At-home yoga has been part of my daily routine for I don’t even know how long, and over the years, I’ve tried and loved lots of expert-approved yoga mats (hello, Lululemon’s The Mat, Manduka’s GRP Adapt Mat, and Alo’s Warrior Mat). But it’s been a struggle to find one that didn’t show obvious signs of wear and tear at the one-year mark.
That is, until I tested Manduka’s Yoga Matt ($100, amazon.com) last fall for 2023’s SELF Home Fitness Awards. It impressed me straight out of the box and continues to do so over a year later. Looks like I’ve finally found the workhorse mat of my dreams.
The design
The Eko mat has the same basic design as a lot of other high-end yoga mats: Its grippy top rubber layer covers a cushy bottom layer that’s meant to stick to the floor during your practice. It’s five millimeters thick and not reversible—pretty standard stuff.
But upon closer inspection, I noticed that the rubber surface had a unique zebra-stripe pattern rather than a totally smooth surface or a pebbled texture. I received the mat in the solid charcoal colorway, but there are slight variations in the color and feel where the stripes alternate down the length of the mat. It’s a cool effect, and I think it’s the source of the mat’s superior grippiness.
Another feature that caught my interest from the get-go (and has continued to pay off in the last 12 months): The mat’s top layer is closed-cell, meaning it won’t let sweat or bacteria seep into its core. That also makes it easy to clean—I often wipe it down with gentle soap and warm water, then let it air-dry. Also, I’m a proud sweater, and the idea of all that moisture staying the heck out of my yoga mat gives me some serious peace of mind.
The feel
My expectations were pretty high the first time I took the Eko Mat for a spin—having used a bunch of other Manduka mats, I knew the brand didn’t skimp on quality. Even then, I was blown away by how it felt throughout my flow.
My hands were almost glued to the mat during chaturangas and arm balances. I’d hop to the top of my mat from downward dog and the mat wouldn’t budge (I use it on hardwood floors, which the bottom layer sticks to like a magnet). The mat padded my knees and elbows in cat/cow and forearm planks. I stayed grounded and steady during one-legged balances. And I didn’t for one second feel like I was practicing in a puddle of my own sweat.
