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The 16 Best Yoga Mats for Men Will Help You Find Enlightenment in 2021
Find zen – or try your first downward dog – in our edit of the best mats for all levels and practices
If there’s one thing you really need for yoga, it’s a mat – especially if you’re practising from home. Nobody wants rug burn from chaturanga on the carpet.
Whether you're an Insta-famous yogi or can just about get into child's pose, your mat will either help or hinder your practice. The perfect yoga mat is one that’s designed to suit the movements and sequences of your chosen style, be it vinyasa flow or ashtanga. At the very least, you deserve better than shared gym mats that always smell of feet.
Which brand of yoga mat is best?
Our resident yogi tried and tested 18 of the best yoga mats in the business, before whittling them down to a list of seven that are most worthy of your time.
- Best yoga mat: Sweaty Betty Super Grip Yoga Mat
- Best for beginners: Lululemon Take Form Yoga Mat
- Best for balance: Yogi Bare Paws Extreme Grip Yoga Mat
- Best for multi-use: Adidas 10mm Yoga Exercise Mat
- Best for hot yoga: With Every Atom Alignment Yoga Mat
- Best for tall yogis: Yogamatters Aqua Evolve Mat
- Best for meditation: Sundried Jute Mat
Our ever-helpful Esquire editors then scoured the mat market for more premium products that will elevate your yoga practice from ungainly stretching sessions to flawless flows.
- Best for portability: Adidas By Stella McCartney Training Mat
- Best bargain: Reebok Yoga Mat
- Best advanced mat: Liforme Happiness Yoga Mat
- Best for grip: Yogamatters Eco Everyday Yoga Mat
- Best for sustainability: CorkYogis Cork Yoga Mat
- Best for sweaty hands: Manduka GrP Yoga Mat
- Best for versatility: Lululemon Reversible Mat
- Best for dynamic sessions: Jade Yoga Harmony Yoga Mat
- Best value for money: Yoga Studio The Grip Mat
- Best for minimalists: Fable Yoga Pro Grip Studio Mat
What to look for when buying a yoga mat
To get the most out of your yoga practice, your mat should offer the following:
Support: Most mats are made from a soft rubber material, or similar, that’s designed to cushion your spine and limbs from unforgiving surfaces. If supporting your joints is a priority, we would recommend looking for a mat which is at least 0.4mm.
Grip: Bare hands and feet should remain firmly planted on your mat – this is crucial for keeping you stable during precarious poses like the crow.
Stability: Your mat should grip both carpet and tiles without sliding about, even during energetic vinyasa flows.
This must-have trinity aside, consider sustainability credentials, innovative features – such as 3D texture – that will help you master more advanced techniques, and portability. Mats that roll up tight and come with carry straps make great companions for a spot of al fresco ashtanga.
How thick should a yoga mat be?
The mats on this list vary from 3mm to 10mm in thickness, and finding the right option for you will depend on what you want to use it for. A thicker mat will offer more support for your spine and limbs when used on unforgiving floors such as tiles — perfect for at-home practice.
However, unlike thinner mats, they won't roll or fold up so easily. They're not as portable as a result, so opt for a less chunky mat if you're looking for an on-the-go vinyasa companion.
Alternatively, if you want the best of both worlds, we'd recommend plumping for a medium mat, between 0.4 and 0.6mm thick.
How we test
Our expert tester put 18 market-leading yoga mats on trial during a range of practices, from meditation to hot yoga. They judged each mat on its suitability for each activity and took into account factors such as grip, portability, ease of use, comfort and overall design. You’ll find their favourites below, followed by a few of ours.
Now all that’s left to say is ‘Namaste’.
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