Yogis and yoginis traveling with a yoga mat are well aware of the struggle to keep their backpack as lightweight as possible. Before thin portable travel yoga mats came to the market, the only option to carry a mat were those heavy, large tubes that took half of the space while packing. Fortunately, as international travel expanded, so did the offer of the yoga mats. The outcome is that nowadays, we get many options and designs that solve heavy baggage problems.
Besides, we witness a tremendous rise of yoga practitioners worldwide. Hence, not only yoga teachers need a light and easy-to-carry yoga mat. Those wanting to stay fit and keep practicing while on the road can now find the best folding yoga mat that suits them the best, depending on their preferences and criteria. In this article, we have gathered the 10 best travel yoga mats varying in design and features. Therefore, we recommend reading thoroughly because the chances are that the travel yoga mat you are looking for is only a paragraph away.
Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat
Manduka, a company known for its unsurpassed quality and worldwide reputation, created this Eko Superlite travel yoga mat for all the traveling yogis and yoginis out there. This Superlite yoga mat weighs only 2.2 lbs (1 kg) and measures 71 x 24 in (180 cm x 61 cm), and is designed from biodegradable, non-harvested, natural tree rubber, free from PVC, toxic plasticizers or harmful dyes. The eQua Towel microfiber on top provides a grip that gets better when it becomes wet, and the eKO Mat natural rubber at the bottom enables no slipping while practicing.
What makes this 1.5mm thick yoga mat one of the best travel yoga mats is its possibility to fold to fit any backpack or suitcase. One more major reason you should invest in this Manduka Eko Superlite mat is that it’s extremely easy to maintain. Simply put it in a washing machine at a lower temperature or hand wash it with cold water and a mild detergent. Manduka cares about the environment since all the post-production remains are thoughtfully collected and utilized in the production of other materials creating a zero-waste manufacturing process.
Yoga Design Lab Exercise Mat For Traveling
If you are traveling with a yoga mat and use a towel on top for sweaty practices, the Yoga Design Lab folding travel yoga mat could be the ideal solution for you. This yoga mat comes as a 2in1 combo of a non-slip mat and a towel. Since it is made out of natural tree rubber and microfiber produced from recycled bottles, you support the environmental protection when buying this mat. Moreover, the prints are water-based and designed with a refined and well-balanced blend of colors and patterns.
Weighing only 3.5 lbs (1.9 kg) and measuring 70 x 24 in (177.8 x 61 cm), this travel yoga mat is ultra foldable and a perfect companion on your travels. You can easily wash it in the washing machine and simply hang to dry. Yoga Design lab guarantees that the colors and prints are resistant to fading. The grip gets better as you sweat, making your practice safer and giving you the extra motivation to go deeper into your posture. The mat comes with a durable carrying strap for easy carry.
Gaiam Lightweight Fold-Up Yoga Mat
This Gaiam Yoga Mat is one of the lightest yoga mats on the market, weighing only 1 lb (0,45 kg). This feature makes it very discreet when packing since you almost won’t even notice you are carrying it with you. Its size of 68 x 24 in (172.2 x 61 cm) and 2 mm thick can fold into 10 x 12 in (25.4 x 30.48 cm) to fit any smaller backpack or a tote bag. Gaiam made this fold-up travel yoga mat free of six harmful Phthalates, making it eco-friendly and healthy for your body.
Along with its compact and portable qualities, this travel yoga mat enables a steady basis and a sticky grip – ideal for practitioners of all levels and styles. Let’s not forget Gaiam’s beautiful design and calming vibrant colors they’ve carefully selected for their mats. Moreover, the consistent devotion to improving their products according to customer needs for over 25 years makes their products a well-worth investment. All in all, this yoga mat is certainly one of the top travel yoga mats that you can take on any excursion, a business trip or when packing for a yoga retreat.
Jade Yoga – Voyager Portable Yoga Mat
Premium quality, outstanding grip and easy fold-up is how this Jade Yoga – Voyager Yoga Mat could be described the best. What is more, the company is environmentally conscious since, with every mat purchase, they plant one tree. What a better way to give back to Mother Earth than replanting forests. This travel yoga mat is made from natural rubber, which contributes to a more reliable grip than any of the artificial rubbers currently offered on the market.
The Voyager Mat is foldable to fit any smaller bag or backpack, making it a travel buddy you would only wish for. It weighs only 1.5 lbs (0,68 kg) and comes with 1/16 in (1.6 mm) thickness. To keep the longer span of your Voyager Mat, wipe it with a moist cloth once a week, and you’re all set. This fold-up yoga mat is made solely in the United States. For this reason, Jade Yoga ensures top-quality production since they have more control over the used materials and the whole production process.
Liforme Travel Yoga Mat – Thin + Strong
With an excellent grip, extra support, easy portability and biodegradable materials, Liforme showed once more its progressive thinking with this outstanding travel yoga mat. The mats are made out of specially engineered eco-polyurethane and rubber, they are PVC-free and biodegradable in 1-5 years. Every yogi knows how important it is to have a good grip while practicing. This yoga mat has a revolutionary “GripForMe” material which makes it grippy even when your hands and feet get really sweaty.
Despite its thin and light feature, this portable yoga mat has a strong natural rubber base with an extra cushioned felt layer that gives you the necessary support for your joints. There is even a so-called “AlignForMe” system that helps you align your body while doing asanas. The size of the mat is somewhat longer and wider – its measures are 72 x 26 x 0.09 in (182.88 x 66 x 0.22 cm). However, it is light enough to take it with you on your travels and excursions despite its size. On top of that, you get a free yoga bag for easy carry. Indeed an excellent value for money when searching for a good travel yoga mat.
Yogo Ultralight Folding Yoga Mat For Travel
The ones traveling with a yoga mat will love this Ultralight Folding Yoga Mat as it is very light and comes with integrated straps for more functional packing. Hygiene is essential while on the go since you don’t really want to spend a lot of time taking care of your portable mat. The company Yogo thought of that and made this travel yoga mat easy to clean under the shower. You can easily hang the mat with the straps after washing. Moreover, the fold is made in such a way that the bottom and top layers never touch.
The package comes in a small dimension measuring only 12 x 5 x 3 in (30.5 x 12.7 x 7.6 cm). While producing this fold-up travel yoga mat, Yogo used a high-grip tree rubber, making it super grippy while doing your yoga practice. The natural tree rubber is farmed on sustainable plantations, and both mat and straps are recyclable. With each mat bought by a customer, one food-producing tree is planted for an African family.
June & Juniper Foldable Lightweight Yoga Mat
Hand-painted by a talented NY artist, this June & Juniper Travel Yoga Mat can be used on both sides for any kind of practice. It’s very lightweight and portable to any new destination your adventurous spirit takes you. The dimensions of this yoga mat are 70 x 24 in (178 x 61 cm), it weighs 2.8 lbs (1.39 kg), and has a thickness of 0.059 in (1.5 mm). You can use this mat as either a towel on top of the studio’s mat or as a regular mat.
The highly absorbent microfiber enables quick-drying similar to a towel, which makes the maintenance greatly simplified. The side of the mat with black rubber offers outstanding grip while doing the postures that require stability, and the microfibre side becomes grippier while doing Bikram (hot) yoga. Also, June & Juniper is known for its eco-conscious production that makes a significant impact on environmental conservation. All in all, we genuinely believe that this incredibly light, portable and high-performing eco-friendly travel yoga mat won’t disappoint you on your (yoga) journey.
GOLDEN Folding Yoga Mat For Traveling
Beautiful design and flawless functionality packed in a stunning cork bag with geometrical patterns make GOLDEN Travel Yoga Mat an appealing accessorize for every fashionable yoga practitioner. Along with the apparent elegance and style, this fold-up yoga mat provides a non-slip grip that absorbs extra sweat during the practice. To keep it nice and clean, you can put it in the washing machine without worry that the colors will fade since they are made of water-based ink.
This mat has a long life span because of the thermal bonding fibers that are thermally fused to the tree rubber base that sticks to the floor. Another valuable perk is that the mat is free of toxic glues, so no hazardous substances can harm your body. The mat measures 14.2 x 10.6 in (36 x 27 cm) and weighs 0.66 lbs (0.3 kg). Because of its thickness of 1.5 mm, it comes as a practical travel item that doesn’t take much space. The designers were thinking like real yogis when creating this mat since they’ve included a centerline that helps you check your alignment for each pose.
TOPLUS Anti-Slip Portable Travel Yoga Mat
Praised by many satisfied practitioners, TOPLUS introduced an anti-slip Travel Yoga Mat that can surely be considered one of the best portable yoga mats. It is made of natural materials such as natural tree rubber and suede, and, also, it is free of PVC, toxic plasticizers or harmful dyes. This means you can truly enjoy your class while, at the same time, saving our planet. Deepen your poses safely as the top layer absorbs sweat and enables a firm grip. The bottom rubber layer firmly grips to the floor, preventing your mat from sliding.
Only 1/16 in (1.58 mm) thick mat folds up effortlessly and fits into your carry-on – you can even practice yoga during your long layover at the airport! You can use this mat as your standard yoga mat or as a top layer on public mats that are always questionable when it comes to hygiene. With this Travel Yoga Mat, you get a suitable bag as well. Even more so, this mat comes with a one-year warranty, so any possible trouble with the mat can be solved in no time.
Yogi Bare Teddy Light Yoga Exercise Mat
Only 1.5 kg and 2 mm thickness makes this non-toxic and non-slip travel yoga mat one of the top travel yoga mats within the yoga community. No matter if you are going on a longer or a shorter trip, simply fold your Yogi Bare Teddy Yoga Exercise Mat to a size of a sweater, and you´re ready to go. The natural rubber base makes this mat suitable for any type of exercise, from light yoga class to a more advanced Asthanga yoga or even a HIIT training.
The microfibre has rapid absorption capacity, making the surface stickier as you sweat more. This fold-up travel yoga mat is machine washable at a lower temperature with a small amount of detergent. Suppose you prefer a thicker surface when practicing. In that case, you can always use this mat as the first layer when practicing on communal mats. Nevertheless, for those wanting a solid surface, this mat by itself gives an excellent base for any type of yoga.
Buying guide to the best lightweight folding yoga mats
When buying a yoga mat, there are certain things to have in mind. One of them being the portability and the folding options. Some mats roll into a tube, some fold as a book, and some can do both. So, when searching for your perfect travel companion, make sure to check that the folding option fits your suitcase or your backpack. Besides, the weight and the size can be a deal-breaker, so always check this information before buying. Furthermore, when having a yoga mat on the go, we obviously want the same quality of the mat as the ones we have for home practice. This means that the grip should prevent slipping while practicing, and the bottom layer should prevent sliding. Some companies even deliver instruction manuals on how to increase the stickiness of the mat for a better grip.
On top of that, durability plays an essential role when choosing the right travel yoga mat since traveling and the practice itself may quickly wear out many yoga mats. Therefore, don’t forget to pay attention to the used materials and their life span. Certainly, it is always better to choose eco-friendly mats free of toxic materials and chemicals. This way, you are keeping both the planet and yourself healthier. Another determining factor when buying a portable yoga mat is the washing and maintaining the cleanliness of the mat. If it’s machine washable, be careful when setting the temperature as it shouldn’t be too high, and the amount of washing powder should be minimal.
Conclusion
Today, the offer of travel yoga mats is extensive, giving you a broad palette of features, materials and designs. While searching for the most suitable portable yoga mat, it is essential to keep in mind the size, weight and folding options since the main idea is to fit the mat in your travel backpack or suitcase. Also, the quality and the durability of materials play a vital role as you want to have a reliable mat to follow you for a longer period. Easy washing and environmental sustainability are extra features that could significantly influence the choice you make. All in all, we hope that after reading this article, you came closer to your decision and possibly found your perfect mat(ch).
