Best Yoga Mats For Men in 2023 - A No B.S Guide

Looking for the best yoga mats for men in 2023?

It’s hard enough to stay consistent with your yoga practice, let alone trying to figure out the best equipment to buy. The humble yoga mat is the most essential piece of yoga equipment you need and choosing the right one could mean the difference between slipping and sliding during your poses to staying stable and grounded even in the most challenging poses.

We men come in a variety of shapes and sizes and yoga mats are not a one-size-fits-all item. This makes it difficult to know which mat is for you.

This guide will lay out the pros and cons of some of the best yoga mats for men on the market, and help take the guesswork out of making the right decision. Now you can finally get back to the important stuff - getting your physical, mental and spiritual health to where you want it to be.

What to look for in a Men’s Yoga Mat

While the ladies are spoilt for choice when it comes to yoga mats, a good quality men’s yoga mat can be a little harder to find. There are heaps of yoga mats on the market, but do they stand up to men's needs? Men tend to be heavier and taller than women, so men's yoga mats have to be made to stand up to the challenge. There are two main things I look for in men’s yoga mats:

1) Size: Even if you aren't very tall (like me), looking into size can come in handy. Personally, I like mats that are slightly wider than average. Remember - most yoga mats I’ve used tend to be made to accommodate the average female practitioner in mind, so it's always a good idea to check the size.

2) Material: Secondly, I check the material. The material that a men's yoga mat is made out of must be somewhat sticky to combat sliding due to sweat. And it’s got to be tough. Always check the material for picking up a mat. In my opinion, the material is the most important aspect of a yoga mat.

With those things in mind, I have created a list of the top five best yoga mats for men. Let's get started.

Editor’s Choice: Dudes Yoga - Luxuriant Cork Yoga Mat

We've tried a lot of yoga mats in our time and we have to say, Dudes Yoga's Luxuriant Cork Yoga Mat is one of the best.

Made with guys in mind, this extra-long, 72-inch cork yoga mat grips during sweaty yoga sessions when compared with rubber versions. The antimicrobial cork top is surprisingly soft, yet it provided stability for the most difficult poses. The best part? It will still smell great after months of use, unlike standard rubber mats.

At $88 USD this premium cork yoga mat is also great value for money.

Manduka PRO Yoga Mat

Best for: Seasoned yogis looking for a yoga mat that will last a lifetime.

Pros

• Eco-friendly

• Large size

• Thick

• Sturdy material

• Lifetime guarantee

Cons

• Long break-in time

• Costly

Manduka is one of the most trusted brands in the market for a reason. This mat, while pricey at around $120 - $146, is hands-down one of the best yoga mats for men. This mat has a lot going on for it, which is backed by the four and a half star rating from thousands of reviews on Amazon. This is the mat for the seasoned yogi. Let's break it down.

Size

First, let's talk about size. This yoga mat is long. 84 inches (9 feet) long to be exact. It is also thick, especially if you go for the 6mm version. The thickness of a mat really determines the comfort during your practice and this mat makes chilling out in Savasana that much more enjoyable For size, this mat is right up with the best of them. Big enough for the tallest men, and thick enough to give you that cushioning you need.

Material

Next, let's talk about the material. This mat gets a plus one right off the bat for being eco-friendly - something to keep in mind if that’s important to you. The material is sturdy as well, made evident by the shining reviews.

One of the downsides about this mat, though, is the long break-in period. The mat can get slippery with sweat until the thin film over the mat wears off. How to do this is exactly is unclear, and so for the more heavy sweaters, this may not be the best purchase. Waiting a few months to use something properly is never fun.

Other Features

Now let's talk about some other unique aspects of this mat. This mat comes in a wide variety of colours. In addition, the mat comes with a sweet lifetime guarantee from the manufacturer.

The Verdict

Overall, this mat has it all. It offers great size, thickness and durability. It is a great choice if you want a big commitment (and you don't sweat too much). This is a mat for men who take their practice seriously and appreciate quality.

Lululemon The Reversible Mat 3mm

Best for: Beginners to Advanced

Pros

• Reversible

• Grippy top layer

• Lightweight and easy to carry

Cons

• Slight chemical smell

• May be too thin for some

Lululemon’s Reversible 3mm Yoga mat is one of the original and highest rated yoga mats on the market. Renowned for its grippy top layer, this yoga mat will support the most challenging of poses, and will keep you in place no matter how sweaty your yoga session gets.

Liforme Original Yoga Mat

Best for: Beginners

Pros

• Alignment markers

• Comes with a carrying bag

• Good thickness

Cons

• Costly

• Grip may fade

The next mat is also highly rated by almost as many users. While there are some similarities between this mat and the last, there are some important differences that set this mat apart. The Liforme Original Yoga Mat is a great choice for beginners.

Size

Once again, let's start with size. This mat is smaller than the previous one. It is only about six feet (72 inches) long, which could be an issue if you’re a taller guy. Although it is just as thick as the Manduka Pro yoga mat, this doesn't make up for the lack of length.

Material

Now to the material. While this is marketed as the 'grippiest Yoga Mat,' some users would beg to differ. According to some reviews, although this mat is very grippy at first, it loses the sticky part of the mat and even falls apart. Some of the many good reviews may be explained by the fact that it does live up to its claim in the first six months or so of owning this mat. Unfortunately, if you're looking for a long term yoga mat, this probably isn't the one for you.

Other Features

Some other important features of this mat that make it worthwhile are the alignment markers. These help a novice learn where to place the feet, so they can focus more on stretching instead of getting the moves right. This mat also comes in a variety of colors.

The Verdict

Overall, this isn't a bad mat, but for around $100, we would expect the grip to last a little longer. It doesn't compare to the Manduka PRO Yoga Mat, but it is cheaper if you’re on a tighter budget. This mat is best for beginners looking for a good quality mat with alignment markers. It would be a great mat to start with, and when the grip fades, you can move on, or use it as a secondary mat.

Heathyoga Eco-Friendly Non-Slip Yoga Mat

Best for: Casual yogis looking for a great quality, budget-friendly mat

Pros

• Cost-effective

• Body alignment markers

• Durable and grippy

• Ecofriendly

Cons

• Susceptible to warping in high-heat

This is one of the most cost-effective yoga mats for men on the list. Although it may be one of the cheapest, the Heathyoga Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat still has some of the best features of more expensive mats on the market. A great all-round-mat for the casual yogi.

Size

The length on this one is not the worst, but it isn't great. It is six feet long, which should work for most men, but taller guys will have to check out other mats. The low price point makes this mat an attractive option if the size isn’t too much of a factor for you. At only around $50, this mat packs a punch for how inexpensive it is. It is just as thick as the Manduka Pro and Lifeforme yoga mats.

Material

This material is eco-friendly and sturdy, although it can become warped in high heat (keep this in mind if you live in a hotter climate and practice outdoors). It is lightweight and grippy and the reviews are overwhelmingly good-- out of over 2500 reviews on Amazon, only 9% are below three stars.

Other Features

This mat also has alignment markers, which is super helpful for guys new to yoga looking to stay consistent with hand and feet placement in poses. It comes in several colors and the company produces several products that compliment the mat if you want to use the money you saved on a cheaper mat for other yoga products.

The Verdict

Overall, this a great mat and one of the best yoga mats for most men in our opinion. It supplies many of the same things the more expensive mats do without hiking up the price.

ELITE S Jade Yoga Mat

Best for: Hot yoga enthusiasts or heavy sweaters

Pros

• Environmentally friendly

• Very grippy

Cons

• Too short for some

• Relatively expensive

With a price of about $120, this mat has some great qualities that make it adept for some kinds of yoga and less adept for others. In short, it's very specialized, whether this was the intention of the producer or not. This is the mat for the hot yoga addict.

Size

So let's talk about size. Unfortunately, this mat is one inch short of six feet, so while it’s fine for most guys out there, it will be too short for taller men. It is also slightly less thick than the other mats, about .02 inches thinner. This doesn't make much of a difference, though.

Material

Now let's talk material. The material on this mat is sturdy and very grippy. It is also environmentally friendly. This mat has very good reviews, and the wide majority are about the stickiness of the mat. This mat grips well. If you sweat a lot or you like hot yoga, this is the perfect mat for you. According to some online reviews, even in classes where you sweat more than normal, such as hot yoga, there is still a great grip on the mat for both hands and feet.

Unique Features

This mat doesn't come with any unique extras. It only comes in one color.

The Verdict

Overall, if you’re looking for a mat that can keep its grip even when drenched in sweat (like in hot yoga) then this is the mat for you. Otherwise, the length and thickness aren’t as good as other mats on the market.

Gaiam Athletic Yoga Series dynaMAT Xtra-Wide Mat

Best for: Yogis on a budget

Pros

• Budget-friendly

• Very grippy

Cons

• Too short for some

• Durability varies

This is the cheapest mat at only about $40, while it is sometimes even cheaper. This is a pretty basic mat, there are few extras, but it does the job. This is the mat for beginners.

Size

This mat is longer than most of the other mats - it clocks in at just over 6 feet or 78 inches. It is a tiny bit thinner than the other mats, but not enough to matter. Overall, the size is pretty good.

Material

The material, while not environmentally friendly, offers great grip. Most of the reviews about grip are positive, although you will need to give the mat a wash first to make it sticky according to the instructions. Unfortunately, there are a decent number of reviews claiming that the mat started showing signs of wear and tear just a few months in. Considering the cost, this may be expected, but it’s still disappointing.

Unique Features

This mat does have one or two extras. It is reversible, black to grey, and it is marketed as extra wide. If you are interested in an extra-wide mat, this may be one to check out.

The Verdict

Overall, this is a basic mat. It's nothing special, but at around $40 it will get the job done. This is a good mat for guys just starting out and might not know if they want to make a big commitment just yet. It might also be good for someone who doesn't have a lot of money to invest in yoga at the moment or someone who doesn't know what they need in a yoga mat.

The Wrap Up

So these were our picks for the best yoga mats for men in 2023. Even if one of these mats isn't for you, we hope this guide gave you some valuable insights into what to look for in a good yoga mat. If you have any experience with one of the mats listed above or have a mat that you think should be included, please let us know!

Namaste