Best Yoga Mats in 2021

Best Yoga Mats iMore 2021

• Best Overall: Manduka PRO Yoga Mat
• Best Value: Gaiam Yoga Mat
• Best Grip: Heathyoga ProGrip Yoga Mat
• Best Eco-Friendly: Liforme Original Yoga Mat
• Best Budget: BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Mat

Best Overall: Manduka PRO Yoga Mat

The Manduka PRO Yoga Mat is a beloved favorite of instructors and Yogis of all levels. It comes in an assortment of colors so you can choose the best aesthetic to suit your practice and is backed by a lifetime warranty. Say goodbye to unwanted peeling and flaking, this mat is quality, and guaranteed never to peel, flake, or fade or Manduka will replace it no questions asked. The superior grip improves over time with more use, which is a great incentive to keep practicing regularly. It's extra thick at 6mm density and will cushion your spine, hips, knees, elbows, or any point of contact on hard floors and surfaces. It measures 71-inches by 26-inches and features a no-slip grip. The proprietary bottom material allows its grip to improve with every use to help prevent injury. It's also sweat-resistant and features a closed-cell surface that blocks harmful bacteria and moisture from seeping in. It's easy to clean and eco-friendly. Manduka PRO mats are responsibly crafted in an emission-free facility and are OEKO-TEX certified, meaning they're 100% safe for you, your kids, and your pets.

This mat is on the pricier side, but with its lifetime warranty, we feel the PRO is well worth the investment. Some users complain of the mat being too slippery at first, so understand that it will need to be broken in before purchasing. The more you practice, the more the grip improves, so consistent practice is the best way to utilize this mat.

Best Value: Gaiam Yoga Mat

The Gaiam Yoga Mat comes in a plethora of fun patterns and designs so you can personalize your practice and find the aesthetic that will keep you motivated and focused. This premium 6mm Yoga mat is thick yet lightweight and offers superior cushioning for your joints during Yoga or any fitness routine. It features a textured, sticky, non-slip surface for excellent traction and superior grip. It is non-toxic and free of DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, and DNOP. Its dimensions measure 68-inches long by 24-inches wide, and you receive a free downloadable Yoga class when you purchase this mat.

Take note that Gaiam recommends that you unroll and air out your mat for 2-3 days before using it, as a harmless odor may be present when unwrapped. Some users also complain that this mat can get a bit slippery when there is a lot of sweat involved.

Best Grip: Heathyoga ProGrip Yoga Mat

The super sticky Heathyoga ProGrip Yoga Mat features intense grip and non-slip material. It's made of Polyurethane (PU), which is well known for its great non-slippery design and excellent traction, so you can rest assured knowing that you'll be keeping your hands and feet securely in place throughout your yoga practice. It has laser engraved, instructional alignment lines printed directly on it, which helps you to focus and adjust your hands and feet accordingly so you can make sure your body is in proper alignment. It's also eco-friendly, odorless, and made of 100% recyclable, PVC-free material. This mat is on the larger side, measuring 72-inches long and 26-inches wide, but it's lightweight, and 5mm thick. It also comes with a carry bag and a Velcro strap so you can easily and conveniently take your mat with you wherever you go!

Take note that a lot of users talk about how this mat is very absorbent and easily shows sweat stains or whatever liquid that comes into contact with it. Also, some reviewers complained that this mat started cracking on them after a few months of use.

Best Eco-Friendly: Liforme Original Yoga Mat

The Liforme Yoga Mat is made of natural rubber and specially engineered eco-polyurethane making it 100% biodegradable. Liforme promises that it will biodegrade in 1-5 years under normal landfill conditions. It's also PVC-free and has no nasty toxic substances. It comes in recyclable outer packaging, and all Liforme mats are responsibly manufactured. It offers excellent grip and is made of Liforme's "GripForMe" material that gives excellent traction while practicing. It also features an "AlignForMe" system that has been strategically designed to help align Yogis of all shapes, sizes, and levels. This mat measures 72.8-inches long, 26.8-inches wide, and 4.2mm thick, giving it the balance of firm stability and comfortable cushioning while remaining lightweight. It also includes a carry bag so you can protect your mat wherever you go.

On the downside, this mat is super pricey, but most agree that it's a sound investment. Take note that this mat is not super padded at 4.2mm thick, and the material will squeak when you get sweaty and move around on it.

Best Budget: BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Mat

This budget-friendly Yoga mat measures 71-inches long, 24-inches wide, and is ½-inch thick, providing practitioners with premium comfort, cushioning the spine, hips, knees, elbows, and any point of contact on hard floors. It features double-sided non-slip surfaces so users have excellent traction and can avoid unnecessary injuries. Its moisture resistant technology makes this mat easy to wash with soap and water, and it comes with easy strapping for convenient transport and storage. It also comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a 2-year warranty.

On the downside, some users complained of this mat squeaking a lot when they got sweaty and changed positions. It was also too cushy for a few reviewers because the extra cushion made it challenging to balance. Some purchasers also complained of durability issues and the mat breaking down after a few months of use.

Bottom line

There's no doubt that Yoga offers many incredible mental and physical health benefits. Some of these include: stress relief, increased flexibility, increased muscle strength and tone, improved energy and vitality, weight reduction, cardio and circulatory health, and protection from injury. We feel that the best way to elevate your yoga practice is to use the best Yoga mat.

Our favorite is the Manduka PRO Yoga Mat because it's 6mm thick and offers unmatched support and superior cushion. It's eco-friendly, easy to clean, and 100% safe for the whole family. Manduka offers a lifetime warranty on this mat, promising it will never peel, flake, or fade, or a brand new one is on them. The no-slip grip improves with every use, giving you the practitioner a great incentive to honor your mental and physical health and practice regularly.

Hiking backcountry

Keep tabs on your fitness while hiking backcountry with these trackers

Backcountry hiking allows full immersion in nature and her bounty. Keep tabs on your fitness and maintain a lifeline if you find yourself in an emergency situation with the best fitness trackers for backcountry hiking.

Fitbit Alta and Alta HR

Mix it up with one of the best third-party bands for your Fitbit Alta

Trying to bring a cool new band into the mix for your Fitbit Alta? Here are the best third-party bands for Fitbit Alta and Fitbit Alta HR.

Purified!

Clean and monitor your home's air with the best HomeKit air purifiers

Monitor and clean your home's air with the power of HomeKit! Here's our guide to the best HomeKit air purifiers that you can buy today.