YogaBrook is a yoga mat review site run by Portland yoga teacher Maren Holt, a former dance-floor installer who has taught 200+ classes a year on every mat she reviews. Every recommendation is backed by a class log, caliper measurements, and an inclined-plane slip test — not a press release.
Choosing the right yoga mat for home practice is the easy part. Here is how to read the floor, lay out the space, break in the mat, and build a routine you will still keep in February.
Bulk yoga mats are how a small studio or a teacher with a full roster keeps twenty students off a slick floor. Here is the setup order that keeps them gripping past week two.
Yoga mat thickness is the first number on the product page and the last thing that should decide your purchase. Here is how to match a 6mm folding mat or a 1/2-inch cushioned mat to your knees, your floor, and your bag.
A non slip yoga mat is a chemistry problem, not a texture problem. Here is how I break in, clean, and rescue a budget mat so it still grips at minute 45 of a hot class.
How to choose a yoga mat comes down to three things: how far you carry it, what your palms do at minute 40, and whether the floor under it is sprung wood or concrete.
A non-slip yoga mat is a chemistry problem, not a texture problem. Here is how I pick mats that still grip at minute 40, cushion bad knees, and survive a hot room, plus two I would hand a student today.
A knee-friendly yoga mat setup is not a thicker mat. It is a 6mm base you trust plus a 15mm cushion you move under your knees, and the order matters. Here is the two-piece method I hand students with sore knees.
Yoga mat thickness and grip decide whether a mat works in your living room, a warm studio, or a hotel floor. Here is how to match four very different mats to the way you actually practice.
A thick mat and a grippy mat are not the same thing. Here is what actually separates four widely sold non-slip yoga mats, from a 5mm studio mat to extra thick NBR foam.
A yoga mat carrier bag and three mats, sorted by who should own each one. Grip, cushion, corner curl, and what the thickness number on the box really means.
Yoga mats for home practice, sorted by a Portland teacher who measures thickness with calipers: thick foam for bad knees, foldable rubber for travel, a strap, and a bulk pack for shared spaces.
A practical look at 6 pack yoga mats for studios, teachers, and shared home setups, plus how 5mm, 6mm, and 10mm thickness and 68 versus 72 inch lengths change what a mat feels like underfoot.
An explainer on bulk yoga mats and knee pads, plus the single-user mat and balance pad that solve problems a set cannot, and how to tell which of the four styles you actually need.
A non-slip yoga mats guide from a teacher who measures with calipers and logs grip at minute 40. Four picks for home practice, hot rooms, and cranky knees.
Thick yoga mats for home practice, sorted by a teacher who measures first: calipers, a wet slip test, and a class log. What earns floor space and what does not.
Eco-friendly yoga mat buying guide, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
How often should you replace a yoga mat, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
What is the gaiam yoga mat classic print best for The biggest issue with this mat is the thickness, or lack of it. At 4mm, my calipers read 3.8mm at the thinnest edge, which is a caliper gap of 0.2mm. That's honest.
What is the gruper yoga mat best for The problem with the Gruper is that it makes a claim it can't back up. The box says eco-friendly, but the materials list reads like a chemistry exam.
I’ve taught tall students for over a decade, and the first thing they do is hang their heels off the front edge of a standard 68-inch mat.
I teach a Thursday-night recovery class, and after Rosa slipped in 2022, I started measuring grip the way I used to measure dance floors: with a weighted.
What is the hemingweigh 1 inch extra thick best for The first thing I noticed was the weight. This mat is 7.2 pounds on my luggage scale, which is a lot to haul across town to the studio. But the density is what makes it worth it.
What is the our pick: manduka pro travel yoga mat best for The Manduka PRO Travel is the only mat I’ve flown with that doesn’t make me choose between grip and portability. At 2mm thick and 2.
What is the our pick: fitvids all purpose 1/2-inch extra thick best for The Fitvids All Purpose is the mat I recommend to every student who comes to me with a balance problem and a tight budget.
What is the our pick: gaiam premium yoga mat, 6mm best for This is the mat I hand to beginners who ask what to buy. It is $21, which is less than two classes at most studios, and it does ninety percent of what a $150 mat does.
What is the gruper yoga mat non slip best for The Gruper is the mat that made me angry, because it proved that a $27.99 mat can outperform mats that cost five times as much on carpet.
I teach a 26&2 class on Tuesday nights that turns a room into a sauna by minute ten.
What is the fitvids all purpose 1/2-inch extra thick mat best for This is the mat I recommend to beginners who say "my knees hurt" and don't want to spend $100. At $18.
What is the our pick: tatago hot yoga mat best for The Tatago was the last mat I expected to win. It's $64.98, which is mid-range, and the marketing copy is full of words like "professional grade" that usually mean nothing.
Hot yoga mat vs regular mat which do you need, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Should you buy the Gaiam Premium 6mm If you’re a beginner or a regular practitioner who does a mix of vinyasa and gentle yoga, yes. It’s the best value in this field, and it’s the mat I’d hand to a student who asks what to buy.
What is the asutra yoga mat cleaning wipes best for The biggest issue with wipes is that they dry out. I’ve bought packs where the first wipe was already half-dry by the time I opened the pouch. The ASUTRA wipes are the exception.
How to clean a yoga mat without damaging it, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
How to fix a curling yoga mat, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
How to roll and store a yoga mat properly, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
How to stop a yoga mat from slipping, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
I’ll be honest: I wanted to hate one of these mats. Pitting a $165 Liforme against a $158 Manduka PRO feels like arguing about whether a sports car or a.
Yoga mat bag vs strap which is better, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Yoga mat materials explained pvc vs tpe vs rubber, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
The Real Question: What's Your Floor I installed dance floors across the Midwest for eight years. I know what a floor does under 30 dancers at 9pm. A sprung floor absorbs shock, so you can get away with a thinner mat.
Yoga mat thickness explained 3mm vs 5mm vs 6mm, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Should you buy the Gruper If you practice yoga more than Pilates, if you sweat, and if you do not have sensitive knees, buy the Gruper. It is the best grip per dollar in this field, and it will last you two years of regular use. At $27.
Yoga towel vs mat which do you need for hot yoga, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Found a mistake, or tested something we reviewed? We read every email.
Email UsJoin our readers