Sustainability Factors This Travel Yoga Mat
How sustainable the eKO superlite travel yoga mat is its the best travel yoga mat. Heres what the sustainability section of the product page says:
The eKO Mat is a natural yoga mat made from sustainably harvested tree rubber. Unlike other rubber mats available today, the foaming agents used to create the eKO are non-toxic. What this means is that no toxic chemicals have gone into the manufacturing process to soften the rubber. Additionally, instead of using synthetic polyester for reinforcement, we have chosen to use a blend of polyester and natural cotton. According to both customer feedback and published yoga mat reviews, the eKO Mat is a high performance mat that is also good for the environment.
Thanks for making it all the way down to the end of the post. I hope this helped you in considering getting the Manduka travel mat for your next trip.
By the way, Id love to connect. Come say hi to me my especially if you found any part of this post to be helpful.Till then, thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!xo,
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What Are The Disadvantages Of Using A Travel Mat
The big disadvantage of a travel yoga mat is that there is not nearly as much padding as you get with a standard yoga mat.
If you have sensitive knees, elbows, or spine, practicing on a travel mat takes some getting used to. It might not be advisable at all, depending on whats going on with your body.
However, for me, I have found that most of the discomfort from practicing on a thin yoga mat can be solved by improving my alignment so practicing regularly on a thin mat has actually improved my body awareness when I practice!
Just be aware before you buy that a travel yoga mat is not like your thick, cushiony home mat. And remember that you can always cushion your knees with a towel or blanket to protect them.
Why A Travel Yoga Mat
Now, some may ask why do we need a travel yoga mat? That’s a fair question. Why spend extra money on a mat when you’re on the road? Well, there are a few good reasons to.
First, it’s nearly impossible to find space for a full-size yoga mat in your backpack or luggage. There’s simply not enough space when you roll up one of these mats. It doesn’t work. Trust me, I’ve tried.
A travel yoga mat, like the Manduka eKO Superlite, allows you to fold up the mat to the size of a small laptop. Then you simply slide it into your bag and off you go. A good travel yoga mat will barely take up any space in your luggage, especially compared to a traditional one.
Using the eKO Superlite.
Next, a yogi should always travel with a mat. While many gyms around the world have mats for those practicing, it’s always good to throw down your yoga mat in the hotel room and enjoy a little yoga flow for 8-10 minutes before starting your day.
The Manduka eKO Superlite is also ideal for stretching before and after the gym. I even use the mat to foam roll on every now and then.
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Manduka Eko Superlite Travel Yoga Mat 15mm
The eKO® SuperLite yoga mat is a superior lightweight yoga mat that provides excellent grip while being thin enough to fold and pack easy for traveling. Wherever your practice takes you, the eKO® SuperLite is the best yoga mat for yogis on the go!
All eKO® Series mats have a closed-cell surface, which will never absorb moisture. Because of this, if you are warm/sweaty at all, the mat will feel slippery, so we always recommend pairing it with one of Manduka’s hand towels to absorb moisture and provide extra traction or to apply the yoga grip gel during your practice. If you’re practicing hot yoga, we recommend a mat towel for full mat coverage. The marbled and striped colors are hand-processed and have unique patterns. We can’t guarantee the mat will match the image exactly.99% Latex-free. Not recommended for those with Latex sensitivities.
More Great Yoga & Travel Resources
We have lots of other blog posts youre not going to want to miss.
I hope this guide helps you choose the best eco friendly yoga mat for your travels and your practice. We want every journey you take to be transformational and doing yoga while you travel is a great way to make that happen. If you choose one on this list or have another favourite, let us know in the comments below or get in touch via .
Happy yoga adventures, Stephen
Were not going to lie, it takes a LOT of work to create travel guides like this. But its easy to help us out! If you book or buy something using one of our personal links in this post, well earn a small fee at no extra cost to you. Of course, we would never recommend anything we didnt 100% believe in! Huge thanks in advance! S& J
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Cons Of The Manduka Eko Superlite Travel Mat
Smell: Because it’s made from rubber this mat smells like rubber. This was also the case with the Manduka eKO Lite Yoga Mat I reviewed, but the smell eventually went away a couple weeks later, so I’m sure this will, too.
Pricepoint: This mat costs just under $40.00, which is a lot for a mat when you consider you can get one at around $12.99 at Target…but those mats have PVC and this is eco-friendly, so you have to decide what’s important to you and if it’s worth it.
Stickiness & Mat Comfort
Travel mats dont tend to be that comfortable because an ultralight mat cant be weighed down with padding. You can always use a folded towel or blanket to add cushioning as needed while you travel.
Of course, its also important that the mat surface feel nice to the touch and provides the appropriate level of stickiness for the type of yoga you practice.
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The Best Travel Yoga Mats:
Best travel yoga mat overall: Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga MatThe Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat weighs only 2.2 pounds and is highly flexible for travel, without sacrificing the quality of the materials.
Best budget travel yoga mat: Gaiam Foldable Yoga MatThe Gaiam Foldable Travel Yoga Mat is a compact and grippy option with an under-$20 price tag.
Best for more cushioning: JadeYoga Travel Yoga MatThe JadeYoga Travel Mat comes from one of the most reliable brands on the market, is 3mm thick, and comes in two lengths to accommodate taller people.
Best reversible travel yoga mat: The Reversible MatThe cleverly named Reversible Mat from Lululemon is like having two lightweight yoga mats for the price of one.
Best machine-washable travel yoga mat: Clever Yoga Travel MatThe Clever Yoga Travel Mat is odor-resistant and simple to clean, which is great news for both practitioners of hot yoga and people rolling the mat out on questionable hotel floors.
What Features I Researched For The Best Travel Yoga Mat
My Manduka travel mat in midnight blue on the right vs. my at-home yoga mat
The most important feature I wanted in a travel yoga mat was portability. The best travel yoga mat would be:
- foldable,
- durable,
- and packable.
Despite all of the above features, the best travel yoga mat would NOT compromise in usability. Thus, it would have to be sticky for a good grip, even through sweaty sessions.
After sifting through reviews and comparing various travel yoga mats, the Manduka travel mat had all the features I was looking for in a great travel mat.
As a very awesome bonus, the yoga mat is made from sustainably harvested tree rubber and no toxic chemicals are used to soften the rubber according to their website.
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Mat Stickiness And Comfort
I do love practicing on the eKO SuperLite travel yoga mat. Yes, its very thin and light but it provides really good grip on the floor and for your hands and feet. If youre looking for a really sticky yoga mat, then a Manduka eKO yoga mat is probably the right choice.
There is no padding to speak of in their travel yoga mat, which means that youll feel very connected to the floor. On the other hand, if your knees or spine need extra padding, you wont get it from this mat .
Bonus tip: I had two students using the eKO SuperLite recently in Hamburg and both of them turned their mat over to use the bottom as the top. They said they find the mat slides around on the floor if its the right way up. Good tip!
Eko Superlite Travel Mat Yogamatte
Die neueste Ergänzung der eKO-Kollektion ist die eKO SuperLite® Reisematte aus Naturkautschuk. Die Matte ist faltbar und lässt sich leicht in Ihrer Reisetasche, dem Koffer oder der Handtasche verstauen. Sie bietet mehr Griffigkeit auf Teppich oder harten Oberflächen, obwohl sie nur ca. 900 Gramm wiegt. Die eKO SuperLite® wird auch gerne als Auflage auf vorhandene Studiomatten genutzt.
Dieses natürliche, biologisch abbaubare Material ist frei von Abrieb und außerdem farbecht. Die eKO SuperLite® ist ideal für Menschen, die ihr Yoga auch auf Reisen betreiben wollen, ohne dabei das “Danach” zu vergessen. Sie wird keine Spuren auf Mülldeponien hinterlassen und ist daher ideal für Menschen, die Wert auf Nachhaltigkeit bei der Auswahl Ihrer Produkte legen.
Eigenschaften: – Optimal für die Reise. Faltbar – Nur ca. 950g schwer* – Hergestellt aus natürlichem Kautschuk – Oberflächenstruktur bietet hervorragende Griffigkeit und Schutz vor Bakterien. – Formstabil durch dicht gewebten Baumwollstoff – Zwei-Schicht Technologie für eine optimale Kombination von Griffigkeit, Widerstandsfähigkeit und Rutschfestigkeit. – Frei von PVC und toxischen Weichmachern
* Jede Matte ist ein Naturprodukt. Deshalb kann es zu Abweichungen von bis zu 225 g kommen.
Aufbau: Zwei-Schicht Technik für hohe Strapazierfähigkeit und Rutschfestigkeit.
Pflege: Mit einem feuchten Lappen oder Schwamm und etwas essig abreiben. Fertig. Nicht in der Waschmaschine waschen.
Maße: 1,80 m x 61 cm x 1,6 mm
Gewicht:
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Cons Of The Manduka Travel Mat
Although the thinness of this travel yoga mat is what makes it so portable and lightweight, at only 1.5 mm thick, it might not be enough cushion for you. If this is the case for you, you could always put a towel underneath it to add cushion as other eKO yogis recommend.
Also, this yoga mat is quite sticky! Usually thats a great thing, especially for when youre super sweaty, but it may make some yoga transitions less ideal such as any that involves shifting your feet.
Best Travel Yoga Mat In 2020 + How To Choose
As a full-time travelling yoga teacher, Ive had a lot of experience trying out travel yoga mats all around the world. In this guide I pick my favourites and help you choose the right travel yoga mat for your adventures.
This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
While I travel the world teaching yoga, from Bali to Ho Chi Minh City, to Vancouver, to Norway, I often get asked for advice on choosing the best travel yoga mat.
During the last six years of travel, Ive had a chance to try out almost all of the mats on this list and many more besides. So I feel completely comfortable using the word best to describe my favourite yoga mats.
For me, a good travel yoga mat should just work.
It needs to be sticky and sturdy, while also being easily packable and lightweight. Its also important that my yoga mat is eco friendly, not full of crazy chemicals, and is made by a responsible company.
Currently, I carry the Liforme mat, which doesnt fit in my carry-on suitcase but I do love practicing on it. Jane has had the Yogo travel yoga mat for about two years now. Both these mats are excellent choices, providing everything I look for in travel mat.
I also wrote a guide to the best eco-friendly yoga mats for your home practice, so dont miss that if youre looking for a more everyday mat.
Keep reading to find the best mat for your next adventure.
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Pros Of The Manduka Eko Superlite Travel Yoga Mat
As mentioned above, I researched a few travel yoga mats looking for one that was specifically foldable, lightweight, portable, and durable.
color:
Foldable / The Manduka travel mat folds up nearly as small as an A4 size piece of paper. This makes it easy to throw into a backpack, large purse, and of course, your travel suitcase!
eKO superlite travel yoga mat on the right vs. my traditional yoga mat for home on the left
Lightweight and Portable / The Manduka travel mat weights only 2.2 lbs making it quite lightweight and portable for luggage of any size.
Durable / After reading reviews of people who used this travel mat for years, the Manduka brand seemed like the best bet when it came to durable yoga mats.
Price / Of course, there cheaper travel yoga mats out there, but considering this one is $50 and uses sustainable rubber, it doesnt seem to pay to go any cheaper.
My Recommendations For Travelers
It’s never been easier to travel with a yoga mat. Thes eKO Superlite mats are easy to pack and don’t take up much space. I’ve been traveling with mine for awhile and wouldn’t trade it.
If you’re looking to bring a yoga mat on the road, the Manduka eKO Superlite is the way to go.
To see how I pack my yoga mat, click here.
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What Are The Advantages Of Using A Travel Mat
An alternative to getting a travel mat is to just bring your everyday yoga mat from home. Of course, that is a perfectly fine thing to do! However, there are several reasons a travel mat might be the better option.
Easier to pack. Im a firm believer in minimalist packing, which means that I fit all my travel gear in a single carry-on sized suitcase. My small, lightweight yoga mat goes in my suitcase too, which means I dont have to keep track of an extra item on the plane, on busses, and when moving from hotel to hotel.
Less hassle at the airport. You can usually carry a rolled-up yoga mat onto the plane without it counting as an extra piece of luggage. Most flight crews understand that its not going to take up enough extra space to make an impact.
I say usually because, sometimes, if the airline youre flying with has decided to be extra strict with their baggage policy, they might try to charge you extra for your yoga mat. Having a foldable yoga mat that hides away in your suitcase can make things go more smoothly at check-in.
Less hassle at immigration. When I used to carry a rolled-up yoga mat especially when visiting places like Bali and the US the immigration officers at the airport would often give me a hard time. They could see that I was carrying a yoga mat and thought it meant I was planning on teaching illegally in their country, even though I wasnt.
Manduka Eko Superlite Travel Yoga Mat
| Colour |
- Exceptional for traveling folds to fit in any travel space or purse
- Surface texture offers superior grip, even with light perspiration
- Tightly woven scrim resists tearing or stretching
- Closed cell design will not absorb bacteria
- Made from non-amazon harvested, natural tree rubber – no pvc, toxic plasticizers or harmful dyes
| 60.96 x 6.1 x 5.59 cm 453.59 Grams |
| Item model number |
|---|
| 3.7 out of 5 stars |
| Date First Available |
|---|
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Tips For A Stickier Mat
Since Jane and I dont really practice in hot studios, we sprinkle a little water at the top and foot of the mat before practice, which turns it from slick to sticky. Weve also heard that after a few washes this mat gets much stickier. Jane will be folding this up and carrying it in her suitcase, so well update you in a few months!
As far a comfort goes, the silky, fluffy texture of this mat is so different from most yoga mats, it makes just lying on it a pleasure. The mat is a little thicker than most travel mats but obviously wont provide the cushioning of a non-travel mat.
After Months Of Searching For The Perfect Travel Yoga Mat I Decided On The Manduka Travel Mat Heres My Experience
About every month I travel to a different country with a carry-on suitcase. Since I cant depend on hotels to have proper yoga mats and my suitcase isnt big enough to fit my regular mat, practicing yoga tends to fall off my vacation to-do list.
That is, until I researched a handful of travel yoga mats to find one that has become one of my travel must haves. It checks off all the necessary features for the best travel yoga mat, which will enable me to continue my yoga practice each and every trip!
Keep on reading to see why this is the best travel yoga mat, or if youre already convinced, head to the Manduka website to grab a SuperLite mat of your own!
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