Best Yoga Mats for Beginners Review
I have been doing yoga for the best part of twenty years. When I first started, the only mats on the market were overly sticky and made from rather cheap looking PVC.
If you were very lucky, you might find somewhere that stocked a blue one but, nine times out of ten, the choice was either black or black!
Nowadays however, the yoga mat market has oscillated to the other extreme. Mats are available in different thicknesses, styles, colours, materials and multiple gradations of stickiness.
From having no choice to being baffled by too much – be careful what you wish for!
To that end, let’s roll out a few and put them through their paces:
TOPLUS Classic Pro Fitness
Its available in seven striking colours and rolls down to a compact portable size after use.
It is 6mm thick and both sweat and tear resistant and is non-slip on wooden, tiled and cement floors.
Best of all, if for some reason it’s not the mat for you, it comes with a full 12 month warranty. Click here to view the TOPLUS Classic Pro Fitness Mat.
Pros
• Made from TPU
• Lightweight and potable
• 12 month guarantee
Cons
Busy design might not suit everyone
PIDO Lightweight Fitness Mat
Made from TPE and both sweat proof and waterproof, this is a very comfortable mat that gives excellent support for yoga enthusiasts of all levels.
It even comes with a free carry bag and strap making your trip back from the studio that bit easier!
Pros
• Made from TPE
• Comes with bag and strap
• Lovely selection of colours
Cons
• Texture can be a little slippy for certain poses
PIDO Lightweight Fitness Mat on Amazon
TIMKER Yoga Mat
Again made from TPE, this large, professional looking mat is available in a range of dark greens, blues and blacks.
It features a grippy, non-slip finish on both sides and is very easy to clean needing only to be wiped down with a wet towel and then air-dried.
The thing I liked most about this mat was the alignment lines. They were perfect to stretch and then return to a centre point without losing my bearings.
Check out the TIMKER Yoga Mat.
Pros
• Extra large
• Helpful alignment line system
• Easy to clean
Cons
• A bit heavier, due to the size
GRUPER Thick Yoga Mat
View the GRUPER Thick Yoga Mat HERE.
This navy blue mat is made from NBR – a synthetic rubber often found on thicker yoga mats.
These thicker mats are particularly suitable for people with sensitive or injured joints.
This mat comes in a choice of either 10mm or 18mm.
It is non-slip is also tear and moisture resistant.
It is recommended that you unroll and air out the mat for a few days before use.
Pros
• Comfortable thick NBR
• Good for people with joint pain
• Non-slip
Cons
• Extra cushioning can result in less balance
ARTEESOL Fitness mat
It features a robust, tear resistant mesh between the top and bottom layers making it extra durable.
The intricate wave pattern on the base provides a strong grip on any type of floor surface, see ARTEESOL Fitness Mat.
Pros
• Extra durable
• Great range of colours
• Effective non-slip wave patterned base
Cons
• Can curl up at the edges
• Quite soft
BIONIX Printed Yoga Mat
It is 10mm thick but rolls down easily after use and is surprisingly lightweight and portable for a thicker mat.
It is a very stable mat featuring both a ribbed non-slip surface as well as gripping the floor effectively.
Click here for BIONIX Printed Yoga Mat
Pros
• Thick and comfortable
• Very stable
• Lightweight
Cons
• The NPR sacrifices a little balance in exchange for comfort
• A bit bulky
MENKAI Cork Yoga Mat
Not only is cork pollution free and completely environmentally friendly, it is also very effective at absorbing sweat.
It is very easy to carry at just over 1kg and is perfect for exercising at home or in the studio.
In addition, cork is naturally anti-microbial which means the mat will stay fresh and repel harmful bacteria.
MENKAI Cork Yoga Mat at Amazon
Pros
• Environmentally friendly
• Anti-microbial
• Lightweight
Cons
• A distinctive cork smell
TOMSHOO Printed Yoga Mat
The patterns on the front are based around a variety of different yoga poses and will help guide you towards the correct positions.
It has a 360-degree wave pattern on the base will allows it to grip and hold the floor and the closed-cell surface makes this a very easy mat to wipe clean.
Check out the TOMSHOO Printed Yoga Mat.
Pros
• Patterned to help guide poses
• Good solid grip
• Comes in a variety of colours
Cons
• Feels quite thin
NAVARIS Foldable Travel mat
It is incredibly lightweight and only 4mm thick, making it a great mat to take to the park or the beach.
It folds up to a very portable 31cm x 26cm – which is a lot easier than carrying a rolled mat with you all day!
Despite this, it is still non-stick and provides a great deal of comfort during your exercises. See more here.
Pros
• Very portable
• Non-stick
• Great for travelling
Cons
• Retains the fold lines when opened
WARRIOR PLUS
It is machine washable – which is a great and helpful feature – and rolls down into a compact and manageable size.
It can be a little slippery when it first arrives; I would recommend washing it before use which seems to give it a bit more grip. View the Warrior Plus Yoga Mat.
Pros
• Striking colours
• Machine washable
• Comfortable
Cons
• A bit slippy initially
• Quite heavy when rolled up
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