers. The mat’s dimensions, as well as the grip and sensation under our testers’ hands and feet, were nearly comparable. However, the Alo mat is a better deal in the long run because it costs 40% less.

Material: rubber and eco-polyurethane | Size: 72.8 x 26.7 inches | Weight: 4.6 pounds

For Travel: Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Mat

 

Pros	Cons
Lightweight	May be slippery at first
Can be rolled or folded	Thin
Non-toxic
Select colors available in additional sizes

The Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat is the ideal choice for you if you want nearly all of the benefits of a great yoga mat in a smaller, travel-friendly package. Our testers rated the mat’s portability as a five out of five.

It weighed 2.2 pounds, making it one of the lightest rubber mats wet tested, which is especially surprising given its size of 71 x 24 inches. However, because it is only 1.5 millimeters thick, we gave it a 3.5 out of 5 for cushioning and thickness because it may not give enough support for all users.

Manduka mats frequently require a break-in period before they get the sticky and gripping properties for which they are famous. Unlike the Manduka PRO, which we found grippy enough right out of the box, we found the eKO Superlite to be more slippery than we would have liked; we rated it three stars out of five for grip and feel.

Materials: Eco-friendly rubber | Sizes: 71 x 24 inches | Weight: 2.2 pounds