Top 10 Best Yoga Mat 2017

We told our team to find the Best Yoga Mat. Exercise trends come and go but the practice of yoga continues to endure. With a heritage that stretches out for over 5,000 years, it’s a pretty safe to assume that yoga is here to stay. Yoga studios continue to open and whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, you’re sure to find a style of yoga that’s perfectly tailored for your fitness goals. And don’t forget. The gift of a new yoga mat is always appreciated.

What’s great about practicing yoga is that you don’t need elaborate equipment to get started. All you really need is a yoga mat. Still, the details involved in selecting the right yoga mat could confuse you. What do the best yoga mats have in common? What makes them stand out from other ordinary exercise mats?

There are several yoga mat manufacturers and choosing the best mat is usually a personal process. Still, there are a handful of features that some of the best yoga mats share. Once you get past a yoga mat’s color and design, factors like durability, support, stability, mat traction, texture, size, and portability come into play.

A yoga mat’s durability automatically affects its life span. If you’re a serious practitioner, purchasing an expensive but durable mat is a more practical long term option. The stability and support that a yoga mat provides its user will affect the quality of each asana’s execution. The best yoga mat provides a good amount of traction to prevent sudden slips. Mat traction is especially important for people who sweat a lot or who practice yoga in a heated environment. Find the right size for your body since not every yoga mat comes in the same dimensions. Texture affects how comfortable you are while you use a yoga mat so find one that feels most natural for you. Finally, pick a mat that you can easily carry around. A heavy yoga mat becomes a burden when you’re carrying it around for long stretches of time.

Before you decide to buy a mat, make it a point to assess your level of interest in the practice. If you’re trying yoga for curiosity’s sake, purchase an inexpensive option. If you’re pursuing the practice full time, go ahead and purchase a quality yoga mat. Whether you’re dabbling or practicing full time, you’re sure to find the best yoga mat for you, in our list of 10 best yoga mats 2017.

Sivan Health and Fitness 1/2-InchExtra Thick 71-Inch Long NBR Comfort Foam Yoga Mat for Exercise, Yoga, and Pilates

The Sivan Health and Fitness Yoga mat is a best seller, and for good reason. It is a very thick mat. 1/2″ thick so it protects your knees and joints with impact absorption. It holds its shape because it’s made with memory foam. This mat has non-skid ridges to prevent the mat from slipping as you use it. At 71″ x 24″, it’s an extra large mat, made to accommodate people of all sizes.  The mat is made with NBR Foam, which is is a synthetic rubber copolymer of acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene. All of that may sound scary, but it’s not . It makes this mat excellent for all types of yoga and Pilates. A built in carry strap makes this mat easy to carry and store. Finally, it is a lower cost mat. No surprise it’s a best selling yoga mat.

Price Range: Low

YogaAccessories Extra Thick High Density Yoga Mat (Phthalate Free)

YogaAccesories’ offering comes in first on our list. While this isn’t going to be winning any awards for durability, YogaAccessories’ yoga mat has great dimensions. It’s about 1/4” thick and 74” long. It weighs approximately 4 lbs so lugging it around may or may not be a chore depending on your routine. What makes this yoga mat a really good deal is its price. This is the most inexpensive item on our list and also has the most amount of colors (25!) for you to choose from. This is the ideal mat for beginners and also a great gift idea for your friends who are thinking of getting into yoga.

Price Range: Low

Jade Harmony Professional Yoga Mat

The Jade Harmony Professional 3/16-Inch Yoga Mat is a premium yoga mat with a price tag to back it up. Its open cell, natural rubber construction makes it one of the most excellent options for serious yoga practitioners who want a mat that can keep up with the demands of their practice. Comfort, a grippy surface, and excellent texture make this item a performance powerhouse. While its open cell construction gives it its grippy finish, it does leave it susceptible to bacteria buildup as moisture can seep into the mat. Users who sweat heavily or practice in heated environments might want to consider purchasing another option instead.

Price Range: High

Gaiam Marrakesh Print Premium Yoga Mat

Like the last entry, this yoga mat is a modestly priced option. The Gaiam Print Premium Yoga mats come in a variety of colors and prints. With 68 inch x 24 inch x 5mm dimensions, this mat is thick but lightweight enough at 3 pounds 2 ounces. While these make it a decent option, people who sweat heavily of practice hot yoga might want to look for another option since the mat’s surface can get a bit slippery overtime.

Price Range: Low

prAna E.C.O. Yoga Mat

Practitioners who are looking for an eco friendly mat will appreciate the way the prAna E.C.O. Yoga Mat is constructed. Fashioned out of Thermoplastic Elastomer, the E.C.O.’s material is UV resistant, PVC free, and is devoid of toxic materials. The mat has two sides with different textures for users to choose from. While this mat is lightweight, it’s also thin and doesn’t have the best stability or traction. Users who practice intense vinyasa sequences may find that this mat moves around a lot. Given its traction issues and mid-range price tag, a seasoned practitioner might be better off purchasing some of the other options on this list.

Price Range: High

Kharma Khare Hybrid Bliss Non Slip Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat

The Kharma Khare Hybrid Bliss Non Slip Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat is another eco friendly option for yoga practitioners. This mat is priced within the average range and is unique for its construction. It’s made out of recycled tire and natural rubber latex sourced from sustainable rubber trees. It’s a thick mat so you won’t need to use a yoga towel to support your knees during kneeling poses. Some people might balk at the mat’s weight (8 lbs). It also has a strong chemical smell that may be off putting for some users.

Price Range: High

Hugger Mugger Para Rubber Mat

The Hugger Mugger Para Rubber Mat is an average priced option that is made entirely out of rubber. What makes this mat laudable how well it adheres to surfaces. It’s very grippy with excellent traction. This doesn’t mean that it isn’t comfortable since the mat’s surface manages to be firm and provide enough cushioning at the same time. Given the nature of its construction, users may have to put it through several washes to get the smell of rubber off of it completely. Still, the Hugger Mugger Para Rubber Mat is a decent choice that’s perfect for many yoga enthusiasts.

Price Range: High

PurEarth 2 Eco Ultimate Mat

With a thickness of 3 mm, the PurEarth 2 Eco Ultimate Mat makes it a versatile option for travel or a regular yoga practice. It does have a closed cell construction so that makes it resistant to bacteria brought about by sweat or moisture buildup. The PurEarth 2 has a double sided surface so it gives you a choice between two grips. This combined with excellent traction, and decent cushioning make it one of the better average priced mats available.

Price Range: Medium

Manduka PRO Yoga and Pilates Mat

An excellent yoga mat is the Manduka PROlite Yoga and Pilates Mat. This pricey item makes it the perfect gift for the seasoned yoga veteran. It comes in two variations with the standard’s dimensions coming in at 71” x 24” and weighing 4.0 lbs. There’s a long variant as well which weighs 4.6 lbs with dimensions of 79” x 24”. Both variations are 5 mm thick. What makes this mat excel is its unbelievable levels of durability, support, stability, and traction. The mat comes with a lifetime guarantee, but its sheer ability to defy wear and tear practically guarantees that you won’t need to trade it in. Lightweight, versatile, and responsive to performance, the Manduka PROlite Yoga and Pilates Mat is the best option that money can buy.

Price Range: High

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