Best overall
Manduka PROlite 4.7mm
Price: $$$
The Manduka PROlite is a favorite among yoga instructors and practitioners. The mat is available in nine colors and is sustainably made in Germany without toxic emissions.
What’s more, it comes in three sizes — standard, long, and long and wide — to accommodate users of all sizes.
The mat gets the seal of approval from Kelly Turner, VP of Training and Experience at YogaSix. She says, “My favorite yoga mat is the Manduka PROlite. It’s thick enough to support my tender knees if practicing on hardwood or tile but small enough to lug around if I’m walking to a class in a city.”
Elise Greenspoon, a yoga teacher and healing therapist, also loves this mat: “My absolute all-time fave is the Manduka PROlite. It’s super-durable, comfortable, and reasonably lightweight. Plus, it’s appropriately priced.”
Most negative customer reviews complain that the mat is too slippery.
Best thick yoga mat
Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat
Price: $
If you prefer a thicker mat, the Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat is a great option. It’s thick enough to provide gentle cushioning and padding while still allowing enough stability for balance poses.
It’s also affordable and easy to clean, and it rolls up nicely.
This mat earns high marks from Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, and has been her go-to mat for more than 5 years.
McGrane shares, “I highly recommend this yoga mat for anyone needing extra joint support during floor workouts.
“In addition to offering 6 mm of spongy-yet-supportive material, the mat also features a textured nonslip surface to keep you from slipping and sliding. I also love that the mat is available in a wide variety of colors and prints, making it a great gift too.”
Frequent customer complaints include that the mat sheds bits of PVC and the paint flakes.
Best foam yoga mat
BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Yoga Mat
Price: $$
If you prefer extra padding and regularly carry your mat around, it’s worth considering a foam yoga mat.
Made from high density foam, the BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Yoga Mat is 10 mm thick (the thickest on our list) and weighs just 1.8 pounds (lbs.) (0.8 kg).
The mat is a go-to for fitness trainer Courtney Virden, who tells Healthline, “This high quality yoga mat has a lot of cushion and provides a great nonslip surface. It’s also affordable and has a strap that makes it easy to carry around.”
Several online reviews complain that the mat tears easily and has a strong, unpleasant odor when it arrives.
Best sustainable yoga mat
JadeYoga Harmony Mat
Price: $$
This lightweight mat is a great eco-friendly option, as it’s made from natural rubber. What’s more, JadeYoga plants a tree for each product they sell through their partnership with Trees for the Future.
Healthline Senior Nutrition Editor Lisa Valente recommends the JadeYoga Harmony Mat to anyone who loves doing yoga or needs a stretching mat for their home gym.
Valente shares, “I was always slipping on my old yoga mats and finally decided to upgrade. I’ve had this yoga mat for over 6 years, biked with it to studios, carried it around on a sling, and now I mostly use it to practice home yoga on a carpet.
“It doesn’t slip on any floor, and I even use it in my backyard. It has just the right amount of cushion, and I love the long length for when my littles join me on the mat.”
Healthline Editor II Catherine Conelly also loves this mat. She says, “It’s perfectly grippy and comes a little cheaper than the ever-popular Manduka mats. It’s not too bulky, it’s easy to roll up, and it doesn’t wear easily.
“It’s the best of both worlds in terms of being functional and also a conscious, sustainable choice.”
However, some customers complain that the mat breaks down quickly, while others note that the grip attracts dust and pet hair.
Best for hot yoga
Alo Warrior Mat
Price: $$$
The Alo Warrior Mat offers a fantastic moisture-wicking grip for sweaty hands and hot yoga sessions. It also has a polyurethane leather layer on top of ethically sourced natural rubber to support your joints.
The mat comes highly recommended by Elisei Rusu, XPRO for YogaSix.
Rusu says, “A great yoga mat like the Alo Warrior Mat takes your practice to another dimension. The jungle green color helps me feel connected to the earth, while the nonslip grip keeps me grounded as I travel around the slightly larger than standard size mat.
“Although the mat is a pricier option, it pays you back in the long run with its quality and durability. Mine is still flowing with me 3 years later.”
Just keep in mind that the Warrior Mat weighs 8 lbs. (3.6 kg), so it might not be the best option for regularly lugging to the yoga studio.
Manduka GRP Hot Yoga Mat 6mm
Price: $$$
Ideal for hot yoga classes, the Manduka GRP Hot Yoga Mat has a nonslip layer on top of sustainably harvested natural rubber. It absorbs sweat so you can practice without a towel and is thick enough to support your joints.
Most negative customer reviews say that the mat peels easily and falls apart after a few months.
Best nonslip mat
Lululemon The Reversible Mat 3mm
Price: $$
The Reversible Mat 3mm features a sweat-absorbent surface and a bottom layer that grips the floor for stability. It’s a great pick if you often find yourself slipping and sliding on your mat.
Though it’s only 3 mm thick, this lightweight mat is firm and supportive. Plus, it has an antimicrobial additive that prevents mold and mildew.
A few customers complain that the mat stains easily and is difficult to keep clean.
Best for travel
Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat 1.5mm
Price: $$
The Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat is Greenspoon’s go-to for travel.
“It’s what I carry with me on the train to a studio and if I travel to teach a retreat,” she says. “It’s nice that you can fold it instead of rolling it. Plus, If you want to use a studio mat, you can put this on top for protection.”
Greenspoon points out that this mat isn’t cushiony enough for tender knees. She also recommends washing it with tea tree oil to remove the natural rubber smell.
Best for restorative yoga
JadeYoga Fusion Mat
Price: $$$
If you want a thick mat with enough cushioning for Yin and restorative poses, look no further than the JadeYoga Fusion Mat.
This eco-friendly option is extremely comfortable and provides fantastic grip. It also offers extra padding to support sensitive wrists and knees. Plus, it’s made in the United States.
The mat weighs around 8.5 lbs. (3.9 kg), so it’s not the most portable option. Additionally, because it is so cushioned, this mat might not be the best for balancing poses.
Best budget-friendly yoga mat
Yogamatters Sticky Yoga Mat
Price: $
The Yogamatters Sticky Yoga Mat is a popular no-frills mat that’s lightweight but still provides adequate cushioning.
It’s great for carrying to studio classes and is one of the least expensive mats on this list.
The mat is available in 12 colors and is a favorite among yoga teachers who want to stock up on a class set.
While it’s a good budget-friendly pick, some customers complain that the mat is too thin and slippery.
Best printed yoga mat
Jollie The Plush Mat
Price: $$$
The Plush Mat by Jollie comes in six adorable hand-painted prints by illustrator Kristen Leigh.
It has a microsuede layer on top of natural rubber and provides just enough cushioning. It also has good grip and is absorbent.
Jollie also makes kid-size mats for anyone who plans to practice with their children. Plus, the woman-owned company donates a mat to a pediatric cancer patient for every mat sold.
