7 Best Thick Yoga Mats For A Strong Hold On Any Surface – 2024
The thick yoga mats will let you perform all kinds of yoga safely and comfortably.
Lumalia is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with continuing certifications in Yoga Nidra and Kindrêd Meditation. Whether it is a personal journey or one in partnership, she uses her training to create unique experiences for people of all scopes of life to more openly dive deeper into the joy of a life lead by self-discovery.
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Experience: 5 yearsAditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.
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Experience: 5 yearsMedha Deb is a commerce editor with a master's degree in applied linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts. She specializes in the areas of beauty, health, and wellness and is committed to ensuring that the content on the website is of the highest quality.
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Experience: 3 yearsRajeshwari is a dedicated fitness and lifestyle enthusiast, deeply committed to enhancing our readers’ well-being and vitality. She has a master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Calcutta.
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When purchasing a yoga mat, a few things to keep in mind include comfort, grip, and moisture resistance. Thick yoga mats have all of these features. Knowing which is the best thick yoga mat is meant for you can be confusing because there are thousands of them in the market. We have put together a list of the best thick yoga mats that you can buy to solve your problem. The mats on our list consider factors like cushioning for your knees and grip quality so that your practice is seamless and you enjoy your yoga in the best possible way.
In This Article
7 Best Thick Yoga Mats – 2024 Update
1. Best Cushioned Mat:Gaiam Essentials Premium Yoga Mat
The Gaiam Essentials Premium Yoga Mat is made with high-quality PVC material free of DEHP, DINP, DIDP, DBP, BBP, and DNOP. Its ¼ inches thickness provides enough comfort while practicing your yoga poses. The surface of this non-toxic PVC thick yoga mat is textured and non-slip to provide superior grip and fantastic traction. It is a lightweight and durable mat that will last for an extended duration. The yoga mat carrier sling lets you carry the mat easily. These thick premium quality yoga mats are available in black, green, grey, navy, pink, purple, and teal colors.
Specifications
- Material: Polyvinyl Chloride
- Dimensions: 72.05 x 24.02 x 0.24 inches
- Weight: 3.5 pounds
- Durable
- Eco-friendly
- Portable
- Offer superior traction
- Lightweight
- Non-slip
- Includes carrying sling
- Non-toxic materials and Chemical-free
- Unpleasant smell during unpacking
StyleCraze Says2. Best Lightweight Mat:Sivan Health And Fitness Yoga Mat
Sivan Health And Fitness offers a 0.5 inches extra thick yoga mat with memory foam to protect your knees and joints during exercise. No matter your size or shape, this mat is ideal for comfortably performing yoga, pilates, and other floor exercises. Its ribbed non-slip surface offers excellent traction, thus preventing slipping during yoga sessions. Its high-density NBR foam provides extra cushioning, increases durability, and is easy to hand wash. In addition, the integrated carry strap is convenient for transportation. These best thick exercise mats come in black, purple, and teal colors. You can check this video out if you need to learn about the reviewer’s experience with using the product.
Specifications
- Material: Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Foam
- Dimensions: 24 x 0.39 x 71 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
- High-quality
- Lightweight
- Non-skid ridges
- Integrated carrying strap
- Easy to clean
- Durable material
- Phthalate-free
- Might produce a rubbery smell
3. Best Moisture-Resistant Mat:Gruper Thick Yoga Mat
The Gruper Thick Yoga Mat features a high-density NBR material that’s soft and feels comfortable. It protects your knees and prevents sudden shocks during meditation, yoga, or any light sport. The mat is available in 2 different widths, 8 and 10mm, which provides enough cushion for intense yoga poses. It is 60-degrees anti-slip tested to ensure that you remain safe while exercising on wooden, cemented, or tiled floors. The material is also moisture-resistant, non-toxic, eco-friendly, flexible, and safe for your skin. The mat comes with a carry bag and a strap for easy portability. According to reviews, the product is made with high-quality materials and is large enough to do aerobics, weight lifting, and yoga.
Specifications
- Material: Thermoplastic Elastomers and Nitrile Butadiene Rubber
- Dimensions: 72.05 x 31.5 x 0.39 inches
- Weight: 2.42 pounds
- Large width
- Tear-resistant
- Non-slip
- Soft and elastic
- Moisture-resistant
- Eco-friendly
- Non-toxic
None
Quick tip4. Best For Balancing Poses:Aurorae Extra-Thick Classic Yoga Mat
The durable Extra-Thick Classic Yoga Mat from Aurorae is made with superior-quality PER material which is lightweight and comfortable. Its ¼-inch thick memory foam protects your knees and joints during floor exercises and ensures proper traction. The joint-friendly mat is 72-inches long, offering proper space and flexibility for performing yoga, fitness, aerobics, and Pilates. Unlike other cheap yoga mats, this one comes with slip-free rosin that provides excellent stability during balanced poses. It also has a focal point icon that helps you focus during the challenging poses and is available in elegant colors like earth, camaron green, crown, midnight, and ocean.
Specifications
- Material: PER
- Dimensions: 72.05 x 24 x 0.25 inches
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Lightweight
- Odor-free
- Washable
- Eco-friendly
- Durable
- Phthalate-free
- Latex-free
- Silicone-free
- Phenol-free
- Might slip without the rosin
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has more than 3,856 reviews and is a top choice all around the world.
5. Best Toxin-Free Mat:HemingWeigh Thick Yoga Mat
The easily portable Thick Yoga Mat by HemingWeigh features a non-slip surface that ensures stability and safety during yoga and Pilate practices. Its anti-tear material adds to the durability factor and allows you to perform various yoga routines without worries. The mat is made of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and foam material that is soft, non-toxic, and flexible. The material is easy to clean, thus ensuring a high level of hygiene. To find out more about the tester’s experience with using the product, check this video review out.
Specifications
- Material: Foam, Nitrile Butadiene Rubber
- Dimensions: 71.06 x 24.01 x 0.78 inches
- Weight: 3.36 pounds
- Eco-friendly
- Lightweight and soft
- Portable
- Anti-slip surface
- Long-lasting
- Easy to clean
None
6. Best Handmade Yoga Mat:Manduka Prolite Thick Yoga Mat
The handmade Manduka Prolite Thick Yoga Mat comes with ultra-dense cushioning to offer joint protection and superior stability. The 4.7mm (0.19-inch) thick mat offers sufficient support on any surface. Its closed-cell technology prevents sweat and moisture from reducing its lifespan. The PVC material has Standard 100 certification by OEKO-TEX, making it an eco-friendly thick yoga mat. The supportive mat is available in 6 colors and 2 sizes (71 and 79 inches). Its dot pattern holds the mat in place on the floor and ensures safety during yoga and Pilate sessions. If you are an absolute beginner, this video review might be useful.
Specifications
- Material: Rubber
- Dimensions: 71 x 24 x 0.19 inches
- Weight: 3.96 pounds
- Lightweight
- Stable
- Moisture and sweat-resistant
- Anti-slip surface
- Easy to maintain and clean
- Handmade
- 100% latex-free
- Expensive
7. Best Portable:Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Gymnastics Tumbling Mat
The Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Gymnastics Tumbling Mat is a 6 ft long yoga mat. Its tri-fold design helps you to store it easily in your closets, car trunks, or storage facilities at the gym. It has 2-inch padding that provides intensive cushioning. The extra-wide mat comes with two carrying nylon straps that make traveling easier. It is perfect for training at home or in the gym for all ability levels, from beginner to expert. In addition, this can also work as a futon mattress or a floor mat for a child’s play area. It is designed with a removable nylon cover that is easy to clean. A reviewer has shared their hands-on experience and praised the product for its excellent cushioning, shock absorption, and ease of performing versatile workouts.
Specifications
- Material: Plastic
- Dimension: 24.41 x 24.41 x 6.3 inches
- Weight: 4.5 pounds
- Lightweight
- Foldable design
- Slip-resistant
- Removable nylon cover
- Easy to clean
- Compresses easily
Yoga mats are available in several unique styles, materials, and designs. Due to these variations, many buyers find it technically challenging to find suitable products. But worry not because our detailed buying guide will help you ensure the best buy.
How To Choose The Best Thick Yoga Mat?
- Material
The material of yoga mats determines the durability, texture, traction, and flexibility. PVC is the main material used in many thick yoga mats for durability, ease of maintenance, and excellent floor grip. While PVC is latex-free, it is not eco-friendly or moisture and sweat-resistant. The thick yoga mats in our list are mostly made of rubber and foam and have moisture-wicking qualities to ensure safety.
Lumalia Emmy Armstrong, certified yoga and meditation teacher, suggests, “More eco-friendly and thick yoga mats many yogis, including myself, rave about are made of sustainability harvested cork and rubber. When mixed together, cork and rubber provide a natural antibacterial material that is self cleaning and naturally cushioning while offering great grip.”
- Stickiness
A thick sticky yoga mat stays right at that place where you need it to be. It does not slide whenever you are changing yoga poses. PVC yoga mats are preferred for their stickiness as they retain this feature even after cleaning it with water.
- Eco-Friendliness
Yoga is all about connecting to the earth in a non-violent manner. Therefore, there is no need to buy thick yoga mats that take decades in landfills and maybe centuries to disintegrate. Instead, go for sustainable thick yoga mats made from natural/recycled rubber and other raw materials like jute and organic cotton.
- Thickness
Why does thickness matter? Commonly, thicker yoga mats are believed to offer unrivaled comfort than their thinner counterparts. They offer proper support to weak joints and ensure proper shock absorption.
Lumalia Emmy Armstrong, certified yoga and meditation teacher, notes, “Keep in mind, as the thickness of a mat increases, so may the weight of one. Thicker yoga mats may also be heavier so make sure to read about the heaviness of a mat when considering whether you will perform yoga at home or walk to your local studio. If you do walk to your own studio, you could consider a medium size thickness and fold the edges over to the middle or fold a part of your mat up over itself like a pastry to create extra padding around areas like your knees when needed.”
- Texture
Another vital factor to consider when choosing the best yoga mats is the texture. Yoga mats could have an artificial or natural texture, but all aim to provide proper traction and prevent sliding or slipping. The surface has an overall effect on your absolute comfort. Rubber, cotton, or jute yoga mats with raised or tactile patterns are better than PVC mats for preventing sliding and slipping.
The Bottom Line
If you are a fitness enthusiast, you know the importance of a proper yoga mat. Hatha yoga, pilates, or warm-up stretches, most workouts you do require a proper mat that stays in one place and allows you proper flexibility. These mats must have an anti-slip grip and texture and proper cushioning to prevent accidents. The best thickness yoga mats mentioned in this article are durable and made with good-quality material that is lightweight. They are portable, tear-resistant, moisture-resistant, and washable to ensure that you have a hassle-free workout session. You can opt for the Gaiam Essentials Premium Yoga Mat, which offers superior traction and features a chemical-free composition, the Sivan Health And Fitness Yoga Mat, which flaunts its extra cushioning and versatile construction, and the Aurorae Extra-Thick Classic Yoga Mat, which is extra spacious for optimum flexibility and is available in multiple colors. Consider factors like thickness, texture, material, and grip before investing in a yoga mat. Additionally, check what reviewers have to say about a product and pick accordingly. Also, avoid products that have a rubbery smell or are difficult to store. You can also seek recommendations directly from a renowned yoga instructor or a wellness consultant.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Aditi Naskar, the author of this article, has a diploma in health and wellness. She went through thousands of reviews and various yoga mats online to curate this list of the best thick yoga mat for her readers. These yoga mats are washable, lightweight, portable, and slip-resistant. They absorb shocks or impacts, thus preventing mishaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thickness for a yoga mat?
The thicker the yoga mat, the better it will support the joints. You can choose a mat between 4mm to 8mm thickness for the best experience.
Is a 10mm yoga mat good?
Yes, 10mm is a perfect thickness, provides the best cushioning, and helps perform the asanas efficiently.
Is it ok to wash the yoga mat in the washing machine?
Yes, depending on the yoga mat material, you can use either hand wash it or spin it in a washing machine.
How often should you replace your yoga mat?
You can replace your yoga mat when it starts to wear and tear or feels rugged. Most yoga mats can last more than 1 year.
Can you use a camping mat for yoga?
You can use a camping mat for yoga temporarily if you don’t have any other mats available; however, it may not give you a very comfortable experience while performing asanas.
Can I use a thick yoga mat as a sleeping pad?
Yoga mats don’t provide any thermal protection while sleeping; so they may not be a good option for sleeping.
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