Manduka Yoga Mats

Yoga teacher and Bluedot Contributing Editor Mollie Doyle has been practicing yoga for over 30 years. She recommends Manduka mats above all others. “I have tried every mat under the sun,” she says. “The Manduka Pro 6mm is the best, most durable mat on the market. It outlasts every other mat by a decade.” Our L.A. Editor Robin Jones also loves her Pro. She’s used it for about six years, “inside, outside, for hot yoga. With minimal cleaning, it just doesn’t smell. I’ve never even thought about replacing it.” Robin, who tends to sweat heavily during her practice, covers the mat with Manduka's Yogitoes towel, which keeps her steady. (To clarify: She says her hands and feet slide on all mats when she sweats, and does love her Pro.) The Pro mat is made from Oeko-Tex-certified PVC — a plastic material, and not what Bluedot usually loves to recommend. But, our editors believe that this mat’s exceptional performance, durability, and manufacturer guarantee make it a worthwhile product.

Manduka does also offer a line of “eKO” yoga mats made from sustainably harvested natural rubber. In fact, Mollie always travels with her eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat 1.5mm. Overall, we think that the eKO is a great mat. Note that the natural rubber, while 99% latex-free, still can pose a hazard for people with latex allergies. Sadly, Manduka has discontinued its LiveOn recycling program for mats. If you’re looking to recycle your yoga mat, check out Bluedot’s Guide to Getting Rid of Almost Everything.