Having heard about how awesome Manduka mats are from all sorts of sources, I was super psyched to find this light, portable version of the big, honking Mat Pro. Mine arrived today, and I promptly took it to my hot yoga class. I am slightly underwhelmed by the product, I have to be honest. I have compiled a list of pros and cons for the mat, and thus shareth them with you now...
Pros:
-Folds up crazy small (seriously, it's like a light sweater)
-Light weight
-Same "stickiness" as other Manduka mats, so it's got good grip
Cons:
-It's REALLY thin. When I read other reviews taking about how thin the mat was, I was like "Psh. It can't be THAT thin. What wusses!" No, but seriously, it's 1-2 mm thick. So, basically, you're doing yoga on a sticky floor. This would be a terrible choice for pilates, or if you have joints in need of cushion.
-At least in my vinyasa flow class, this mat did not grip to the floor well. I had to readjust it 4 times in 30 minutes, to keep from running into my neighbor's mat. Also, since it's not all that grippy with the floor, when in down dog (or any position that puts stretching stress on the mat), the mat bunched up around my hands and feet. Bummer!
In conclusion... This is a good option (I guess) for people who travel a lot, or who have to take public transit to their yoga classes... but if you can help it, go with one of their other, sturdier, thicker mats.
Hope this helps! Manduka Standard Superlite Yoga Mat, Acai
I swear by my Manduka pro and have recommended it time and again to my students, so I was excited to try the Manduka travel mat, and chagrined at how disappointed I was. It is just too light and bunches up underfoot, offering pretty much the same non-support as the cheapest mats out there. But you will pay a lot more for it.
I like it. It's sticky and I appreciate that it is non-toxic, but... it it is heavier than the Gaiam one that I saw at REI and smells a little funny. (My full size Manduka also smelled funny at first, so maybe this will go away if I air it out.)
To be honest if I saw both of them in a store I probably would have bought the Gaiam but it's not worth sending it back.
As a yoga teacher who travels for a living, I have paid my fair share of "overage fees" at airports due to the bulk and weight of my yoga mat amongst other things. FINALLY, Manduka has developed an incredibly "lean" mat that actually folds up just like a sweatshirt, taking up the same amount of space. and weighing as much as my hiking shoes. Even better, when the mat "unfolds" it has no creases and never loses its grip! GENIUS! Now when I teach my workshops and trainings, I can travel with less "baggage," and still have everything I need for practice!
I travel A LOT and thought this would be great-- I thought I could lay it on top of another mat, taking advantage of cushioning without having to carry it around. But this thing, woo, it was useless. It was so thin and flimsy, it stuck to my foot, bunched up at every movement, and was totally un-useable. Usually, I love Manduka products (I LOVE the ProLite and would bring it everywhere if it weren't for luggage limits) but this (and the EcoLite) was really a downer.
I bought this mat because I commute via bicycle to the studio where I work and needed a lighter and smaller alternative to my regular mat. That being said I did expect the mat to be thin and really more of an extra layer of grip than a cushy landing pad. I was not prepared for the incredibly thin surface this mat is. To be fair I AM a bony person, but I should not walk away from a class with deep tissue bruises on my hips and knees. The surface is very grippy, I like the orange peel texture. I read other reviews that complained of an odor but I felt the natural rubber smell was much more conducive to a class than the toxic smell most other mats have. I am a little concerned with the stability of this product over time because i am already noticing some wear lines where I had folded it to fit into a bag.
Overall I won't be returning the product because I need a travel mat and this one is passable. I will be shopping around before I purchase another or make a recommendation to my friends.
A great travel mat if your of the none super sweaty yoga styles (if you sweat a lot you can probably just use a towel). I like to use it to throw over studio provided mats. So far it appears durable, no visible flakage. Great for my needs. Just an FYI, probably couldn't fold it down to fit in a purse, unless the purse is large but would work in a suitcase.
I just purchased because I want to continue practicing my yaga when I travel. It is a really sticky mat and its quality is beyond I could explain. I just use it on the carpet and it is enough to give me some cushion that I will not hurt my knees when doing some poses. Love it!
I love this yoga mat. I fly over 100,000 miles a year, and had been looking for something that travels well. By that I mean it must fit into my carry-on regime. I've had a great inflatable zafu for some time, but the right mat had been elusive.Enter the Manduka. It is the only compromise I've found that's acceptable. It packs really well: I fold it into my roll-aboard easily with my other things. You're never going to get that full-cushion experience and still be super-mobile. Accept that. I haven't given up my regular mat when at home and around town.I have no problem with the padding when placed on concrete for yoga. I also meditate, though, and sitting on the mat over concrete or bricks is definitely when I wish I had more underneath. But it is surprising how often you can find better alternative surfaces while traveling. You adapt!The rubber smell, for me, went away after a couple of months. It never bothered me.
I've had this mat for over 6 months and use it 3-4x/week. It's my main yoga mat and I really like it. As someone whose daily commute requires me to go across town and back (using a combination of walking, buses and trains), this mat is perfect. I shove it in my backpack with my yoga clothes and am good to go. I can't imagine dragging a regular, cumbersome yoga mat (along with all the other stuff I carry) all over town, every day. If you drive everywhere, then this mat probably isn't even necessary.
I don't have any problems with it scrunching, and love that's it's super-tacky. If I'm on my knee in a pose, I'll sometimes just put a blanket (which all yoga studios seem to have) under my knee.
One thing to keep in mind about this mat is that it actually folds. There are other travel mats that are thin or light, but you still need to roll them up and carry them somehow. The fact that this mat folds and can be put in a backpack is the best thing about it.
I definitely plan on buying this mat again once my current one wears out :)'
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