****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I’ve been struggling to find a mat I like now that I’m practicing 5-6x a week. My old doubled up target mats were too slippery so I got one of those hand woven cotton ones with the knots and herbal dyes. It’s pretty but I still slip and the roughy cotton texture hurts my hands and toes. Cork was too gritty feeling. This one was my 4th mat and I think it’s great. I was worried about the smell because I’m pretty sensitive to odors but this is minor . I don’t slip. At all. And even though I have concrete floors I am comfortable on this mat. My only minor gripe is it’s shorter that most at 70” but I’ll take it if it keeps me from slipping. All in all I’m very pleased. And it’s pink!Pros: it has perfect grip for hands and feet to really get the most out of your poses and also sticks well to the floor (important for jumping from plank to the front of your mat). It also has perfect combination of cushion and stability. I was sticking balance poses like never before and didn't get that achey feeling in my feet when in balance poses for a while. Also, comparing this one to all the other top of the line mats (I've tried Manduka, Jade, and higher-bracket Gaiams), you can tell that it's made to last a long time (no shiny/glossy surface to come apart bit by bit from the friction of frequent use, and the surface is made to withstand any puncture or scrape marks from tossing it around in transit or storage). I'm a frequent yoga practitioner of over 15 years, and now I practice 5 days/week in a variety of yoga classes, from advanced to hot to restorative, and I am extremely picky about mats - I don't want to break the bank, but I will invest in a mat that enhances my practice and will last. This mat is more affordable than others, and it's got the certified Eco-stamp as well. Also, this one is a porous but closed-cell mat, so cleaning and maintenance is easier than with more fabric-like mats such as the Jade or Manduka Eko mats.Cons: 1) the weight - 6.5 lbs. may not seem like a lot, but I ride a bike and tote my mat in a shoulder sling, so it does sit a little heavy on my back, but other mats at this performance level actually weigh a lot more (hello, Manduka Black Mat Pro at 10lbs!!!); and 2) the smell - I honestly never cared about mat smell despite reading many reviews about it with other mats, but it was truly awful with this one when I brought it to class the first time. It was so strong, I could smell it a few feet away so I felt paranoid that others near me would be bothered by it. Also, after practicing that first time, my hands and feet smelled awful and when I touched my lips after class, I could taste the awful smell. Since that first use, I wiped it down lightly with my own personal spray, a vinegar-peppermint oil-water spray, after practice and several times between use, and I let it air dry completely each time, but still it's not gone, not even remotely. I still have to wash my hands and feet immediately after practice (or better yet take a full-on shower since you lay all over it, the smell/residue gets everywhere).Gonna say, right off the bat, that there is a latex smell to this mat. I've had mine about six months, and it no longer smells much while I'm using it, but I do notice that a rubbery smell lingers on my hands. Sometimes even after I wash them. So what do I do? I wash them again. No biggie. It's good to wash your hands frequently during cold season.It's 100% worth it, because this is a great mat. It's thick and spongy enough to cushion my joints very nicely, but firm enough to feel quite stable in standing poses. Some might like a firmer or softer mat, but for me, this is the perfect balance.While researching, what really drew me to this mat is the dual-sided aspect. The top, with the streak pattern, is a solid layer of sticky rubber. This side is more grippy, and feels firmer. I use this side most, since I do a lot of vinyasa yoga. If you flip the mat over, it has a more open-cell structure that feels a lot like a Jade mat. It feels softer, which is nice for restorative or yin, and if it's a hot day (I don't have AC) it seems to provide a little more traction under slightly sweaty conditions.For very sweaty conditions like hot yoga, just use a mat towel. This mat is not great on its own for hot yoga, but is any mat? Quality yoga towels are like 20 bucks, work well, and best of all, prolong the life of your mat because you're not sweating directly onto it.This mat is heavier than other mats I've had, but I have a backpack style mat bag so I barely notice the increase. The weight comes from the thickness and density that makes it so comfortable.This mat is awesome!! I knocked off one star because, like others have mentioned, it is a little stinky. The pungent rubber smell can definitely linger in whatever room it’s stored in. I’ve had the mat for 3 weeks now and I’d say the rubber smell is approximately 60% gone....and this is with me not doing anything special in terms of airing it out. In my opinion, although the smell is not what I’d consider pleasant, there are much more offensive smells than the smell of natural rubber.Ok, now back to the mat’s awesomeness: Just the right amount of cushion; conducive to all poses. So supportive on my knees- it makes forward lunges a breeze! Love the color and simple, calming design (I purchased River). I cannot attest to the grip vs slip factor during extremely sweaty conditions (ie hot yoga), however during ‘normal’ practices where my hands and feet get mildly sweaty at best, the grip factor is 100%. I don’t slide one bit! The mat is a little weighty, but I don’t mind. When I take out the mat, I’m reminded of it’s good quality and look forward to rolling it out every time!**Edit: I’ve had this mat for about 3 months now. Smell is gone. I put the star back. 5 stars all the way. This mat is awesome!I was soooo disappointed with this yoga mat. After trying all kinds of different things as suggested by the seller (inc wiping it with white vinegar, etc) I could not get rid of the smell. It was so awful I felt super sick - headache/nausea - during practice and didn't recover for hours. And I was slipping and sliding all over it each time I tried to use it. Good thing I had my old (tried, tested a true) Lulu mat on stanby... Really unfortunate to have had this experience. I had high hopes for this mat but ended up with no other option than to return it - AFTER THE SELLER STOPPED REPLYING with more suggestions on how to make the mat work for me.Besides the heavy weight and smell (which goes away), this is the best yoga mat I have ever had! Awesome grip and cushion (I have injured my knee and this mat helps me). I strongly recommend this yoga mat! (Ps the colour is gorgeous! So calming)It's quite heavy, but I love the material because it's slip proof. It's also really pretty.Je l'adore. Beaucoup de grip même avec des blocs de yoga. J'aime plutôt l'odeur du caoutchouc. Bonne densité.Love it!
