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Sunday, January 19, 2020

Manduka begin and pro travel yoga mat: 2020 review.

I really needed to upgrade

What do i look for in a travel yoga mat, manduka begin and pro travel yoga mat review.

Manduka Pro Travel Yoga Mat

• It is very easy to clean . Just wipe it with a wet cloth and it will dry in no time.
• It is very portable . It is not only very thin, only 2.5 mm thick, but you can actually fold this mat to pack it in your suitcase or backpack. Believe it or not, it won't keep the creases of the fold. I wouldn't push it too far though.
• It is lightweight . I prefer lighter but at 2.4 lbs (2.88 lbs / 1.31 kg according to my test) it still feels comfortable to carry with you.
• It is sustainable . Their manufacturing process has no toxic emissions, their mats are safe for humans and above all, they last a lifetime. Even this thin travel mat is covered by Manduka's lifetime warranty.
• It feels very grippy . I haven't tested it when sweating but while dry it felt very grippy to my hands.
• Not supportive enough . Although the material feels firm and dense, you do feel the ground underneath you. I know some people do like to feel that connection with the floor, but if you need good support for your knees this mat might not work for you, especially if you want to use it daily.
• It's not as eco-friendly . Although the PRO series are sustainable, they are not as eco-logical as the Manduka Eko Series. They are made of PVC.
• Feels plasticky . In my opinion, although it looks great and it has the same built like all other PRO mats, because of the thinnest this one feels a bit plasticky. It feels a bit like those rubber floor tiles used to cover floors. Lol. That's just my opinion guys, pls don't get offended (to Manduka staff). A lot of people do love how this mat feels.

Manduka Begin Yoga Mat

• It is very light. Although Manduka's website says it is 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg), according to my test it is only 2.32 lbs (1.05 kg). It is definitely lighter than the Manduka Pro Travel Yoga Mat, half a pound lighter.
• It has soft cushioning . Although it is a bit squishy at the same time it's dense enough to provide stability and also good support for my joints. Yeah, my knees feel very comfortable on this mat. It is way better than every other regular sticky yoga mat I have tried before.
• Center alignment stripe . I'm an experienced practitioner and a yoga teacher, but I still appreciate to have that center alignment stripe. If you are a beginner then you'll love it even more.
• It is not very expensive . It costs around 40 USD, depending on the color, while the PRO travel yoga mat costs around 70 USD.
• It is grippy . Some people complain that this mat is slippery but to my hands, it does feel grippy although not as grippy as the PRO travel mat.
• It is reversible . You can use either side of the mat to practice on, and since Manduka offers several different colors then you have a large selection to choose from. You'll find the Manduka logo only on one side though.
• It is a bit bulky . At 5 mm thick it can feel a bit bulky. I would have preferred a 3 mm mat, but this is not such a big deal to me.
• Not as easy to clean . Because of the texture, it's not as easy to clean as the Manduka PRO mats.
• No lifetime warranty . It doesn't have the Manduka lifetime warranty as the PRO series, which means it is not as sustainable, although they still care about eco-friendly manufacturing.
• It keeps the creases . When rolling tightly or slightly folding the mat it tends to keep the creases of the fold. When I do a long sitting meditation practice I can see the mark of my cushion on it, but after some time they go away.
• Feels synthetic . The texture feels almost like a natural rubber mat but at the same time, it is not. To me, it feels mostly a bit synthetic. This might be very personal. I already got used to it and now I do like how it feels.
• Only one size . Tall people might find this mat a bit too short. It is only one size: 68" / 172cm. long.
• It doesn't fall flat on the floor . When brand-knew it doesn't fall flat on the floor. It took several days of rolling it on the opposite side to get it to fall flat.
• It gets stuck on the mat bag . Although I roll it tightly, once I put it inside my mat bag it tends to unroll and then because of the material it gets stuck on the cloth. So it's a bit difficult to get it out. If you have a small yoga mat bag with an opening on the top like I do then this might be a bit annoying.

Which travel yoga mat did I choose?

Which travel yoga mat you like best.

3 comments:

This article comes in right moment for me. I left my favourite yoga mat behind at home before setting off because it was too bulky. I bought 500ruppes (7 euro) mat in India but its life is ending and I need a clever solution...light and easy to fold so I can carry in my cabin style luggage and enough cushonning so I don't hurt my knee...

That's good to hear dude ;-) So which one are you getting then?

I absolutely love my Manduka Begin for on-the-go yoga practice! It's lightweight, easy to pack, and provides excellent grip. Whether I'm a beginner or a pro, this travel mat is a must-have companion for my yoga journey

• Best overall
• Best budget
• Best cushioned
• Best reversible

The best travel yoga mats of 2023

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Flexible, travel yoga mats are specifically designed to pack down small and not take up too much room (or weight) in your suitcase or backpack. They're often thinner than your standard yoga mat and made from a more flexible material, both of which allow them to be stashed in small places but still provide you some cushioning as you move through asanas.

Our top pick is the Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat ; this mat weighs just 2.2 pounds and is extremely flexible, allowing it to be easily packed while traveling. For a budget mat, we recommend the Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat ; it's compact enough to fit into a suitcase or carry-on, features a grippy texture, and costs less than $20. 

With any yoga mat, the thinner it becomes, the less reliable it is, so it's important to look for a travel yoga mat that still has a good grip, is made of durable material to withstand folding and transportation, and is easy to clean. We've vetted the world of foldable, travel yoga mats to narrow in on the four best for every type of yogi and traveler.

If you're looking for a standard yoga mat, check out our guide on the best yoga mats, from yoga instructors .

Top picks for the best travel yoga mats

Best overall: Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat - See at Amazon The Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat weighs only 2.2 pounds and is highly flexible for travel, without sacrificing the quality of the materials.

Best budget: Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat - See at Amazon The Gaiam Foldable Travel Yoga Mat is a compact and grippy option with an under-$20 price tag.

Best cushioned: JadeYoga Travel Yoga Mat - See at Amazon The JadeYoga Travel Mat comes from one of the most reliable brands on the market, is 3mm thick, and comes in two lengths to accommodate taller people.

Best reversible mat: The Reversible Mat - See at Lululemon The cleverly named Reversible Mat from Lululemon is like having two lightweight yoga mats for the price of one.

Best overall: Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat

Pros: Folds down very small, lightweight, tear-resistant, natural rubber, sticky surface

Cons: Expensive, not a lot of padding

Long-time yogi and Hatha yoga teacher Christabel Lobo and Kasia Gondek, DPT, CSCS, a physical therapist in Southern California, both point to the Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat as your best choice for keeping up with your practice while traveling.

At 2.2 pounds and 1.5 mm thick, it's extremely lightweight and flexible, making it easy to fold up tightly and toss in a suitcase. Despite being so thin, the mat is made of a woven scrim so it won't tear or stretch in your suitcase.

It has Manduka's signature closed-cell design which helps keep the surface dry, as well, and creates a strong grip for sweaty hands, so you can even pop into a hot yoga class on your travels. All Manduka mats are made without PVC or potentially toxic plasticizers. --Rachael Schultz

Best budget: Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat

Pros: Affordable, very lightweight, meant to be folded

Cons: PVC material

If you only travel a couple of times a year, you don't want to drop too much on a mat. Infrequent travelers will love the Gaiam Foldable Travel Yoga Mat .

This one-pound mat is even more lightweight than Manduka's eKO Superlite but it's slightly thicker at 2mm thick. The whole mat folds down to a 10-inch-wide and 12-inch-long rectangle for easy transportation in a carry-on or overnight duffel bag. It's one of the most affordable options available, too.

I have a full-sized Gaiam yoga mat that's lasted me for several years with regular use, so I can attest to the quality of the brand's goods.

Best cushioned: JadeYoga Travel Yoga Mat

Pros: Natural materials, purchase benefits Trees for the Future, more cushioning

Cons: Heavier than many other travel mats, doesn't pack down as small as others

Nearly all travel yoga mats are pretty thin, which is frustrating if you have knee of joint issues. This 3mm-thick mat from JadeYoga is the best you can get for a mat that'll still roll up tight. What's more, the JadeYoga Travel Mat is available in 68-inch and 74-inch lengths, which offers taller people adequate space on the mat.

JadeYoga puts special attention on sustainability, and its mats are made of natural rubber sourced from trees with no PVC or other synthetic materials added. For each one purchased, the brand ensures a new tree will be planted.

A no-slip, open-cell (more absorbent) surface gives you a solid grip, and it features much more cushioning compared to other travel mats. At approximately 3 pounds, it's a bit heavier than others on this list, but that's a small price for more support. 

One downside is that, unlike most travel yoga mats, JadeYoga's rolls instead of folds, so it may be harder to fit in your luggage. On the other hand, the quality makes it a great multi-use pick for home practice as well as travel.

JadeYoga makes one of our favorite yoga mats for sweaty yogis , too.

Best reversible: The Reversible (Un)Mat

Pros: Reversible with a grippier side for when you sweat, very thin and light, antimicrobial

Cons: Not much cushion

One of the downsides of taking your yoga practice on the road is decreased access to the props and extras that make classes and at-home vinyasa sessions more enjoyable.

The Reversible Mat from Lululemon helps solve that problem with a moisture-absorbing polyurethane-coated layer on one side, and natural rubber on the other.

If you get super sweaty during vigorous practice, use the grippier side to keep yourself from slip-sliding off the mat. For more chill sessions, you can use the rubberized side. The mat also has an antimicrobial additive to help prevent mold and mildew, which makes for more peace of mind while traveling.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

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Best travel yoga mats for flows on the go

T he ancient art of yoga has endured since its origins in India approximately 5,000 years ago, becoming a widely taught and practised activity in contemporary society and wellness-orientated groups to this day.

With its three main tenets focusing on breathing, flexibility and strength, the movement elicited by yogic practices simultaneously allows us to pause and reflect, while flowing through core-engaging movements assisted by the power of our own breath. In teaching us to harness the power of our body’s natural movements and the basic functions which help us to survive, students of yoga learn to be at one with the natural world.

Yoga provides a firm, solid foothold to help boost us into a wellness-focused life, which prioritises mental health and positive movement above all else – it just takes a little bit of practice. Yet despite yoga’s unwavering popularity over the centuries, many beginners find that the activity is often at odds with their modern, fast-paced life.

Rather than waking up extra early to get a sun salutation in, it suits the vast majority of 9-to-5ers far more to run to the office instead. Similarly, many office-dwellers would prefer to take a speedy 20-minute gym break during lunch, during which they’ll likely burn far more calories than they would in a 90-minute yoga class.

However, attempting to turn yoga into a means to lose weight or putting your physical endurance to the test is missing the point entirely. Yoga is all about intuitive movement, so much so that flows and salutations can be learned and rehearsed like dance routines, so they’ll come as naturally as breathing.

As such, you don’t need a studio or instructor to flow while you’re away from home. After a few classes and a little bit of practice, you’ll feel mightily confident on your own – and if you’re still not quite there, you can of course pop on a gentle guiding YouTube video from one of your favourite online instructors (ours is Adrienne, of course).

Whether you’re camping, hiking, travelling or enjoying a relaxing beach holiday, you’ll be surprised by how incomplete your day starts to feel without even a few minutes of stretching, breathing and movement. When you’re on the move, it’s therefore always a brilliant idea to take a portable, travel yoga mat with you.

We’ve rounded up a selection of the best travel yoga mats to help elevate your practice even when you’re not on home soil.

Mikkoa Travel Yoga Mat – Finding Nirvana

Foldable, compact and lightweight, Mikkoa’s travel yoga mat is one of the best on the market for a myriad of reasons. Not only will you gain access to free online yoga classes once you make your purchase, but you’ll also be able to use this durable yoga mat on the go for years to come without the need for a replacement.

When unfolded, the sweat-absorbent and supportive microfibre mat measures 183 x 66cm and folds neatly into a 24 x 14cm rectangle – thereby taking up approximately one-third of the space of a regular yoga mat. The best part? This yoga mat is entirely machine washable. That’s right, no more wiping down with cloths and disinfectant after every single use.

Buy now £69.00, Mikkoa

Sustainable Non-Slip Jute Travel Yoga Mat

Another brilliantly compact option, this jute travel yoga mat from Complete Unity Yoga is just 2mm thick. Despite its incredibly grippy surface, yogis will be pleased to discover that the mat itself has been crafted solely from durable, non-toxic and eco-friendly materials.

The manufacturing process itself is also proudly zero-waste, and your mat will be delivered in zero-plastic FSC-certified packaging. Suitable for whatever type of yoga you go for – even in the hottest environments – Complete Yoga Unity stands by its grip guarantee, making this portable mat perfect for yoga retreats abroad.

Buy now £69.00, Complete Unity Yoga

Viavito Travel Yoga Mat

Designed to fit in even the smallest of tote bags, this grippy non-stick yoga mat has been fabricated from a durable and waterproof PVC which is nevertheless free from phthalates and horrible chemical odours. Thanks to the handy slightly perforated design, this yoga mat folds easily from a 61 x 173cm mat into a 31 x 25cm rectangle for the utmost portability.

Buy now £10.99, Amazon

Liforme Cosmic Moon Travel Yoga Mat

Though on the more expensive side, this luxurious and beautifully designed yoga mat from Liforme is not likely to leave your side any time soon. While lightweight and wonderfully portable thanks to the inclusion of a bag strap with your order, this yoga mat also functions as a top-of-the-range piece of kit to use during practices and classes at home as well as abroad. Made from PVC-free and biodegradable materials, you can be sure you’re protecting the planet as well as your mind by purchasing a mat from this B-Corp-certified yoga brand.

Buy now £108.00, Liforme

Manduka eKO SuperLite Travel Yoga Mat

Available in a plethora of calming gradients and solid hues, Manduka’s SuperLite travel yoga mat is a no-nonsense piece of apparatus to add to your yoga arsenal, especially if you travel a lot. With two options for size – standard and large – you’ll find that both are able to fold neatly into a tote, travel bag or suitcase. Plus, you can use it on top of your regular mat during normal practices for extra support and grip, whether you tend to move on hardwood floors or ultra-plush carpets.

Buy now £50.00, Amazon

Foldable Cork Non-Slip Yoga Mat

Eco-friendly and entirely slip-proof thanks to its cork surface, this yoga mat by Eke features a beautiful lotus design in the centre of the mat and a line down the middle to help focus your practice while improving your balance with every session. We also love the fact that this value-for-money option comes with a yoga mat for extra portability.

Buy now £33.99, Amazon

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