--- source_url: "https://www.reviewed.com/home-outdoors/best-right-now/the-best-yoga-mats" title: "14 Best Yoga Mats of 2026 - Reviewed" mirrored_at: 2026-08-09T03:03:10.002Z host: www.reviewed.com cited_in_42a: true mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/www.reviewed.com/home-outdoors/best-right-now/the-best-yoga-mats" --- > **Original source:** https://www.reviewed.com/home-outdoors/best-right-now/the-best-yoga-mats ![Bethany Kwoka](https://images.reviewed.com/fit-in/120x120/filters:strip_icc\(\):strip_exif\(\):no_upscale\(\):format\(webp\):quality\(65\)/1508962463000/Bethany.jpg) ![Amanda Oliver](https://images.reviewed.com/fit-in/120x120/filters:strip_icc\(\):strip_exif\(\):no_upscale\(\):format\(webp\):quality\(65\)/1627655060578/221489172_10158030303160671_4834806652263735681_n.png) Updated February 13, 2024 ## The Rundown - Our favorite yoga mats are the [lululemon The Mat 5mm](https://brandcycle.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=1324&aff_id=9562&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.awin1.com%2Fcread.php%3Fawinmid%3D30347%26awinaffid%3D303693%26clickref%3DA%7Baffiliate_id%7DO%7Boffer_id%7DTID%7Btransaction_id%7D%26ued%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fshop.lululemon.com%252Fp%252Fyoga-mats%252FThe-Mat-5mm%252F_%252Fprod10990033%253Fsz%253DONESIZE&aff_sub=&aff_unique3=f68455df-8f8d-47c3-8ce1-de8411eab119) and the [Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat (6mm)](https://r.bttn.io/?btn_ref=org-4e216a16a82e7346&btn_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB073XYX7VY%3Ftag%3Dreviewedcomme-20%26linkCode%3Dogi%26th%3D1%26psc%3D1%26language%3Den_US). - These mats offer excellent grip and comfort, with the Lululemon mat providing durable support for intense practices and the Gaiam mat offering great value with a grippy texture. - When choosing, consider material for grip and durability, and thickness (4-6mm is ideal) for joint protection without compromising balance during various yoga styles. * * * Whether you’re new to yoga or a seasoned pro, a good yoga mat is essential to productive practice. If you’re constantly slipping out of your Downward-Facing Dog, you’re never going to convince yourself to get your Vinyasa on, be it for a yoga class in the studio or a [home practice](https://www.reviewed.com/health/features/yoga-props-home-practice) with a [yoga app](https://www.reviewed.com/health/best-right-now/best-yoga-apps). But having a great mat is useful beyond yoga, too. A trusty mat is fantastic for calisthenic exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, and planks, and a great place to sit and [roll out your legs or back](https://www.reviewed.com/home-outdoors/best-right-now/the-best-foam-rollers) as you recover from other workouts. That’s why we spent some time with a lot of popular mats, including the offerings from Alo, Manduka, Nike, and Hugger Mugger. After hours of testing, the **Lululemon Reversible Mat** ([available at lululemon](https://l.brandcycle.com/aff_c?offer_id=1324&aff_id=9562&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.awin1.com%2Fcread.php%3Fawinmid%3D30347%26awinaffid%3D303693%26clickref%3DA%7Baffiliate_id%7DO%7Boffer_id%7DTID%7Btransaction_id%7D%26ued%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fshop.lululemon.com%252Fp%252Fyoga-mats%252FThe-Mat-5mm%252F_%252Fprod10990033%253Fsz%253DONESIZE&aff_sub=&aff_unique3=f68455df-8f8d-47c3-8ce1-de8411eab119)) , with its durable, supportive surface, is our top pick. We also think the **Gaiam Premium Mat** ([available at Amazon](https://r.bttn.io/?btn_ref=org-4e216a16a82e7346&btn_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FGaiam-Reversible-Exercise-Exercises-Elephant%2Fdp%2FB00VV54NVK%3Ftag%3Dsc-rv-main-20)) is a solid choice for people who don’t want to spend as much. And if you’re looking for an extra luxe place to practice, we love the **Liforme Yoga Mat** ([available at Liforme](https://us.liforme.com/products/liforme-yoga-mat-blue)), which feels cushy and has markings to help you find proper alignment. ![Left: Woman doing yoga on Lululemon mat in park. Right: Blue Lululemon mat and logo on grass.](https://images.reviewed.com/fit-in/792x0/filters:strip_icc\(\):strip_exif\(\):no_upscale\(\):format\(webp\):quality\(65\)/attachment/e1da1665118b4f8f/lululemontbrn.jpg) Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser ![](https://www.reviewed.com/packs/media/images/awards/round/editors-choice-0c123053772d1e8af313cf0c6db1838a.svg) Lululemon's reversible mat aced each one of our tests. ![Left: woman practicing yoga on gaiam yoga mat. right: teal gaiam yoga mat on wooden floor.](https://images.reviewed.com/fit-in/792x0/filters:strip_icc\(\):strip_exif\(\):no_upscale\(\):format\(webp\):quality\(65\)/attachment/ebcb96ef8dc64919/gaiamtbrn.jpg) Credit: Gaiam / Reviewed / Amanda Tarlton The Gaiam mat's pretty colors and durable waffle texture make it a worthy choice. ![Left: Woman practicing yoga on blue liforme yoga mat. Right: Purple Liforme yoga mat wooden floor.](https://images.reviewed.com/fit-in/792x0/filters:strip_icc\(\):strip_exif\(\):no_upscale\(\):format\(webp\):quality\(65\)/attachment/f1c23f598d8e48ca/liformetbrn.jpg) Credit: Liforme / Reviewed / Amanda Tarlton Liforme's alignment markers are a game changer for any yogi. ## Other Yoga Mats We Tested ## How We Tested Yoga Mats ![Woman working out on lululemon yoga mat.](https://images.reviewed.com/fit-in/792x0/filters:strip_icc\(\):strip_exif\(\):no_upscale\(\):format\(webp\):quality\(65\)/attachment/25117d8100064c8b/DSC_5976.jpg) Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser We tested each mat by trying them out for different exercises. ### The Testers I’m Amanda Tarlton, Reviewed’s style editor. I’m also a certified yoga instructor and spend about five days a week on the mat, either practicing on my own or teaching. Before me, Reviewed contributor Bethany Kwoka evaluated yoga mats. She’s a former college athlete who turned to yoga a few years ago as a lower-impact way to work out. Bethany is also a big fan of at-home yoga practices, and often starts her days with bodyweight workouts and sun salutation routines on her mat. I also practice at home, but I’m more into studio classes, especially heated ones like Bikram or power yoga. ### The Tests For tests, we did a 20-minute yoga routine and a 20-minute calisthenics routine twice on each mat. We kept both routines simple and focused on common poses such as Warrior I, II, III, and Downward-Facing Dog, and exercises like push-ups, front and side planks, sit-ups, and leg lifts. I also took the mats I tested to hot power yoga to see how they held up to heat (and sweat). During these routines, we took notes. We observed if hands and feet slipped, the floor was painful on the knees during low lunges or on forearms during planks, if the mat deformed over the course of a workout, and whether the surface helped or hindered routines. We also took stock of how easy it was to clean, if it was portable enough to take to a studio or gym, and if it seemed like it would last through years of use. ### What You Should Know About Yoga Mats ![folding back lululemon reversible mat.](https://images.reviewed.com/fit-in/792x0/filters:strip_icc\(\):strip_exif\(\):no_upscale\(\):format\(webp\):quality\(65\)/attachment/c314118a7b314ba1/DSC_5957.jpg) Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser The mat's material impacts how it works. There are a few things you should know about yoga mats before deciding which one to pick up. The first is its material—most of the mats we tested are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), natural (or recycled) rubber, polyurethane, and/or TPE (thermoplastic elastomer). PVC is a type of vinyl, a man-made, non-renewable material. Most mats made of this material are sticky enough to prevent slipping, soft enough to offer some cushion, and very durable. Natural rubber is renewable, biodegradable, and also provides texture and traction—however, it may be a bit firmer feeling than PVC. Rubber mats can contain trace amounts of latex, too, so they may not be the best option for people with latex allergies. Polyurethane is a blend of plastics that can have a soft, foamy feel or a sleek, smooth one, and is often used as a supplement to mats made of natural rubber. You can also find mats made of TPE, or a blend of plastic and rubber. These mats usually aren’t as long-lasting as PVC or natural rubber mats, but are often lightweight and can sometimes be recycled. Mats made of [cork](https://www.reviewed.com/health/features/cork-yoga-mat-review-gaiam), bamboo, or jute (a woven vegetable fiber) are also an option, but these aren’t as popular. The size of your yoga mat is another consideration. A typical yoga mat is 68 inches long and 24 inches wide, though you can find some that are larger (we tested a few that extend to 74 inches long). However, unless you’re really tall, 68 inches is probably long enough for most people, and any added length often also makes mats heavier to carry Finally, you’ll want to factor in the mat’s thickness. Most of the mats we tested are somewhere between 4 millimeters and 6 millimeters thick (or .16 to .24 inches), which we found to be the sweet spot for protecting joints and providing good feedback in poses. You can find mats that are thinner (usually about 3 millimeters, or .12 inches), which don’t provide as much cushion for the joints but are great for rolling up to travel. Other mats are made of thick foam (some up to 12 millimeters, or about half an inch) which may _seem_ like a good option for sensitive joints. But these mats, while great for ab exercises, Pilates, and restorative yoga, aren’t ideal for more vigorous flows because the compression of the cushy material under hands or feet can interfere with balance. ## More Articles You Might Enjoy - [The Best Foam Rollers](https://www.reviewed.com/home-outdoors/best-right-now/the-best-foam-rollers) - [The Best Yoga Apps](https://www.reviewed.com/health/best-right-now/best-yoga-apps) - [8 incredibly useful yoga props for your home practice](https://www.reviewed.com/health/features/yoga-props-home-practice) - [It’s not just for wine: how cork makes a sweaty yoga session easier](https://www.reviewed.com/health/features/cork-yoga-mat-review-gaiam) ## Meet the testers ![Bethany Kwoka](https://images.reviewed.com/fit-in/160x160/filters:strip_icc\(\):strip_exif\(\):no_upscale\(\):format\(webp\):quality\(65\)/1508962463000/Bethany.jpg) Bethany Kwoka Contributor Bethany is a freelance contributor for Reviewed. An avid home baker and aspiring home cook, she reviews and writes mostly about kitchen gadgets (with the occasional fitness review thrown in). Her specialty might be fancy desserts, but she's never met a batch-cooked dinner recipe she didn't like. Outside of her work for Reviewed, Bethany is a content creator working on clean energy and climate change at a regional non-profit and runs a tabletop game at her local comic book shop. ![Amanda Oliver](https://images.reviewed.com/fit-in/160x160/filters:strip_icc\(\):strip_exif\(\):no_upscale\(\):format\(webp\):quality\(65\)/1627655060578/221489172_10158030303160671_4834806652263735681_n.png) Amanda Oliver Contributor Amanda is the former shopping editor at Reviewed. ## Checking our work. Our team is here to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and experts obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? 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