Iuga Eco Friendly Non Slip Review

The Iuga Eco-Friendly Non-Slip, at 2 lbs. 1 oz, is among the lightest and most portable budget yoga mats. It boasts wide real estate for its low weight, measuring two inches more than most models at 72" x 26" inches. The surface is an open-cell design with a smooth, sticky surface for a sweat-absorbing grip. An adjustable carry strap is included with the mat purchase.

Performance Comparison

Comfort and Support

If you want an ultralight mat to carry to the studio, the Iuga Eco Friendly can cushion your knees yet is firm enough to rise into a tree pose without wobbling.

For an ultralight mat, the Iuga Eco Friendly offers an exceptional balance between cushion and stability. The mat has a five-millimeter cushion, which we found protected sensitive joints like our knees and spine when on top of hardwood floors. We would recommend it to yogis whose bodies love extra cushion. We test the cushion's effectiveness by seeing how far a pen sinks into the mat under a 40-pound cinderblock to simulate a joint compressing the mat. The Image Eco Friendly compressed only a quarter of its depth, meaning ample cushion is left to keep your bony bits from compacting into the floor.

Many lightweight budget mats have decent cushions but sacrifice stability. We were delighted with the firm support of the Iuaga Eco-Friendly, which provides more firmness for balancing poses than other mats under 2.5 pounds and is an excellent choice for strength and balance yoga. The firmness also supports your wrist in chaturangas and arm balances because the hands can root into the ground without shifting and stressing the wrists.

Grip

In the open-cell yoga mat line, the Iuga Eco-Friendly has excellent, zero slippage dry grip and a softer surface texture than most smooth sticky mats, which we appreciate when sliding into a pose. This mat is excellent for hot yoga or sweaty yogis.

We love the grip on the Iuga Eco Friendly and found we were able to stick hard moves like jumps into arm balances without slipping. Between the firm cushion and sticky top, this is an excellent mat that will help beginner yogis trust their hands and feet. The mat gripped to the floor and didn't slide when we moved, although because it is so lightweight, it occasionally wrinkled slightly when we rolled over our toes from upward-facing dog to downward-facing dog.

The Iuga is an open-cell mat, which quickly absorbs sweat as it drips from your body. To test a sweat fest, we drenched the Iuga Eco Friendly with a liter of water. our hands and feet could still find an excellent grip on the mat's surface when wet. We tested this mat with sweaty yogis who said it had a grippier surface than many mats in the “sticky mat” style and they loved they didn't have to worry about their feet sliding out. The only downside about a wetter practice with this mat is that once drenched with sweat, it takes longer to dry than we would like.

Materials

The Iuga Eco Friendly is rubber with a polyurethane top surface. Iuga claims the material is 100 percent SGS certified and made of sustainably harvested tree rubber.

We found the Iuga Eco Friendly incredibly resilient after multiple practices, encounters with puppy naps, and practices outside. The foam structure is well constructed; it gives excellent cushion but is less than half the weight of other rubber mats in our test. Iuga writes it is different from other rubber mats because they designed a tear resistant mesh to serve as the middle layer, which makes this mat more durable over time. However, like most sticky mats, it has a shorter lifespan than PVC mats. Our market research indicates that it has started flaking or wearing train marks where the hands and feet are placed after several years of rigorous use. With proper care, this mat could support several seasons of your practice.

Ease of Use

If your shoulders ache from lugging your mat to class, then you will love how the ultralight Iuga Eco Friendly doesn't weigh you down. It is straightforward to clean, although it needs time to air out of the sun after a sweaty practice.

ality cushion, grip, and stability. Included with the mat is a shoulder strap that is easily adjusted to the width of your shoulders. We carried this mat to class and flew with it multiple times, and found it was not a burden to carry even for all-day travel.

The Iuga Eco Friendly is easy to wipe down with a damp cloth. We found removing mud from practicing outside, and pet hair was fairly simple with a damp cloth to wipe down. This mat is open cell and absorbs fluids, so over time, it will absorb sweat and get funky if you do not air dry it in a safe space out of direct sunlight. When this mat arrives in the mail, we appreciate that Iuga includes detailed care instructions in the packaging. This yoga mat should be rolled and kept in a dry area and rolled with the colored side facing outward. To prolong the life of your yoga mat, do not use oil or solvent on the surface, avoid direct sunlight or high heat, and do not put in washer or dryer

Should You Buy the Iuga Eco Friendly Non Slip?

If you need a commuter and don't want to spend a fortune, but still want it all -comfort, grip, stability - in terms of quality, then the Iuga Eco Friendly is a great choice. The surface is soft and pleasant to move on while still having a sweaty-yogi-approved grip. It is an open cell mat, so it will absorb sweat over time, and like most sticky mats, it will have a couple of years of life span if you have regular daily practice. This is one of our top budget options for yogis of any level, especially people who need to carry their mat to class.

What Other Yoga Mats Should You Consider?