Yoga Mat Bag Buying Guide
Choosing the right yoga mat is much like finding the right shoe. There are many factors that come into making the right decision. While it may seem daunting to select the right yoga mat for you with all the options on the market, there are only a few key features you should keep in mind when making a purchasing decision.
Materials
The material that the yoga mat is made from will have a massive impact on various factors such as traction, cost, eco-friendliness, comfort, and durability. The material you should select depends mainly on what you are looking for. There are materials that are completely synthetic, and some that are all-natural. Here are the most common types of yoga mats you will find:
Foam
These are typically inexpensive and last a long time. The foam is latex-free, phthalate-free, and synthetic. Foam mats are also more lightweight, weighing between 2 and 4 pounds.
Cotton
These are normally all-natural, making them more eco-friendly. These mats tend to feel quite different to any other mat as they are very thick, making them perfect for yin yoga, restorative yoga, and meditation.
Thermoplastics (TPE)
These are stretchy, cushioning, and completely recyclable. Once you are done using it and you are ready for a new mat, you can recycle this mat, which helps the environment. Their material is gel-like and super soft, and the mats are portable and lightweight.
All natural rubber
These are the most non-slip mats you can get. The rubber mat is open-celled, so it creates a suction with your feet and hands. These mats are durable and resilient, and all you need to do to keep it in top condition is give it a wash with warm water and gentle soap.
Thickness
Yoga mats range in thickness from 1/16 inch to 1/4 inch. The 1/16 inch mats are ideal for travel and portability, whereas the 1/4 inch mat is more for cushioning and comfort. When deciding on a thickness, think about how much portability you need versus how comfortable you want to be.
Length
As a rule of thumb, you should select a yoga mat that is 2 inches longer than your height. If you are very tall, this is even more important, because a short mat will make you very uncomfortable and cramped. However, if you are shorter, having a mat that is too long is unnecessary and results in you need to carry much more yoga mat than you need to.
Storage
Even if your yoga mat is the correct dimensions to fit into a smaller yoga mat bag, if you have a sticky yoga mat, with a grippy surface, it can be a challenge to roll it into a tight cylinder and get it zipped into a tight bag. If you have a big, thick, grippy yoga mat, it’s a good idea to avoid standard, cylindrical yoga mat bags, and go for the bigger duffel style to save yourself the extra time and effort of transporting your yoga mat.