Embrace Your Practice With 3 Best Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat Picks Of 2024

As the world becomes increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability, eco-conscious consumers are seeking environmentally friendly alternatives in every facet of their lives, including their yoga practice. Eco-friendly yoga mats have risen in popularity for their commitment to minimizing environmental impact while providing comfort and support during yoga sessions. In this article, we will set on a journey to explore the top three eco-friendly yoga mats of 2024. Join us as we shed light on their sustainable attributes and discuss both their performance advantages and potential drawbacks.

Manduka PROlite® Yoga Mat 4.7mm: Built for a Lifetime...On The Go.

The Manduka PROlite Yoga Mat 4.7mm secures its position as a leading eco-friendly choice for yogis due to its exceptional performance, life-time durability and eco-friendly manufacturing. Crafted from closed-cell OEKO-TEX® certified STANDARD 100 PVC material (Class 1: Articles for babies & toddlers), with closed-cell design that acts as a barrier against moisture and bacterial growth, contributing to enhanced hygiene during your practice. This feature also reduces the need for frequent cleaning and enhances the longevity of the mat. Additionally, Manduka offers a lifetime guarantee for their PRO series mats and will replace your mat if necessary.

Specifics:

• Weight: Standard 4 lbs. (1.8 kg). Long 4.5 lbs. (2.04 kg)
• Length: Standard 71” (180 cm). Long 79” (200 cm)
• Width: 24” (61 cm)

Advantages:

The Manduka PROlite Yoga Mat 4.7mm stands out for its superior performance, quality and lightweight design. Key performance features include:

• A dot pattern on the bottom that keeps the mat stable.
• Bimodal foam technology for top-notch density and durability.
• Optimal firmness that prevents sinking during use.
• Excellent support and stability, allowing for smooth pose transitions without bounce-back.

Unlike some eco-friendly mats that deteriorate quickly, this mat is built for long-term intense use. Its closed-cell surface blocks moisture, preventing odor and bacterial buildup. Additionally, it's constructed with non-toxic materials in an emission-free facility in Germany, ensuring a safer yoga practice.

Drawbacks:

While the Manduka PROlite Yoga Mat 4.7mm has many benefits, it's important to be aware of potential drawbacks. The main issue to consider is that the surface grip gets better with time. It can take a while for the mat to fully break in. To speed up this process, there's a technique involving salt that you can try. I personally use this mat and wouldn't switch to another, but it did take me a few months to fully break it in.

Breaking In Your Mat:

The grip on the Manduka PRO mat gets better with regular use. The most effective way to break it in is by practicing on it every day.

For a quicker break-in, Manduka recommends sprinkling coarse sea salt over your mat and let it sit for 24 hours. Afterward, spray it with water, scrub off the salt with a towel, and wipe it down. Allow the mat to dry completely before using it again. Give it a try and let us know did it work. 

If you're impatient and can't wait for your mat to break in, consider placing one of the performance yoga towels on the mat. We provided our best yoga towel recommendation in this article below.

Almost Perfect PRO™ Yoga Mat - 6mm: Manduka Quality with Charming Imperfections

Manduka offers a unique initiative with their "Almost Perfect" collection. These mats, which might have slight imperfections, are sold at a reduced price to prevent them from becoming waste. This initiative not only promotes recycling but also offers an affordable, high-quality option for those looking to make more environmentally responsible choices without compromising quality.

All the performance features discussed for the Prolite series, except for the thickness, also apply to the Almost Perfect Series, as both are part of the Manduka PRO family.

In a world that often produces excess, Manduka's Almost Perfect PRO mats are a commendable effort to reduce waste. These mats are "cosmetically unique" but still promise 100% performance. They may vary slightly in size, weight, or thickness and could show minor surface flaws, nicks, or slight color variations.

Although these mats do not qualify for Manduka's Lifetime Guarantee, they are built to last and offer the same high standards of support, stability, and joint protection as their regular PRO mats.

Crafted in Germany and OEKO-TEX® certified (Class 1: Articles for babies & toddlers), these mats are a sustainable choice for those looking for a good price, while making an environmentally conscious decision, without compromising on quality.

eKO® Lite Yoga Mat 4mm: Natural Rubber Comfort

The eKO® Lite Yoga Mat 4mm distinguishes itself through its commitment to sustainability by utilizing natural rubber. This eco-friendly choice offers excellent cushioning and support while minimizing harm to the environment.

Eco-Friendly Features:

The eKO® Lite Yoga Mat 4mm boasts several eco-friendly features that set it apart. It is crafted from biodegradable, sustainably sourced natural rubber, which reduces the reliance on synthetic materials and promotes sustainability. Furthermore, this mat is free from potentially harmful chemicals such as PVC and latex, ensuring a safe and environmentally conscious yoga practice. Its durable construction further adds to its sustainability, as it prolongs the mat's lifespan and minimizes the need for replacements.

Advantages:

One of the notable advantages of the eKO® Lite Yoga Mat 4mm is its sustainable use of natural rubber. Moreover, the biodegradable nature of the mat aligns with environmental goals, as it reduces the environmental impact when the mat reaches the end of its life cycle. Additionally, the absence of harmful chemicals ensures a safe and non-toxic practice.

We gave this yoga mat to my mother-in-law for her birthday, and she absolutely loves it. I'd recommend this mat to beginners and anyone who uses it for general workouts as well. This material provides exceptional cushioning, support and grip, making activities like ab workouts or various yoga styles more comfortable. 

Drawbacks:

While the eKO® Lite Yoga Mat 4mm offers numerous benefits, it's essential to consider potential drawbacks. Some users may notice a slight rubbery smell initially, which can dissipate over time with proper airing. You will have to clean this mat with a spray and towel after every use. Additionally, natural rubber, while sustainable, may wear out faster with intense use compared to synthetic materials. This means that regular practitioners may need to replace the mat more frequently, which could impact its long-term sustainability.

Yogitoes® Yoga Mat Towel: Slip-Free Experience Meets Sustainability

The Yogitoes® Yoga Mat Towel takes an innovative approach to eco-friendliness by enhancing the functionality of a yoga mat with a non-grip towel. Crafted from recycled plastic bottles, this mat towel is designed to enhance your grip while absorbing moisture during your practice. It offers a sustainable and versatile solution for yogis.

Eco-Friendly Features:

Sustainability is at the core of the Yogitoes® Yoga Mat Towel. This mat towel is made from recycled materials, reducing the demand for virgin resources and promoting a circular economy.

Advantages:

The Yogitoes® Yoga Mat Towel offers a range of advantages for eco-conscious yogis. Its use of recycled materials aligns with sustainability goals, contributing to the reduction of waste and resource consumption. Yogitoes® towels are the original and best choice for ensuring a slip-free experience. These ultra-absorbent towels come in vibrant signature prints that suit any setting, from the beach to the hot yoga studio. Yogitoes not only enhance your practice but also do it sustainably.

Drawbacks:

When considering the purchase of a Yogitoes no-slip towel, it's important to reflect on its necessity, especially if you're striving to maintain a minimalist lifestyle.

Owning this towel means having an additional item that requires both an initial investment and ongoing maintenance. It’s wise to assess whether the benefits of improved grip and stability during yoga truly outweigh the desire to keep your possessions simple and few.