Top Rated Hot Yoga Mats

Gaiam Sol Studio Select Dry Grip

The Gaiam Sol Studio may be the best mat for those with rubber-sensitivities. It prioritizes thickness and stickiness. The Gaiam Sol mat was designed specifically for hot, sweaty yoga practices and features a moisture-wicking top coat. The topcoat also provides a good amount of stickiness for extra staying power in difficult poses. At 5 mm thick, this mat is a great option for hot yogis who prefer a bit of cushion. The Gaiam mat is 100% rubber-free, ideal for those with a latex allergy.

Best Cushioned: Balancefrom Goyoga All

• Plenty of cushion for sensitive joints

• Less stable than other options

• Foam stretches and imprints over time

Those who prefer to double up on yoga mats for extra cushioning need to try this mat from BalanceFrom. Made of high-density foam material, the mat safely protects and cushions the spine, hips, knees, and more while you exercise.

Along with yoga, the half-inch-thick premium mat suits a variety of activities. Its also super lightweight and portable. With dual-sided non-slip surfaces, the mat ensures a stable, balanced workout while protecting joints from hard flooring. It’s also moisture-resistant, so sweat beads right off and wont seep in. Its easy to clean using soap and water. It also comes with an adjustable strap for easy travel.

Thickness: 0.5 in | Material: High-density foam | Size: 71 x 24 in | Weight: 1.8 lbs | Style: Closed-cell

• Cork grain can shed

• Can be slippery when dry

Cork is an eco-friendly, renewable resource that’s hand-harvested from the outer bark of the cork oak tree every nine years. This yoga mat features a soft, fine-grain cork top from this tree, plus a foam bottom. Cork naturally provides a non-slip surface, ensuring exceptional traction and grip. It also naturally possesses antimicrobial properties, eliminating bacteria and making cleanup a breeze. Meanwhile, the closed-cell foam bottom will not absorb moisture or odor.

Manduka Begin Yoga Mat

As the name suggests, The Begin Mat, from Manduka Yoga Mat, is designed with a beginner yogi in mind. One of the best yoga mats for beginners, it includes an alignment stripe to help guide poses for the right balance.

This lightweight mat has a 5mm thickness for support and cushioning. You get the flexibility to use either side of this reversible mat. The closed-cell surface prevents sweat from seeping into the mat making it easy to clean too.

If youre looking for the best eco-friendly mats, this one is for you. Not only is it manufactured in an eco-friendly way, but the company also encourages its customers to recycle their old mats. They have partnered with The Renewal Workshop for recycling their customers old mats of any brand. At an extra cost of just $10, you can recycle your old mat, instead of it ending up in a landfill. Buy this Now.

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What To Look For When Buying Yoga Mats

Finding the perfect yoga mat can be a frustrating experience for many. Not only does it take time, practice, and patience to break it in, but trying out different mats can end up being a significant investment. As a decades-long yoga practitioner and 200 RYT Hatha yoga teacher since 2017, I have personally tested, researched dozens of mats and brands, and spoken to trusted experts to find the best yoga mats for a variety of practices and lifestyles.

Quality, of course, comes with a higher price tag, Laroia explained. “But the quality of the mat is the foundation of your whole yoga experience. If you love your mat the way it feels, the way your hands stay in place, the way it smells good, the way it stays clean, the way you unroll with a little snap you will come to your practice with enthusiasm.”

There are several factors to consider when shopping for a yoga mat that best serves your needs. Size and portability are essential to many yogis because you’ll often tote your mat along to the studio unless you do your practice in the comfort of your own home. Some mats are longer than others, so keep that in mind, especially if you’re taller.

Consider the durability and the types of materials used, too. You want a mat that’s going to last, isn’t made with harsh or harmful chemicals, and is easy to wipe clean after a sweaty session of hot yoga. See “how we tested” for more details.

With Every Atom Cork Yoga Mat

The best cork yoga mat

Specifications

Reasons to avoid

The With Every Atom Cork Yoga Mat is extra large so its a great option for taller people.

This yoga mat gets lots of praise for how it looks and feels. One reviewer on TrustPilot said: Its the ultimate in yoga luxury. Many users like that the eco-friendly mat was made from sustainable resources and had antibacterial properties. Negative reviews cited problems with the mat getting easily marked and stained, particularly with sweat.

Its made from naturally grippy rubber and moisture wicking cork, so the grip actually improves the more you sweat. Its a great choice for all styles of yoga, including Ashtanga, Hatha, hot yoga and other floor-based workouts.

Its fairly lightweight and not too thick yet supportive and comfortable enough for daily practice. We love that the With Every Atom Cork Yoga Mat is vegan-friendly and made from sustainably sourced, natural and recycled materials.

Cork is naturally antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, so its also low maintenance. It tends to mark easily, but is easy to clean. Plus, when you buy an Every Atom Cork Yoga Mat the brand plants a tree. The only downside is that this yoga mat only comes in one color.

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How Thick Should Your Yoga Mat Be

A good place to start on your hunt for the best yoga mat is comfort. A standard yoga mat thickness is 4mm, so that should be your starting point. If you’re a bit more hardcore and/or are practicing on a softer surface, you might be able to drop to 3mm .

If you have more sensitive joints, consider something thicker you’ll find mats up to around 8mm thick. However, there are a few things to know here. While you might think that thicker equals more comfortable, that’s not always the case. If you go too thick, the more unstable surface can be tough on the wrists and ankles on longer yoga sessions, and you’ll also likely end up wobbling around in balancing poses.

The material you choose makes a difference, too. We’ve found that spongy PVC mats don’t provide as good a buffer against a hard floor as more solid rubber ones so if you go for the latter, you should be able to get away with something thinner.

In short, if you’re doing pilates and don’t need to do much balancing, a thick, spongy mat might be the comfiest choice. For yogis, we’d recommend a thinner, more stable rubber mat for the best cushioning without affecting stability.

How To Buy A Yoga Mat Correctly

What are the advantages of tpe material over other materials?

the materials of traditional yoga mat on the market usually are RUBBER,TPE,PVC,NBR. Rubber is very heavy and very expensive, suitable for very few people Although the value of PVC and NBR is cheap, the quality is very poor, damaged and the resilience is low. In summary: tpe cost-effective, is the best choice for most people.

The TPE features are as follows:

• BEAUTIFUL: TPE is printed with various textures, both adding friction and being beautiful.
• PORTABLE: 1kg weight, carry it with you without fatigue.
• BUFFERING: good rebound ability, 0.1 second fast rebound
• GROUND HOLDING: no matter the environment is wet or dry, it fits the ground tightly and does not slip
• TENSIONING: good stretching performance can avoid the yoga mat tear and breakage
• EASY TO CLEAN: brush can be used after smudgy, then it be ok when dry it after air.
• NO POLLUTION: safe and tasteless, no chloride, no metal elements, anti-static.

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Cork Yoga Mat Features To Consider

Size: A standard yoga mat measures 24 x 68 inches, but mats in lengths of 72, 74, and 84 inches are also available. If you need even more space, look for a mat with an extended width of 30 inches.

Using a mat of the correct length means you can transition between poses without stepping off the mat. You want to be able to lie flat on the mat with head and feet completely on its surface. If youre taller than average, you will likely need an extra-long mat.

Design/materials: Yoga mat design is pretty basic, but there are a few variations that might suit your needs. Cork grips well, providing excellent stability while in use. All cork mats have some kind of rubber backing to prevent slippage and some backing layers are thicker than others. Usually the thicker the cork layer, the more expensive the mat. There are also designs that include a carrying case or handles, making it easier to take the mat with you to class or while traveling.

Thickness: The average cork yoga mat is 3 mm thick. Travel mats may be as thin as 1.5 mm, while some with extra cushioning may be 6 mm. Thin mats take up less space while traveling, and thick mats do a better job of protecting sensitive knee joints. Unless you have one of these specific needs, youll probably be happy with a mat of average thickness.

Yoloha Unity Yoga Mat

The top surface of this eco-friendly yoga mat features a blend of two recycled materials cork and rubber. Thats how you get a mat with the best non-slip grip performance dry or wet, optimum durability, and less weight. This is one of the best cork yoga mats for pretty much any yoga practice.

No PVC or harsh chemicals in this yoga mat ensure that it is also easy on your body. The closed-cell construction allows for easy cleaning and no trapped odors. At 6.5mm thickness and weighing 6 pounds, this is one of the best thick yoga mats. It is available in 3 generous sizes accommodating even large tall men.

If youre a nomad yogi, the Yoloha travel cork yoga mat may be one of the most important travel accessories you want to pack. Measuring at 72 x 24, just 1mm thickness and weighing in at 2.5 lbs., it rolls tight to a 2.5 diameter. Buy this Now.

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Best Hot Yoga Mat: Manduka Pro Yoga Mat 6mm

One of the best overall mats we tested, the Manduka Pro Yoga Mat is just that made for pros! Specifically, pros who love nothing more than a sweatier-than-thou workout. Even if youre not a typically sweaty person, hot-yoga classes are held at temperatures ranging from 90 degrees Fahrenheit up to 108, with loads of humidity in there to boot. Point being: Youre going to be dripping, and you definitely want a no-slip mat that can withstand all that wetness. Enter: Manduka Pro Yoga Mat.

A beast in its own right, the 6-millimeter-thick mat is beloved by advanced yogis and instructors alike for its density and top and underside gripping, all of which were the reasons we felt it performed better than any other mat we tested during hot yoga. Clocking in at a whopping 7.5 pounds, the PVC mats sheer weight anchors it to the floor and ensures a stable workout. The Pros top-side texture comprises vertical and horizontal grooves that produced some of the best grip we experienced during testing, even when we had sweat dripping all over the place. The underside also has tons of grip, in the form of a rugged dot pattern that we found stayed put on both carpeted and hardwood floors.

All in all, however, we found the Manduka Pro to be an excellent mat for both hot-yoga and regular yoga devotees and thus worthy of its steep price point. Not only is it backed by a lifetime warranty from Manduka, the mat is also Oeko-Tex certified and latex-free.

Hot Yoga Vs Bikram Yoga

Many people conflate hot yoga with Bikram yoga. This is actually not accurate, despite the fact that both hot yoga and Bikram yoga are conducted in heated spaces.

Bikram yoga is a very strictly defined practice, invented by yogi Bikram Choudhury, who has turned out to be a controversial figure. It is a 90-minute practice that consists of the same 26 poses and two breathing exercises, conducted in a room that maintains a temperature of 105 degrees and 50% humidity.

Hot yoga more loosely refers to any practice conducted consistently at a temperature of 85 degrees or higher. These classes may range in duration, and poses vary. Hot vinyasa yoga classes have been a more popular hallmark of this trend.

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Best Budget Yoga Mat: Aurorae Classic Thick

This is Auroraes flagship eco-friendly thick yoga mat that includes a focal point moon design to help you maintain focus during your practice.

Material

This is an open-cell mat made with a new biodegradable, hypoallergenic resin that doesnt emit chemicals or gases, which means your mat does not emit any toxic chemicals or gases and is free of rubber, silicone, and latex.

Size and Weight

The Aurorae Classic Thick comes in one size: 72 x 24 and is 6.35 mm thick. This size is comparable to many other mats reviewed here, but the thickness of this mat is one of the largest on this list. Surprisingly, the shipping weight is only 3.2 pounds which makes it one of the lighter mats here.

Odor

Since this mat is made with a resin material, it is practically odorless. One reader even mentioned that it doesnt absorb odors either, which is a big plus for anyone who sweats a lot during their practice.

Color

There are 12 color options available, and each of them features Auroraes classic focal point moon icon.

About Aurorae

Aurorae is a family-run business founded by a yoga student and cancer survivor, Dennis Ingui. Dennis is a dedicated yoga student who has enriched his life using yoga and understands what a regular, everyday student needs for their yoga practice. Their #1 goal is to provide the best in customer satisfaction.

PROS

Best For Carpet: Manduka Pro Yoga Mat

While carpet isnt ideal for yoga, as it can cause instability and sliding, some mats fair better on this surface than others. The Manduka PRO Yoga and Pilates Mat offers one of the grippiest surfaces in the game and performs well on carpet.

The latex-free PVC mat is sustainably engineered, using high-quality materials that wont peel, flake, or fade, and it’s made without dyes or phthalates. It provides a sticky, sturdy grip, allowing for seamless transitions between poses. Plus, its closed-cell surface prevents sweat and bacteria from seeping in. Thanks to its extra-long build, it can fit a person up to 7 feet tall.

The mat comes in a variety of colors and in two different lengths71 inches and 85 inches. With a 6-millimeter-thick construction, it provides the ideal balance of support, cushion, and stability. As an added bonus, it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Thickness: 6 mm | Material: PVC | Size: 71 x 26 in and 85 x 26 in | Weight: 7.5 lbs and 9.5 lbs | Style: Closed-cell

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Factors That Affect Hot Yoga Temperature

As noted above, CorePower aims for 105° F in its hot yoga sessions, but in actual practice, sometimes that varies. Ive been in classes in which the thermometer showed temps ranging between 102 and 109. Ive also had instructors ask if everyone would be happy with raising the temperature a few degrees, which resulted in hotter rooms after everyone said yes.

Another obvious factor affecting the temperature of a hot yoga class is body heat, determined by the number of participants. Thirty people crammed into an already hot room will make the thermometer soar, while a room with only 5 or 10 yogis will not be quite as sweltering.

Other factors to consider include outdoor temperature. Some studios, like CorePower, have only large glass windows between the hot yoga rooms and the outside. If its a frigid 20 degrees outside, that will obviously affect the indoor temperature differently than if its 85 outside.

But dont assume that hot yoga rooms will be cooler in the winter. In my experience, instructors often turn up the indoor temperature to compensate, so you could actually end up with a hotter class during the dead of a frigid winter.

So Many To Choose From

While, yes, there are hundreds of hot yoga mats out there that you could potentially buy and have a great experience with, you need to ask yourself which mat would best fit into your lifestyle. Once you figure that out, move on to reading up on reviews from products that interest you and go from there. Since customers are encouraged to provide reviews on all their products, you just might find some of the answers youre looking for in these write ups.

Also always look at each products customer service availability, return and shipping policies so you arent surprised with any hidden fees or regulations. There should be information on all these things for each individual product, but if theres not, companies like Amazon provide some warranty or shipping information on all their products.

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How To Select The Best Hot Yoga Mat

When choosing a hot yoga mat, it is a good thing that there are only a few factors that you need to take into consideration during the selection process. Here are some of them:

• Non-slip capability

Granted, most hot yoga mats are already designed to come with a non-slip surface. However, not all hot yoga mats are the same. This usually has something to do with the type of materials that are used in the construction of the mat. As such, it is advisable to look into this even further.

• Absorption capabilities

Again, with Bikram yoga, you can expect a lot of sweat. Added to that is the humidity and moisture that can be created due to performing the routine inside a heated environment. Make sure that you choose a mat that has a good absorption level, often determined by the type of material that is used in its construction.

• Your personal preference

Performing yoga routines become more meaningful if you are comfortable and motivated to do so. This is where your personal preferences may come in. Some yoga practitioners choose mats that represent their personalities and preferences.

Hot yoga mats are currently available in different patterns, colors, and styles. You have the liberty to choose which one fits you best. The budget may also be considered in this regard. Regardless of your choice, a hot yoga mat that can make you feel comfortable is a good option.