Hugger Mugger Earth Elements Review

The Hugger Mugger Earth Elements is a 5mm yoga mat that offers extra-soft cushion in a lightweight 2.25-pound package. The closed-cell construction of this mat does not absorb moisture and is easy to wipe down. Hugger Mugger also designed this mat to be biodegradable after its lifespan and uses recyclable TPE as the material. The mat's surface is embossed with a textured pattern to offer dry grip traction.

Comfort and Support

If you want a soft surface with plush padding, the Earth Elements provides a surprisingly thick cushion for an ultralight mat. We enjoy its soft texture for slow flows, yoga nidra, and long-held yin asanas.

The Earth Elements has one of the softest cushions in our lineup, which, considering the very fair price, makes it a solid mat for beginners just starting a yoga practice. We fell in love with this mat in restorative classes. The softer cushion relaxes gently around your limbs when you sink into restorative poses. This is also a good cushion level for your practice if you prefer a gentle pillow around your knees.

The foamy cushion does make balancing a little more challenging. Sometimes, the give in the material also stretched the mat outwards between our feet; for example, in Virabhadrasana I (Warrior 1), the pressure of our feet extended the mat slightly outward. The Earth Elements is adequate for balancing on one leg or your forearms, but you may find it a tad squishy under the weight of your feet. On the flip side, it is stable on different surfaces, making it a comfortable option for indoor or outdoor practices.

Grip

Hugger Mugger embossed the surface of the Earth Elements with a textured pattern that is soft and easy to grip with dry hands.

If you are learning to put weight in your hands or refining the intelligence of your fingers in arm balances, the texture of the Earth Elements offers dry and sticky friction. It is a closed-cell design, so sweat remains on the mat's surface. You can easily wipe the sweat off with a towel, and the mat's slight squish makes its wet grip surprisingly stable.

Despite being lightweight, this mat has an excellent grip on different surfaces and was hard to budge even when we shuffled it on slick hardwood floors. The mat lays flat and doesn't wrinkle in the middle when we roll over our toes into Adho Mukha (down dog). It is a good texture for beginners to start learning how to engage grip in their hands and feet because it is smooth enough on the surface for sliding transitions and grippy enough to remain firm in static holds.

Materials

Claimed by Hugger Mugger to be one of the first sustainable yoga mats, the company made the Earth Elements out of TPE that will last several years of practice and then can be recycled or will (theoretically) biodegrade in a landfill after its service is retired.

During our testing process, the Earth Elements showed little signs of wear, but when researching other user reviews, we found that many folks start experiencing cracks or flaking in their mat after a year or two of heavy use, while others have had it for over five years with no issues. Extreme heat can increase the rate at which the material biodegrades, so avoid leaving your mat in a hot car.

One of the things we appreciate most about this mat is how lightweight, comfortable, and easy to clean it is after taking it outdoors. Just over two pounds, it is easy to strap on a day pack for a hike in a national park. In our outside practices, we found it resilient on pinecone-strewn forest floors, granite slabs, and sandy beaches. One of our editors was stoked to test this yoga mat in her car camping kit because of how comfortable and easy to clean it is.

Ease of Use

Cleaning dirt and sand off the Earth Elements usually involves a quick shake, brush off, and wipe down. Because it is a closed-cell design, you don't have to fuss with deep cleaning, and the mat doesn't get stinky over time, especially if you air dry it after each wipe down. Hugger Mugger recommends cleaning the Earth Elements with a mat spray or a 1:20 mix of dish soap to water.

Since Hugger Mugger designed this mat to biodegrade, it will be more durable if you do not store it in high solar UV, extreme cold, or heat for an extended time. Yogi nomads should cover it with a tarp or sun shield if leaving it in a car on a road trip.

The Earth Elements, at just over two pounds, is one of the highest-performing mats that is also ultralight in our lineup. This mat is a good option if you want something that won't weigh you down when you carry it to class.

Should You Buy the Hugger Mugger Earth Elements?

Soft cushion, grippy, affordable, and easy to clean, the Earth Elements is our top choice for beginners. One of our only ultralight mats with cushion, it is a good choice for yogis who travel, hike, or carry their mats long distances. However, the cushion may be too soft if you frequently practice improving your balance or inversions. Overall, it offers a beginner-friendly balance of soft cushion, grip, and portability suitable for most classes and exceptional for traveling or restorative yoga.

What Other Yoga Mats Should You Consider?