Last updated (October 2018): Removed Khataland’s YoFo mat and replaced it with a Jade Voyager mat review.

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Looking to take your yoga practice on the road?

Luckily, we’re not the only people who want to travel with a yoga mat so there are several decent options for the nomadic yogis among us.

Like usual, I spent way too much time evaluating which travel yoga mat would make my packing list (here’s Anne’s packing list for the ladies). We’ve been traveling nearly full-time for the last 4.5+ years and counting. Without a travel yoga mat, we might have gone insane 😉

What I was looking for in a travel yoga mat?

Lightweight and packable

Durable

Sticky enough

Foldable (new requirement for me as it saves space)

This guide was designed to make choosing the right yoga mat a breeze! (or at least give you a starting point)

At the end, I will share which mat we chose. However depending on your specific needs, all of these mats would work great.

Pin me quick! Then keep reading 🙂

Alright let’s start with an overview of the travel yoga mat market…

The Yoga Mat Comparison

Alright lets move on to the individual reviews…

Manduka makes great yoga mats and the eKO SuperLite is no exception. Weighs 2lbs, only 1/16” (about 1.5mm) thick which is a very thin yoga mat. It’s very thin and only 68” long which makes it a great travel companion. The “orange peel” surface is extremely sticky even when it gets a little wet. Made from non-Amazon eco-friendly biodegradable tree rubber which won’t flake or fade. Closed cell design will not absorb bacteria This mat can be easily folded or rolled to fit into your bag. Many colors to choose from.

2018 update: We love the Manduka travel mat and used it for several years (and it still works great) but we’ve since retired it. Read on to see what Anne and I are using today.

Potential downside:

Too sticky? Transitioning from Crescent Lunge to Warrior 2 can cause the mat to bunch up

Transitioning from Crescent Lunge to Warrior 2 can cause the mat to bunch up Too thin? Very minimal mat here(1/16″). Add a towel for extra support

Very minimal mat here(1/16″). Add a towel for extra support Smells like rubber – Not horrible and goes away with time

The lightest (1.6lbs) and the cheapest ($23) but also the least capable. One side is a microfiber towel surface, the other a somewhat sticky natural rubber surface. Not recommended to serious yoga students or fans of hot yoga. Can be rolled or folded. Not very durable. We wanted to include this mat because it was the cheapest option 🙂

Potential downside:

Too Slippery. Expect to slide around when practicing

Expect to slide around when practicing Lacks durability. Hot yoga and regular use will wear it down fast

Jade makes excellent yoga mats. Their travel mat scores really high in comfort, durability, and grip… however it’s on the heavy side (3.5lbs). Roughly double the weight of the others. This is one of the most expensive mats reviewed ($68) and has a high quality feel to it. The mat cannot be folded, only rolled. Measuring at 1/8” thick it provides better support than the Lululemon or the Manduka. Eco friendly and comes in many colors.

Don’t want to bash the Jade yoga travel mat, but it’s a little too big to lug around to your favorite yoga destination. However, it looks like Jade listened to the feedback of the community because they released a more travel friendly line of mats called the Jade Voyager (which is wonderful).

Potential downside:

Too heavy! 3.5lbs is too heavy for a “travel mat”

3.5lbs is too heavy for a “travel mat” Collects dust. Some say the open cell design collects dust too easily

New Addition: Jade Yoga Voyager Mat

Jade and Manduka are the most popular yoga mats in the world. No surprise that they both offer solid choices for traveling yoga mats. Comes in four colors, we love the Olive Green color. This mat is now the lightest yoga mat for travel (1.5lbs) and the best value ($39). My favorite part about Jade mats is that they are extremely sticky from the beginning. Although I love Manduka mats, they takes time to break in before they reach their full potential. We love to support Jade because they plant a tree for every yoga mat sold!

After testing out the Jade Voyager, it’s safe to say it’s a contender for the best travel yoga mat 2018 award!

Potential downside:

Too thin? At 1/16″ it’s a pretty compact mat. More padding than the Manduka

How is the Jade Voyager different from the Jade Travel Mat? The short answer is the Jade Voyager weighs half as much (1.5lbs as opposed to 3lbs) and the new Voyager is a foldable yoga mat. Where as the Jade Traveler mat must be rolled. Here’s a screenshot from amazon comparing the differences:

YOGO is the newest mat company on the block but they’ve quickly won us over. The YOGO is our favorite yoga mat for travel! It’s by far the stickiest travel mat on the market. We love how it folds up nicely which makes traveling a breeze. Although it’s super thin, it still has great support (more than the Manduka). Bonus points for YOGO planting a tree every time one is purchased (just like Jade).

Potential downside:

Too thin? At 1/16″ it’s a pretty compact mat. More padding than the Manduka though.

Honorable Mention: Lululemon Un Mat

Lululemon doesn’t only sell yoga apparel – they also dabble in accessories. They created the Un Mat to compete in the portable yoga mat market. The Un Mat is comparable in size to the Manduka… super thin (1/16”) and super light weight (2lbs). Comes with a different texture on each side allowing you to choose your preferred grip. Can be rolled or folded. Made with polyurethane and natural rubber.

Potential downside:

Not enough padding? 1/16″ may not be enough cushion (same as Manduka)

1/16″ may not be enough cushion (same as Manduka) Too Expensive? 2nd most expensive mat reviewed

No longer on the list: Khataland YoFoMat folding yoga mat

2018 update: Since we originally wrote this article (2014), there have been many improvements to the travel yoga mats. This Khataland Yofo Mat no longer makes our cut as a “top 5 yoga mat for travel.” The biggest flaw from my perspective is it’s not durable enough.

Original review:

Khataland’s YoFoMat is a newcomer to the market and has been getting great reviews. The 68” version weighs 2.7lbs which makes it the 2nd heaviest mat reviewed, that being said it’s not THAT heavy. Can be folded or rolled, bonus: there are folding lines to make folding it easier. This is the thickest mat at 1/6” which means more padding, more comfort but also more bulk. Priced at $33 USD which is towards the cheaper end. This eco friendly mat also comes with a eco friendly case.

Potential downside:

Too heavy? As a stickler for lightweight travel, 2.7lbs is starting to get too heavy

As a stickler for lightweight travel, 2.7lbs is starting to get too heavy Too bulky? 1/6” thick is more than twice as thick as the Manduka and Lululemon

Yoga socks, paws, and wraps… do they work?

I’ve never tried them, nor do I have plans to. Some people swear by these two options…

What do The Yoga Nomads use?

We just started traveling with the YOGO Ultralight Travel Mat and are head over heals with it! It’s by far the stickiest travel mat we reviewed and love the “origami” folding design. Although it’s super thin, it feels like it has more padding than the Manduka.

We used to travel with the Manduka eKO SuperLite which is an excellent travel mat! It traveled with us for 20+ months with almost daily use and it held up perfectly, it’s still super sticky, and as always it’s very packable! Disclaimer: there is one downside, it is very thin and kneeling for a long time does start to hurt.

2018 update: We recently picked up the Voyager yoga mat by Jade and are loving it so far! We haven’t test it extensively on the road yet, but so far it’s performing great. Folds or rolls, great colors, and very sticky 🙂

*Now that you have your travel yoga mat… time to check out the best carry-on sized backpacks for travel

Brandon’s personal bias… I LOVE Manduka (and use most of their gear)

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Brandon

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