Natural jute yoga mats have come a long way since the ones available just a few years ago. If you’re not totally familiar with jute yoga mats, they’re made from a fabric that’s exactly like burlap but not as abrasive. The reason it makes such a great yoga mat is that it’s a natural fiber that’s both highly grippy and sweat absorbent. But they’re not all created equally so we’ll cover our favorite jute yoga mats for portability, versatility, and beginners.
Let’s get started…
Our top picks for the best jute yoga mats
- Most Portable: YogiMall Natural Jute Yoga Mat
- Most Versatile: Anja Organic Yoga Mat
- Best For Beginners: Gaiam Jute Yoga Mat
Why use a Jute yoga mat
Jute’s a very versatile fiber that’s used to make everything from cloth to wrapping bails of hay. In fact, it’s the second most important vegetable fiber after cotton. So it makes sense that it would be used to create a natural yoga mat that’s an alternative to natural rubber and other natural materials.
Most people that use these mats use them for at least one of these reasons:
- They have a latex allergy so they can’t use a natural rubber mat and want an alternative.
- They like the look of the natural jute yoga mat.
- They need a versatile mat that can work in both hot and non-heated yoga classes.
You may have another reason but those are the ones I’ve seen the most. No matter what your reason is, jute yoga mats are both stylish and highly functional.
Review of The Best Jute Yoga Mats
Below we’re going to review a few of our favorite jute yoga mats. While almost any one of these can be portable, versatile, and beginner-friendly, we’re going to review our favorite in each category.
Best Jute Yoga Mat For Portability
YogiMall Natural Jute Yoga Mat
Our Rating
Our top pick for a portable jute yoga mat is the YogiMall natural jute yoga mat kit. It comes with everything you need to get started with yoga including yoga socks, a strap, a towel, and a carrying strap.
It’s made from eco-friendly ingredients including SGS certified materials and natural jute fiber. There are a few notable things about the mat. For one, it’s reversible. The top is natural jute but the bottom is actually a soft, dotted material that’s perfectly comfortable on your knees.
Another factor is that the material contains antimicrobial agents that prevent the build-up of bacteria on your yoga mat. If you’re using this in hot yoga this is especially helpful since yoga mats can get pretty gross.
I also like that it includes the yoga socks (although you’ll have to get your own yoga gloves), strap and hand towel.
The surface is slightly rough as you would expect with a natural fiber like jute but you get used to it pretty quick. It’s non-slip but that doesn’t mean everyone won’t slip. Some people report slipping but the vast majority don’t and that’s the consensus with every yoga mat on the market. Even the Manduka, Jade, and the rest of the yoga mats I use all the time get reports like this so take it with a grain of salt.
Overall it’s a very portable mat. It only weighs 3.4 lbs, comes with a carrying strap and it’s easy to carry to and from your yoga classes.
The one thing I will say is that it may not provide enough cushioning for those with sensitive joints. If you like to feel the floor underneath you, then you’ll appreciate this mat. But if you have sensitive joints, you may want a thicker mat or one made from denser material.
What makes this yoga mat special?
- Easy to transport
- Includes yoga socks, a strap, and hand towel
- Antimicrobial materials
Specs
- 5 mm thick
- 72 x 24 inches
- 1 mm layer of jute on surface
- 4 mm layer of eco PVC on the bottom
Best Jute Yoga Mat For Versatility
Anja Organic Yoga Mat
Our Rating
This jute yoga mat has made our lists before as one of the best yoga mats for carpet. It’s the Ajna Eco Organic Yoga Mat and comes in three colors that are extremely stylish. It’s made from natural jute fiber on top with an eco-friendly PER foam bottom. The foam is dense while providing the right level of springiness but it’s 5 mm thick which may not be enough if you have sore joints.
There are a few things that we really like about this one. First, the designs that it comes in are excellent. You really get that natural feeling when you look at the mat and when you pick it up. You just feel like you’re about to do something that’s both good for the environment and your body.
The organic jute fiber top provides an excellent grip that’s good enough to take into a hot yoga class but we recommend having a yoga towel nearby just in case.
Everything its made from is also recyclable and biodegradable which is a major plus for the environment. So many of the yoga mats today are made from materials that never break down which also means they probably contain chemicals that aren’t body-friendly either.
As far as the size of the mat, it comes in one standard 72 x 24-inch length/width. It weighs just 4.4 lbs and also includes a free carrying strap which makes it easily portable as well.
We chose this as the most versatile jute yoga mat because of how it looks, the grip, material, and ability to work in practically any environment. It’s our top pick overall for a jute yoga mat which is why we’ve recommended it before and, unless the quality takes a dive, we’ll continue recommending it.
What makes this yoga mat special?
- Lightweight material
- Very stylish design options
- Provides excellent grip
Specs
- 5 mm thick
- 72 x 24 inches
- Dense PER foam bottom
- 4.4 lbs
Best Jute Yoga Mat For Beginners
Gaiam Jute Yoga Mat
Our Rating
As a beginner’s natural jute yoga mat, the Gaiam strikes a balance between style, quality, and price that’s ideal for most people starting in yoga. After all, if you’re just starting out, you might not want to spend much on a yoga mat. Plus, you’ll likely purchase more yoga mats in the future if you continue your practice.
That’s why we chose the Gaiam jute yoga mat as the beginner’s choice. Currently, it only comes in one blue/tan color and, if I’m being honest, I really like the color and you might too.
When you’re buying a yoga mat for beginners and paying a little less, there will be sacrifices and I know you know that.
So why’s this one less? It doesn’t seem to hold up as long as other yoga mats, it’s rougher on the surface, and a little heavier.
With the other two jute yoga mats on this list, the jute fiber is woven into the foam material better. With this one, it’s much more exposed and therefore rougher on the top. However, this could be a good thing if you really have trouble slipping and need something with more grip.
It’s also offered in one size that’s 68 x 24” so it’s slightly shorter than the other two on the list. It’s the same 5 mm thickness as the other mats and it’s made with PER foam like the Anja jute mat above.
However, this is a decent jute yoga mat for beginners so, if you’re in the market for something that’s a little more affordable, give this one a shot. The customer service at Gaiam is great so the worst that can happen is you don’t like it and you can send it back.
What makes this yoga mat special?
- Affordably priced
- Very good grip on the surface but a little rough
Specs
- 5 mm thick
- 68 x 24 inches
- Dense PER foam bottom
- 4.25 lbs
