It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner yogi or if you’ve been doing it for years. Whether you practice Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, or Bikram yoga, you need a good yoga mat that will give you the proper support you need as you hold your poses and transition between them. If you keep slipping in your downward dog or you find that your knee hurts after doing a low lunge, take it as a sign to upgrade.
Because there’s a massive selection of yoga mats in the market, we’ve narrowed it down to five amazing picks, including ones from bestselling brands like lululemon and Manduka. In this comparison, we get into all the little details such as material, thickness, grip, and portability.
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Best Yoga Mats Comparison Chart
| Name | lululemon Reversible Mat 5MM | Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat 6MM | Liforme Original Yoga Mat |
 |  |  | |
| Price | Check Price at lululemon | Check Price at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon |
| Materials | Polyurethane on one side, textured natural rubber on the other | PVC, latex-free | Sustainable, naturally-sourced rubber, PVC-free |
| Thickness | 5mm | 6mm | 4.2MM |
| Dimensions | 0.19 x 26 x 71 inches | 0.2 x 24 x 68 inches | 0.17 x 27 x 73 inches |
| Features | -reversible -provides extra cushion for sensitive joints -absorbs sweat and provides great grip | -thicker than most other yoga mats -textured grooves on surface for grip -lightweight and portable | -designed with alignment markers to help with hand and feet placement -has no-slip eco-polyurethane surface for good grip -eco-friendly |
| Warranty | None | Lifetime | None |
lululemon Reversible Mat 5MM
The lululemon Reversible Mat is our pick for overall best yoga mat.
The lululemon Reversible Mat 5MM is our pick for overall best yoga mat for a couple of good reasons. For starters, the fact that you can use both sides for different purposes is genius. The smooth, polyurethane side is perfect for Ashtanga yoga as it’s great for soaking up sweat and is extra grippy so that you’ll never slip and slide. As for the textured natural rubber side, it’s made for yoga practices that are less rigorous and not as sweat-inducing although it provides good traction as well.
Another noteworthy thing about the lululemon Reversible Mat is the amount of cushioning it offers. This is great news for those who have achy knees, weak wrists, and sensitive hips because this mat will definitely support you and make you forget that there’s a hard floor underneath. To boot, it’s longer and wider than the typical yoga mat so it’s able to accommodate yogis of all shapes and sizes. Of course, it’s beautiful to look at as well. One downside though–it’s a little bit challenging to lug around given that it’s bigger and that it doesn’t come with its own bag.
Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat 6MM
The Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat is the best in terms of support and cushioning.
If you thought the lululemon Reversible Mat was thick, wait ’til you see the Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat. It measures in at 6MM, making it about twice as thick as the standard yoga mat. So if you want to take extra care of your joints, this mat will give you all the support you need. If you’re worried about sinking, however, you can put your fears to rest because it’s definitely dense and not at all spongelike. This way, you’ll able to find balance and stability with ease.
In terms of grip, it’s nowhere near as sticky at the lululemon Reversible Mat. That said, you should still be able to enjoy good traction even when you’re sweating buckets, thanks to the small, textured grooves on the surface that lend a tacky feel to the Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat. As for portability, it’s surprisingly lightweight despite its thickness so you’ll have no problem bringing it places. To boot, it won’t cost you an arm and leg like other branded yoga mats out there and it’s protected by a lifetime warranty.
Liforme Original Yoga Mat
The Liforme Original Yoga Mat bears alignment markers, making it ideal for beginners.
The Liforme Original Yoga Mat is one of a kind, bearing alignment markers that let you know exactly where to place your hands and feet in certain poses. This makes it an ideal mat for beginners because it serves as a literal cheat sheet they can refer to whenever they’re unsure of the correct alignment. That said, it’s definitely an investment. But even though it’s on the pricier end of the spectrum, we think it’s worth the splurge because aside from being beginner-friendly, it also boasts of impressive quality and takes the environment into consideration.
Run your hands over it and you can immediately tell it’s made from premium materials, so smooth that it almost feels silky to the touch. It has enough thickness to it too, measuring in at 4.2MM, so your joints never have to suffer during your practice. You’ll never lose your grip during class either, thanks to this mat’s eco-polyurethane no-slip surface. Your conscience can remain clear as well because it’s made with sustainable, naturally-sourced rubber that’s free of PVC.
Manduka Pro Yoga Mat
The Manduka Pro Yoga Mat has an ultra grippy surface that makes it perfect for yoga pros.
As you can tell from its name, the Manduka Pro Yoga Mat is designed for the yoga pros. The ones who go for double chaturangas and tend to work up a lot more sweat during class. But even if your palms and feet are drenched, this yoga mat is designed to withstand all of that wetness. It has vertical and horizontal grooves running across its entire surface, explaining why it’s so grippy. Its underside is dotted too so it will always stay in place. Do note, however, that you need to break this yoga mat in first by sprinkling it with sea salt, leaving it out overnight, and then using a damp cloth to wipe it.
Aside from its no-slip surface, another reason why pros love this Manduka mat is because of its thickness. You get 6MM of cushioning so even if you hold your headstand for a couple of extra breaths, you won’t feel the pressure on your skull. But because it is so thick, it scores low in the portability department. Clocking in at 7.5 pounds, carrying it around is no easy feat.
Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat
The Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat is the winner when it comes to portability.
If you’re a jet-setting yogi in need of an ultra portable yoga mat, look no further than the Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat. It definitely lives up to its name, so much so that you can fold it up and slip it into your suitcase with no problem. It’s not just lightweight though as it also boasts of impressive grip that can rival that of its thicker counterparts. Thanks to its tightly-woven and dimpled top-side, you get a tacky surface that will keep you in place even as you’re dripping in sweat. Eco warriors will also be glad to know that it’s sustainable, zero-waste, and free of chemicals.
But as expected from any lightweight and portable yoga mat, it doesn’t offer much cushioning. So if you’re a beginner or if you have achy knee joints, it might be better to go for the denser yoga mats on this list. The lack of padding shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the more advanced yogis though because they tend to find better balance and stability this way anyway.
Verdict
The lululemon Reversible Mat 5MM is our top pick for its versatility, grip, and support.
While there are a bunch of top-notch picks on this list, the spot for best overall yoga mat goes to the lululemon Reversible Mat 5MM. Its versatility, impressive grip, and excellent support make it a well-rounded option for both beginners and pros alike. As for the Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat 6MM, it’s an ideal pick for those who need extra cushion while the Liforme Original Yoga Mat is a good beginner-friendly choice. For the pro yogis out there who need extra grip as they hold advanced poses, the Manduka Pro Yoga Mat will give you just that. As for yogis who need a lightweight yoga mat they can travel effortlessly with, the Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat is your best bet.
FAQs
Before using your Manduka yoga mat, you need to first break it in by sprinkling sea salt on it, leaving it out overnight, and then wiping it with a damp wash cloth.
While the Liforme Original Yoga Mat is on the pricier end of the spectrum, it’s worth it because of its alignment markers, impressive quality, and eco-friendliness.
The Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat 6MM is a good choice for those who have sensitive joints or physical conditions and need extra padding.
The Lululemon Reversible Mat 5MM allows you to use both of its sides for different purposes. In addition, it boasts of excellent grip, it’s able to absorb sweat, and provides a good amount of cushioning.