How to Choose YOUR Best Yoga Mat

Picking a yoga mat can be a tough decision! We know, we've been there. There is a lot to think about: thickness, support, how long it will last, grip, length, width… there’s a joke in there somewhere. Picking a yoga mat is like picking a mate. Hopefully, it'll be with you for a while, support you, comfort you, and absorb your sweat and tears.

Your yoga mat is one of the only pieces of equipment you’ll need when starting your practice. Compared to other sports and activities, it’s a pretty minimal one! We get asked a lot at our Echo Park, East Hollywood, and Eagle Rock studios which mat is best. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to find your soul-mat:

Sweaty hands? Go grippy.

If you sweat easily, look for grip. If your hands slip and slide, a rubber mat is for you.

We carry 3 options with excellent grip:

Manduka EKO® LITE Yoga Mat 4mm: The OG mat that keeps our ODD fam from slipping! It’s eco-friendly, biodegradable, and made from non-Amazon-harvested tree rubber with a textured surface that's grippy from the first roll-out, no break-in period needed. It comes in rich colors and fun prints.

The B Mat Everyday 4mm: The newish kid on the block and an ODD fam fave! Founder Andrea Morris was inspired by her family’s manufacturing and technology company and turned the rubber used in carpet pads into the B Mat. It’s eco-friendly, grippy, and comes in every color of the rainbow!

The Manduka GRP: We’re big fans of Manduka’s newest grippy mat. This one is for your sweatiest class! Its charcoal-infused rubber core grips harder the more you sweat, so you really stay put in your warrior II. No slip, no distraction, no matter how sweaty your mat gets! 

Hard on your knees? Go thick.

If you struggle in table and have sensitive knees, go thicker. For extra cushion, look at the B Mat Strong (6mm) or the Manduka PRO (6mm) - both provide padding for long holds in YIN or low lunges in SLOW FLOW.

Pro-tip: You can always use a blanket for extra padding!

Want a mat for life? PRO or PRO Lite.

These are our best-sellers, and once you're on one, it's easy to see why. Manduka's PRO series comes with a lifetime guarantee. The closed-cell surface allows for years of daily use without breaking down.

Manduka PRO 6mm: The one that started it all, and still our best-seller! The Manduka PRO is dense and stable, best if you want maximum support. It gets grippier the longer you're on it, and is built to outlast every mat on the market. 

Manduka PRO Lite 4.7mm: The lighter sibling of the PRO and an ODD fam favorite! It gives you the same closed-cell surface, durability and lifetime guarantee as the PRO, just in a lighter, easier-to-carry mat.

Traveling, or tight on space? PRO Travel.

At 2mm and under three pounds, the Manduka eKO Superlite Travel folds down small enough for a tote bag but still holds its grip and stability on the road. Good for retreats, hotel-room practice, or a mat that lives in your car.

Care about what it's made of? eKO or B Mat.

Both the Manduka eKO and B Mat line use natural or recycled rubber instead of PVC. eKO is made from non-Amazon-harvested tree rubber and B Mat from recycled, OEKO-TEX-certified material. They'll ask a little more of you in return: keep them out of direct sun and skip the harsh cleaners.

Extra tall? Go long.

Almost every mat we carry comes in an extra-long version, so if the standard length keeps cutting you off at the wrists or ankles, ask at the front desk - if we don’t have one on hand we can special order :)

Pick a color you can live with.

Every mat here comes in more than one colorway, and in our opinion, the color of your mat matters - you'll be looking at it every time you're in down dog. Some of us go bubble gum pink, some of us go charcoal - both are correct. 

Quick answers

Is it worth investing in a good yoga mat? Yes! A cheap mat loses its grip quickly, breaks down within a year of regular use (trust us, we sweep up broken-down cheap mat chunks every day!), and won't hold up going back and forth from the studio. A good mat protects your joints, keeps your hands and feet exactly where you put them, and lasts for years of practice instead of months.

What's the best yoga mat for beginners? Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the above. Start with grip and cushion over everything else - the Manduka Prolite or B Mat Everyday cover both, and neither needs a break-in period before it feels right underfoot.

How thick should a yoga mat be? 4–4.7mm is the sweet spot for most people: enough cushion for your joints without losing your connection to the floor for balance poses. Go up to 6mm if your knees need extra support, down to 2mm if you're traveling.

Where can I buy a yoga mat in Los Angeles? Every mat above is available to buy at One Down Dog's Echo Park, East Hollywood, and Eagle Rock studios - easy stops if you're coming from Silverlake, Los Feliz, Highland Park, Glendale, or Pasadena.

Want to try before you buy? If you’re just not sure which mat is for you, we have just about every mat available for rent at the front desk for $4 - take it on a test drive so you know which one best suits your needs.

We hope this helps make your decision easier, and remember that our awesome desk staff and amazing teachers can also help you find the perfect mat for you! ❤️