Finding the best mat for you and your yoga practice is incredibly important. The wrong mat can be incredibly distracting and keep you from receiving the full benefit of hot yoga. Hot yoga is great for stress relief, so you want to make sure you're doing your best so that you can be your best everywhere.
We searched the internet for the top 10 best yoga mats for hot yoga, our favorite being the Warrior Mat from Alo. The mat is incredibly cushioned while not being too thick, allowing you to stay grounded and balanced while protecting your joints. This mat has an effective slip-free texture, and also sweat-friendly with its anti-odor, dry-wicking material. If this isn't the mat for you, check out the rest of the mats we've gathered for you!
Karin is a certified yoga instructor and HR director in addition to running a successful Instagram account about fashion, lifestyle, and more. She describes herself as "a Boho Girl living in a Yogi World".
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Buying the right mat for you is important for your body and your practice. The wrong mat could be detrimental to your body and make your practice much less effective! To help you make the best choice for you, we broke down the most important factors to consider when finding the right mat.
An important factor of a good hot yoga mat is its density to thickness ratio. You want a mat that alleviates pressure and is dense enough to be comfortable for your joints.
If your mat is too thick, you may lose connection with the ground and be thrown off in your balance. You can find mats of standard thickness, which is two millimeters. If you are prone to joint pain, you may want to opt for a thicker option of 2.5 millimeters or higher. Thicker mats could be more difficult to carry in and out of classes, so that is another factor worth considering.
Your mat can really elevate your experience if you love to practice hot yoga. I look for a mat that is at least three millimeters thick, and no thicker than five millimeters thick.
I find that if it's thinner, there's not enough padding for your knees and the bones of your feet. Too much padding, like anything thicker than five millimeters, may be too soft to be able to balance properly.
Most yoga mats are made of standard vinyl (also known as PVC). As of late, there are more eco-friendly options such as natural rubber, jute, and organic cotton. However, for hot yoga, PVC seems to be the most effective because of its stickiness factor.
There are also yoga mats with towels attached. Microfiber towels are incredibly soft and incredibly absorbent, which helps keep your sweat from interfering with your flow. Ultimately, it's important to look out for products that emphasize the strength of the grip's sweat resistance.
Other popular materials include TPE, PER, and polyurethane. These materials are all considered more environmentally friendly than standard PVC, with polyurethane known as having the best grip.
A yoga mat for a heated class needs to be somewhat absorbent to be sweat-wicking as well as non-slip. Natural or organic rubber, or even cork, works really well in absorbing moisture (whether it's from sweat or your water bottle!) while ensuring that your practice surface doesn't get slick.
To have a good practice, you want to prevent unnecessary slipping and sweat-related incidents. If you are focused too much on staying upright rather than immersing fully into your practice, you’ll have a difficult time getting all that you can out of it.
Generally, mats that have a rubber base and microfiber towel top or closed-cell mats have the best grip. However, there are many open cell mats that have a layer of polyurethane, making their grip level similar to closed-cell mats. With any mat that you get, to maintain the best grip, make sure that you clean it regularly!
As a yoga instructor, I see a lot of students use Yogitoes yoga mat towels, which are large enough to cover your entire yoga mat and have rubberized dots to grip onto your mat. These are washable and somewhat less expensive than buying a mat. However, a rubberized non-slip top surface, or even a towel-top mat, can serve well in hot yoga.
Many mats have decorative patterns, such as big flowers, logos, and alignment lines. These patterns are multi-faceted - they are calming in appearance and can help you to stay balanced and aligned.
These visual reference points can help you to stay consistent in your poses and prevents uneven practice. If you find this to be something that may be useful for you, then try looking into the design description and see if the manufacturer had a specific intention behind the design.
Whether this is for a hot yoga class or a non-heated class, there are a variety of mats that have printed or imprinted markings to help you align when you are working through your standing poses, such as virabhadrasana A or B (also known as Warrior 1 or 2), or the pyramid pose.
Keep in mind that the manufacturers will try to do their best to "guesstimate" where your alignment should be, but things like height and joint mobility will be different for everybody, so listen to your body when practicing.
Since mats that are good for hot yoga tend to be stickier, they also tend to easily attract things such as fur, dust, and grime. It's best to keep your mats out of reach from your pets. Yogis with pets will likely need to clean their mats more often than others, but there are some mats that specify easy clean-up!
Closed-cell mats are the easiest to clean because they don't absorb sweat and bacteria like open-cell mats (though this can also make them more prone to slipping). Another thing to be wary about when it comes to pets is how easily some mats get scratched up. All mats are prone to claw marks, so make sure to roll up your mat when not in use.
It's important to consider purchasing a mat that is non-toxic for humans as well as for pets. If your furry friend tends to like to bite or rip things apart, things like rubber and towel-tops are materials that can be dangerous when ingested. If you're investing in a mat, be sure to be conscious of keeping it out of reach of pets when not in use.
This mat is great for the conscious yogi. The bottom layer is made from ethically sourced rubber and the top is made from polyurethane leather for great grip. It also has anti-odor and moisture-wicking properties, allowing you to sweat freely. The mat is available in nine different colors.
Reviewers are head over heels with this mat. They say it's perfect for any type of yoga and provides enough cushioning for a comfortable practice. Many add that it offers fantastic grip, making this a great mat for hot yoga.
This mat is made with eco-friendly polyurethane and is 100 percent biodegradable. Slightly wider than a standard size, it allows ample space to explore new positions. Its unique alignment pattern is great for helping you find your footing and keeping you focused.
Reviewers adore this mat, saying it's super non-slip and the guidance of the alignment pattern helped improve their practice! While the mat is a bit heavy, many even go as far as to say it is the best mat they have ever purchased.
The patterned texture of the mat is slip-proof on both ends. The closed-cell material keeps bacteria and moisture from seeping in and allows for easy cleaning, which is especially useful for those of you with jam-packed schedules or a few pets. And for tall people, it comes in an extra-long version.
A few reviewers warn that this mat is a bit slippery because of its closed-cell surface. While this is beneficial to prevent the buildup of bacteria, the mat might not be the best choice for very sweaty people. On a positive note, the majority love the mat and say it's very durable. Some also note that it gets less slippy with time.
This mat is reversible, allowing you the choice to use the side that accommodates your practice the best. The top layer absorbs moisture, which is especially useful for heavy sweaters to keep their grip during hot yoga, while the other side is perfect for slow flows. The medium-thickness makes the mat lightweight and portable.
The feedback for this mat was overwhelmingly positive. Reviewers say it has great grip and works for all kinds of yoga. It's suitable for hot yoga as well as heavy workouts like HIIT or bodyweight, making this a versatile option.
This mat is made without rubber, which makes this a wonderful option for those with latex sensitivity. It has the qualities of a great hot yoga mat with its dry-wick material, calming design, and how lightweight it is. This mat is a good size to carry to and from hot yoga class.
A handful of reviewers complain that the mat did not last long for them. On the other hand, many hot yogis express satisfaction with this mat and the grip only gets better with more moisture while practicing. They say it's the perfect mat for sweaty people.
This mat was made with incredible grip in mind. The water-absorbent material keeps sweat from pooling and causing any slippages. It's also small enough to be travel-friendly and comes with a strap.
Some reviewers mention the edges roll up at times, bothering them during their practice. However, the majority of reviews love the mat for its grip strength and portability. Some hot yogi reviewers especially love how sticky this mat is because it allows them to practice at their fullest.
For frequent hot yoga participants, a yoga towel is often a necessary purchase. However, this mat takes the two-in-one approach instead, reducing the hassle of extra purchases and allowing you to have everything in one place. The towel side is made of microfiber, which is incredibly soft and super absorbent.
Some reviewers say this mat picks up lint and dust rather easily but is easy to clean, too. For the most part, reviewers rave about the mat, claiming the grip gets stronger with more sweat and the smell remains fresh after countless uses!
This mat has alignment points over the mat, including end-to-end lines, reverse points, a center point, and a central line, helping you to stay balanced and distraction-free. The material is eco-friendly and has a tire tread pattern to keep your mat from slipping and a grippy surface for more solid downward-facing dogs.
A handful of reviewers note that the mat has a chemical smell when first opened. However, some confirm that the smell goes away over time, and meanwhile, the majority adore the mat for its positives. They say it's very grippy and great for beginners.
This mat is sustainably focused, made entirely out of natural rubber with the commitment to plant a tree with every mat purchased. The mat is open-cell, which means it's absorbent and prevents sweat from pooling during your practice.
Some reviewers don't like the rubber smell that this mat gives off. On the other hand, many are satisfied with the mat's grip level and feel that it only gets better with time. Many reviewers even report using their mats for several years at a time.
This mat is lightweight yet durable and keeps your joints cushioned throughout practice. The patterns are unique and calming, which is great for the visual yogi. People who are new to yoga as a whole may benefit from buying this mat because it comes with a free downloadable yoga workout as well!
There are some reviews about the unpleasant initial smell of this mat. Some reviewers also felt this mat is not non-slip enough for them. However, there are many reviews praising the thickness and cushion of this mat. One reviewer in particular states this mat is cushiony enough to accommodate their chronic pain.
Karin says, "Don't forget to consider whether your price point; there are a lot of mats that range in price, and I believe you can find one under 80 dollars that will grow with your practice.
A mat towel is always an option to place on top of an inexpensive mat and is great for hot yoga. Also, don't forget your natural cleaning products so you can take good care of your new purchase!"
If you find yourself preparing to go to in-person yoga classes, make sure you've got everything you need! Check out these recommended products and create a more seamless experience for yourself.
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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