Yoga mats have become a near necessity for those who enjoy yoga and similar exercises, whether they’re at home, in a gym, or at a studio. It’s no secret that kneeling and exercising on a hard floor for an extended period of time can be hard on the knees and other joints. Many people also appreciate the protective layer a mat offers the floor from sweat or scuff marks. Despite their name, yoga mats can be used for many types of exercise besides yoga, including pilates, tai chi, aerobics, and more. Check out these yoga mats to improve your comfort while you exercise.

What Should You Consider in a Yoga Mat?

When looking for a yoga mat, think about these aspects:

• Thickness: Yoga mats can be thin and smooth or thick and cushioned, depending on your needs and the type of exercises you do. A thicker, plusher yoga mat can provide better support for those with back or bone issues or for yoga poses that involve a lot of kneeling.
• Features: Despite what many people think, yoga mats are not one mat fits all. They can have several different features including alignment lines to help you adjust your poses, a non-slip surface, or a moisture control mechanism to deal with sweat.
• Material: The material your yoga mat is made of can affect some of its attributes, such as sponginess, stickiness, durability, and convenience to clean. Most are made of rubber or vinyl. Vinyl mats tend to be more robust, while rubber mats are generally thinner but more eco-friendly.
• Texture: Some yoga mats have bumpy surfaces that allow for better grip and traction, while others are smoother in texture—this can make them more comfortable, but they tend to be more slippery.

Most Versatile: Ewedoos Yoga Mat

This handy yoga mat comes equipped with a special body alignment system. These lines, pressed right into the surface of the mat, show you just the right spots to rest your hands and feet during various exercises in order to better maintain balance and hold your pose. This, in turn, helps to prevent injuries and overextension. The mat also has special non-slip features on both sides. The underside of the mat has a wavy pattern to better grip the floor while the upper surface has a more subtle texture to keep your hands and feet from sliding. It’s easy to wipe clean and is tested and certified by SGS to prevent dust, sweat, and odors from gathering.

Best for Budget: BalanceFrom GoYoga All Purpose Yoga Mat

A yoga mat for the budget-conscious shopper that still offers a good number of top-notch features. The dense PVC material is one-quarter of an inch thick which offers better cushioning for your spine, hips, and other joints. The material is also slip-resistant on both sides so you don’t need to worry about sliding on your feet and hands or along the floor. The high-density and high-quality material also makes it resistant to tearing. Despite these features, the mat remains lightweight and comes equipped with a carrying strap for maximum portability and storage. It’s simple to clean too, requiring nothing more sophisticated than soap and water.

Best Reversible: IUGA Non-Slip Yoga Mat

This mat offers all of the grip with none of the slip on both sides. Unlike a lot of yoga mats that are meant to grip the floor on one side, this mat has the same exclusive “bone” pattern on both sides that works equally well at preventing the mat from sliding on the floor and your hands and feet from slipping while you hold a pose to offer you twice the traction. No matter which color you prefer to face upward, this mat has you covered. There’s an anti-tear mesh layer in between the two non-slip surfaces to reduce the risk of flaking, tearing, or stretching too thin over time. The carrying strap is included and it weighs in at a mere two pounds, making it no hassle to bring back and forth between home and the gym or studio.

Best Eco-Friendly: IUGA Eco Friendly Yoga Mat

This yoga mat is made of patented thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) foam, an eco-friendly and sustainable material that also happens to have sticky, non-slip capabilities. The texture on both sides gives increased traction and offers stability on a whole range of different surfaces. The mat itself is also larger than most—72 inches long and 26 inches wide—to give you more space and better floor protection. The included alignment lines make it easier to maintain good balance and posture when you’re working out alone, and the carrying strap is easily adjusted for your convenience and comfort.