10 Best Yoga Mats For Sweaty Hands For A Slip-Free Practice

Yoga is an excellent way to get a proper stretch while working on a lot of muscles without heavy impact on them. This practice has been a favorite of athletes and people recovering from injuries because they’ve said that overall, yoga makes them feel better.

A bummer though is if you suffer from palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, which is the excessive sweating of the hands and feet. What are the best yoga mats for sweaty hands? Would you need a specific type of mat? Let me answer all these questions and more in this article.

Have no time to read more? Here is the editor’s top pick for the best yoga mat for sweaty palms.

What Is Yoga?

From being mistaken as a strange cult or just a simple exercise routine, yoga definitely has some mysterious yet interesting roots. Join me in tracing back the history of this practice and how it became the popular workout that it is today.

Originating from India, it is said that yoga has been around for more than 5,000 years and was practiced by the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in the northern part of the country. Most experts say that yoga has existed for more than 10,000 years but was not documented properly as traditionally, yoga was passed down orally.

The theory of these scientists was that some of the texts were destroyed because most people wrote texts down on palm leaves which wouldn’t last a long time and were easily destroyed. As proof of yoga’s ancient existence, you will see this practice mention in the Vedas, or books of songs of the ancient Indians.

To make the history clearer, I’ll divide yoga into four distinct periods which would describe the practice and what yoga was during those days. Here are the four periods of yoga:

1. Ancient or Pre-Classical Yoga

Ancient yoga was one that was mentioned in one of India’s older texts called the Rig Veda, which was a book of rituals with songs and sacred texts used by their priests or Brahmans. They used these texts to teach many different practices to their followers.

Later on, the Rishis or the seers, along with the priests, refined these texts and wrote them down in what you now call the Upanishads or a compilation of different texts and had over 200 scriptures in it, one of them being very popular even to this date — the Bhagavad Gita.

The Bhagavad Gita which literally means “the song of god” is one the most influential work of philosophy from the East. it teaches its readers that there is more to life than just the physical aspect of it. That it is important to get knowledge, action, and wisdom as a result of the two previous actions.

2. Classical Yoga

In ancient yoga, the main problem was that there were too many ideas that often contradicted each other, and made the teachings very confusing to the ordinary person. So Patanjali decided to systematize yoga and wrote each teaching in a clear way which is found in his Sutras or texts.

Patanjali, who was a known Indian sage, made a a detailed guide on how to achieve Samadhi or enlightenment. He called it the “Eight- Limbed Path” in which each step is explained for the yogis to follow. Because of his works, Patanjali is called the father of yoga, and is still a driving influence to present-day yoga.

3. Post-Classical Yoga

I guess you have noticed that the earlier forms (and the beginnings) of yoga all started with teaching and meditation. It did not have any form of physical exertion and most students sat down for long periods of time which hurt their backs.

Yoga masters then realized that they needed a form of physical activity to strengthen the body to withstand long hours of meditation and sittting down. They then slowly rejected the ancient teachings and believed that by strengthening the body along with the mind is a better path towards enlightenment.

You now see some of the modern yoga in this period. They developed Tantra Yoga, which has different mudras or hand gestures, pranayama or breathing excercises and asanas or the different yoga postures. This belief of the physical body’s ties to the mind (and spirituality) led to one of the forms of yoga people practice nowadays— Hatha Yoga, which is popular in the West.

4. Modern Yoga

Modern yoga or the present-day yoga actually started in the 1800s and the 1900s when yoga masters decided to travel to the west. To be exact, a yogi master by the name of Swami Vivekananda attended the 1893 Parliament of Religions which was held in Chicago. He amazed people on his teachings about the relation and the similarities all the religions had.

In the ’20s and ’30s, Hatha yoga was gaining popularity (and was heavily promoted) in India. The works of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya and Swami Sivananda were very popular and they gained a lot of followers.

Tirumalai Krishnamacharya opened the first Hatha Yoga school in 1924. The school was built in Mysore, which is still known as one of India’s yoga capitals. In 1936 S.Sivananda started his own school called Divine Life Society in the banks of the Ganges River, which was considered a holy place where people cleansed their bodies.

If you’re not familiar with Krishnamacharya, you might know one of his students, B.K.S Iyengar, the founder of Iyengar Yoga. Iyengar’s teachings and asanas are still popular to this date and are widely practiced in many countries around the world.

Yoga continued to spread slowly to the west until it came to Hollywood. Eugenie Peterson (later known as Indra Devi), a follower of T. Krishnamacharya opened her first studio in the US in 1947.

After that, yoga became a popular physical activity for many celebrities, which made people more curious to try it out. Today, you may see a lot of yoga schools with different names. All of these are forms of Hatha Yoga and each school just has a different focus in the discipline but many share the same scriptures.

Why Do I Need Yoga Mats?

Let me keep this short and sweet because we will be discussing the history of yoga mats after this, which will explain in detail why yoga mats are a must-have in modern yoga practice.

As a person whose hands sweat a lot, these asanas can be dangerous because some poses require me to be on all fours and many times, I almost fell on my face because my hands slipped. While this may sound funny, accidents can happen due to slipping and lucky for me, I have never had an injury because I decided to buy good yoga mats.

Yoga mats are basically designed to have a little bit of cushioning to protect your body from injury especially when you practice your inversions (like headstands, handstands, or even the beginner poses like the dolphin pose).

History of the Yoga Mat

As I said earlier, yoga mats are essential to protect pour bodies from the hard ground and to provide extra cushioning for certain poses. But what about its roots? When did yoga mats start being the norm in every yogi’s practice?

Although this is an advertisement for Liforme mats (which are amazing), please focus on the facts on these mats as we will be discussing the best brands later. To answer the question earlier, let’s watch this video:

If you read the history of yoga earlier, yoga mats weren’t really a necessity due to the practice being all about breathing and meditation so people were not really concerned about any cushioning as the ground was often enough for them. If not the ground they practiced on Kusha grass,

In the 1800s, when Hatha Yoga started gaining popularity, asanas started becoming more challenging so the yogis at that time did their best to practice these postures for a sound mind and body. Their problem was that the ground was often dirty, unstable, and did not provide any protection when practicing the poses.

So the yogis found a solution! They utilized animal skin or pelt as mats to practice yoga on. The problem was, these animal skins were hard to come by and hard to maintain. Later on, they started weaving their own cotton mats for their practice.

The problem with cotton mats is that it absorbed their sweat which made it smell bad and cotton did not always provide the best grip especially when you’re already sweating so much. Cotton is also heavy and hard to maintain, which was a problem for yogis.

When yoga became popular in the West, it became more systematized and standardized because most people were not into the meditative and spiritual aspect of it and instead focused on it like a workout. The problem is, they still used cotton mats which made them slip and fall in some poses like Natarajasana or Dancer Pose.

A breakthrough in the production of yoga mats came in 1982 when Angela Farmer made yoga mats out of the foamy underlay of carpets. Known as an eccentric yoga teacher, she contacted her father and took the first “mat” to London. Later on, Richard Farmer contacted a manufacturer in Germany to help mass produce these mats.

The problem with stick mats was that because they were made out of carpet underlay, after several uses they started crumbling, which was unfortunate because you’d have to buy lots of mats in a short span of time. let’s just say it wasn’t the best.

The company that first imported these Farmer Mats, Hugger Mugger yoga products, sold them through the ’90s but when they received all these complaints about them crumbling in just a few months, they decided to make something different.

Sarah Chambers, the owner of Hugger Mugger Yoga Products, researched more on the Farmer Mats and why they crumbled so fast. She then decided to stop importing them and made a new and improved Tapas Mat, which is known as the first yoga mat. The problem with these mats were the material they were made of.

Tapas Mats were undeniably durable and served its purpose. The problem was that it was made from PVC and wasn’t easy to recycle. It really causes a lot of problems in the environment and people were complaining about this because they wanted something more natural.

Now, many companies have then started making yoga mats and have improved since the Tapas Mats were released. A lot of mat companies have created better, and more eco-friendly mats made out of natural rubber. I made sure that mats in this list have the best quality and I’m excited to share with you why I love them.

Before we go on to the list, I want to help you out when selecting your yoga mat. First, let me remind you that the mats here are not your ordinary mat because I intended all of these for a very sweaty practice. If you already have sweaty palms, expect more sweating because yoga, although a gentle practice, can make one sweat buckets (believe me, I didn’t expect it!).

Things To Consider When Looking For a Mat

It may seem easy when selecting a yoga mat because there are literally hundreds (or even thousands) of choices in both online and offline stores. These mats are often classy and may tempting to buy but before you do, you have to take a few things into consideration.

These things you should consider in a mat is important because you would want something that will be the best for your practice and one that would last you a lifetime without harming the environment. Here are the following things you should check on any mat you buy:

1. Style of Yoga

As mentioned above, there are many styles of yoga, but I want to be more specific because you might end up getting the wrong mat. Although the list you’ll be reading below will have different types of mats for sweaty hands and feet, I still want to share this with you just in case. It always pays to be informed, after all.

Have you ever tried hot yoga or Bikram Yoga? This yoga has the usual vinyasa flow postures but the difference is they raise the heat in the room, and it can make you break out into a heavy sweat. While this is helpful especially if you want to lose weight, some yoga mats cannot be soaked.

Don’t worry! I made sure to have the best mats in this list, but if you decide to buy some mats that may not be on this list, always check if it can withstand sweat, because that’s what a mat is for right?

2. Length of the Mat

Yoga mats are usually 6 feet long (180cm) and are 2 feet wide. You’ll notice that the mats you’ll be seeing below have different lengths and widths but are all perfect for any yoga pose. I didn’t include really short mats or oddly shaped ones because I want full coverage when it comes to my asanas.

3. The Thickness of the Mat

The thickness varies from 1/16 of an inch to 1/8 of an inch, which is the standard. There are also thicker mats at 1/4 of an inch. You may opt for a the thicker 1/4 of an inch mat if you’re doing yoga for therapy like yoga for injuries or yin yoga, which requires you to hold one pose for about five minutes for each side. This form of yoga is less of a workout but is more of a flexibility practice and is widely practiced by athletes for recovery.

4. Allergies

Allergies? Yes! Allergies can be a factor in selecting mats. If you have a latex allergy you may have to choose a different mat like a cork mat, which may sound weird but will actually last you a long time without making your skin itch.

5. Weight of the Mat

Most mats are light but some mats on this list like the Jade mat and the Manduka may be a bit heavier than your usual yoga mats, this is perfect for home use of if you go to your nearby studio but it can be a problem when traveling.

I thought about that so I included a traveling mat on the list below. It weighs three pounds and will fit your suitcase perfectly, without taking up too much space because you can fold it like a cloth.

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Best Yoga Mats For People With Sweaty Hands

As promised! I made a list of different mats that I think you would love to purchase. These mats have different lengths and sizes but I made sure that they are perfect for anybody with sweaty hands and feet. Below is an overview of the brands you’ll see and their qualities you might like.

Yoga Mat Brand	Material	Breaking-in Needed?	Travel-friendly?
1. Jade	Natural Rubber	No	No
2. Manduka PRO	Eco-certified PVC	Yes	No
3. Liforme	Natural Rubber and eco-polyurethane	No	Yes
4. IUGA	Tree Rubber	No	No
5. AJNA	Jute and Rubber	No	Yes
6. HeathYoga	TPE	No	No
7. Yoloha	Cork	No	Yes
8. Jade Voyager	Natural Rubber	No	Yes
9. Mandelbrot X	Jute and Natural Rubber	No	No
10. Rolling Sands	PVC	No	No

Although some of them may cost a bit more than what you see in the nearby sports stores, you’ll clearly see why the cost is a bit high and how it is definitely worth every cent. Here are the best yoga mats to keep you from slipping.

1. Jade Yoga Fusion Yoga Mat

I’d have to be crazy if I didn’t include a Jade mat (or two) on this whole list. I want to let you know that this brand is one of the best when it comes to cushioning, stability, and grip.

Before we go more into the details of this awesome mat, I’d like to start of with a short history of the Jade Yoga Mat company. When did it start? Is it a new brand?`

The answer is yes, Jade is not as old as the original yoga mat, but the business where it all started is over a hundred years old when Dean Jerrehian’s grandfather migrated to the United States and started selling rugs.

The oriental rug business, called Jerrehian Brothers, soon became popular because they provided what the people were looking for—rugs with good quality. In the ’70s, Dean’s father followed the grandfather’s footsteps and started Jade Industries, which manufactured the rubber surface that you put underneath rugs so they won’t slip.

These rug pads needed a firm grip on the floor to protect the rug and to protect people from slipping. The best materials were used and they were made out of natural rubber. This became the foundation of the current Jade mats that we see in the market.

In 2000, Dean heard complaints from many people regarding yoga mats and how they slipped no matter how “sticky” they were supposed to be. Coat them in sweat, and you’ll definitely get into an accident.

Since Jade Industries was already manufacturing rug pads, they decided to come up with a prototype that was also made out of natural rubber but with specific measurements and requirements needed in a mat. The first Jade Mat, the Harmony, was released.

They made over 500 samples and made hundreds of calls, which later on paid off because everyone loved their Jade mats and were pleasantly surprised because they weren’t slipping at all. Natural rubber also had a natural softness to it which adds to the cushioning of the mat.

The Jade Yoga Fusion Yoga Mat is one of their new and improved mats. I must say that this mat is a bit heavier than other mats. It is about seven pounds and be quite a workout to bring to your yoga classes. It’s not bad if you ask me because this mat is unique because it gives you excellent cushioning compared to other mats as it is thicker.

But what makes it different from other thicker mats? Isn’t it harder to execute standing and balancing poses on thicker mats? The answer is if it is Jade, it won’t be that hard. I can vouch for Jade because I have had my very own thick mat for about 3 years and it is still as good as new, and I never had problems with my balance.

The Jade Yoga Fusion mat is highly recommended for Pilates and Yoga Therapy, because of the added cushioning but it can also be used for planks and cross-fit training that would require some floor workouts.

If you are looking for a good mat that will give you extra protection when practicing inversions, Jade is definitely the mat for you. Here’s a video of the Jade Fusion Mat:

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2. Manduka PRO Yoga Mat

Coming in second, the Manduka Pro is a mat you’ll want to own because it is was really made for a sweaty yoga practice. It makes me remember the first time I tried yoga. It was an impulsive decision on my end, but it was something I never regretted doing.

I decided to try yoga back in 2016 because I was severely overweight and I needed something gentle on the body that will help me shed some pounds. I was told that swimming is one option, the other would be yoga. So I searched online and luckily found a studio a few blocks from where I lived at the time.

Unfortunately, I didn’t know that my first class would be hot yoga. I live in a tropical country so imagine how hot the room was? I made sure to stay at the back near the door because the heat was almost unbearable while doing all those poses. By the end of the class, I had already soaked through my mat and it was so hard to clean.

I asked some friends who have been practicing yoga and they always recommend Manduka Mats. I was really skeptical because Manduka isn’t really that cheap and I didn’t know if it was really worth it. I decided to buy other mats and continue my practice.

Due to all the sweat, I always slipped on those mats and I ended up buying several just because of my stubbornness at buying a Manduka. Several mats later (and so much money spent!) I ended up buying a Manduka Mat and I’m so happy I did.

I still have that mat and it has served me well in my yoga practice. Four years later and it still looks new, It has no signs that I have sweat buckets on it, and the grip is still amazing. I have told a lot of friends to get this mat and they have thanked me for my recommendation because they also say the same, their mats serve their purpose.

Fun fact, I also got a Manduka Pro, in midnight blue. It is very classy and it has everything Manduka says it has. Let’s start with the surface of the mat. The Manduka has a closed-cell surface so that it prevents the sweat from seeping in which not only causes an unpleasant odor but it sweat also deteriorates rubber slowly. This closed-cell structure prolongs the life of your mat—Manduka even claims that your mat will last a lifetime.

The top part has a fabric finish that has an initial protective layer you have to remove. That’s the only thing that’s different with all Manduka mats—you need to break them in. The initial coat is there to protect the mat while it isn’t being used actively.

Breaking it in is simple. You just need sunlight, coarse salt, and water. This process is essential to increase the grip of your Manduka mat because the initial protective layer is a bit glossy and can be very slippery, that’s why when someone asks me why they slip on their Manduka, I always ask them if they broke their mat in. Here is a video on how to do this step:

You will definitely love your mat because the grip just improves with your yoga practice. The more you use it, the stickier it will become. You can also buy their mat wash for easy cleaning. The best way to store your Manduka Mat is to roll it with the fabric finish outside so that the mat stays flat when you roll it out during class.

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3. Liforme Original Yoga Mat

Yoga is one of the best exercises that can be done in the comforts of your home. You just need a flat surface and a yoga mat to finish a complete 1.5-hour workout. It can be a daily routine, or something you can do in between work, or you can even opt to do it every other day, your choice.

Yoga has helped a lot of people, from kids to even the elderly, for muscle recovery and muscle building. Contrary to popular belief, yoga is a gently cardio exercise as well with minimum impact compared to any other practice. This makes it perfect for people recovering from injuries, people who are a bit on the heavy side who want to lose weight, and a perfect stretch for people sitting down the entire day.

That said, it would be best to get a sturdy and reliable yoga mat for your home because you wouldn’t be in front of a teacher who can respond accordingly just in case you slip on it. I’m coming from experience here— it hurts when you slip and it can cause a bad injury. I remember slipping once and I decided then and there to buy a better mat.

Another problem a home practice can bring is your body’s alignment. In yoga, you have to be sure that you don’t hyper extend your elbows and knees, which can lead to injuries. You constantly have to check that your body is aligned so that you use the proper muscle group in a specific pose.

A good solution is to use your own body for alignment but that isn’t always easy, you have to take note that not everyone is lean or thin and that every body is unique. So yogis decided to look for the best solution—a yoga mat that has perfect guide lines (yes literal lines!) that a person can follow when he/she practices.

The problem with yoga mats with lines was that the lines were good but it wasn’t enough to guide some poses as inversions (headstands or handstands) or some triangle poses. Another factor was also the grip, not all mats which had lines full supported a sweaty practice.

it all started when James Armitage and a few yogi friends decided to brainstorm in 2008 for what people look for in a yoga mat. The group discovered that people look for a mat with a good grip, can provide enough cushioning, and (surprisingly,) an eco-friendly mat.

While he didn’t expect his company to be focused on the eco-friendly aspect of mat production, he discovered that PVC mats aren’t really sustainable and that if he wanted to produce good mats, he had to do his part to not add to the garbage that would take hundreds of years to decompose.

Him and the entire Liforme team did years of research and testing. They made prototype mats and contacted hundreds of yoga teachers around the world to test their mats and give feedback if it was to their liking. In five years, they were able to make the best version and released Liforme mats in 2013.

Before I go into details, I want to show you a video made by Liforme Mats and why their mats are the best in the market. here it is:

I love Liforme Mats because you’ll have more space for your practice, I mean this literally because their mats are 2 inches longer and wider than the standard 70″x 26″ mats. You never have to worry about not being able to do wider poses and there’s no “off the mat” pose anymore.

All the lines in your mat serve a purpose, whether you’re in child’s pose, reverse triangle or even all the warrior poses. The mat is also “truly eco-friendly” because the mats are made from sustainable natural rubber and a polyurethane coat on top that will decompose in 1-5 years in a landfill. The mat is also amazing because as it gets wet, the grip gets better. Liforme is also half the weight of most mats at 3.5lbs.

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4. IUGA Eco Friendly Yoga Mat

Picking a mat for your yoga practice can be very tricky because there are so many available options in the market and that everyone seems to say that they have an excellent grip. As a person who sweats a lot, I have to break it to you—some mats will not help at all and are not truly slip-resistant.

I wish I had a list like this one to help me, instead, I was so stubborn and ended up with a lot of mats that were virtually useless, because I couldn’t use them for any type of yoga practice because I sweat a lot even with minimal movement (a blessing and a curse, to be honest).

I also noticed that a problem I had with mats were that they were either too thin or too thick. Mats that are too thin are painful to use especially if you have flat feet because there isn’t enough cushioning and some kneeling and squatting poses can be a bit painful due to the lack of protection. For thicker mats, the problem is when I do the tree pose and end up losing my balance because the entire mat is wobbly.

I decided to come up will a well-rounded list, so I came up with my personal favorites (also verified by many yogis in the world) and some other brands that have really good reviews that I think will be a good buy if you sweat as much as I do or if you have hyperhidrosis.

After a good read at many brands available online, I discovered a unique brand which I think produces really good mats and is called IUGA. I honestly don’t know how to pronounce the brand (and so do many people) but so far, I’ve read nothing but the best reviews about their mat— the IUGA Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat.

What makes this mat unique? Is it convenient to use at home or to bring to the gym? The answer to the second question is that it is so convenient to use both indoors or even at the studio or gym because it is very light at 2.3lbs.

For the first question on what makes it unique, it’s actually simple, the mat is “grippy” or is slip-resistant without hurting your skin. A lot of people really like mats with a good grip on them, but their complaint is that they’re too sticky that it sometimes hurts when they accidentally slide their foot or hands on the surface.

The IUGA Yoga Mat is non-slip but not too “sticky” so you wouldn’t have to worry about rough surfaces or even mat burns if you accidentally skid on your mat. To know more about the IUGA mat, here is an honest review by Custom Pilates and Yoga and why she loves this mat:

She has nothing but good things to say about her IUGA mat however you have to take note of what she mentioned about the dirt outside the mat. You may want to buy a mat bag that covers the entire mat because the outside of the mat is exposed to a lot of elements and if you place your mat on a dirty surface you may have to constantly wipe your mat.

To clean your IUGA mat, just have a small basin of soapy water and wipe down the mat after every use. This mat is less fussy and doesn’t need to be broken in like other mats.

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5. AJNA Eco Organic Yoga Mat

When it comes to yoga mats, most people look for a balance between a lot of factors, and often they find it hard to find a mat that they like. While other mats are sturdy and will last a lifetime, it ends up wasting away in landfills and isn’t eco-friendly at all. For eco-friendly mats, at times they’re not as durable.

Do you see the difficulty now? I only want the best yoga mats on this list so I decided to add AJNA Eco Organic Yoga Mat. What makes it different? Why is it called “eco organic”? Let me answer all your questions one by one.

First, AJNA is different because it uses two unique materials—PER (polymer environmental resin) and jute. I will be discussing more this in a bit. For the second question, it is eco organic because unlike simple eco-friendly mats, AJNA mats will biodegrade faster than PVC mats, so you don’t have to worry about adding on to the landfill trash that is already a big global crisis.

AJNA mats are reversible which means you can use both sides depending on your practice. Most people say that the darker, plain side has more grip but in the long run, you will use the jute side, which gets more slip-resistant as you use it.

The mat is two inches longer but is as wide as the standard yoga mat. It isn’t that heavy at 4.4lbs and it comes with a dual purpose yoga strap. The strap is useful if you want to carry your mat to the studio or the gym but can be used as a yoga belt for some stretches and binding poses.

The top of the mat is made with sustainably sourced jute fibers and I must say, the mat looks classy and it does the job it’s supposed to do—keep you from slipping. Here is a look at an AJNA Mat and why I think it’s a great mat to own:

If you want an all-natural mat that is guaranteed free from toxins and will last you a lifetime, AJNA is the mat for you. A fun fact, AJNA is a Sanskrit term for intuition and the founders of this brand wanted to naturally guide people into using more natural products that won’t harm your body or the planet.

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6. Heathyoga Yoga Mat

While searching for the best mats, I noticed that many brands claim that they are the most organic, sustainable, or even “truly eco-friendly”. Although I want to believe in all this, I really do my research and read about the materials of the mat before deciding to put them on my list.

One thing I noticed among natural mats is that they smell weird at first. You usually need to air them out because of the strong rubber smell that most people can’t take and will definitely be a problem when they practice.

These odors are unbearable and you wouldn’t want to get these kinds of mats because they can distract you from a good yoga practice. Imagine trying to rest in downward-facing dog or child’s pose only to smell the foul odor coming from your mat? That would not be a fun experience at all.

So on the hunt for a good smelling mat, I read about Heathyoga TPE Yoga Mat and decided that hey, this mat meets my criteria of a good yoga mat. My criteria is that aside from being eco-friendly and smelling good, it has to be truly non-slip because I’m really concerned about mat-related accidents and I would never want you to experience that.

The Heathyoga Mat is a good duper to more expensive mats on the market because it costs a bit less but it does the job. The top part has a diamond pattern which adds to the grip when you’re in the middle of your practice and the bottom has tire-like tracks which helps keep the mat in place no matter what you do.

The mat is two inches wider and longer than a regular mat but is very light at 2.4lbs. It has the perfect thickness at 6mm—not too thin to hurt your knees or feet and not too thick so that you end up losing your balance. This mat was well thought of and is definitely a mat you should get.

The mat is slightly expensive but I honestly think that it’s a bit cheaper than some luxury mats but it has guide lines that will help you with your home practice and the overall alignment of your poses, which is your goal after all, right?

Last but not least, I love the fact that this brand thought about the simplest solution for a common problem that yogis have when they buy their mat— the dirt. Most mats come with a carry strap that help you carry the bag but it doesn’t protect your mat from dirt and dust.

For people with really bad allergies, the exposure of the bag to dirt and dust can cause really terrible allergic reactions from breaking out into hives to sneezing fits, you name it. So Heathyoga solves this by providing a full coverage mat bag. Yes, it’s not only a strap but a thin cloth bag that covers your new mat. This brand really thought about the mat design and its customers.

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7. Yoloha Cork Yoga Mat

You want to find the best mat that can literally take buckets of sweat on it. Whether you’re a new yoga enthusiast or a yogi that has been practicing for years, the common thing we all have is the search for the “one” mat that will help us strengthen our practice without injuries caused by slipping.

The usage of yoga towels is good but aside from the added weight, they can also add to the distraction and can disrupt your practice. In yoga, surprisingly, some poses like the tree pose aren’t about strength and flexibility. tree pose is actually about focus, and the best way to hold this one-legged pose is to concentrate on a specific spot on the room.

Another factor would be the thickness of the mat. Although thicker mats are really good when it comes to cushioning but really bad for balancing poses as they tend to be wobbly. Thicker mats are good for yoga therapy, which means that only specific poses are done and balancing poses are avoided because this for of yoga are usually for injured people or for pregnant students.

I did my research and read on cork mats. yes, they’re actually made out of cork. My first question was would this mat last long and second, how do I clean cork mats?! I keep on seeing some of my classmates at the studio bringing theirs but I’ve always stuck to my rubber mats because of the cushioning.

They told me that their cork mats give them good cushioning and have a good grip but we have never talked about cleaning the mat itself. Because of this, I decided to a lot of reading on cork mats and discovered Yoloha Cork Mats, which had really good reviews online.

Yoloha Mats are unique because they’re designed for beach yoga or paddle board yoga. Basically, this mat is meant to last even when submerged in water. Amazing, right? I was intrigued so I read more, aside from the fact that i thought paddle board yoga would be so cool (and weirdly dangerous too).

To start this off, I would like to share a good and honest review on this mat by Brett Larkin, a yoga teacher who really makes good review online. here is her take on the Yoloha Cork Mats:

I love this mat because the grip is amazing, it is proven by people practicing yoga while the mat is partially submerged in water, this means that it can (literally) take buckets of water on it, so what more if you sweat on it, right?

The mat is definitely not-toxic and sustainable. Yes, cork extraction or production does not require any tree to be cut down, the cork we see in bags or wine bottles actually come from the bark of the cork oak tree which grows back so you don’t have to worry at all.

This brand is also run by a family that loves yoga and has guaranteed that if you are not satisfied with your Yoloha mat, you can return or exchange it within 30 days. I love the fact that they are confident in the quality of their product and are open to possible criticism from their customers. Brands like Yoloha are ones I love because they tend to improve really fast because they connect with the people who buy their stuff.

To clean this mat, you only need to wipe it down with a cloth with water and mild soap. Be careful to not use anything rough on your mat because it can destroy the cork which can ruin the entire mat. I’d suggest to wipe your mat after every use so that there own’t be any buildup of dirt.

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8. Jade Voyager Yoga Mat

People normally love traveling and often go to different destinations when they’re on break or when they get the chance to fly out. The problem most travelers encounter is working out in the middle of their adventures.

This does not exclude yogis, as practicing yoga is part of their daily routine and the thought of not being able to practice while they’re in another place can be stressful. Remember, not all places have a proper yoga studio and you can’t expect shared mats to be hygienic at all.

Yoga mats are usually very heavy and are bulky, so if you’re one to backpack when travelling, a yoga mat can be excess luggage and can literally weight you down. The solution of most brands is to make traveling versions of their regular mats.

Since I promised to include a traveling mat in this list, I’d like to recommend a traveling version of one of my favorite brands—the Jade Voyager Yoga Mat. Like its regular (and thicker) relatives, the Voyager will definitely travel with you and keep you fit and active no matter where you are.

So you have a better idea of this mat, here is a video on the specifications of the jade Voyager Mat:

Known as the best commuter mat, the Voyager lives up to all the Jade standards— it’s also sustainably sourced, it has excellent grip (an understatement), and it is really, really light at 1.5lbs which is 1/5 of the weight of a regular Jade mat.

This commuter mat can be used on top of loaner mats when you’re visiting a studio abroad or you can use this mat as a standalone mat, the only caveat is that it doesn’t have the best cushioning because they reduced that in order to make it lighter.

To pack your Jade Voyager, you can either roll it into a very thin bundle or even fold it like a regular cloth. It has the same dimensions as the regular Jade mat but when folded, is roughly the size of a yoga block. The Voyager can fit a backpack if you decide on traveling light.

I remember using one when my friend brought her Voyager mat at an outdoor yoga session. I remember how amazed I was when I saw that she got her mat seemingly out of thin air, because it fit her big shoulder bag without making it look bulky.

If you’re looking for a really good and sturdy traveling mat, the Voyager is the best one to get.

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9. Mandelbrot X Yoga Mat

Yoga is the perfect activity to either start of end the day with (or both!). It is a relaxing practice and yet it engages so many muscle groups you don’t even notice that you did a full workout. It’s always a win-win situation when it comes to a full yoga session.

That said, I always make sure to clear out an hour or two daily to have my full yoga practice, it has improved my body by helping me shed off extra pounds, by toning and even strengthening my leg muscles which were greatly affected by all the weight I was carrying.

It has become a safe space for me, yoga, to be calm and at peace in the midst of a lot of stressful events in my life. The only major problem I had was that I kept on slipping during hot or even regular yoga classes because of my very sweaty palms. At that time, I didn’t know that hyperhidrosis existed and just thought it was normal.

Apparently not all people who practice yoga get sweaty palms. The only solution was to use yoga towels but they often caused lots of problems because it would distract me if it folds or twists the wrong way. It would irritate me a lot so I wanted to find a different alternative that was less distracting and helped me stay on the mat.

A friend recommended finding yoga mats with really awesome traction and grip and I must say that this is the best advice I had received back then and to this day, I always say the same— get a good yoga mat that is slip-resistant, and it will serve you well.

That’s why I was excited to make this list for you. First, because I have experience with slippery mats and I have very sweaty palms and second, because I would only recommend the best mats for you to use. I would only put yoga mats that are truly grip-friendly.

That’s why I recommend Mandelbrot X yoga mats. This brand might not be that popular at first but if you ask people who know slip-proof mats, they’d always recommend Mandelbrot X, most especially this specific mat because of its natural fibers and grip-friendly pattern on both sides on the yoga mat.

One side has good traction, to keep the mat from slipping on any surface and another surface to keep you from slipping because either way, it could lead to a very serious accident.

As much as yoga is gentle, sometimes people who slip might break or dislocate their bones especially during inversion practice, that’s why most teachers check very closely before having their students deepen their practice.

You have both sides of the Mandelbrot X to choose from because it is an awesome reversible mat but I prefer the Jute side for a more natural feel because the underside of the mat is PER, but I still think it’s a bit too soft for me. The grip is better with the jute layer because it gives you a cloth-like feel so it isn’t rough on the skin at all.

It is easy to carry and bring this mat with you when going for an outdoor yoga session or if you want to bring it to the gym. This mat is only 4.4lbs which is very light compared to most heavy-duty mats on this list. I wanted something in between so here you are with this stylish, slip-proof, and lightweight mat. You can have it all with your Mandelbrot X mat.

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10. Rolling Sands Yoga Mat

People always say the same thing— yoga is for every body. Not just everybody but also people who have different body types. Contrary to what many people advertise yoga to be, it isn’t always about being stick thin. I totally agree because some of my teachers weren’t the conventional “standard” yogis people know. Some were very tall some were a bit wide and heavier, but all of them found peace on the mat.

Amazing isn’t it? How yoga brings people of all walks of life, of all sizes together. How it encourages everyone to do better and not compare oneself to other people’s bodies because each body is unique—we are not made out of the same mold and everybody has their unique limits and some discover that they can go past their limits when practicing yoga.

The problem with yoga is that the way media portrays it to be—not for people who have wide hips, not for people struggling with weight. Although a lot of people have debunked the “yoga body” myth of being lean and toned, a lot of people still can’t (and don’t) believe me when I say that I practice yoga, because I’m not exactly lean at all.

I struggled at first because of my preconceived notions about yoga until one day I finally dragged myself to a studio and was surprised to see that many students and teachers told me that a lot of people my size (at that time) love yoga and have used the practice not only for shedding off weight but for body positivity.

I was floored and I kept on attending class until I noticed that I did shed off some weight but I also learned how to love my body a lot. I realized that my body is amazing because yoga gently reminds you to reach new goals and to make your body healthier because that’s the best way to go.

During that time my problem was to find a mat that was big enough so that during wide poses, I didn’t have to step off that mat and onto the ground (which could be extremely dirty). I didn’t like going in and out of the mat because I didn’t like getting my feet and yoga mat dirty. Feet are easy to clean but some of my natural yoga mats can’t be washed at all. That could be a pain especially if you really want to disinfect your mat.

That was about 4 years ago and I still could not find a mat big enough for some of the poses I want to practice. Then came this article and I wanted to make an awesome list of slip-proof mats. At first I was like “okay I will just go with what I use” to “woah an extra large mat! Finally!”.

Yes, I did find an extra-large yoga mat and a non-slip one at that. It also had a cute name— Rolling Sands. It gave me a beach vibe which made me think of a good beach yoga session, I was amazed because most mats that say that they’re larger were only a bit bigger by one or two inches but this mat is sixteen inches long and twelve inches wider than the regular-sized mats

The Rolling Sands extra-large yoga mat truly gives everyone a feeling that yoga is for every body, no matter what size. This mat is also perfect for acro-yoga which is yoga combined with acrobatics and is done by pairs. You’d definitely need a bigger space when doing this kind of yoga because you’ll do all sorts of poses and backbends.

I love Rolling Sands because it is also slip-proof and provides enough cushioning without being too soft which can make you lose your balance. Stay on your mat no matter what pose with the extra-large Rolling Sands yoga mat.

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Conclusion

Yoga is one of the best ways to keep fit and healthy. That said, it is always best to have the best equipment when doing anything—the same goes for yoga and it is important that you get a good high-quality mat for your practice.

With the list I made, I’m sure it won’t be too hard to choose a mat that’s perfect for you. All of them are unique as each brand has their own styles and materials but one thing is for sure— whatever mat you choose, it won’t (literally) let you down.

I want you to have the best yoga experience and one free from any injuries or accidents that may be caused by slipping on the mat. I’d to thank you for reading and I’d like to invite you to visit this site weekly for new updates.

I’m sure you have stories to share and questions to ask about yoga. Please check the FAQs below for some additional information on mats. If you don’t find the answer there, please leave me a comment below and I’ll be sure to give an answer as soon as possible. Last but not least, don’t forget to click on the social media buttons below to share this article with friends or family who need good yoga mats.

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FAQs

1. Are traveling mats slippery? Will that be a problem?

Not at all! If you check the list, I included a Jade traveling mat which I have tried using and it isn’t slippery at all. What i like about traveling mats is the compact size and how it isn’t as heavy as a regular mat. It is definitely not slippery at all but the only problem you may have is the lack of extra cushioning because traveling mats are very thin.

2. How Do I clean my mat?

Cleaning your mat is easier than you think. If your mat is made out of natural rubber, it isn’t advisable that you soak them in water. Most mat brands like Manduka have their own mat washes but you can opt to clean it by wiping your mat down after every use and make sure that it is dry before storing it in its bag/case.

3. Can I make my own mat spray?

Yes, you can! I usually make my own mat spray. You can fill 1/4 of a 100 ml bottle with witch hazel or white vinegar, add distilled water and a few drops of tea tree oil and lavender (usually just 2 drops of each). Shake your bottle and you’re all set.

Spray your mat with your mat spray and wipe off with a cloth. Make sure you wipe your mat well so that there’s no moisture left. Always clean your mat after using so that there won’t be any buildup of dirt and dried sweat which can ruin the materials of your mat. Tea tree and vinegar are good cleansers so that blend can do the trick.

4. Why aren’t yoga towels recommended for some practices?

Yoga towels can be used if you really sweat too much and your mat becomes too slippery. The problem is, it can fold in many different ways and even blow away during your practice, which can distract you from doing your poses right.

I opt to have a tiny hand towel beside my mat in class to wipe off the excess sweat. The mats on the list above don’t need towels because they have excellent grip and won’t absorb all the moisture. They are also easier to clean than ordinary (slippery) yoga mats.

5. How many mats should I own?

I personally own 2 mats, a Manduka and a Jade. I’m getting a traveling yoga mat soon. It really depends on how often you practice. If you teach yoga, you may notice that you may need 3 mats to rotate.

I always say get 2 mats so that you can rotate the usage so that there is less wear and tear but some people are just fine with 1 mat. Start with a good brand, then try the others on the list after a few years. You can also buy the other mats for your other gym activities.

6. Do I need other yoga equipment like belts and blocks?

Not necessarily. Belts and blocks are only there to help you improve your practice. Blocks help if you’re not that flexible yet and need to do bending poses. Since it is never recommended to force yourself into a pose, blocks are there to help you keep your balance during these postures.

Belts on the other hand, help you with binding poses, or poses that require you to wrap your body with your interlocked hands or connecting different body parts (sometimes like a pretzel). Not all people who start yoga are flexible so belts help you complete these binding poses without you hurting yourself.

These items are not really a necessity but you may want to get them if you’re really serious in your yoga practice. These blocks and belts will definitely help and will last you a lifetime.