I've been a practicing yogi for 11 years — mostly Baptiste power yoga or alignment-based vinyasa, depending on what's been locally available. I used to attend class five or six times per week. Now, with a Peloton bike and kids, it's more like twice in a good week. I can't say I've achieved a much higher plane of enlightenment. And I remain far from doing a headstand.
What I have done is spend a lot of time testing just about every name-brand yoga mat on the market. Since this is Gear Patrol, you probably expect me to recommend some niche yoga mat company revolutionizing the space with new production methods and artisanally sourced rubber. But it turns out the best mat — the one I have used myself for years — comes from the most predictable brand of all, Lululemon. Specifically, it's The Mat, 5 mm version.
The Mat is the grippiest mat I have tested
The worst thing a yoga mat can do is cause you to slip. At best, it's a nuisance that brings you back into your thoughts. At worst, you could seriously hurt yourself. And the best solution — a mat towel — may be nearly as expensive as the mat itself. But Lululemon's The Mat is the grippiest mat I have found.
The Mat has a proprietary smooth upper layer. This layer lets you plant your hands and feet with confidence without feeling sticky to the touch. It works with dry appendages. It also works when you have a moderate to flagrant amount of sweat going. And, importantly, it works from the second you roll it out. There's no need to pre-wet the mat with your water bottle or "break it in" with a salt bath. And its functionality hasn't faded after three years of use.
I've basically foregone using a small or large mat towel in any circumstances. However, my yoga is only moderately heated. You may still want one doing "hot" yoga.
Lululemon’s 5mm has just the right amount of cushioning.
Proper thickness is probably the second most important quality for a yoga mat. If the mat's too thin, it will feel like you're doing yoga on a hard floor and stress your knees and other joints. If it's too thick, doing yoga on the mat will feel too spongy and wobbly. Lululemon's 5 mm Mat provides a happy medium in between that should work for most people.
Having a mat that thick does add a bit of bulk. I've found it too big to bother buying a bag or carrier. But at 5.24 pounds, Lululemon's The Mat remains relatively light. Rivals like the Manduka Pro or Alo Warrior mats can check in closer to eight pounds.
Lululemon’s The Mat is also very low-maintenance
I probably should clean my mat more than I do. But the Mat is relatively easy to keep clean and maintain. Lululemon says it's antimicrobial. And I've never noticed the mat smelling funky (beyond a brief new mat smell when you first unwrap it). I air-dry it if it gets particularly sweaty. I occasionally spritz it with some "mat spray," which is basically just essential oils.
The grippiness also comes with some stickiness, and The Mat tends to pick up a fine layer of whatever is around it. In my case, that’s dust from practicing yoga in a basement or the occasional bit of glitter from my three-year-old daughter.
The Mat does wear a bit after a while
Lululemon's The Mat does show wear over time. My current three-year-old version has an accrued sweat patina that — thanks to corpse pose — bears some resemblance to Da Vinci's Vitruvian man.
The lower rubber layer has lost a few small chunks around the edges. The upper layer has started to leave a fine sheen of black particles on the tops of my feet and other touchpoints. But — like a 47 Brand hat — replacement will be more about aesthetics than The Mat losing functionality.
