Amazon Basics TPE Yoga Mat, 1/4"

Product Information

There’s a huge environmental impact from the chemicals used to make many PVC yoga mats. Manufacture isn’t the only consideration though. PVC mats have a considerable energy footprint and typically end up in a landfill once they wear out and get replaced. Gurus offer two Natural Cork Mat options, the Roots Yoga Mat which has a natural rubber base layer, and the Sprout mat that is made with TPE. As such, the Roots Mat makes the Leaf Score cut, but the Sprout does not. The barrier to getting started in yoga is very low. All you need is patience, an open mind and a grippy, comfortable mat. PVC off-gasses (or releases) Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs that we can inhale and that can have serious health implications. PVC is toxic and is used to make a whole bunch of household items, like shower curtains. Durability: Your yoga mat won’t have to withstand intense HIIT workouts or dropped dumbbells, but it should emerge unscathed from dynamic practice, without any rips or dents.

All in all, it’s good to be suspicious of ‘greenwashed’ products that incorporate recycled synthetic rubber or other materials. You might, however, make an exception if a manufacturer provides third-party test results and robust certifications for the final product. The most eco-friendly, sustainably-made, non-toxic yoga mats PVC is naturally a very hard plastic. Phthalates (hormone disruptors) are added to the material to make it soft and flexible. Your body can absorb these chemicals from your yoga mat simply by breathing. Not a lot of zen going on there! The top performers offered great grip, even when wet, and kept us comfortable as we flowed between poses. Those with the highest scores are featured below, identified by our trusty RW Lab logo. Lighter mats, ones that fold into a square instead of the bulky roll, and those with their own stylish carrying case are all good options if you place a high value on portability. Price

The Manduka eKO mat features tri-layer technology that creates a mix of grip, durability, and slip-resistance. A stretch-resistant center binds the two layers together to improve durability. The standard eKO mat measures 71” long and 26” wide and has a sealed-cell surface, meaning that it doesn’t absorb moisture (and bacteria) like many open-cell rubber mats. As such, it is more durable than open-cell rubber mats. If you've ever laid on a yoga mat, you've probably smelt that synthetic odor that comes off it when your face is planted. That smell comes from PVC, a type of plastic known as polyvinyl chloride. Before you start searching and trawling through all the non-slip yoga mats, rubber yoga mats, yoga towels and exercise mats out there - including Sweaty Betty yoga mats and Nike yoga mats, obvs - we've answered all the relevant yoga mat questions you may have. Best yoga mats at a glance Yoga Design Lab was born from an eye-opening experience that the brand's founder, Chad Turner, underwent on a trip to Bali. He realized that in the yogi's paradise, most mats there were unoriginal, solid-colored, and, worst of all, mass-produced. Thanks to the absorbent upper woven organic cotton fabric, this yoga mat is a great fit for those wanting a bit more cushioning than cotton alone provides, and for hot yoga. There’s no need to wipe down the mat and tender joints will enjoy the added cushioning.

They advocate zero waste, so any material leftover from the creation of their mats is used to make other cork products. Even cork dust is used as fuel.The vegan top layer provides a fantastically grippy platform for all your high-energy, fast-paced sessions, yet the plush rubber base means it’s also the dream for slower, most focused sessions when you need some extra cushioning.

Our hard-wearing Yoga mats will stand the test of time. But as well as being durable, we've focused on ensuring they are stylish and well-designed so you will want to continue using them for years to come. Get started or expand your practice As well as full size Yoga Mats, we also have a complete range of portable and lightweight Travel Yoga Mats and smaller Yoga Pads, with the latter designed to complement our full size Yoga Mats.All their organic, eco-friendly yoga mats are SGS REACH certified. They are designed here in Canada but made in China under strict ethical and sustainable manufacturing practices. So, if elaborate balancing poses, or even a simple tree pose, are more your thing, go for a thinner mat. Some travel mats are as thin as 1.5 mm! This makes them highly portable and gives you great connection to the ground, for extra stability. Our pros put a number of mats through their paces, seeing how each one performed during yoga, yoga nidra (a form of deep rest), HIIT and even weights sessions (most yoga mats double up as exercise mats). They were scored based on how grippy, comfortable, portable and stable they were (with bonus points for eco credentials), and only their favourite few made it on to this list. The mat comes with a FREE Carry case + Wildcrafted soap nut natural laundry detergent! They have yoga accessories and some of the best sustainable yoga clothes, along with stunning mats.