Best yoga mats 2020: Grippy, cushioning, hardwearing options for every type of practice

Ever struggled to hold a posture during a yoga class and wish you’d chosen a different mat? We’ve put together the best yoga mat to help you choose the perfect mat the first time around.

If you practise regularly and are looking for a top-of-the-range mat, we recommend the Liforme yoga mat. Its eco-friendly and biodegradable design means it’s kind to Mother Earth, but it’s also got the best of the best non-slip technology. The alignment cues are also really helpful if you have a home practise. 

If you're not ready or able to splurge £100 on a yoga mat so, there’s a great alternative in Lululemon’s The Reversible Mat, which offers a fantastic non-slip surface and (being reversible) two mats for the price of one.

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How to choose the best yoga mat for you

When choosing which yoga mat to go for, there are two key elements to consider:

Grip

First, let’s talk about grip. There is nothing worse than sliding all over your mat when you’re trying to find inner calm during a yoga class, so consider the composition of your mat. 

Yoga mats are made from various materials, the main ones being; natural tree rubber, polymer plastics (PVC) and polyurethane. Some of the polymer plastics used in yoga mats contain phthalates and it’s these phthalates that release toxins when thrown in landfill. Brands are phasing out the use of phthalates but still using PVC as a material. 

Polymer plastics provide good grip, and until recent years, it was the main material for most mats. However, in my opinion, the best grip comes from mats made from polyurethane, or those that have a top layer of this material. If you’re a hot yoga regular, look for this - it’s the only one that will hold you when you’re sweaty and in downward dog! If you’re into restorative yoga then most mats will provide sufficient grip so you have a wider choice of mats to choose from.

Thickness

Yoga mats come in different thicknesses, ranging from 1mm (for travel mats) to 6mm. Going for a thicker mat will provide more support for your knees and hips in certain postures but be aware that the thicker mats can affect your balance in standing and inverted postures. 

When choosing your thickness, keep in mind where you practise regularly. For example, do you practise in a yoga studio with wooden floors or on a luxurious carpet at home? Go for a thicker mat if you find harder floors to be uncomfortable on your knees or hips and, conversely, go for a thinner mat if you practise on carpet, otherwise you may find it incredibly difficult to balance. 

The best yoga mats you can buy right now

This is a fantastic sustainable choice, made from natural tree rubber and biodegradable. The price is great for such an eco-conscious mat. With superior grip and a practical textured surface, this mat provides a strong base for any type of yoga practise. Sadly though, it’s only available in light colours which means that grubby stains from sweaty hands and feet (or dirt collected from studio and hall floors) will show almost immediately. Plus you can’t wash it in the washing machine or use chemicals to wipe it down meaning it may become rather stinky, quickly. That said, it’s an affordable, great quality mat that’s widely available to get your hands on.

Talked about as one of the grippiest yoga mats out there, the Liforme yoga mat has lots more to offer alongside its non-slip technology. Toxic glue and plastic free, this mat is made from sustainable natural rubber with an eco-polyurethane top layer making it biodegradable. The alignment lines help to guide you in your practise proving to be especially useful for those practising at home. There really isn’t much to dislike apart from it’s one of the heaviest on the market and is larger than most. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing unless you walk or cycle to your class. And if it’s a cramped yoga class, having an extra inch or two width may mean your mat joins your neighbours’. This mat ticks more boxes than others so it’s definitely worth the bigger price tag.

Although made from plastic polymer, this budget option has great long lasting grip with ours still holding us strong eight years down the line. In fact, it’s one of those mats that gets better with time, starting off a little slippery and rigid (due to the lack of phthalates) but moulding with each practise. It’s phthalate-free so fewer chemicals will be released when you send it to the tip at the end of its lifecycle (although PVC will still release some nasties into the environment). It’s lightweight, making it suitable for travelling without having to invest in a travel yoga mat. Perfect for beginners and for practitioners of most yoga styles offering sufficient grip and comfort.

The non-slip on the textured side of the mat is a little disappointing, it had us slipping in downward dog after a breath. However, you can get through a hot yoga class with the superb non-slip on the smooth side. The textured side can be used for calmer practises like restorative or gentle yoga without a problem. 

The only thing we noticed was that the hotter the practise, the more likely greasy forehead and sweaty hand marks were to stain the mat. These marks don’t seem to dry and instead leave a little stain which is a bit annoying. The reason we love this mat is that it’s lightweight compared to other mats in the same calibre so better for travel to classes. The reversibility increases its lifespan – you get two mats in one. It’s nearly fully eco-friendly apart from the polyurethane top layer but it’s the closest you’ll get to the Liforme mat for half the price. It’s a fantastic all-rounder for the price, non-slip properties and durability.

If sustainable buying is your thing, then the Jade Harmony yoga mat will be your go-to. For every mat sold, a tree is planted – so not only is your mat eco-friendly but you are actively helping to reduce carbon emissions with your purchase. Being 5mm in depth gives you extra support when practising on harder floors without making standing or inverted postures difficult. The only downside to this environmentally savvy purchase is that if your mat gets wet it can leave a long-lasting stain so a carrier is an essential if you walk or cycle to your class incase of a downpour. The natural rubber in this product can mean that over time the initial strong non-slip wears off eventually, but we think it’s still a mat worth the investment.