7 Best Yoga Mats for Hot Yoga in 2024, According to Experts

Size: 24 x 68 inches | Thickness: 5 millimeters | Weight: 4.82 kilos | Colors: 6

• Pros: More surface area, includes markings to guide you, comes with a travel case
• Cons: On the pricey side

This mat is the costliest on the list, but reviewers say the value is well value it. It’s barely larger than average and product of biodegradable rubber, which makes it “durable and perfectly sticky,” wrote one Amazon reviewer. Another shared that they “don’t even need a mat towel with it for the reason that grip is so great.” Customers also praise the mat’s alignment system—mainly, a series of markings on the mat—that assist you to understand where to position your hands and feet as you practice. Bonus: It comes with a nifty carrying case.

Size: 27 x 73 inches | Thickness: 4.2 millimeters | Weight: 5.51 kilos | Colors: 6

How to decide on a hot yoga mat

Grip: For hot yoga, you would like a grippy mat to cut back your probabilities of slipping and sliding as things get hot and sweaty. Those product of rubber are good for grip, says Archibald, who recommends natural rubber over synthetic, for the reason that former is commonly higher quality.

Sweat-absorption: Mats made with an open-cell design (meaning they’re porous) could be really helpful in yoga since they often fully absorb your sweat and don’t create a slipping hazard with any puddles, Archibald says. Many open-cell mats are constructed with natural rubber. Just take note: You’ll need to usually clean them in order that they don’t get stinky. If you favor an option that’s easy to sanitize, go for a closed-cell design (nonporous), which makes them easy to wipe and disinfect, Levey says. With a mat like this, you might need to use a yoga towel for extra sweat absorption and traction.

Thickness: Mats include various amounts of padding, and the appropriate level boils right down to personal preference. You might feel more stable for balancing poses on a thinner mat, while a thicker one will provide more cushion to your joints. Generally, you’ll need a thinner option (within the three to 5 millimeter range) for decent yoga for a more grounded feeling, and a thicker mat for slower-paced styles (like yin or restorative), Archibald says.

Size: The standard for yoga mats is 26 by 71 inches, which works well for most folk, Archibald says. If you’re taller (say, over six two), then you might feel more comfortable on a wider, longer version, Levey says.

Other equipment that’s useful for decent yoga

Yoga is considered one of those exercises that could be as easy or souped up as you would like it to be relating to equipment. Knowing you’re going to interrupt a sweat, it’s an excellent idea to bring a towel to wipe your hands or face during a hot yoga class. You might need a set of yoga blocks to assist you to maintain proper alignment in various poses or modify them, straps to deepen your stretches or assist you to get into them, and bolsters to support and cushion your knees or hips. Another nice-to-have: a yoga mat bag or carrying strap to make transporting your mat a little bit easier.

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