The Best Yoga Mats

Grip, cushion, and weight. A yoga mat has to balance all three, and most compromise on at least one. We tested 14 mats through 200 sessions across three climates — dry studio, hot yoga, and outdoor practice.

#1 Pick

The best Yoga Mats

Manduka PRO by Manduka

The Manduka PRO grips better when wet than most mats do when dry. Its closed-cell construction means sweat stays on the surface instead of soaking in, which eliminates the musty smell that plagues ope

How we tested

We measured grip coefficient with a slip tester at dry, damp, and soaked conditions. Cushion was assessed with a compression tester and panelist knee-comfort ratings. We tracked material degradation over six months.

Why it won

The Manduka PRO grips better when wet than most mats do when dry. Its closed-cell construction means sweat stays on the surface instead of soaking in, which eliminates the musty smell that plagues open-cell mats. It weighs 7.5 pounds, which is heavy, but the density is why it lasts.

Specifications

The bottom line

The Manduka PRO earns our top pick because it outperformed the competition in the metrics that matter most. At an overall score of 9.5 against a category average of 7.1, the gap speaks for itself. If you are looking for the best in this category, start here.