The 10 Very Best Yoga Mats

Dimensions: Standard: 71” x 24”, Long: 79” x 24” | Thickness: 4.7 mm | Weight: Standard: 4 lbs, Long: 4.5 lbs | Material: PVC

Three of the yogis we talked to named Manduka’s PROlite mat as their go-to for daily practice. “The Manduka mat is indulgent — it’s grippy, soft, and breaks in very well,” says yoga instructor Kyle Miller. And while the mat certainly isn’t the least expensive of the ones on this list, Miller told us it holds up well over time. Kristen Nichols, an instructor at Y7 Studio, agrees that Manduka is a quality brand and that its lightweight mats are durable. She also notes that the mat “can get slippery, but it’s meant to — it’s designed to make you engage more.” I’ve used the PROlite for both yoga sessions and at-home bodyweight exercises, and I like how its surface feels slightly tacky when dry, which helps with grip. When I started to sweat, I noticed that it lost its grip a little, but not so much that I slipped or became unstable. Alexandria Brzenk, a private yoga instructor, is a fan of Manduka’s PROlite mat as well and says she uses it both for home practice and for teaching at her studio. “I prefer the texture of this mat over rubber mats because it makes flowing through transitions smoother while also offering enough traction so that my hands don’t slip in down dog,” she says. According to Brzenk, the mat also offers comfortable, full-body support: “It provides cushioning for the joints without sacrificing stability in standing postures.” And if you’re carrying it to the studio, Nichols notes this one is easy to take on the go.