Mats & Props

Travel Yoga Mats Review

An ideal travel Yoga mat requires a really magical combination of properties: on the one hand, it should be light and take up only a little space in your bag, while, on the other hand, it should provide sufficient elasticity to protect your knees and other body parts during practice.

We have brought together several worthy examples in a summary table which will help you make the right choice when purchasing your mat. When considering the best mat for you, take into account your particular body type and style of travelling.

Manduka eko Superlite Travel Yoga Mat

rubber
68″ x 24″ x 1.5mm x 2.2 lbs $40
Jade Travel Mat

rubber
68″ x 24″ x 3mm x 3.0lbs
74″ x 24″ x 3mm x 3.0lbs
$60
$65
YogaDesignLab The Combo Yoga Mat

rubber
70″ x 24″ x 3.5mm x 4.1lbs $68
Khataland YoFoMat

PER
72″ x 24″ x 4mm x 2.7lbs
72″ x 24″ x 6mm x 3.2lbs
72″ x 26″ x 3mm x 4.9lbs
$39
$49
$69
Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat

rubber
68″ x 24″ x 2mm x 1.0lbs $25
YOGO Mat Ultralight

rubber
68″ x 24″ x 1.5mm x 2.7lbs $68
FlowMats TravelFlow

TPE
71″ x 26″ x 2.5mm x 3.3lbs $70
Merrithew Folding Travel Mat

PER+PM
68″ x 24″ x 1.4mm x 1.5lbs $40
Brand, material * L″ x W″ H, mm Weight, lbs Price **
Manduka eko Superlite Travel Yoga Mat

rubber
68″ x 24″ 1.5 2.2 $40
Jade Travel Mat

rubber
68″ x 24″
74″ x 24″
3 3.0 $60
$65
YogaDesignLab The Combo Yoga Mat

rubber
70″ x 24″ 3.5 4.1 $68
Khataland YoFoMat

PER
72″ x 24″
72″ x 24″
72″ x 26″
4
6
3
2.7
3.2
4.9
$39
$49
$69
Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat

rubber
68″ x 24″ 2 1.0 $25
YOGO Mat Ultralight

rubber
68″ x 24″ 1.5 2.7 $68
FlowMats TravelFlow

TPE
71″ x 26″ 2.5 3.3 $70
Merrithew Folding Travel Mat

PER+PM
68″ x 24″ 1.4 1.5 $40
Brand Material * L″ x W″ H, mm Weight, lbs Price **
Manduka eko Superlite Travel Yoga Mat rubber 68″ x 24″ 1.5 2.2 $40
Jade Travel Mat rubber 68″ x 24″
74″ x 24″
3 3.0 $60
$65
YogaDesignLab The Combo Yoga Mat rubber 70″ x 24″ 3.5 4.1 $68
Khataland YoFoMat PER 72″ x 24″
72″ x 24″
72″ x 26″
4
6
3
2.7
3.2
4.9
$39
$49
$69
Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat rubber 68″ x 24″ 2 1.0 $25
YOGO Mat Ultralight rubber 68″ x 24″ 1.5 2.7 $68
FlowMats TravelFlow TPE 71″ x 26″ 2.5 3.3 $70
Merrithew Folding Travel Mat PER+PM 68″ x 24″ 1.4 1.5 $40

* Materials: Rubber: Rubber: natural material manufactured from rubber trees; Thermo Plastic Elastomer (TPE) and Polymer Environmental Resin (PER): synthetic, non-toxic materials which do not contain phthalates and have no other “peculiarities” of PVC. They are eco-friendly because they can be recycled; Polymer Microfiber (PM): synthetic fabric manufactured from polymer fibres.

** Prices are rough and current as of date of publishing the article. See manufacturers’ websites for full details.

Manduka eko Superlite Travel Yoga Mat

This is a very thin mat, just 1.5 mm thick, which is ideal for any bag, but not for any knees. As a variant, you can use it as an upper layer above a towel or blanket. Its material is rubber, therefore, there will be a specific odour, especially immediately after unpacking. This odour becomes less intense over time, but all rubber mats smell to a greater or lesser extent. But, on the whole, the mat is good. After all, it is a Manduka. Price: $40

Jade Travel Yoga Mat

This is another high-quality manufacturer. This mat is quite heavy (3 lb) but its thickness is 3 mm, nearly the same as ordinary “non-mobile” mats. Its material is made using “open cell” technology which improves its cushioning properties and provides for good stickiness, but the porous surface gets dirty quicker. A longer 74” version is available for tall yogis. A pleasant bonus of buying this mat is that Jade plants a tree for each one sold. Price: $60 – $65

YogaDesignLab The Combo Yoga Mat

Despite its thickness and weight, this mat is quite soft and may give your knees a hard time. This mat has very good stickiness which is achieved, among other factors, by its special surface texture. Many people use it even for hot yoga. By the way, its cohesion with the floor is also the best there is. This mat is available in several stylish designs. Price: $68

Khataland YoFoMat

Of course, any thin mat may be folded but not rolled up. However, the Khataland is made just as a foldable mat: it has bend lines which may also be useful for alignment in asanas. The surfaces of foldable mats do not touch each other, so one of them always remains clean. This is a bonus, as the problem of hygiene is of special importance during travelling. This mat is made of PER, so it is quite light for its dimensions (see table). Price: $39 – 69

Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat

A thin, 2 mm thick foldable mat which weighs just 1 lb is an interesting version for a lower price. This would be good for those who prefer to try the advantages and drawbacks of a travel mat and then choose a more sustainable mat with some firsthand knowledge. Price: $25

YOGO Mat Ultralight

Two straps, which facilitate packing and carrying, are provided with this mat. This mat is thin, so a backing is advisable. The stickiness of one side is less than that of the other. Its manufacturer is a small company known for its high level of ecological responsibility. Price: $68

FlowMats TravelFlow

This mat will be to the liking of larger yogi-travellers; even its width is larger than standard by a couple of inches. The manufacturer claims good anti-sliding and even antimicrobial properties. There are only a few reviews concerning this mat, but they are all very positive. The company is famous for its support for building schools in India. Price: $70

Merrithew Folding Travel Mat

An important feature of this inexpensive mat is the different materials used for its sides. One side is made of PER and the other of polymer microfiber, which may turn out to be both a drawback and an advantage, depending on the floor surface. This mat has standard dimensions but is very light due to the materials used. Price: $40

Unfortunately, there is no ideal travel yoga mat, and even the best ones have their defects. But it is better to take a non-ideal mat than nothing at all. A personal yoga space packed in your suitcase – what could be better for practice on the road!



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