Size: 24 x 68 inches | Thickness: 5 millimeters | Weight: 4.82 pounds | Colors: 6
7. Best for Alignment: Liforme Yoga Mat
- Pros: More surface area, includes markings to guide you, comes with a travel case
- Cons: On the pricey side
This mat is the most expensive on the list, but reviewers say the price is well worth it. It’s slightly larger than average and made 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 since the grip is so great.” Customers also praise the mat’s alignment system—basically, a series of markings on the mat—that help you understand where to place 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 pounds | Colors: 6
How to choose a hot yoga mat
Grip: For hot yoga, you want a grippy mat to reduce your chances of slipping and sliding as things get hot and sweaty. Those made of rubber are good for grip, says Archibald, who recommends natural rubber over synthetic, since the former is often higher quality.
Sweat-absorption: Mats made with an open-cell design (meaning they’re porous) can 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 keep in mind: You’ll want to regularly clean them so that they don’t get stinky. If you prefer an option that’s easy to sanitize, go for a closed-cell design (nonporous), which makes them easy to wipe and disinfect, says Levey. With a mat like this, you may want to use a yoga towel for extra sweat absorption and traction.
Thickness: Mats come with varying amounts of padding, and the right level boils down to personal preference. You might feel more stable for balancing poses on a thinner mat, while a thicker one will provide more cushion for your joints. Generally, you’ll want a thinner option (in the 3 to 5 mm range) for hot 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 folks, Archibald says. If you’re taller (say, over 6’2″), then you may feel more comfortable on a wider, longer version, Levey says.
Other equipment that’s useful for hot yoga
Yoga is one of those exercises that can be as simple or souped-up as you want it to be when it comes to equipment. Knowing you’re going to break a sweat, it’s a good idea to bring a towel to wipe your hands or face during a hot yoga class. You might want a set of yoga blocks to help you maintain proper alignment in various poses or modify them, straps to deepen your stretches or help you 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 easier.
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