Yogamatters Eco Travel Yoga Mat review: best for lightweight portability

Meet the reviewer

Yogamatters Eco Travel Yoga Mat: first impressions

At first glance, we thought this yoga travel mat was one of the best we've tested, largely because it's actually light, very thin and super packable. Weighing in at just over 700 grams, it's wafer-thin and easy to roll up or fold and pack away in a carry on bag when you're taking an active trip.

Made using biodegradable and recyclable rubber, the Yogamatters Eco Travel Yoga Mat has a grippy, textured surface that helps you stay in place in downward facing dog, though if you sweat a lot you might want to bring a towel. Because it's so thin, you'll get a good feel for the ground beneath your hands and feet but of course, virtually no cushioning under your knees. Its impressively light weight also means that if you're using it outside, a breeze can cause it to flap around and potentially blow away.

• List price: $56 / £45
• Dimensions: 72 in x 24 in / 183 cm x 61 cm
• Thickness: 1 mm
• Weight: 1.5 lbs / 720 grams
• Carry bag included: No
• Materials: Sustainably harvested natural tree rubber
• Colors: Ocean Green, Dark Navy, Sunshine
• Best use: Active travel

There are some downsides to using rubber – this mat has a strong smell when new and leaves an unpleasant taste on your hands so wash them after use, but this does wear off quickly. It's also not the most durable material, and given how thin this mat is, we do have some doubts about its longevity.

It's well-priced and blows away the competition in terms of weight and packability, which really does make it a good choice for eco-conscious travelers, but we can see it needing to be replaced sooner than the competition if you plan to use it regularly.

Yogamatters Eco Travel Yoga Mat: in the field

I've been practicing yoga for 30 years and with so much travel as an outdoors writer, it's become really important to me to have a good travel yoga mat. I've spent the past six months trying to find the perfect base for my practice so I can stretch out after a long day on a plane or climbing a mountain.

I was thrilled when the Yogamatters Eco Travel Yoga Mat arrived in time for a recent vacation to the Greek island of Corfu, where I was not only having a relaxing holiday but going on daily trail runs in a nearby forest and wanted to stay limber.

Here’s how it performed:

Weight and packability

This is easily the lightest and most packable travel yoga mat I've tested so far. At just over 700 grams, it was an easy choice to tuck it into my duffel bag which was going under my seat in front of me for the flight, and it can either be rolled up like a regular mat, or folded into a square which makes it really easy to pack.

Once I arrived at my destination, it was light enough that I was happy to bring it along in my daypack any time I thought I might want to have a stretch down by the water.

Performance

This mat has the grippy, textured surface you'd expect from rubber which means that I stuck to it really well. That said, I don't have the sweatiest palms in the world and one day when I did have wet hands from swimming, I noticed it was a bit more slippery. If you're traveling somewhere hot and you sweat a lot, you might want to also bring a micro towel .

Obviously, the 1 mm thickness (or thinness) makes it excellent for portability, but it also means you can't expect any padding under your knees and might want a folded towel. The upside of that is that I could feel the ground beneath my hands and feet, which I really like for connection and stability – kind of like barefoot shoes but for yoga.

I personally don't mind the lack of padding, but one day on our trip we did experience some gusty winds and the mat is so light and thin that it was nearly blowing away when I took it down to the dock, so definitely use something to weight it down if you're outdoors in the breeze.

One other point about this mat is that when it's new, it has a really strong rubbery smell. I actually don't hate this smell, but I did make the mistake of eating after using it without washing my hands, and that's when I learned that rubber really doesn't taste nice. This all wears off quickly, however, and it's my own fault for not washing my hands.

Sustainability and value

We yogis care about our impact on the planet and not all yoga mats are great for Mother Earth. This one, however, boasts excellent eco creds. It's made using sustainably harvested natural tree rubber which means it's recyclable and biodegradable, plus it's free from toxic chemicals and dyes. The rubber material does mean it might not last as long as other mats, and I think it being so thin might speed up its shelf life, but we'll see what time brings.

As for value, I think it's a good price compared to competitors, and especially given how portable it really is.

Yogamatters Eco Travel Yoga Mat: the bottom line

If your priorities for your yoga mat when you're traveling are that it is super light, easy to pack and grippy, you won't find a better deal than this mat. However, if you're seeking something with a bit more weight, thickness and durability, and don't mind added weight, check out the foldable Mikkoa Travel Yoga Mat .

• How Advnture tests products