Best yoga mats 2024: The best designs for hot yoga, travel and general home use

Investing in one of the best yoga mats can make a huge difference to your stretching routine. Thick, soft, and made out of sweat-proof materials, they are specifically designed to provide good grip and withstand the demands of challenging yoga poses. No to mention, some of the best yoga mats are real lookers.   

But which yoga mat should you invest in? 

At Live Science we’ve put a range of the best yoga mats through their paces, testing them with different workouts and activities. We’ve looked at the pros and cons, value for money, design, grip, and price, as well as durability, whether they support the body well, and also how heavy they all are (useful to know if you’re taking it on public transport). Whether you’ve been doing yoga for years, or buying your very first mat, we have got you covered. 

If you want to get the most out of your cool-down routine, check our guide to the best foam rollers, too. 

The best yoga mat overall

For once you can believe the hype: the Lululemon Reversible 5mm Yoga Mat is worth every cent. 

Well made, durable and with excellent traction in both wet and dry conditions, it’s the yoga mat that keeps on giving.

It’s springy enough to move around on with great cushioning to support bones and joints. Its thin polyurethane layer and ‘sweat-wicking’ natural rubber base, does a good job at absorbing moisture and the antimicrobial additive in the mat prevents bacteria from building up.

It’s a bit smelly when you first open it, and tends to scratch easily. It’s also a little on the heavy side at 2.38kg but that doesn’t matter if you’re driving to class or you usually workout from home. Plus, the 5mm thickness means you get the support where you need it most.

• Read our full Lululemon Reversible 5mm Mat review

Best yoga mat for grip

The Yogi Bare Wild Paws yoga mat is one of the more expensive brands we tested and sits just above the $100 mark. However, we highly doubt you’ll need to replace this mat for years. 

4mm of springy thickness provides enough padding for classes like Yin but still allows you to feel grounded and well connected with the floor and mat. However, we recommend Travel yogis look for other brands in our round-up because this mat weighs 2.5kg and feels heavy-duty under your arm. The good news is that the weight prevents the mat from sliding around or furling at the sides.

If you’re after sustainable design, this mat also ticks the boxes. It’s made of natural rubber and PU (polyurethane synthetic leather), making it both non-slip and fully recyclable. We love that Yogi Bare encourage buyers to send in their old mats to be repurposed as part of their recycling campaign, bagging you a discount on a future purchase. 

We noticed scuff marks and paw prints (yes, our dog also enjoys downward dog) after the first use, but the mat is easy to clean (warm water and diluted lemon juice at the ready), and we did test the black design – a notoriously tough color for hiding wear and tear. 

If you’re looking for grip factor and a posture boost, this mat won't fail you – even in humid hot yoga classes. The lack of slippage makes it perfect for dynamic classes and hot yoga, but it can hold its own during low-impact classes and even when you’re keen to get playful with arm balances or inversions.

• Read our full Yogi Bare Wild Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip yoga mat review

Best folding yoga mat

The Primasole folding yoga mat will have frequently traveling yogis rejoicing. The lightweight 2 lbs yoga mat folds neatly into a compact square and is brilliant for slipping into your work bag or luggage for practicing wherever you happen to be. 

Made from PVC, the 4mm thick Primasole comes in four striking colors and costs less than $20 on Amazon. We found it very convenient, and it’s definitely worth its price tag, but you may struggle for grip during hot yoga without a grip towel. We also recommend yoga props if you plan to engage in stretching and restorative exercise, as it feels thin underfoot even though it’s 4mm thick. 

You can whip this mat out in any hotel room or class, quickly (and easily) wipe it down afterward, neatly fold it back up and stow it away. The grey color is ideal for hiding wear and tear, too. 

• Read our full Primasole Folding yoga mat review

Best for eco-friendly credentials

Self-titled ‘nature’s best yoga mat’, the standout feature of this yoga mat is the rough, grainy texture of the natural rubber. This has been sourced from rubber trees – a rapidly renewable resource – and contains zero nasties, but JadeYoga recommends avoiding this mat if you have a latex allergy as the mat could contain traces. 

There has been no compromise in quality when keeping to a sustainable ethos. The material isn’t like the soft PU coating of other mats, which might not be for everyone, but it’s well suited to anyone who gets creative with balances, tends to sweat more, or just prefers hot yoga classes. We found the texture harder to wipe down for this reason, and the mat is sensitive to sunlight and chemicals, so water and a damp cloth will be your new best friend. It’s also reversible, which should help improve durability. 

We recommend this mat for most ability levels and practices, but while it is 5mm thick (slightly thicker than the Yogi Bare Wild Paws yoga mat), it actually felt thinner and less suited to restorative classes. Those who favor a creative practice will love the design, but beginners or anyone nursing bad knees will benefit from trying another mat from this round-up.

The rougher rubber texture attracts dust and sweat staining, but this is typical of grippy mats and can be combatted by simply cleaning it down after every class. We also recommend picking a more travel-friendly option from our lineup if you plan to take your mat away with you. All, in all, if you want to shop with a brand whose heart and soul are rooted in being Earth-conscious, this mat will serve you well, alongside a durable design.

• Read our full Jade Harmony yoga mat review

Best yoga mat for balance training

The Sweaty Betty Super Grip Yoga Mat lives up to its name on the grip front and provides excellent support and stability for all types of yoga. 

Its sticky latex surface makes it durable enough to withstand a hot yoga session, and its non-slip nature makes it great for stability, meaning that you can stay in balance poses such as downward dog for longer.

Our one complaint is that due to its stickiness, this yoga mat is also somewhat of a dust and dirt magnet. It also picks up marks easily, but this is nothing that regular cleaning (and a carry bag for storage) can’t resolve.

Because this eco-friendly mat is made from natural latex (avoid if you have a latex allergy) you should expect a strong odor at first. However, this does wear off in time. We would note that this mat is a little thin for headstands, so you might need to add a towel to make it thicker.

• Read the full Sweaty Betty Super Grip Yoga Mat review

Best yoga mat for travel

The Jade Yoga Travel Yoga Mat is perfect for travel as it’s thin, lightweight and compact. It easily folds down to the size of a yoga block, and has a textured design that gives it great grip. While this mat will take up very little space in your luggage or your closet at home, the downside is that its super thin profile means that there is zero padding in this travel mat. We would also recommend rolling the mat out after you unpack it to minimize creases.

This yoga mat is made from PVC-free natural rubber so expect a rubbery smell for the first few weeks (and avoid this product if you have a latex allergy). It has an open cell construction and is really sticky, which is ideal as it means that you won’t slip and slide during your yoga session.

We would note that the mat can be a little slippery when sweat-soaked, but it doesn’t tend to mark or stain which is a big bonus. Jade Yoga has a plant-based mat wash you can use for cleaning, but we found that regular sprays worked just as well (although avoid UV cleaners as these can damage the rubber). Overall a great value mat with good performance for travelling yogis.

• Read our full JadeYoga Travel Mat review  

Best yoga mat for posture improvement

The Lululemon Take Form 5mm yoga mat is one of the most expensive on our list, retailing at over $100. But its beautiful design and cleverly subtle alignment cues allow every yogi to lead intuitively with their senses.

The goal of this mat is to create a more sensory and naturally flowing experience, using a 3D design to help improve your practice and better guide and position you. It comes in a range of soft marbled tones and features delicate concentric circles that look like raindrops spanning and rippling across your mat; each one is slightly ridged and helps guide your hand and foot positioning, as well as indicating the midline of the mat. 

As always with Lululemon, materials are carefully considered. This model is crafted from natural rubber (certified by the Forest Stewardship Council) and is plushly padded and super grippy. We found it held its own in heated dynamic classes and more restorative Yin-based practices and cushioned enough that we could still hold firm on our balances.  

Some users found the sticky grip prevented smooth transitions and others felt the ridges didn’t provide enough guidance, but we loved our time on this mat. Those seeking a lightweight design should consider others in our round-up, and the Take Form looked noticeably heftier than its Jade Harmony yoga mat counterpart. 

Those trying to save some cash could benefit from the popular Lululemon Reversible 5mm yoga mat, but we felt extremely at home on this model, and there’s plenty of space to have some fun. 

• Read our full Lululemon Take Form yoga mat review

Best yoga mat for teachers

The 100% latex-free, recyclable, and OEKO-TEX certified PVC (free from hazardous chemicals) Manduka Prolite Yoga Mat is a favorite among yoga teachers and students.

Three size options – regular, long, and long and wide – make this mat suitable for yogis of all shapes and sizes, and the dotted proprietary dotted underside keeps you secure as you practice. 

We tested the regular mat from the PRO series – one of the OGs of the Manduka range. It offers 4.7mm of thickness to provide for your joints but retains enough stability to support inversions and balances. The textured top layer is designed with teachers in mind, helping you to move through your flow without sticking to the mat – a gripe often found with super grippy mats. 

However, we found the closed-cell material – designed to prevent the absorption of bacteria and sweat – created a filmy top layer that caused a lot of slippages. Manduka recommends ‘breaking in’ your mat with repeated practice and a grip towel to help ramp up the grip factor over time. If your patience wears thin, you can also perform a salt scrub to help speed things up. 

We love how much room this yoga mat offers, and the standard size weighs 1.9kg; this should be travel-friendly for most. 

We love how much room this yoga mat offers, and the standard size weighs 1.9kg; this should be travel-friendly for most. 

• Read our full Manduka PROlite yoga mat review

Best all-rounder

The Liforme Yoga Mat is a dependable and supportive choice, boasting excellent grip and design features for dedicated yoga practitioners. It offers a durable and comfortable surface, albeit at a slightly heavier weight of 2.5kg, making it less ideal for frequent transportation. 

Its robust construction and performance justify the higher price point, ensuring long-lasting use. The mat's thoughtful design, including alignment markers, contributes to maintaining balance and proper posture during yoga sessions - and it looks pretty great! 

When it comes to care, following the straightforward cleaning instructions provided by Liforme will keep the mat in optimal condition. Overall, the Liforme Yoga Mat is a worthwhile investment, elevating the yoga experience for enthusiastic yogis ready to level up their practice or for people who need extra reliable padding and stability in their yoga sessions.

• Read our full Liforme Yoga Mat review

Best budget yoga mat

The Gaiam Premium Soldi Color Yoga Mat is reversible, so you can choose which side suits your yoga style or activity. 

It comes in at under 50 bucks so it’s a solid budget-friendly option for people new to yoga. 

It’s a good size for taller people who need a bit more mat space, and has great cushioning to support joints and bones. That makes it a good choice for anyone using it for circuits or HIIT workouts, too. 

Our main complaints are that it tends to mark easily and the stickiness doesn't last very long. It’s sweat absorbent to an extent, but not compatible with hot yoga. The plus side is that it’s latex-free and comes with Gaiam’s lifetime guarantee.

Best yoga mat for beginners

New to yoga? The Heathyoga alignment system yoga mat is a solid choice because it comes with marks for hands and feet placement. 

This is really helpful for newcomers to yoga, as you can work on correct technique and positioning with less risk of injury.

It’s slip resistant, easy to clean and stays nice and flat once it’s unrolled. It’s thick enough to do prolonged yin practice poses with comfort and has excellent grip, even in hot yoga classes. We love how durable it is, with just the right amount of cushioning for standing poses. 

Longer and wider than standard yoga mats, the Heathyoga TPE Body Alignment System Yoga Mat comes with a free Velcro strap and carrying strap

How we test yoga mats

To ensure we only recommend the best yoga mats, we put each one through its paces in two types of yoga classes – gliding gracefully through a 60-minute restorative yin and powering through a sweaty 60-minute hot vinyasa. 

We tested each mat for comfort, grip, versatility, and value for money as we lunged, flowed, and navigated inversions, also noting standout features like sustainable materials or design perks like alignment cue lines and fun patterns. Each model was awarded a final score out of five stars, determining how likely we are to recommend the product to yogis seeking a new mat for finding their zen. 

FAQs

Lifestyle

If life has you traveling here, there, and everywhere then you’ll want a lightweight mat that’s easy to stow in a suitcase or throw under your arm. Anything under 2kg is ideal, but it depends on what you personally consider ‘heavy-duty.’ 

Skinner recommends mats with a carrying strap and protective case and something light enough to throw over your shoulders. “You can always double up your personal mat on top of a studio mat if a travel mat feels too thin,” she says. 

JadeYoga Travel yoga mats and the Gaiam brands are hugely popular. We also rate the Primasole folding yoga mat because it folds like paper into a compact and easy-to-carry parcel. 

Just because a yoga mat is thick doesn’t necessarily indicate that it’s heavy. Thickly padded foam mats are harder to roll up and tend to curl as they roll out, but they can still be lightweight and are perfect for low-impact classes, beginners, and those on the move. In this instance, you’d need to check the material and weight to see just how lightweight it is.  

Material

If you’re trying to be more sustainable with your choices, or suffer from allergies, check the materials in the specifications before you buy your mat. Cork and PU are brilliant options, and natural rubber is hugely popular as it’s a biodegradable and rapidly renewable resource, although it may contain latex. 

Many brands now combine synthetic with natural materials that are all recyclable. Brands like JadeYoga and Yogi Bare have even partnered up to plant trees or recycle mats on your behalf when you buy with the brand. 

Different materials will determine durability, grip, and thickness. Natural rubbers tend to result in a course mat that is great for grip, but PVC-based yoga mats are arguably more durable. 

Our expert

Eloise Skinner

Eloise Skinner is a qualified yoga, Pilates and mindfulness teacher. She currently holds classes at various studios across London. She's also an author and the founder of two educational start-ups.

• Related: Six yoga myths debunked

This article is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to offer medical advice.