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The PVC-made Performance Dry-Grip offers comparable stickiness, support, and cushioning to our two top picks, but without the latex.

Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports tested 19 different yoga mats to find out how each one holds up to regular use. Gaiam’s mat aces the drying and grip tests CR put it through but offers somewhat less cushioning. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; a firmer mat can provide more stability for standing poses and can be easier on the wrists.Why it’s a good deal: This is nearly the same price we saw during Prime Day.

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Gaiam Performance Dry-Grip Yoga Mat Review

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If you're looking for a long-lasting yoga mat for your inversion and balance Asana practice, the Manduka PRO is extremely supportive. It is on the firmer side, but it is also thick making it great for any practice that requires a significant amount of balance. This six-millimeter mat is made of Oeko-Tex Certified PVC and offers excellent dry grip and decent wet grip once broken in. It's a beefy mat that won't move when you kick your legs up into a handstand or back into a plank from a downward-facing dog. While PVC is not the most "eco-friendly" of yoga mat materials, it is also ranked very high for durability, so you won't have to replace it every year like a less durable rubber mat.  
At first, you'll find that traction on this mat leaves much to be desired, both with wet and dry hands. Once broken in properly, it becomes much stickier, allowing for a more involved yoga class, but it's best to take things slowly at first. You can also speed up the break-in process by sprinkling the unrolled mat generously with sea salt, letting it sit out in the sun for 24 hours, removing the salt with a damp clean towel, and then laying it flat to dry. This process is pretty involved but WOW does it make a difference! The PRO is worth the money and legwork if your main concerns are longevity and support. 
Read more: Manduka PRO review

Upgrade Pick

Manduka PRO Yoga Mat Review

If you're tired of schlepping a mat and towel to class every day, only to have that towel bunch up on the mat and be a distraction, the Aurorae Synergy solves all of these problems. It's a microfiber towel bonded to a PER bottom that you throw in the wash after each use, and it comes out smelling clean each time. This mat is a little pricey, but since it's a towel and a mat, it's a great value. It's well made and durable. We've now used this mat once a week for over a year, and even after 60 plus classes, it still looks and works great. 
Unfortunately, it doesn't provide the same amount of traction as some sticky mats on their own, but the friction is better than some towels that we've used, and you don't have to fuss with it during your practice. If you practice in a heated room, this innovative hybrid mat is a great choice.

If you're tired of schlepping a mat and towel to class every day, only to have that towel bunch up on the mat and be a distraction, the Aurorae Synergy is a solid alternative. The top layer uses microfiber towel material bonded to a Polymer Environmental Resin base layer. The wet traction is amazing and does not require a break-in period. It is also machine washable. It's super durable, even after multiple machine washes. While five millimeters doesn't offer the most cushion for those with sensitive knees, the Synergy folds easily, so doubling the thickness is a quick solution. 
That said, if you leave the mat folded for an extended period, it tends to crease. While this mat is one of the few you can toss in your washing machine after a sweaty practice, the cleaning process is somewhat involved. The Synergy must be washed alone, with detergent on gentle, with warm water, and an extra rinse cycle. It then must be hung to dry, and it takes a while. It also doesn't provide the same traction as stickier mats in our test suite, but the friction is far better than the towels we've used. This innovative hybrid towel mat is a great choice if you practice in a heated room and don't feel like packing a towel and 
Read more: Aurorae Synergy review

Budget Pick

Aurorae Synergy Hot Yoga Mat Makes Hot Yoga Easier

CR’s take: This model is very quick to dry and offers a high level of cushioning. It offers a medium amount of grip both against the floor and against its top surface while dry. It comes with a carrying strap.

Our choice for the best exercise mat goes to the HemingWeigh Extra Thick Foam Exercise Mat. It is comfortable, made with durable foam, and offers great traction, an important factor to consider when comparing products. The mat is light, compact, and has a separate securing strap that is easy to unroll and handle. The HemingWeigh mat is made with an anti-skid design. The front of the mat has a fine texture offering non-slip resistance, and the back has a lined texture offering better grip on the floor. It is made with 5/8 inch thick closed-cell foam making it waterproof and easy to wipe after a sweaty workout. The foam is firm enough to support your wrists while doing planks yet still offers the comfort you need for floor exercises and gentle stretching. The material is durable and showed little wear after repeated use and abuse. 
Our only issue with the mat is its chemical smell when taken out of the box, which dissipated after a couple of weeks. It also takes time to flatten out when unrolled, but that tends to be the case with most foam mats. The HemingWeigh mat is a great choice for someone looking for an excellent overall product. 

The BalanceFrom GoCloud All-Purpose 1-Inch Mat is the most comfortable and cushioned mat we tested. The 1-inch thick high-density foam material is soft and offers extreme support for stretching and floor exercises. We found that the foam resists squishing and sinking more than other brands. It has horizontal ridges to help with traction and a shock-absorbing consistency to prevent joint discomfort. The BalanceFrom Go Cloud is made from waterproof material, making it easy to wipe clean and wash with soap and water, and it comes with a securing strap to help with storage and transport.
Given that the mat is waterproof and made with high-density closed-cell foam,  when wet, we found that our hands and feet would slip, making this mat better used for stretching and non-intense workouts where sweating is an outcome. This mat would also not be a good option for standing poses while practicing yoga as it would not offer a stable surface for balancing. However, this BalanceFrom GoCloud mat is your answer for stretching and floor exercises where comfort is key. 

If you are new to yoga and looking to explore your practice, the GuruGrid Eco-Friendly Premium may be the mat for you. It features a grid that allows you to quickly find your alignment and gauge your progress in your practice. It's great for any style of yoga, as it is cushioned enough for your knees but still retains stability for standing poses. 
It costs a little more than your average starter mat, such as the Clever Yoga, but the quality is worth the price. If you're looking for an excellent all-around performer, this is it; it has a higher price but offers excellent performance for any beginner or novice.

If you're looking for a yoga mat to take your alignment to the next level, the GuruGrid Eco-Friendly Premium is an excellent option. The numbered grid makes tracking your progress, checking your alignment, and finding that sweet spot much easier, especially if you practice without a mirror. The Polyurethane top layer is smooth and, therefore, easy to clean after yoga classes. The dry traction is excellent, and while it suffers a little in moist conditions, the wet grip is still very impressive. 
This mat is only 3.5 millimeters, which is on the thinner side. That being said, it still provides plenty of support and decent comfort. It is also easy to fold over if you need a little extra cushion for your knees, but make sure you fold it lightly so you don't create a crease. It weighs 4.5 pounds which is a little heavy, but the mat rolls up tight, and the grippy surface helps keep it rolled up without needing a strap. The weight also helps keep the edges flatter. Overall the GuruGrid is well worth the money if you're looking for a little alignment assistance. 
Read more: GuruGrid Eco-Friendly Premium review

Made of natural rubber, the Harmony mat feels like it suctions to your fingers and toes, and is especially good for hot yoga. But being rubber, it has that telltale odor, especially when new.

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This $80 yoga mat provides the best traction for sweaty workouts and is worth the investment if you're serious about yoga

The Yoloha Unity Cork Mat seems to knock every test out of the water. The cork-rubber blend top layer provides incredible wet and dry grip while the foam bottom layer offers a softer base for sensitive knees and elbows. It is easy to clean, and the surface is antimicrobial, ensuring that your mat won't start to stink after a few sweaty classes if you forget to wipe it down. Rubber often has a distinct smell, but the Unity Cork somehow smells good right out of the box. The construction provides stability on softer ground, so this mat is great for grass, carpet, and hard floors. 
While the Unity provides amazing wet and dry grip, it does require a short break-in period to meet its highest potential. You may slip around a little when you first use it. The cork-rubber combination is also quite absorbent, so it can take a while to dry. It's also no surprise that a cork yoga mat that offers such incredible grip, comfort, and stability is pricey. It's well worth the money, but the price tag may be a drawback for some. This Unity is a great option if you're looking for a cork yoga mat that offers impeccable wet and dry grip, an antimicrobial surface, and a comfortable foam bottom layer.
Read more: Yoloha Unity Cork review

The Yoloha Native Cork Mat is the best in our review for its excellent overall performance. It stands out for its cork-rubber blend, which qualifies it as one of the best across the metrics. It's comfortable, stable, and provides excellent traction, whether your palms are dry or sweaty. It has a closed-cell surface, which increases durability and decreases absorption, leaving the mat smelling fresh and minimizing wear and tear. It doesn't stink like rubber &#40;like other mats&#41; and is incredibly portable without sacrificing comfort. 
The biggest downside to this mat is its durability. When we used this mat on a grassy surface, the cork separated, and a large crack formed as a result. If you're looking for a great all-around mat that can handle a vigorous Vinyasa class but is still comfortable enough for a Yin practice, this is a great option. Just be sure to use it on harder surfaces.

The Manduka eKO is comfortable and stable and not so heavy that you'll hurt yourself toting it around. It has a slight rubber smell to start, but the odor quickly dissipates. Best of all is its traction. It has excellent dry traction and only gets a little bit slicker once your palms get sweaty. The eKO has a closed-cell top surface to increase durability and decrease absorption, leaving the mat smelling fresher longer. And, after over a year of use and a least 100 classes, it's still in great shape. It also comes in various thicknesses, with 4mm being a good in-between option.
While we love this mat, it's a little heavier than most, making it a touch harder to transport. It also requires a bit of investment. However, if comfort and stability with the option to choose your thickness are important, this is the one we'd recommend.

The Manduka eKO is comfortable, stable, and offers great dry grip. It is four millimeters thick but quite firm, so it's great for hard and soft ground. The firm-to-cushion ratio is really where this mat shines. It falls somewhere between our thinnest and thickest mats, but Manduka has somehow created a yoga mat that is firm enough to support your wrists during handstand practice and soft enough to protect your knees in tabletop. It has a slight rubber smell, but the odor quickly dissipates. The eKO has a closed-cell top surface to increase durability and decrease absorption, leaving the mat smelling fresher longer.
The slight texture helps improve traction when your palms are a little sweaty, but the closed-cell construction causes water to bead up and pool on the surface. So if you're sweating profusely, you will want to have a towel handy to ensure you're not sliding around. It is a little heavy, but this mat rolls up tightly and flat without a hitch. If you're looking for a yoga mat, primarily for dry or slightly sweaty practices, with stellar grip and no break-in requires, the eKO is a great fit.
Read more: Manduka eKO review

Manduka eKO SuperLite Yoga Mat Review | Pack Hacker

The 4 best travel yoga mats that pack down small for your carry-on

This was the only travel mat we tested that folded small but still gave us excellent traction during our practice and didn’t move around on the floor. Expect to sacrifice some cushioning for that portability, though.

Yoga Mat Comparison