The Top 3 Yoga Mats For 2022

Feb 21

I often get asked about yoga mats. I have tried many, but mainly stuck with three brands over the years. Jade was my first love. I really liked the texture under my hands and appreciate how they are sourced. What I didn’t love was that they stretched out in places. They also wore out pretty quickly (for someone that practices a lot).

When I got into the hot yoga trend for a few years, I switched over to lululemon “The Mat”. I liked the fact that it was thicker than the Jade. The Jade was about 3.5mm and lulu is 5mm. “The Mat” is considered a sticky mat- and it was; I didn’t slide around when my mat got sweaty- major bonus. I stuck to lulu mats for quite awhile- and really- they are good mats. The main gripe I have with them is that they get kind of gross looking after a while. They actually stain from sweat and become discolored in areas; this is particularly noticeable on lighter colors. If you are going to go with lulu- do yourself a solid and stick with a black one.

Over the last few years, I made the switch to the Manduka Pro after trying a friend’s. It is slightly more textured than the lulu (I am a sucker for a good texture) and also a little thicker (6mm vs the lulu at 5mm). This mat is kind of IT for me… at least for now! It has the perfect amount of cushion and provides comfort on any surface (even concrete). The texture has that grip-factor that I love (and have come to require in a mat). It also comes with a LIFETIME guarantee- say what?! Keep in mind; this is only valid when purchased from the company (so don’t buy one off eBay and expect a warranty).

No, I don’t get any “kickbacks” from Manduka for this plug, although… maybe I should ask ;)

Manduka PRO™ Yoga Mat 6mm - Black Manduka PRO™ Yoga Mat 6mm - Black Manduka PRO™ Yoga Mat 6mm - Black MANDUKA PRO™ YOGA MAT

JADE Level One Mat

Lululemon "The Mat"

Price Ranges of Mats

Jade- $50-$150 (I can’t remember which I started with- it was one on the lower end. To be fair, I have yet to try their high end mats)
lulu “The Mat” $70-90 (looks like this is based on color trends)
Manduka PRO Mat- $129

Pro Tip

Give your mat a salt bath

Your brand new Manduka PRO will NOT be “grippy” when you first get it. You may even slip around a bit- which can be really annoying after spending $$$$ on a yoga mat.

Your mat (much like yours truly at the end of the day) needs a salt bath! Nope, I’m not kidding.

Here’s how it’s done:

Rub the mat with coarse sea salt
Lie on the ground (or in your tub) for 24 hours
Wipe away the salt with a damp cloth
Allow mat to air dry

Repeat this process a few times, until you get that stick-factor you deserve!

Are these mats good for travel?

Oh! One thing I should mention (and this goes for both the Lulu and the Manduka) – they are heavy. They are NOT travel friendly. Thicker, cushiony mats like these are good for keeping in your car and going to- and from- the studio. I personally would not try and ride my bike with one of these babies’s slung across my back! Nor would I try and fold one up and cram it in a suitcase.

Bottom line- you’re going to need something lighter for travel. That’s another blog post. ;)