eKO Yoga Mat

Excellent for my home studio. Not the type of mat to carry around but top quality and grip. I feel confident not slipping and happy with the extra length. Rolls up tight after use.

I love this mat. Even though it's heavy, this is the mat I bring to studios. (And from my experience, only the manduka large mat tote can fit it. You may be able to find others to carry it with, but just remember that you will have to shell out more money. A cheap regular yoga sling won't fit it.) I also have an eco lite and super lite which I use for different purposes (home practice and teaching yoga to my high school students after a regular academic day, respectively). I bring this one to the studios because it's the most solid, grippy mat that gives me (almost) total freedom to do the poses I want to do. However, I say "almost" because if I'm sweating profusely (usually because it's in the summertime and the studio didn't run air-conditioner - I don't usually do hot yoga), my hands and feet WILL slip on this mat. That's when I use my manduka yoga towel (I can't believe how much money I spend on manduka products!). With a yoga towel on the mat, I'm completely fine if I'm sweating. (But if I'm not sweating, the yoga towel is not grippy at all.) So if you do hot yoga, remember to bring a yoga towel to lay on top of the mat when you start to sweat.

Good support feels dense and heavy underfoot, sticky so hands and feet don’t slide. Does have a little rubber smell up close but that’s improving daily. Great mat that we have recommended to many people.

This mat is affordable and visually appealing, but it has significant drawbacks. Despite claims of being made from natural materials, it has a persistent rubber smell that doesn’t seem natural, even after two months of use. The odor is especially strong during heated practice and might be bothersome for those sensitive to smells. Additionally, my hands tend to sweat while using it, making it uncomfortable to practice. While it’s non-slip and functional, the lingering smell, questionable material quality, and sweaty feel make it disappointing for anyone seeking a truly natural, odor-free, and comfortable option."

I read the reviews, looked up outside sources and kept coming back to the Manduka brand for hot yoga mats. I was only interested in the most "green" one available and thought this one had to be the one for me. All of the reviews are right...EXTREMELY smelly. I leave mine unrolled and in the garage when not using in hopes it will eventually air out. It has also spent a night or two outside (it does have a white underside, watch where you lay it if you do not want it dirty!). I have owned it for about 2 weeks and it seems to be slightly better. That being said, I thought the smell would bother me during 75 minute sessions of hot yoga. Does not effect me except when I am face down on it (I do also cover it with a yoga towel, so there is a barrier). I just throw my hand towel on top of it at this time and I am so exhausted and smelly that the mat is the least of my problems.Also, please be advised this mat is large and HEAVY! When picking up the box at the front door I thought there is no way this has a yoga mat inside. I consider it to be part of my workout carrying the mat to and from the studio. I did find a bag that it can fit into after trying a couple {if interested this is what it sells for on Amazon: "Best Yoga Mat Bag Tote for Women (Fashion Forward, Savvy Design, Bold Colors, Sturdy Eco-friendly Materials) - Cute Sling Carrier, Simple Top Loading Sport Bag Tote, Large Size for Extra Storage, Perfect for Modern Yoga Lovers - 100% Cotton Canvas Made in USA - Yoginiology - Fully Guaranteed"}Overall, this mat is extremely sticky and excellent for hot yoga. However, you will not want to keep it in your confined car until the smell disappears! And if you are looking for a light, easy to manage mat, this is not for you. But I still do believe it is the best on the market in it's "green" category.

This is my second Manduka mat. I bought my frist one 15 years ago and while it wasn't 'worn out', it was a bit rough around the edges and my cat had thrown up on it a few times (LOL). So I splurged and bought a new one and I hadn't realized that over the years I had worn down the texture on the rubber a bit on my first one, and getting this new one and feeling how slip-proof it is, I'm so happy to have upgraded to new one. These are the BEST yoga mats and well worth the cost if you consider you can easily get 15 years of use out of it (and I do yoga multiple times a week).

I love this mat! At 5mm, it provides the perfect thickness to protect my knees. I like the slight cushion it provides and there is absolutely no slip. Though it's a little on the heavy side, it's not too heavey. It does look a little chalky when it needs cleaning.I love this mat so much, I attempted to purchase a second identical mat to keep at home. I could not find the exact mat, but found a newer version of the same mat. The new mat, though the same model, does not provide the same non-slip level.If you can find this exact mat, I absolutely recommend it!

Good mat purchase. It has the grip I need for Vinyasa, Hatha and Yin Yoga. I have not done any "Hot Yoga" yet. I believe it will have the durability I'm looking for in a Yoga mat. It does have a lingering rubber smell which is not a show stopper for me as it has been decreasing over time. The 5mm gives me the support I need and yes it is heavier but it is not back breaking. I take it in the car when I go to Yoga but can see myself carrying it without any problem while riding a bike. I've been using the Manduka Mat Wash for the break-in period and clean it with a damp cloth and water as well after every use. There is a Mat Review youtube video by Brett Larkin and she found the EKO to have better grip than the pricier PRO even though it has 5mm thickness as well. Amazon sent me the Eko Lite by mistake but promptly corrected the problem.