11 Awesome Exercise Mats for Every Type of Workout

You prob don’t need us to tell you why a workout mat is a necessity for so many exercises — from the chillest yoga to a HIIT sweatfest.

Still, even though you know a mat’s a must, you might not know which one will be both comfortable and functional until you start using it. And if you accidentally pick one that’s not so great, it can be annoying to use. 

This list solves that problem once and for all. You’re welcome!

The best workout mats, real quick

• Best all-purpose workout mat: TRX Training TRX Mat
• Best yoga mat: Gaiam Essentials Premium Yoga Mat
• Best extra-thick workout mat: Retrospec Solana Yoga Mat
• Best workout mat for outdoors: BalanceFrom All Purpose Anti-Tear Exercise Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap 
• Best travel workout mat: JadeYoga Voyager Yoga Mat
• Best trifold workout mat: ProsourceFit Tri-Fold Folding Thick Exercise Mat
• Workout mat that’s not at all basic: Popflex Diamond Sky Vegan Suede Yoga Mat
• Best workout mat for serious sweat sessions: Body By Yoga Luxury Cork Yoga Mat
• Best extra-long workout mat: Manduka Pro Yoga Mat 85″
• Best extra-large workout mat: Gorilla Mats Premium Large Exercise Mat
• Eco-friendly workout mat: SUGA Recycled Wetsuit Yoga Mat

How we chose

There’s no official list of standards for what makes a great workout mat. But we’re gonna say a satisfactory one meets the following criteria:

• delivers cushioning without sinkage or squishing
• keeps you from sliding around even if you sweat
• doesn’t start flaking or crumbling after a few weeks of use
• is easy to clean
• doesn’t smell like chemicals forever 

These really aren’t huge demands, but not every option out there fits the bill. Our picks do.

Pricing guide

• $ = under $30
• $$ = $30–$60
• $$$ = $61–$100
• $$$$ = over $100

The best workout mats for every exerciser

Best all-purpose workout mat

Designed with home gyms in mind, this mat has enough cushioning for floor exercises like sit-ups, push-ups, and burpees. At the same time, it’s light enough to take outside and offers enough grip for yoga. Basically, it does it all — and for a pretty sweet price.

Price: $

Best yoga mat

Try this one if you’re all about the asanas. The dual-sided, textured surface keeps you stable so you can maintain good form, even in hot yoga classes. We also like that it’s PVC- and phthalate-free, so you’re not breathing in chemical gunk every time you do a Down Dog.

Price: $

Best extra-thick workout mat

Like a little extra love in the joint support department? This mat comes in 1/2-inch (in.) and 1-in. thicknesses for more cushioning than you’d get from a standard 1/4-in.-thick mat. The BPA- and phthalate-free material is still plenty grippy, so you’ll stay put if you need to.

The non-black colors — think ocean blue, sage green, and hibiscus — also don’t feel like a ’90s workout video.

Price: $

Best workout mat for outdoors

This sturdy mat resists the scuffing that can come more easily from outdoor surfaces like concrete, rocks, or sticks hiding in the grass. The 1/2-in. thickness gives you a little extra cushioning, but the mat’s still light enough to tote around with ease (especially since it comes with a carrying strap). And you can easily wipe away dirt with just soap and water.

Price: $

Best travel workout mat

Because going places WILL BECOME A THING AGAIN, really. This mat is lightweight (just 1.5 pounds!) and ultraslim to the point that you can actually fold it up and stick it in a backpack. But it doesn’t sacrifice on performance, thanks to the natural rubber surface, which gives you plenty of cushioning and grip.

Price: $$

Best trifold workout mat

Here’s a thick foam mat that folds up into a compact square for carrying (with handles!) or packing into a small space (like under a couch or bed). It’s great for activities such as martial arts, stretching, and floor exercises like crunches, but the vinyl surface isn’t grippy enough for yoga. 

Price: $$

Workout mat that’s not at all basic

Bored with plain colors but don’t want a hippie-dippie design on your mat either? This intergalactic design is cool and, TBH, kinda mesmerizing. The grippy vegan suede upper absorbs all the sweat while the thick bottom layer gives you max joint support. It comes with a simple cotton carrying strap too.

Price: $$

Best workout mat for serious sweat sessions

You can’t really control how much you sweat. But with the right mat, you can keep all the salty droplets from ruining your workout.

The cork upper on this extra-thick, extra-wide mat is naturally slip-resistant even if you’re at pig-in-the-desert-level perspiration. And the natural rubber bottom really grips the ground, so there’s zero bunching.

Price: $$$

Best extra-long workout mat

If you want a ton of space, you can’t go wrong with this classic. At 85 in., it’s more than a foot longer than most standard mats. And while it’s definitely not cheap, the high price really is justified.

The mat’s closed-cell surface keeps sweat and dirt from creeping in and making the mat grody over time. And the lifetime warranty guarantees that it won’t peel or flake — ever.

Price: $$$$

Best extra-large workout mat

At 6 x 4 in., this mat gives you plenty of room for explosive plyo moves and martial arts or for working out side by side with a partner. The surface has a special nonslip design plus shock-absorbing padding to keep you from hurting.

And it’s backed by a lifetime warranty — so the brand will replace it for free if it ever gets worn out or damaged.

Price: $$$$

Eco-friendly workout mat

You won’t find any planet-wrecking plastic or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) here. This innovative mat is constructed entirely out of recycled wetsuits in a closed-loop manufacturing process.

The surface is satisfyingly grippy and elastic to cushion your every move. And the closed-cell foam prevents grime from creeping into the mat, so it should feel like new for longer.

Price: $$$

from Greatist Health RSS Feed https://bit.ly/3dLDXe5