A quality non-slip yoga mat can make a big difference in your practice. And chances are, if you’re reading this, you’ve probably slipped before and quickly realized all mats aren’t as “non-slip” as they claim to be. Needless to say, we felt the need to boil the results down and find the best non-slip yoga mats available.
Quick Answer:
- Top Pick: Heathyoga Non-Slip
- Best Premium (Lifetime Warranty): Manduka Pro
- Best Natural Rubber: Jade Fusion
- Runner Up Natural Rubber: Hugger Mugger
- Best PER Yoga Mat: Aurorae Classic
- Entry Level Natural Rubber Mat: Jade Harmony
- Best Hybrid Sweat Absorbent Mat: IUGA Pro
Why Should You Use a Non-slip Yoga Mat?
Regardless of the style of yoga you practice, it’s always better to have and not need than need and not have. And non-slip mats are so common and affordable that it doesn’t make sense not to have it – even if you’re just practicing in your living room.
Consider These Qualities When Mat Shopping
Before clicking the “buy” button, there’s a few things you may want to consider before settling on your purchase:
Thickness
The thickness of your mat will determine, in part, how comfortable your yoga experience will be. And while it may be tempting to go for a super thick mat, keep in mind that the density of material is equally important.
A thicker mat made from a squishy material will impress when you put weight on it. This means it can throw you off balance if you’re inexperienced and haven’t fully built a foundation of stabilizer muscles. Further, this material tends to stretch when you put weight in opposite directions such as you would in downward dog.
The best option, in my opinion, is something that meets in the middle. Preferably a mat that’s made from dense material but thick enough to minimize how much you feel the floor underneath you.
Density
Speaking to the density of your mat, if you want something that provides plenty of cushioning but doesn’t overly impress with weight applied, you’ll want a dense material. My personal favorites are the natural rubbers (down side being that they can be heavy and smell like rubber) or an ultra dense PVC material (also heavy). If you can get past the added weight, these mats typically last for years and often have high grippability making them a great option for non-slip mats.
Texture
The texture of your mat will go a long way toward preventing you from slipping. And in addition to the texture, you’ll want something that’s sticky but not so sticky that it gets in the way when you’re changing positions.
While your needs may not be the same as mine, I like natural rubber mats because they have an open celled surface that’s sticky without sticking to you. But if you’re someone who has extra sweaty palms and feet, you may want to check out this post for further information.
Size
Have you ever used a standard yoga mat and been fine? If so, you’ll probably be good sticking with this size (about 68 x 24 inches). However, if you’re like me, then you went off the side of your mat in certain poses which can be a painful/dirty experience.
If this is the case, then rest assured, there’s larger mats available for you. Personally I like something that’s 71 or more inches long and wider than 24 inches. The other benefit of having a larger mat is that it gives you more space between you and your neighbors.
What Yoga Style Will You Be Doing?
The style of yoga you’ll be doing is something to keep in mind when you’re mat shopping as well. If you plan on doing hot yoga mostly, then you’ll want a mat that’s designed for hot yoga and not the standard non-slip mat. Here’s our recommendations on hot yoga mats. But if you’re mixing things up between hot and cold yoga’s, you should be in good shape with one of the non-slip mats below. Should you find yourself needing more though, you can get a yoga mat towel to use on your hot yoga days.
Other Considerations
There’s no doubt you have some ideas about your budget and style already so I don’t think I need to talk about that. However, since I’ve mentioned natural rubber a few times you should know there’s a few things to consider before buying a rubber mat:
- It can smell like rubber – usually more when you first get the mat
- If you have a latex allergy you may need to stay away from natural rubber
If neither of these are okay with you then you’ll want to keep that in mind when you’re looking around. Beyond that, you may want to consider your stance on eco-friendliness. Some mats are more friendly to the environment and your body than others. But we’ve included mats that are sustainably made on this list so not to worry if you buy one of our recommendations.
Review of the Best Non-Slip Yoga Mats
1. HeathYoga Eco-Friendly Non-Slip Yoga Mat
Our Rating
The Heathyoga mat is a quality choice that’s (at the time of this writing) on the more affordable side of non-slip mats. Its 6 mm (about 1/4 inch) thick and its made from TPE material. The thickness is decent if you don’t need a ton of cushioning for sensitive joints and the TPE is moderately dense to minimize the mat from indenting and interfering with your balance.
I like the texture on the surface which Heathyoga calls “micro-dots”. It feels nice on your skin and helps add the extra layer of slip protection. As far as size goes, its currently offered in a 72 x 26 inch length/width which is great for someone who’s taller and wants a wider mat.
I don’t have any problems going off the side of a 26″ wide mat which I really appreciate. Overall this is a quality mat for most standard yoga styles so you shouldn’t have problems with slipping. However, if you’re primarily interested in hot yoga, you’ll either want a yoga towel to go on top of this or you’ll want to get a mat specifically for hot yoga.
Pros
- Available in several great colors that all look high quality
- Comes in a 72 x 26 inch size which makes it a perfect size for almost anyone up to about 6’4″
- Eco-friendly TPE material which is odorless and non-toxic
- Latex free so its a good alternative to natural rubber
- Guide lines on the mat which help you stay on center and get more from your practice
- 6 mm thickness for decent padding
Cons
- A few people have expressed problems slipping however its not very common
2. Jade Fusion 74-inch Yoga Mat
Our Rating
The Jade Fusion mat is a wonderful mat that would get five stars if it weren’t priced as high as it is (at the time of this writing, that is). Its 8 mm thick (about 1/3 of an inch) and its made from dense natural rubber. Both the thickness and material are great because it provides tons of cushioning and its dense so you won’t lose balance from the mat giving in.
The top has a nice fabric like texture which does a great job of being non-slip. And since the mat is made from natural rubber, its also open celled and sticky so it could function well in hot yoga if you’re not a profuse sweater. The primary down sides with this mat are that its on the heavier side (7.8 lbs) and has a rubber smell that does diminish over time but not completely.
Beyond that, its one of the better mats on the market and one that most yogis swear by.
Pros
- 74″ long so it can accommodate taller yogis.
- Made from natural rubber which is both dense and recyclable
- Non-toxic and contains no harmful chemicals
- Extra thick to provide plenty of padding for sensitive joints
- A tree is planted for every mat sold
Cons
- Has a rubber smell
- Its a heavier mat