subject: An In-depth Review Of The Expensive Manduka Mat [print this page] Manufacturer's claim Manufacturer's claim
Over 10 years the legendary Black Mat Pro has been the world's most popular yoga mat. Obviously, there is a good reason for such passion. The mat's thick and dense texture, non-slip finish, excellent support and cushioning are guaranteed to please any practitioner. Note that the mat now comes with a lifetime warranty . Manduka Mat is the world' best mat, the first choice of yoga teachers and advanced students. Choose BlackMat Pro for your practice and for your planet.
Main features
- Zero-waste, sustainable material
- Long lasting
- Safely cushions your hips, knees, spine and elbows on hard floors
- No sticking and no slipping under any conditions
- Steady and stable on any floor
- Oeko-Tex certification, no emissions during manufacture
- Available in two lengths, standard (71") and extra long (85")
- Backed by a Lifetime Guarantee
Now, let's see if the mat holds to this claim...
Setting for our review
For our review the mat was heavily used in different settings from beginner to advanced and hot Bikram classes. We asked students and teachers of all levels to help us with the review. We asked some absolute beginners to try practicing on the manduka mat and studied their feedback.
The review and testing were conducted over a relatively long period of time. We've interviewed a studio owner who invested into manduka mats for her stock, a lot of feedback was collected from the studio's regulars and the owner..
Our opinion
The short version reads - yes, this mat is worth every penny, but it's not for everyone.
A complete review reads as follows -
The mat's grip
The super high-quality natural rubber composition of the manduka mat allows it to stick to virtually any surface. Most double-sided mats lack stickiness to prevent them from creating discomfort during contact with your body. While this feature aims at a more pleasing experience it is responsible for the mat's sliding on the floor.. Manduka mat's feature two different sides - one for practice, one for floor. While the extremely sticky back side grips the floor, the fabric covered surface is perfect for practice and will not stick to skin or clothes. The is the most stable mat we tried so far, no one was unable to get it bunch up or curl.
The weight factor
The mat's heavy weight is an important factor in durability and stability, but a great burden when it comes to carrying this mat in and out of class.
This is not the most mobile mat we've seen, it's quite heavy and bulky and we would say it's perfect to be kept at home or stored in a studio at all times..
For those who want the same quality but with less weight the Manduka company makes travel versions which are thinner, cheaper and less durable..
Thickness
The 1/4" of material is a very nice thickness that will suit most people. The Mat's weight is increased by this above average thickness, but the comfort is worth it. There were a few people who said they would prefer this mat to be even thicker. We suggest putting the Manduka Mat on top of a regular mat for the ultimate beginners experience, also suggested for pilates. Members of our review team found the 1/4" of material to be perfectly suitable for most levels of practice.
Resistance to slipping
Once a regular mat is wet, there is very little surface traction left and one should be careful. This is especially noticeable in hot yoga classes where people sweat excessively. There is a number of solutions - wiping your mat, using a special yoga towel that absorbs moisture, or finding a mat that has a natural fabric surface. The fabric surface of the Manduka Mat does an excellent job of keeping the moisture away. However, in a steamy and sweaty hot yoga class we found the absorption limit of this mat can be reached eventually, turning the mat into an uncomfortable slippy surface. This was especially a problem for heavy sweaters.. We are confident, however, that there are no mats on the market that are completely moisture-proof. We tested a few different Manduka Mats and none were able to absorb all the moisture, but they all did a very good job.. We also found a small problem with the mat' material - it absorbs moisture, and if not cleaned regularly, it will eventually start harboring bacteria in it's pores. Monthly cleaning is advised to keep the mat in perfect condition.
Small issues and appearance
As its name implies the BlackMat Pro is black like a tire. The classic look may not fit to all customers, though we think the mat looks very distinct and stands out. There's also a limited edition cherry version, but we would stick to the classic black.. We definitely liked the black color.
The mat is made of natural rubber, which has a natural smell that most people find quite unpleasant. After following the manual and washing the product we still found the smell to be there. This is a problem with all rubber mats tested by YogaMatReviews, and it is something a customer has to live with for the first few weeks of practice. You can rest assured the smell will go away and will never return.
Overall
The Manduka Mat is a indeed a Rolls-Royce of yoga mats - it's heavy, long, thick and extremely durable. If you are serious about your practice, you will need something like this mat, it is a worthy investment that will last years. The support, cushioning, grip and slip protection of this mat are unsurpassed and close to perfection. It's only worth noting that the mat is heavy and bulky. This product is perfect for home practice or to keep in a studio, carrying around may be a bit difficult.
by: Geoff Duernson
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