I’ve been practicing yoga for a long time now. (So long, in fact, that I am vainly starting to round down so that people will think I’m younger than I actually am—as if the dark circles under my eyes weren’t a dead giveaway!). As you can imagine, in all of those years, I’ve gone through my share of yoga mats. Like most people, I started with an el cheapo, thin PVC mat in the standard dark blue. That worked out OK, actually, because I was 19-years-old so being in the floor didn’t bother me one bit. But as I got more serious about yoga, I wanted to get a serious yoga mat, too. Since then, tried out many MANY yoga mats. I’ve also written my share of yoga mat reviews, but I’ve never done a round up sharing all of my favorites. Until now.

Like anything else, there’s no one-size-fits all yoga mat. Some are better than others for different circumstances, different types of yoga practices, and different people. That said, here’s my list of yoga mat reviews for the best, sturdiest, most comfortable, most amazing yoga mats I’ve ever used.

Enjoy!

Yoga Mat Reviews – My Favorite Yoga Mats

Photo by: Ernesto

Best Yoga Mat for Hot Yoga: Jade Harmony Mat

The Jade Harmony mat was my first “serious” yoga mat (I was so serious about my practice that I wore big holes in it—something I consider a great accomplishment!). For this reason, I will always be filled with nostalgia and warm fuzzies every time I unroll this mat. It’s made of natural rubber so it’s good for the environment. It’s also super sticky (and absorbent), which makes it perfect for all your hot yoga classes and you don’t even need to buy a separate towel covering to keep you from slipping (I’d definitely say it’s one of the best yoga mats for Bikram Yoga or a sweaty, vinyasa class).

Get yours here.

Best Yoga Mat for Prenatal Yoga or Restorative Yoga: The Kind Mat by Vernice Vita

This mat is ahhhhh-mazing. It’s thick and cushy and, as I mentioned in my full Vernice Vita yoga mat review a while back, it feels like practicing on a cloud. I adore it for prenatal yoga because it offers plenty of support for joints, which tend to be more tender during pregnancy. You can spend all the time you want on your hands and knees doing those magical Cat-Cow movements without worrying about putting a folded blanket under your knees. (I definitely recommend this if you’re using any other kind of mat). It’s also the mat I grab any time I need to slow down my practice with a long, juicy Restorative Yoga session.

Get yours here.

Best Yoga Mat for Traveling: YOGO’s Travel Mat

I admit I’m not much of a traveler these days. With two little kids in tow it’s hard enough just making the weekly trip to the grocery store… but recently I did take a much-needed vacation to the lovely Appalachian Mountains. (Note: This is pronounced app-a-latch-un with all short a sounds.. And if you say it another way, I’m afraid we can’t be friends.) . I had SO many things to pack for my 5-year-old and 6-month-old that it was completely overwhelming loading and unloading the car. If I didn’t have a teensy, compact yoga mat I could throw right into my suitcase, I would have likely not brought along a mat at all.

YOGO’s travel mat folds up so nicely and it’s so light it wasn’t any trouble at all. I can’t say I got in many full-length practice sessions during my trip, but I did do some quick (and very quiet!!) stretching in our hotel room after the kids went to bed at night. The YOGO mat was exactly what I needed to make that happen.

Get yours here.

Best Yoga Mat Overall: Manduka eKo Lite Mat

Manduka’s eKo Lite mat is my everyday mat. It’s grippy and a bit porous, which makes it a good choice in the hot heat of South Carolina where I live, even when I’m not practicing in a heated studio. It’s also a thick mat. That means that while I still like to have a blanket handy for poses where my knees are down it’s not agonizing without one for a few minutes. I feel good using it because it’s made of environmentally-friendly materials. I can also assure you it will not need replacing often. I’ve used mine almost daily for at least 5 years and it’s practically as good as new.

See also How to Choose a Yoga Mat

Get yours here.

*Note: The links on this blog post are affiliate links. That means if you purchase a mat based on my recommendation I get a little something-something on the side, which helps keep this blog going strong, feeds my children, and supports my yoga habit. Thanks for helping a mama out!