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
|
|
| $40 | |
| Jade Travel Mat
rubber
|
|
| $60 $65 |
|
| YogaDesignLab The Combo Yoga Mat
rubber
|
|
| $68 | |
| Khataland YoFoMat
PER
|
|
| $39 $49 $69 |
|
| Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat
rubber
|
|
| $25 | |
| YOGO Mat Ultralight
rubber
|
|
| $68 | |
| FlowMats TravelFlow
TPE
|
|
| $70 | |
| Merrithew Folding Travel Mat
PER+PM
|
|
| $40 |
| Brand, |
||||
| Manduka eko Superlite Travel Yoga Mat
rubber
|
1.5 | 2.2 | $40 | |
| Jade Travel Mat
rubber
|
3 | 3.0 | $60 $65 |
|
| YogaDesignLab The Combo Yoga Mat
rubber
|
3.5 | 4.1 | $68 | |
| Khataland YoFoMat
PER
|
4 6 3 |
2.7 3.2 4.9 |
$39 $49 $69 |
|
| Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat
rubber
|
2 | 1.0 | $25 | |
| YOGO Mat Ultralight
rubber
|
1.5 | 2.7 | $68 | |
| FlowMats TravelFlow
TPE
|
2.5 | 3.3 | $70 | |
| Merrithew Folding Travel Mat
PER+PM
|
1.4 | 1.5 | $40 |
| Brand | |||||
| Manduka eko Superlite Travel Yoga Mat | rubber | 1.5 | 2.2 | $40 | |
| Jade Travel Mat | rubber | 3 | 3.0 | $60 $65 |
|
| YogaDesignLab The Combo Yoga Mat | rubber | 3.5 | 4.1 | $68 | |
| Khataland YoFoMat | PER | 4 6 3 |
2.7 3.2 4.9 |
$39 $49 $69 |
|
| Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat | rubber | 2 | 1.0 | $25 | |
| YOGO Mat Ultralight | rubber | 1.5 | 2.7 | $68 | |
| FlowMats TravelFlow | TPE | 2.5 | 3.3 | $70 | |
| Merrithew Folding Travel Mat | PER+PM | 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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A good Yoga mat should:
- correspond to your size
- be of suitable thickness
- have sufficient slip resistance (stickiness) on both sides
- be durable
- exhibit no persistent unpleasant smell
- have a design that pleases you
