BalanceFrom
BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Yoga Mat
In: Best Yoga Mats for Beginners
- 1/4-inch (6mm) high-density foam
- Double-sided non-slip texture
Category guide
Best Yoga Mats: the complete research library
Everything we publish about Yoga mats, best-of roundups, in-depth reviews, head-to-head comparisons, and plain-language buying guides.
- 6 roundups · 4 reviews · 2 comparisons · 2 guides
- Updated
- No paid placements
Shop the shortlist
Top yoga mats we recommend
Standout picks from our best-of lists. Tap any product for features, pros and cons.
- Best overallManduka
Manduka PRO Yoga Mat 71-Inch 6mm
In: Best Yoga Mats for Hot Yoga
- 6mm closed-cell PVC construction
- Closed-cell surface resists moisture absorption
- Best overallGaiam
Gaiam Essentials Thick Yoga Mat
In: Best Yoga Mats for Sensitive Knees
- 10mm (2/5-inch) NBR foam cushioning
- Textured non-slip surface
- Best overallprAna
prAna E.C.O. Yoga Mat
In: Best Yoga Mats for Travel
- 5mm closed-cell natural rubber
- Two-sided texturing for grip
- Gaiam
Gaiam Premium 6mm Print Yoga Mat
In: Best Yoga Mats Under $60
- 6mm cushioning for knees
- Printed alignment guides
Best by need
Best yoga mats for every buyer
Ranked shortlists for specific budgets and use cases. Start with the one that matches yours.
- Best Yoga Mats for Beginners: Top Picks for Comfort, Grip, and ValueThe best yoga mats for beginners, ranked by cushioning, grip, and forgiving price, covering budget foam mats through step-up rubber options See the picks
- Best Yoga Mats for Hot Yoga: Top Picks for Sweat, Grip, and DurabilityThe best yoga mats for hot yoga and Bikram, ranked by wet grip, sweat absorption, and durability under heat and repeated washing, covering pSee the picks
- Best Yoga Mats for Sensitive Knees: Top Picks for Extra CushioningThe best yoga mats for sensitive knees, ranked by cushioning thickness, density, and stability, covering extra-thick foam mats through denseSee the picks
- Best Yoga Mats for Travel: Top Picks for Weight, Packability, and GripThe best yoga mats for travel, ranked by weight, fold or roll size, and grip on the go, covering foldable and lightweight options for practiSee the picks
- Best Yoga Mats Under $30: Top Budget Picks That Don't Feel CheapSee the picks
- Best Yoga Mats Under $60: Top Mid-Range Picks Worth the UpgradeSee the picks
Know before you buy
About Yoga Mats
Yoga mats balance cushioning, grip, and stability, and the right thickness depends on your practice style and joints. Our guides also cover care, smell, and slipping fixes.
Below you'll find every Yoga mats article we've published, grouped by format. Roundups give you the shortlist; reviews go deep on single products; comparisons settle either-or decisions; guides teach you how to choose.
How to choose Yoga mats
Thickness
4–5 mm suits dynamic flows and balance; 6 mm+ cushions knees and joints for restorative practice but feels less stable in standing poses.
Material
PVC offers the grippiest, longest-lasting surface; TPE is lighter and more eco-friendly; natural rubber grips well when warm but can smell initially; cork excels once you sweat.
Grip wet vs dry
Some mats grip best dry, others need moisture to activate. Match to whether your hands sweat and whether you practice hot yoga.
Size
Standard 68×24" fits most; taller practitioners want 72–74" length and 26"+ width for comfort.
Portability
Thicker, denser mats are heavy. If you carry it to class, weight matters as much as cushion.
Research-based picks from specs, independent reviews and owner feedback.
No paid placements, ever.
Our methodologyQuick buying tips
What matters most in yoga mats
- 4–5 mm suits dynamic flows and balance; 6 mm+ cushions knees and joints for restorative practice but feels less stable in standing poses.
- PVC offers the grippiest, longest-lasting surface; TPE is lighter and more eco-friendly; natural rubber grips well when warm but can smell initially; cork excels once you sweat.
- Some mats grip best dry, others need moisture to activate. Match to whether your hands sweat and whether you practice hot yoga.
- Standard 68×24" fits most; taller practitioners want 72–74" length and 26"+ width for comfort.
- Thicker, denser mats are heavy. If you carry it to class, weight matters as much as cushion.
Deep dives
In-depth reviews
- BalanceFrom GoYoga Yoga Mat Review: The Most-Reviewed Budget MatThe BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Yoga Mat is the standard budget recommendation, backed by over 60,000 ratings.
- Gaiam Essentials Thick Yoga Mat Review: The Cheapest Way to More CushioningIt's the most comfortable budget mat for joint-sensitive practitioners, with tradeoffs in standing-pose stability.
- Manduka PRO Yoga Mat Review: The Premium Standard for a ReasonThe Manduka PRO is the most recommended premium yoga mat on the market. Full review with performance notes.
- prAna E.C.O. Yoga Mat Review: Natural Rubber Grip Without PVCis a closed-cell natural rubber yoga mat built for practitioners who want to avoid PVC. Full review with performance notes.
Learn first
Buying guides & how-tos
- Buying guideHow to Choose a Yoga Mat: A Practical Decision FrameworkA decision framework for choosing a yoga mat based on thickness, material, grip, and practice style, covering the tradeoffs between budget fRead
- Buying guideYoga Mat Curling at the Edges: 5 Causes and FixesIf your yoga mat won't lie flat and the edges keep curling up, the cause is usually storage or a new mat that hasn't relaxed yet. We cover 5Read
- Buying guideYoga Mat Slipping: 6 Causes and FixesIf your yoga mat keeps sliding on the floor or your hands and feet keep slipping on it, the cause is usually identifiable and fixable. We coRead
- Buying guideYoga Mat Smelling: 6 Causes and FixesIf your yoga mat smells bad, whether it's brand new or has been used for months, the cause is usually one of a few common issues. We cover 6Read
- Buying guideYoga Mats Buying Guide: Specs, Materials, and Terms ExplainedA complete buying guide to yoga mat specs and terminology, covering thickness, material types, closed-cell versus open-cell construction, teRead
Answers
Yoga Mats: common questions
What is the best yoga mat to buy?
One of our strongest picks is the BalanceFrom GoYoga All-Purpose Yoga Mat, a standout in our Best Yoga Mats for Beginners list. The Manduka PRO Yoga Mat 71-Inch 6mm is another excellent choice.
How do I choose the right yoga mats?
Start with your main use and budget, then compare our shortlists: Best Yoga Mats for Beginners, Best Yoga Mats for Hot Yoga, Best Yoga Mats for Sensitive Knees.
What should I look for when buying yoga mats?
4–5 mm suits dynamic flows and balance; 6 mm+ cushions knees and joints for restorative practice but feels less stable in standing poses.
Is the BalanceFrom GoYoga mat good enough for daily practice?
Yes, for most moderate daily use. It handles general practice, stretching, and floor exercises reliably, and its high ratings volume suggests consistent performance across a large number of buyers. For daily intense or hot yoga specifically, foam wears faster than premium rubber mats, so heavy daily use will shorten its lifespan compared to a mat like the Manduka PRO.
How thick is the BalanceFrom GoYoga mat?
The most common version is 1/4-inch, roughly 6mm, of high-density foam. BalanceFrom also sells thicker variants, so it's worth checking the specific listing since thickness options can differ between product pages.
Does the BalanceFrom GoYoga mat have a smell?
Some buyers report a mild foam smell out of the packaging, typical of synthetic foam products. It generally fades within a few days of airing the mat out and is less pronounced than the smell associated with natural rubber mats.
Is the included strap actually useful?
Yes, it's a simple but functional carrying strap that cinches the rolled mat for easy transport. It's not padded or premium, but it does the job of keeping the mat rolled and portable without needing to buy one separately.
How thick should a beginner yoga mat be?
6mm to 10mm is the comfortable range for most beginners. Thinner mats around 3mm to 4mm are common in studios and among experienced practitioners who prioritize stability and ground connection, but they can feel hard on the knees and wrists during a new practitioner's first weeks of kneeling and plank-heavy poses. A 10mm mat like the Gaiam Essentials Thick Mat gives extra cushioning while learning proper form, though very thick mats can make balance poses slightly less stable once a practitioner starts holding them longer.