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Primasole Foldable Review

Fold this ultralight mat into a tote or backpack when you head out for yoga at the park, beach, or while on a hike
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Primasole Foldable Review (Sometimes it is nice to have an inexpensive beater mat like the Primasole Foldable that can take a lot of love in yoga...)
Sometimes it is nice to have an inexpensive beater mat like the Primasole Foldable that can take a lot of love in yoga at the park.
Credit: Kate Pitts
Price:  $25 List
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Manufacturer:   Primasole
By Kate Pitts ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 17, 2024
38
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#19 of 19
  • Comfort and Support - 35% 3.0
  • Grip - 30% 3.0
  • Materials - 20% 3.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

If you love yoga outside, the Primasole Foldable is a great choice to take to the park or beach or to throw in your backpack for a flow in nature. This mat folds into a compact square that can easily be transported and can double as a meditation cushion on the trail too. It offers sufficient grip and cushion but not enough joint protection or durability to be your daily practice mat. But as one of the most budget-friendly mats in our lineup, the Primasole is okay to take on outdoor adventures where you would cringe to have your top-dollar home mat. At less than two pounds, it is a great choice for road trips or nomads.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Foldable and lightweight
Nomad-friendly
Easy to clean
Outdoor favorite
REASONS TO AVOID
Not super durable
Doesn't cushion like a daily mat
Slick when wet

Compare to Similar Products

 
primasole foldable
This Product
Primasole Foldable
Awards Best Buy Award
Bargain Beater for Outdoor Play
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Yoga Mat
 Best Buy Award
No-Brainer Bargain
 
Price $25 List
$17.46 at Amazon
$138.00 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$100.00 at Amazon$67 List
$34.99 at Amazon
$35 List
$34.98 at Amazon
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Bottom Line This lightweight and foldable mat tucks into a tote or backpack for yoga at the park, beach, or while on a hikeThis mat is a favorite for unmatched joint-friendly comfort, trustworthy stability for your most challenging practice, and unbelievable durabilityOne of our favorite cushions to do challenging poses on, this 5mm yoga mat is a well-rounded balance of grip, stability, and comfortAt half the weight of most rubber mats, this grippy, portable mat is perfect for any yogi seeking high-quality cushioning at a bargain priceThis affordable option offers decent cushioning, dry grip, and visually pleasing patterns. However, it may not be the best choice for serious practice due to its overall performance
Rating Categories Primasole Foldable Manduka PRO Manduka eKO Iuga Eco Friendly N... Gaiam Premium 6mm
Comfort and Support (35%)
3.0
10.0
9.0
8.0
6.5
Grip (30%)
3.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
5.0
Materials (20%)
3.0
10.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Ease of Use (15%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Specs Primasole Foldable Manduka PRO Manduka eKO Iuga Eco Friendly N... Gaiam Premium 6mm
Materials Polyvinyl chloride PVC certified Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX Biodegradable, non-Amazon harvested, natural tree rubber Polyurethane, Rubber Latex-free PVC
Measured Weight 1.9 lbs 7.5 lbs 6.3 lbs 2.1 lbs 3.3 lbs
Thickness 4 mm 6 mm 5 mm 5 mm 6 mm
Length 68" 71" 71" 72" 68"
Width 24" 26" 24" 26" 24"

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Primasole Foldable is a folding yoga and pilates mat with a 4mm cushion made from polyvinyl chloride. Laying flat, the yoga mat is 68 inches long and 24 inches wide and has grid lines embossed in the surface for easing folding into a 3 x 9.5 x 12-inch square that you can tuck into a backpack, tote, suitcase, or the pocket of your passenger seat. The Primasole weighs 1 pound 14.8 ounces and comes in a plethora of colors.

Performance Comparison


primasole foldable - the primasole fit neatly in a daypack a clifftop flow in yosemite.
The Primasole fit neatly in a daypack a clifftop flow in Yosemite.
Credit: Kate Pitts

Comfort and Support


Although it does not provide a sufficient cushion to be your daily practice mat, the Primasole is a comfortable option for places where you won't want to lug a heavy or expensive mat. It supports the joy of doing yoga with the pups or on outdoor adventures.


At first, our testers overlooked the Primasole Foldable as just another cheap yoga mat, but then we started taking it to the park for yoga during our lunch break. While the pups ran around, we fell in love with how comfortable it was on the grass and, as one of the lightest mats we tested, how easy it was on our backs to carry on the mile walk home. Our view of comfort expanded when we talked with a backcountry ranger who uses this mat on wilderness patrols. For someone who puts in miles of hiking every day, he said it was a game changer to have this as a “luxury item” and well worth the comfort of being able to practice on it at his campsites.

primasole foldable - the primasole is our favorite mat for an afternoon of up dogs, down...
The Primasole is our favorite mat for an afternoon of up dogs, down dogs, and puppy love at the park.
Credit: Kate Pitts


Our testers also took this mat on long hikes and found that, while it feels thin at home next to our eight-pound daily mat, we were grateful for it when out and about, flowing on granite slabs or dropping into yin poses under giant sequoias. We padded our knees with a jacket if the rock was too hard underneath. Because the Primasole is thin, it is usually easy to stabilize in standing or balance poses, depending on the surface beneath the mat. One of the other things we love most about the Primasole is that folding it into a square makes a cushy zabuton for a meditative sit in nature.

primasole foldable - we love that the primasole can be used for yoga on a hike and folds...
We love that the Primasole can be used for yoga on a hike and folds into a lovely meditation cushion.
Credit: Kate Pitts

We do not recommend the Primasole as a daily home or studio practice mat, mainly because it does not offer sufficient padding for the joints. The first test we do to assess cushion is the “footprint” test. If you can see your footprint in the material, then the mat is compressing into the ground under your weight, not offering a sufficient barrier between your bones and the floor. The Primasole gives a clear foot impression.

primasole foldable - the primasole compresses more than offering a true barrier.
The Primasole compresses more than offering a true barrier.
Credit: Kate Pitts

Grip


The Primasole is embossed with grid squares that give a surprisingly good dry grip and just enough squish that it grips decently well if you have sweaty hands on a sunny day at the park or beach. It is more slippery when wet and not our first choice for hot yoga, but it can hold you in static poses when you are sweaty.


While our hands did not slip forward in Ardho Muhka (down dog) when we soaked the mat with “sweat” in our grip tests, we see room for improvement regarding the give in the material. It is slightly elastic, so we could feel our feet moving slightly outward under us when we applied oppositional forces in poses like Virabhadrasana II (Warrior 2). This is not a deal breaker for an outside play mat, but it requires more engagement of your musculature to ground into your stability.

primasole foldable - this isn't the grippiest mat when it comes to certain poses, so you...
This isn't the grippiest mat when it comes to certain poses, so you have to be more aware of your muscle engagement.
Credit: Kate Pitts


We wish the Primasole had more traction on slick floors like tile or wood. Although this mat is challenging to budge when you shuffle it across the ground, it is not very dense and tends to buckle in the middle during common transitions like in Sun Salutations. It wrinkles if you roll over your toes into Ardo Muhka (down dog), so engaging your core and lifting your feet during transitions is better. This mat is better for stepping between Asanas than vigorous practices with sliding movements.

Unfolding the lightweight Primasole for yoga outdoors was lovely, connecting nature, movement, and breath.
Credit: Kate Pitts

Materials


With the Primasole Foldable, you “get what you pay for” — a mat that's less expensive than a drop-in yoga class and that is resilient for road-tripping or to use an outdoor beater mat — but it will not last for years of daily practice.


We enjoyed testing this mat in a variety of outdoor locations. It was easy to clean after yoga in the park and on the beach. We took it on several hikes in Yosemite National Park, and it held up well on granite slabs and forest duff. It is resilient for outdoor yoga, especially if you lay it on a tarp for car camping or backpacking. However, it is not designed for Sun Salutations and rigorous practice every morning.

primasole foldable - the primasole held up to several sits and yoga on yosemite granite...
The Primasole held up to several sits and yoga on Yosemite granite, although using a ground tarp would prolong its life even more.
Credit: Kate Pitts

Furthermore, researching user reviews revealed testimonials of the material starting to chip off over time. As mentioned, you can extend the life of your mat by putting down a ground tarp if you are practicing on abrasive ground surfaces (or if there are pine cones or cockleburrs in the vicinity).

primasole foldable - we love expanding at a hidden scenic spot on the primasole.
We love expanding at a hidden scenic spot on the Primasole.
Credit: Kate Pitts

Ease of Use


The Primasole Foldable is one of the most compact mats to carry and store, and since we love it for outdoor adventures, we are thankful it is a breeze to clean.


This mat folds into a compact 3 x 9.5 x 12-inch square, easily stored on a shelf or in a drawer. At less than two pounds, it is easy to carry across town or to a scenic location for a gentle flow and forest bathing. Some people even take it backpacking.

The Primasole is easy to fold, store, and transport to your favorite places to do yoga.
Credit: Kate Pitts

The Primasole isn't sensitive to extreme heat like many travel mats, so storing it in your car for road trips is okay. It does arrive with a strong odor, so we recommend airing it out for a day or two before use.

primasole foldable - the primasole easily fits in a day pack for a hike, and if you...
The Primasole easily fits in a day pack for a hike, and if you forget about it in your pack, it won't be the worse for wear.
Credit: Kate Pitts

Should You Buy the Primasole Foldable?


If you want a travel beater mat for doing yoga outside so you can save wear on your daily home mat, then the Primasole is an ultralight budget option. If you love doing yoga on the beach, at the park, or forest bathing on a trail, you won't be disappointed at how easy it is to clean this mat when you get home. We love having it in our car camping tub. However, if you want a mat for daily practice, you will want to look for another option with more cushion and durability.

primasole foldable - what peace and stillness are not already here?
What peace and stillness are not already here?
Credit: Kate Pitts

What Other Yoga Mats Should You Consider?


The Primasole is more of an adventure mat than your go-to daily practice mat. If you want a mat that can last a lifetime, then the Manduka PRO has our favorite cushion and is the only mat in our lineup backed with a lifetime warranty. If you aim to improve your alignment and body awareness, the Liforme Original offers an innovative alignment grid on its cushy, grippy surface. If you want a travel mat but need more cushion, the Hugger Mugger Earth Elements and Iuga Eco Friendly Non Slip both weigh just over two pounds and offers a plush cushion at a bargain price. If you are new to yoga and want a decent mat without a big pricetag, then the Gaiam Premium 6mm is a comfortable option for beginners.

Kate Pitts