Manduka PRO Review

The Manduka PRO mat is made of polyester and PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a plastic polymer. While there are more "eco" materials used to make mats that are biodegradable, like natural rubber, PER (polymer environmental resin) or TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), Manduka considers this line of mats an "environmentally conscious choice," as the PVC is eco-certified as zero-waste, and they design their mats for durability. They also say that their mats "rarely end up in landfills like inexpensive sticky mats," though we're not sure how they can actually attest to that! This mat weighs a whopping 7 lbs 13 oz and measures 71" long by 26" wide and 6mm thick. While this mat didn't receive a very high overall score, due to the traction issues and lack of portability, it did still stand out for its great comfort and stability.

Performance Comparison

This thick mat is comfortable and stable, and perfect for Yin style practices. The traction is not great though.

Traction Dry

The dry traction on this mat felt similar to that of the yoga towels in this review, which is to say not very good. Even at the start of class, when our hands were still dry and we hadn't even started working up a sweat yet, Down Dogs felt a little slippery and insecure.

Manduka advertises that this mat needs a break-in period, and it's true. When we first unrolled this mat and compared its wet and dry traction to the Jade Harmony and Lululemon The Mat, it came up far short. We wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt, though, so we kept using it, and by around the 10 class mark, we did notice the dry traction improving slightly. That said, it was still nowhere near as sticky as the other top models. Apparently, you can also sprinkle sea salt on your mat, wet it down and scrub it with a stiff brush to hasten the break-in period. Realistically though, most of us barely have time to clean our mats, let alone prepare them for use, and it's a hard sell when you can purchase other mats that are sticky straight off the shelf, including the Manduka eKO, our Editors' Choice winner.

Even when dry, we felt our hands slipping in oppositional poses like Downward Facing Dog.

Traction Wet

While the dry traction on this mat was not stellar, the wet traction was downright slippery. We had to stop and wipe our hands on a hand towel even in a non-heated class to prevent ourselves from slipping, and our feet felt slightly insecure as well.

Manduka recommends using this mat for Hot Yoga classes, as its closed-cell design keeps the sweat and bacteria out, but if you do, you'll want to use a towel with good traction on top of the mat to minimize slipping.

You don't need to add water to make this mat slippery, but when you do it gets very slick. If you practice hot yoga or have sweaty hands, you'll want to use a towel overtop this mat.

Comfort and Stability

This mat scored at the top of the pack for comfort and stability.

The 6mm thickness provides ample cushion for even the boniest yogis, but the overall effect is still stable and not squishy. This mat is so heavy that it won't move around on you when jumping from Downward Facing Dog to standing, and you can feel secure performing head and arm balances on it.

The PRO is perfect for inversions. It is very stable and provides enough support to cushion your joints and bones.

Durability

Durability was another standout area for this mat.

Manduka touts this line as having excellent durability, and we can attest that these mats do have a long life. One of our testers has been using this mat for almost three years with little sign of wear or deterioration. When the apocalypse comes, all that will be left will be the cockroaches and this mat.

Portability

This mat weighs almost 8 lbs, making it the heaviest model in this review.

While it rolls up fairly tightly, it is a noticeable brick in your yoga bag. However, if you're the kind of person who regularly drags two mats to class for extra cushion, then using just one of these mats instead might lighten your load a bit. If you need something lighter, say for commuting to your studio on a bike, the 2 lbs 1 oz Prana E.C.O. and Hugger Mugger Earth Elements are better options.

The PRO (left) is much heavier and bulkier than the Jade (right).

Ease of Care

The Manduka PRO was relatively easy to care for. This mat has a closed-cell construction and doesn't require the deep cleaning that a rubber mat needs. Simply wipe the mat down with water after a sweaty class or use some Mat Renew Spray to freshen it up a little.

As easy as the regular cleaning is, we did have to knock a few points off, as we tested this mat in a lighter color and found it challenging to keep it clean. It marked easily and eventually the back of the mat where our feet usually are started to turn darker and dirty, and it stayed that way. It's lovely that these mats come in a variety of bright and light colors, but we've realized there's a reason for the standard black or dark purple mats — it's harder to see the dirt.

When we sprayed the surface of this mat with water it did not soak in, which makes cleaning it at the end of class that much easier. Lighter colors like this one did show dirt more than a darker mat, so you'll probably be better off with a black or dark purple version of this mat, particularly because it lasts so long.

Best Applications

This mat works well for most styles of yoga, though if you practice a Vinyasa style, you'll be better off with something with more traction, like the Jade Harmony or Lululemon's The Reversible Mat. If you love Yin classes or other styles where you are mostly seated or prone, then this is where the PRO mat shines, as it will cushion your bones and support your joints.

Gentle stretches, long holds, and seated or prone yoga are the best options for this mat.

Value

The Manduka PRO mat costs $120, making it the most expensive mat in this review. If you've been replacing cheaper mats every year or so, then maybe this will save you money in the long run, but it does feel like a lot of money to spend on a mat, particularly when it doesn't have the best traction. If you are looking for a better value, the Clever Yoga Better Grip costs only $25 and has slightly better traction than this mat.

Conclusion

The Manduka PRO was the most comfortable mat in our review to practice on. It doesn't have the best traction and wasn't our favorite overall, but is a great option for those looking for some extra padding.

Other Versions

This mat also comes in a PROlite version, which is thinner (4.5mm) and not as wide (only 24 in) for only $80.