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The 13 Best Exercise Mats for Every Workout, Found and Tested by Experts
Our top picks are protective, slip-proof, and comfortable
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Neha has a love (and knack) for finding the best beauty, style, and health products. After getting her Master's degree in journalism, she has been guided by seasoned editors and mentors to write for some of the most reputable media brands in New York, from Cosmopolitan and New York Magazine to Women's Health.
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Sarah Felbin is the associate commerce editor at Verywell Fit. A writer and editor with over 20 years of dance experience, her work has also appeared in Popsugar and Women’s Health.
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Ravi Davda is a certified personal trainer with nearly 10 years of experience in the fitness and wellness industry. Ravi has worked with a range of personal training clients both in-person and online.
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Kristin McGee is a certified personal trainer and currently teaches yoga and meditation for Peloton. She is also certified in Pilates by the National Association of Sports Medicine.
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Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist who has covered technology, finance, sports, and lifestyle.
Verywell Fit / Nick Kova
When you need to squeeze in a workout between meetings or you just don’t want to leave the house to get a good sweat session, an exercise mat is all you need. The right one can come in handy as you’re stretching before a run, practicing your Downward Facing Dog, or exercising while you’re on vacation. To find the best exercise mats, we first asked experts (including two yoga instructors, a Pilates instructor, and a physical therapist) for their advice on which key features each one needs to have. Then, we tested 19 expert-approved exercise mats from brands like lululemon, Nike, and Gaiam in the Verywell Testing Lab. We evaluated each mat while practicing yoga, doing barre classes, tackling our weight training goals, and more.
When choosing and testing our top picks, we prioritize exercise mats that are lightweight, sweat-wicking, and easy to clean. We consider which materials each mat is made from and how thick it feels underneath our hands and feet while we exercise. Our final recommendations have earned high scores for design, comfort, grip, and portability. We also had a certified personal trainer from our Review Board review this story for accuracy and review our suggestions for how to shop for a thick exercise mat that will protect your joints.
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Grip varies in different areas
Sweat-wicking
Stain-resistant
Pricier than other options
Heavier than other options
Key Specs
Material: Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) | Dimensions: 71 x 26 inches | Thickness: 6 millimeters | Weight: 4.4 pounds | Waterproof: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5
Who It’s For
Best for at-home workouts, especially if you tend to sweat while you exercise.
Why We Love It
lululemon’s The Workout Mat is an all-purpose, 6-millimeter-thick mat that can be used for almost any kind of training, making it our top overall pick. Have you already tried other lululemon mats? Don’t expect this one to be the same—we noticed a difference right away.
We found that the textured surface enhances this mat’s grip, keeping us steady on our feet while we held planks or did burpees. Raised bubbles that vary in size and shape in different areas of the mat not only add to the mat’s stylish design but also provide stability during challenging yoga poses and isometric holds.
We love the larger size: Our tester, who is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, fit comfortably on this mat during all types of workouts. And during testing, we noticed that the thermoplastic elastomer feels pleasantly soft underneath our hands and feet, with just enough give. Plus, the mat is sweat-wicking and stain-resistant, making it durable and easy to clean. A versatile pick for everything from Pilates to weightlifting, lululemon’s The Workout Mat is the best exercise mat we’ve tested so far.
Potential Flaws
- This is one of the heaviest mats on our list, which makes it less portable. But lululemon makes an adjustable carrying strap that may be helpful if you’re planning on bringing this mat to the gym.
- While it’s one of our pricier picks, we think this mat is well worth the additional cost for its versatility and unique texture.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester is a barre teacher who routinely brings her exercise mat with her to the studio. She does barre, Pilates, and strength training workouts at home three to four times per week. She likes to work out barefoot and, before testing this mat, often used a blanket for additional cushioning during floorwork.
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Verywell Fit / Ashleigh Morley
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Comes with a carrying strap
Great shock absorption
Soft but supportive
May hold onto odor
Key Specs
Material: Synthetic | Dimensions: 72 x 24 inches | Thickness: 12.5 millimeters | Weight: 2.4 pounds | Waterproof: Not specified | Our Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Who It’s For
Best for most workouts, especially if you need extra cushioning for your joints.
Why We Love It
For a portable exercise mat at a budget-friendly price, we recommend Amazon Basics’ Extra Thick Exercise Mat. Like Nike’s Training Mat 2.0, this mat comes with a carrying strap, making it ideal for exercising at home or at the gym. At 12.5 millimeters, it’s one of the thicker options on our list, providing extra support and shock absorption without ever compromising our balance.
We like that the thick material has deep ridges that provide good traction and stability. During testing, we found that we could even use this mat for handstands and planks while our hands were sweaty without slipping or sliding around. The soft, synthetic cushioning felt particularly great during planks and push-ups. Choose from basic black or bright shades that will stand out in any studio.
Potential Flaws
- We noticed that this mat started to hold onto odor towards the end of the testing period. But we like that it’s easy to wipe clean after each session.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester, who enjoys CrossFit and hot yoga, used to do all of his mobility exercises on a carpeted floor. Now, he uses this mat three to four times a week for supplemental training, in addition to his weekly workout routine. He prefers larger exercise mats with plenty of padding.
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Verywell Fit / Michael Navarro
Best for Pilates
Aeromat Elite Yoga Pilates Mat
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Amazon
- Design4.5/5
- Comfort5/5
- Grip5/5
- Portability5/5
Thick, supportive cushioning
Won’t stretch out over time
Sweat won’t compromise grip
May have a slight odor
Key Specs
Material: Foam, mesh | Dimensions: 72 x 24 inches | Thickness: 6 millimeters | Weight: 3.5 pounds | Waterproof: Not specified | Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5
Who It’s For
Best for heated studios or people who tend to sweat during Pilates class.
Why We Love It
Aeromat’s Elite Yoga/Pilates Mat is thick enough to provide a good cushion during floor workouts like Pilates, but it’s not so padded that you won’t be able to find your balance during V-sits. We found that, at 6 millimeters, it’s the perfect thickness to support our joints, with a cushy feel. Made from foam with a waffle-like texture, this mat has a slightly sticky grip that prevented us from sliding around, even when our hands got sweaty.
Despite the added cushioning, we found that Aeromat’s Mat isn’t too heavy to tote back and forth from the studio. We also love that it’s latex-free, with added mesh that won’t stretch out or lose its shape over time. Complete with a travel-friendly shoulder strap, consider this your new favorite Pilates accessory.
Potential Flaws
- If you have a sensitive nose, you may want to air this out for a few hours before using it—we noticed a slight odor when we first unboxed it.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester likes to practice yoga at home at least three times a week. She prefers a thicker mat to help support her during poses.
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Verywell Fit / Cindy Erskin
Best for Yoga
YogaAccessories 1/4-Inch Thick High-Density Yoga Mat
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Amazon
- Design5/5
- Comfort5/5
- Grip5/5
- Portability4/5
Budget-friendly
Lightweight
Easy to wipe clean
Not as portable as other options
Key Specs
Material: Foam | Dimensions: 72 x 24 inches | Thickness: 6 millimeters | Weight: 1 pound | Waterproof: Not specified | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5
Who It’s For
Best for yogis who practice at home and don’t want to spend a fortune for a high-quality, grippy mat.
Why We Love It
Yogis should definitely invest in a mat that’s specifically made for yoga, says yoga instructor Rakhee Morjaria. This is because thick, slippery exercise mats won’t stay put on the floor, which makes poses like Downward Facing Dog difficult. Enter our favorite, budget-friendly pick, YogaAccessories’ Extra Thick Deluxe Yoga Mat.
Measuring 6 millimeters thick, we love how comfortable and stable the latex-free foam feels underneath our hands and bare feet. It’s supportive, too—we even notice less knee pain when kneeling. Plus, the grip is impressive: During planks, our sweaty hands stay firmly in place. Easy to use and easy to clean, this lightweight mat quickly earned a spot in our weekly workouts.
Potential Flaws
- While you’ll love this for at-home workouts, it’s a bit heavy and thick to carry around, and you’ll want to purchase a separate shoulder strap if you still decide to do so.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester used this mat for yoga and strength training workouts. In the past, she’s been a fan of Gaiam mats for their plush, supportive cushioning. She exercised on this mat at home and in her apartment building’s gym.
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Verywell Fit / Joelle Hernandez
Best for Hot Yoga
Gaiam Premium Reversible Lunar Wave Yoga Mat
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Amazon
- Design4.2/5
- Comfort4.5/5
- Grip5/5
- Portability5/5
Sweat won’t compromise grip
Unique design
Arrives in minimal packaging
May have a slight odor
Key Specs
Material: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) | Dimensions: 68 x 24 inches | Thickness: 6 millimeters | Weight: 2.5 pounds | Waterproof: Not specified | Our Overall Rating: 4.7/5
Who It’s For
Best for high-sweat classes, especially if your current mat is always sliding around.
Why We Love It
Peloton yoga instructor Aditi Shah says it’s important to find a yoga mat with the right amount of grip—and that goes double when you’re sweating during a hot yoga class. Thanks to its sticky, textured surface, Gaiam’s Premium Reversible Lunar Wave Yoga Mat is our top pick for staying balanced and stable from start to finish. Whether our hands are dry or sweaty, this mat stays put (even during Downward Facing Dog).
Both sides feature a unique pattern in calming shades of blue that will stand out in any studio. And even without a handle, we found this mat thin enough to roll up and carry around almost anywhere. Just a few weeks into the testing period, we found ourselves reaching for this mat over our other ones due to the supportive padding, stay-put texture, and luxe style. Another bonus: If you’re trying to cut down on waste, we also appreciate that this mat comes in minimal packaging.
Potential Flaws
- The brand notes that this mat may smell when you first open it, and we did notice a slight odor. But it wasn’t enough to deter us from our practice, and it faded completely by the end of the testing period.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester used this mat in the morning for foam rolling and stretching sessions while recovering from an injury. She also brought it with her while traveling during the testing period. Her typical workout routine includes yoga, Pilates, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and powerlifting. She’s looking to replace her current mat because it’s too thin, although it’s lasted a few years.
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Stylish silhouette
Moisture-wicking
Antimicrobial
May be too thin for some
Not as spacious as other options
Key Specs
Material: Rubber, polyurethane | Dimensions: 71 x 26.5 inches | Thickness: 5 millimeters | Weight: Not specified | Waterproof: Yes | Our Overall Rating: 4.6/5
Who It’s For
Best for yoga or hot yoga—any workout where you’re mostly on your feet, rather than your hands and knees.
Why We Love It
Bala’s The Play Mat is our top pick if you’re always sweating it out in the studio. We immediately noticed its sleek, modern design, with round edges that set it apart from our other picks. The smooth, polyurethane-coated rubber mat feels pleasantly grippy, making it one of our favorites for all types of heated workouts.
Complete with an antimicrobial, moisture-wicking finish, consider this the do-it-all mat that can handle barre, hot yoga, and more. Morjaria is a fan of the charcoal color because it’s easy to keep clean. (There’s also a matching towel, for extra sweaty sessions.)
Potential Flaws
- This mat is a little thinner than many of our other top picks, so we don’t recommend it if you often feel stress on your wrists or knees while working out.
- Since one end is round, it’s not quite as spacious as some other mats on our list. However, it’s still pretty wide.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester uses an exercise mat for her at-home Pilates sessions three to five times a week. Since her back muscles tend to feel tight, she prefers a thicker mat with plenty of padding. Before this mat, she used a lululemon mat—while she appreciated the thickness, she didn’t like how squeaky it was.
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Verywell Fit / Abigail Moore
Best Investment
Jade Yoga XW Fusion Yoga Mat
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Jade Yoga
- Design5/5
- Comfort5/5
- Grip5/5
- Portability4.5/5
Supportive cushioning
Extra long and wide
Grippy texture
Not as portable as other options
Key Specs
Material: Rubber | Dimensions: 80 x 28 inches | Thickness: 8 millimeters | Weight: 1.5-4.5 pounds | Waterproof: Not specified | Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5
Who It’s For
Best for anyone who needs extra space and cushioning during hot yoga classes.
Why We Love It
Measuring 8 millimeters thick, Jade Yoga’s XW Fusion Yoga Mat falls between most of our other picks. But we think it stands out for its natural rubber construction and highly grippy texture. During testing, we were surprised by how supportive this mat felt in all kinds of yoga poses. It feels luxe to the touch and gave our at-home yoga flows a major upgrade—our tester, who is new to yoga, realized that this mat was the key to maintaining an almost daily practice.
The large size is ideal for taller yogis and anyone who needs some extra space for their Scorpion Pose or Pigeon Pose. Plus, we love how elegant this two-tone mat looks, even when it’s rolled up in our home gyms. This is the longest, thickest mat Jade Yoga has to offer, and we think the XW Fusion is well worth the investment for most yogis.
Potential Flaws
- We love how supportive this mat feels, but its thickness and size make it less portable than many of our other top picks.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester likes to try different styles of yoga at home five to seven times per week. When she shops for exercise mats, she considers how expensive they are and which materials they’re made of. In the past, she’s used thinner mats that are too slick for holding certain yoga poses.
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Verywell Fit / Abigail Wetzler
Best for Travel
Jade Yoga Jade Voyager Mat
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Amazon
- Design3.9/5
- Comfort3/5
- Grip5/5
- Portability5/5
Great grip
Lightweight
Folds up small
May have a slight odor
May be too thin for some
Key Specs
Material: Natural rubber | Dimensions: 24 x 68 inches | Thickness: 1.6 millimeters | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Waterproof: Not specified | Our Overall Rating: 4.2/5
Who It’s For
Best for anyone who doesn’t have the room to carry a rolled-up mat with them.
Why We Love It
If you’re always working out while you’re on the go, we recommend Jade Yoga’s Voyager Mat. We love the ultra-thin design, which can be folded up into a small square (about the size of a yoga block) when you’re not using it. But don’t be fooled—during testing, we found that this mat has some serious grip on both sides. Whether we were working up a sweat or trying to hold our balance, we noticed that the Voyager Mat’s sticky texture kept us feeling secure.
At just 1.5 pounds, this mat is incredibly lightweight. Stash it in your tote before heading to the park for some yoga, or throw it into your carry-on to squeeze in some HIIT workouts in your hotel room.
Potential Flaws
- We noticed that this mat had a strong smell when we first opened it. However, the smell dissipated after we laid the mat out for around two weeks.
- Since this mat is so thin and lightweight, it doesn’t offer much cushioning or support for those with sensitive joints.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester enjoys doing yoga, HIIT, core work, and lifting weights. She does a mix of workouts at home and at the gym, and she uses this mat about three times a week. She tends to sweat while she exercises, so she looks for an exercise mat with plenty of grip.
Bonus Favorites
Although we didn’t test these exercise mats for ourselves, we still think they’re solid options after researching their features and materials. Many of them are comparable to the mats we tried at home.
Best for Training
Nike Training Mat 2.0
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Amazon
- Design5/5
- Comfort5/5
- Grip5/5
- Portability5/5
- Value3.5/5
Easy to clean
Thick, plush cushioning
Comes with an adjustable strap
May feel slippery when wet
Key Specs
Material: Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyester | Dimensions: 71 x 24 inches | Thickness: 8 millimeters | Weight: 2.1 pounds | Waterproof: Not specified
Who It’s For
Best for beginners who need a versatile mat for most workouts.
Why We Love It
Similar to Jade Yoga’s XW Fusion Yoga Mat, Nike’s Training Mat 2.0 is made with 8 millimeters of thick cushioning. Designed for any and all floor workouts, we like that the mat’s textured, grippy surface makes it suitable for yoga, Pilates, HIIT circuits, stretching, and more. At around 2 pounds, it’s one of our lighter picks but doesn’t skimp on plush padding.
The Training Mat is easy to roll up and store once you’ve finished using it. We also love that you can use the adjustable carrying strap to bring it with you to the gym or away for the weekend. It’s easy to clean, too—after each workout, just wipe it down with a damp cloth.
Potential Flaws
- Make sure it’s fully dry before you unroll it for next time, since some users have found that this mat tends to feel slippery when it’s wet.
![A rolled Nike Training Mat 2.0 surrounded by gym accessories]()
Verywell Fit / Joy Kim
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Verywell Fit / Joy Kim
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Verywell Fit / Joy Kim
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Verywell Fit / Joy Kim
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Verywell Fit / Joy Kim
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Verywell Fit / Joy Kim
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Verywell Fit / Joy Kim
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Verywell Fit / Joy Kim
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Reversible
Easy to clean
Recyclable
May not be as durable as other options
May be too thin for some
Key Specs
Material: Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) | Dimensions: 72 x 24 inches | Thickness: 5 millimeters | Weight: 2.4 pounds | Waterproof: Yes
Who It’s For
Best for anyone who exercises outdoors or who tends to work up a sweat.
Why We Love It
Looking for a sweat-wicking exercise mat? Hugger Mugger’s Earth Elements Mat is our top pick because its closed-cell construction is designed to prevent any moisture from seeping in. Although it’s a yoga mat, we think this mat’s great traction and soft surface make it ideal for other workouts, too.
We love that this mat is reversible, giving you two textures and colors for the price of one. Plus, it’s made from non-toxic, biodegradable, and recyclable materials. And if you tend to work up a sweat while exercising, we like that it's easy to clean—just use a cloth to wipe it down with dish soap and water.
Potential Flaws
- This exercise mat can’t be left in hot or cold temperatures since it’s biodegradable.
- It may feel too thin for some since it’s only 5 millimeters thick. But we like that this makes the mat more portable for trips to and from the gym.
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Thick, plush cushioning
Includes a carrying strap and yoga blocks
Budget-friendly
May not be as durable as other options
Key Specs
Material: Foam | Dimensions: 71 x 24 inches | Thickness: 12.5 millimeters | Weight: 1.8 pounds | Waterproof: Yes
Who It’s For
Best for anyone who needs extra-thick cushioning in a budget-friendly, grippy mat.
Why We Love It
Shah emphasizes the importance of exercising on a high-quality mat that has great traction to help prevent slips, falls, and other injuries. We recommend BalanceFrom’s 1/2-Inch Exercise Yoga Mat because it has thick ridges to help you get a good grip, whether you’re lifting weights or holding Handstand Pose.
We love all of the accessories you get with this mat, including an adjustable carrying strap and two matching yoga blocks. 12.5 millimeters of high-density foam also makes this mat comfortable, sweat-wicking, and easy to clean. Choose from basic black and grey or a range of bright colors to add some extra punch to your workouts.
Potential Flaws
- Some users have found that the mat is prone to dents and dings.
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Comes with a carrying strap
Anti-tear
Both sides are non-slip
May be too thick for balancing
Key Specs
Material: Rubber | Dimensions: 70 x 23 inches | Thickness: 25 millimeters | Weight: 3.2 pounds | Waterproof: Not specified
Who It’s For
Best for anyone with joint pain or wrist pain who could use a heavily padded mat.
Why We Love It
The thickest mat on our list by far, HemingWeigh’s Yoga Mat is made with 25 millimeters of rubber for the ultimate highly cushioned feel. We like that both sides of this mat are non-slip, making it functional for a wide range of exercises.
Intensely comfortable and supportive, this mat makes many floor workouts more comfortable, taking the pressure off of your knees, wrists, and tailbone. Since it’s anti-tear, it’s also more durable than many other mats on our list. Plus, the included carrying strap makes it easy to roll this mat up and bring it with you on the go.
Potential Flaws
- Although the brand markets this product as a yoga mat, we wouldn’t recommend it for yoga because the thick padding may make it harder for you to balance. It’s also not very wide, which can make certain poses more difficult. But we think it’s a great option for many other workouts, from Pilates to core work.
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Great value
Comes with multiple accessories
Unique, dual-sided design
Can’t be used with shoes on
Key Specs
Material: Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) | Dimensions: 72 x 48 inches | Thickness: 6 millimeters or 8 millimeters | Weight: 3.75-4 pounds | Waterproof: Yes
Who It’s For
Best for anyone with a large home gym.
Why We Love It
With two thicknesses to choose from and plenty of space to spread out, Cambivo’s Extra-Wide Workout Mat is our top pick for a spacious exercise mat. It’s the same length as most yoga mats, but it’s twice as wide—making it one of our favorite picks for at-home cardio or HIIT sessions.
This mat comes with two mat straps, a microfiber towel, and a carrying bag in case you want to store it while you’re not using it. We like the unique, two-sided design: The front has ridges to help your feet grip the mat, while the back has a deeper pattern that prevents it from sliding around on the floor. At twice the size and around half the price of some other mats on our list, we think Cambivo’s mat is a great value for almost any at-home exerciser.
Potential Flaws
- The manufacturer recommends not using the mat with shoes on, to help it last longer.
Exercise Mats We Also Tested
We’ve tested 19 exercise mats so far, but not all of them have impressed us enough to make it onto our final list of recommendations. While we like some aspects of these mats, they just don’t compare to our other favorites:
- Nike’s Mastery Yoga Mat made a great first impression with its pretty speckled surface and sturdy, supportive feel. We love the grip it offers, but we don't like the strong, lingering smell it had when we first opened it. We also find it too pricey compared to our other picks.
- The Stakt Mat has a sticky surface that’s easy to grip, and we like that it folds up for easy storage or working out on the go. But it’s very thin. While doing Pilates, we felt like we were sitting on the floor, and we missed the support that some of our other picks offered.
Where We Stand
After testing a variety of exercise mats, lululemon’s The Workout Mat 6mm was our clear winner for its long length and grippy, textured surface. We continue to test exercise mats at home and we’ll update our recommendations if we try anything new and noteworthy or notice any changes with our current picks. Verywell Fit / Paige VandeWiele:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwt-yoga-mats-test-nike-mastery-paige-vandewiele-01-363efc802f284f548727e3d3ddd53ae7.jpeg)
What to Look for When Shopping for Exercise Mats
- Types of Workouts: Make sure the exercise mat you purchase can stand up to your workout routine. We like Nike’s Training Mat 2.0 for most types of training because it’s lightweight but still padded enough for bodyweight workouts. If Pilates is your go-to, we highly recommend Aeromat’s Elite Yoga/Pilates Mat, which is budget-friendly and comes with a shoulder strap for trips to and from the studio. Prefer to switch things up each week? Try investing in our top overall pick, lululemon’s The Workout Mat 6mm, which can handle everything from hot yoga to strength training.
- Thickness: The right thickness for an exercise mat is up to you—it depends on what kind of exercises you’ll be doing on the mat and what feels comfortable. While a thicker mat may feel better on your joints, Pilates instructor Linda Magid says that a thicker mat is harder to balance on. Finding the right combination of padding and stability is key.
- Material: Exercise mats may be made from thermoplastic elastomer, polyester, synthetic materials, PVC, vinyl, rubber, foam, or a mix of these. Rubber mats are popular for their durability, but they don’t feel as cushioned compared to foam mats. Foam mats are lighter and more affordable, but they aren’t recommended for workouts that involve a lot of intense movement or heavy weights because they’re more likely to get scuffed or torn.
- Size: Look for an exercise mat that is large enough to lie down on but not so large that it doesn’t fit in your living room or take up too much space at the gym. Most mats are between 65 and 75 inches long and around 25 inches wide. Some, like Cambivo’s Extra Wide Workout Mat, are larger if you need more room.
- Grip: “Most people like a textured surface for added grip and stability, especially when they're doing exercises that involve a lot of movement,” says physical therapist Tyler Lowe. Non-slip, textured mats will have the best traction, making them a good pick for use with yoga wheels. And if you tend to sweat while you exercise, look for a mat that’s also sweat-wicking and easy to clean after each workout.
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Verywell Fit / Paige VandeWiele
How We Selected and Tested the Best Exercise Mats
To find the best exercise mats, we’ve researched dozens of exercise mats and tested 19 options from popular, trusted fitness brands. For the mats we select through research, we first speak with fitness experts to learn which key features every high-quality exercise mat should have. Then, we review the materials, weight, intended use, and other key specs of mats at different price points to find the top options on the market. As we continue to test and evaluate more exercise mats in our lab and at home, we also keep these important criteria in mind:
- Design: When we open each mat for the first time, we examine how it’s packaged and if it has any initial smell. We assess the design, including the surface texture, the color, the pattern, and the shape. How big is it? Do any design elements stand out compared to other mats we’ve used before?
- Comfort: As we start using the mat, we pay attention to how comfortable it feels underneath our hands and feet. Is the material supportive and cushioned, or thin and flimsy? Does the thickness of the mat affect our balance? We also note whether we feel any difference in the impact our workouts have on our joints. During the testing period, we make sure to use each mat for different exercises so we can determine what kind of workouts it’s best suited for. Our go-tos include hot yoga, restorative yoga, high-intensity interval training, strength training, and barre classes.
- Grip: We consider how grippy the texture of the mat feels with dry and sweaty hands. As we exercise, are we sliding around? Or does the mat have enough grip to keep us in place? Some mats have more texture than others, so we also assess how the mat feels. Is it smooth and slick, a little bumpy, or uncomfortably sticky?
- Portability: We also roll each mat up and carry it around to see how portable it is. Does it come with a shoulder strap? How heavy is it? Does the size make it awkward to lug around? The best exercise mats should be easy to bring with you to the gym or while traveling.
Our Experts
The following experts helped us identify key features to look for in a quality exercise mat, plus which flaws are dealbreakers for certain activities. They also weighed in on which exercise mat brands stand out from the rest.
- Mandy Ingber, yoga instructor and author of Yogalosophy: 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover
- Rakhee Morjaria, yoga instructor, author, and founder of UK-based Superari Life
- Linda Magid, fitness and Pilates instructor at Pilates For Real Bodies
- Tyler Lowe, physical therapist and founder of Loving Life, who holds a bachelor’s in sport and exercise rehabilitation
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best exercise mats to buy?
The best exercise mats to buy are durable and comfortable, with good traction so you can exercise safely. When shopping, consider how easy an exercise mat is to care for, whether it comes with any additional accessories, and how you’ll transport it.
What’s the difference between a yoga mat and an exercise mat?
While Lowe says a yoga mat provides a comfortable surface for kneeling and sitting on a non-slip surface, an exercise mat is more multi-purpose. It can be used for yoga, but it also has more cushioning for other activities, like strength training, core work, stretching, or Pilates.
How much does a good exercise mat cost?
Most high-quality exercise mats cost anywhere from $20 to $200. Budget-friendly mats can be just as comfortable as high-end ones, although they may not be as durable (and they tend to come in smaller sizes).
How thick should an exercise mat be?
A thicker exercise mat usually means you’re less likely to feel the hardness of the floor on your joints. However, a thicker mat can also be more difficult to balance on, so Magid recommends starting with a basic mat and purchasing a second, thicker one later for when you need it.
Why Trust Verywell Fit
Neha Tandon is a yoga teacher and journalist with five years of experience writing about health. She enjoys staying up-to-date on the best products and takes pride in giving quality recommendations that help improve people’s quality of life. As an avid exerciser, Neha routinely uses exercise mats during her workouts—her favorite is lululemon’s The Workout Mat 6mm for restorative yoga and Pilates when she can’t be bothered to head to the gym.
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