Manduka X Sustainable Professional Yoga Mat
Last updated: September 22, 2022
As the Best Overall yoga mat, the Manduka PRO Yoga and Pilates Mat is a great option for consumers. A lifetime guarantee, latex-free and ample cushion make this yoga mat a winner. There are no toxic emissions, and the phenomenal grip will keep you safe from slips. In our testing, we found this mat to have just the right density and grip. We also liked how heavy it was, which helped it stay in place during movement.
We looked at the top Yoga Mats and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Yoga Mat you should buy.
Product Details
Key Takeaway: With a lifetime guarantee and no toxic emissions, this yoga mat is a clear winner.
In our analysis of 166 expert reviews, the Manduka X Sustainable Professional Yoga Mat placed 18th when we looked at the top 22 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.Our Expert Consultant
Stephanie Mansour
Certified Personal Trainer, Health and Wellness Expert
Certified Personal Trainer, Health and Wellness Expert
Stephanie Mansour, host of “Step It Up with Steph” on public broadcasting, has been coaching women for over a decade on how to lose weight and make it last. She has a Bachelor of Arts in communications with an emphasis on women’s studies and psychology from the University of Michigan. She holds certifications in life coaching, personal training, yoga and Pilates.
Expert Reviews
What reviewers liked
Contains no latex. Available in two lengths.
Backs with a lifetime guarantee
The company guarantees that it will never wear out, offering an unconditional money-back guarantee if damaged as a result of normal wear and tear, offers a lifetime guarantee.
The 6mm thickness provides ample cushion for even the boniest yogis, but the overall effect is still stable and not squishy. This mat is so heavy that it won't move around on you when jumping from Downward Facing Dog to standing, and you can feel secure performing head and arm balances on it.
The mat remains stable on hard wood floors, stone, and carpet. It does not shift or bunch during your practice. The mat is thicker than most mats, measuring at 1/4 inch, to provide a softer surface for your back and knees. This extra thickness eliminates the need to have blankets and extra props necessary for a softer surface.
The mat is safe for use because it does not produce toxic emissions.
This is the best yoga mat for bad knees because due to the cushioning it provides.
Even though it's surprisingly thin, it's dense and cushioned to protect all your bones and joints: "I love this mat," says one reviewer, "I feel stable, not bouncy, and I don't need extra cushioning under my knees."
- Bustle
This mat comes with a lifetime guarantee because it is made from high quality materials that never fade, flake, or peel.
You can get a comfortable grip also though it is a little slippery for the first time use and after using few times, it becomes normal.
It features the proprietary dot patterned bottom to ensure that it doesn’t slide. Apart from this, it has unmatched density and cushion, which aids to protect the joints and offer a stable practice surface.
The mat is designed in such a way that the cleaning becomes easy and the material used on the surface is non-toxic in nature. It is latex free and there is no chance of causing any allergy to sensitive skin
Never smells it has material designed to repel moisture.
Its lifetime warranty means you don’t have to worry about a peeling, disintegrating mat after a few months of consistent use.
Pros of the PRO (hehe, see what I did there?) is that is has a nice texture my hands just loved. It’s sticky when moist. It’s nice and wide and it has a lifetime guarantee.
The mat is very durable, has great traction, and is luxuriously comfortable on hands and feet. When I practice on the Mankuka Black Mat PRO, I don’t have to worry about mat performance.; the Black Mat Pro does not slip or bunch, but instead, provides great stability in all postures.
The thickness of the Manduka PRO is equivalent to two mats stacked one on top of the other. The mat is so padded, users won’t be able to feel the floor through it, and there’s no need to double up in order to protect the knee, making this mat great for poses like Camel and Boat.
Warrantied for life. Unless you do something silly, this can be the last mat you’ll ever buy. If you destroy it from regular use, Manduka will replace it free of charge. I’ve personally spoken with teachers and students who have worn them out in 5-10 years and have done exactly that; had Manduka replace it free of charge.
The Manduka Pro yoga mat is certified that no toxic emissions get released into the atmosphere upon making this mat and it’s guaranteed for life.
This is a closed cell mat made with non-toxic PVC and is created using an emissions-free manufacturing process. It is latex free.
This is the mother of all yoga mats if you practice ashtanga or vinyasa flow. It's well cushioned (needed for headstands and lunges with the knee down) and extra long (great for chaturanga dandasana and jumping back).
With latex free, non-toxic materials, you can breathe a little deeper without having to think twice about what you are inhaling.
The cleaning process will not damage your surface.
What reviewers didn't like
Take some time to break in. Dense material is heavier to carry.
The surface requires extensive breaking in before it’s sticky.
The Manduka PRO is a PVC mat.PVC is still PVC
The dry traction on this mat felt similar to that of the yoga towels in this review, which is to say not very good. Even at the start of class, when our hands were still dry and we hadn't even started working up a sweat yet, Down Dogs felt a little slippery and insecure.
The only drawback we found to the larger size of this mat is that it can be cumbersome to carry, especial when traveling.
It is not water resistant.
Still slippery for some yogis even after “breaking it in.
Aliitle bit pricey.
All Manduka mats are sustainably made from zero-waste PVC, and while this is great for the environment, this means the new mats do come with a strong smell.
Cons are that it’s expensive at a $100 (!!?!!?) and it’s heavy.
Please be noted that the Manduka Black Mat PRO is heavy and is more difficult to lug around than smaller mats. Secondly, due to its size and girth, the Black Mat PRO does not fit in many standard size yoga mat bags.
The biggest complaint is the lack of stickiness. Despite Manduka’s claim that the Manduka PRO boasts a “fabric-like surface finish (that) offers superior slip-resistance, even with light perspiration,” users found the opposite to be true.
Not lightweight. It tips the scales at around 7 pounds. This may not sound like a lot, but compared to a Gaiam mat that weighs under 2 pounds, its hefty. Personally, I often run/jog to my yoga class and the weight makes this prohibitive.
This mat is not designed for hot yoga or heavy perspiration.
Weight is not ideal for commuters or travelers to carry around
It is bloody expensive and seriously heavy (3.4kg)
What could be an issue is the slipperiness of the mat when you sweat. Even after breaking the mat in with a salt scrub, it can still became way too slippery.
This yoga mat is a little overweight.
View our Yoga Mat buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.