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- Verified Buyer
I’ve been buying Mandela mats for over ten years as I teach and practice yoga daily. Every two years(ish) I get anew mat - same one Eko Mat Acari color - as I practice outdoors and create wear and tear on my mat sooner then most - with that this is the first Maduka I am unhappy with as the original 5mm eco yoga mat was thicker and I would presume, after years of use Of manduka mats more durable. I kept mat as I donated my last mat to a new yoga teacher on its arrival. I should have kept my last mat but this will do and I’ll definitely be noting durability with use over time. Its significantly thinner if youre use to manduka quality however it’s grippy for sure and may surprise me. Not confidant as I know manduka mats like I know my favorite T-shirt’s lol worth the $$ but be aware if your expecting original manduka quality this is not it. This is a verified manduka mat so the company has changed their standards/process on how they make their mats. Charge the same price after building a name and then cheapening their product to make bigger profits. Very sad and depending this may be my last manduka mat and I’m already searching for a new yoga mat that feels energetically right.WOW! What a solid grip! This is the stickiest (in a good way) mat I’ve ever laid hands on. I’m so impressed. All the injuries that I have from previous grip strains are singing!I am so happy it is eco friendly as well. Worth it.Wish it was available in the thicker, longer and wider dimensions they used to make it in a few years back. It's still a great mat. Grips very well.I purchased a Manduka "eKO 2.0 Wet-Grip Natural Tree Rubber 5mm" mat after having a LuLuLemon "The Mat 5mm" for the past year. I do hot yoga every single day and absolutely love the LuLu Lemon mat, but wanted to find out for myself which was better. I normally do an entire 75 - 90 minute session of hot vinyasa on my LuLuLemon mat, without a towel, and do not slide the entire time, or at least not until the end. One of my favorite yoga instructors recommended the eKO mat because of the "tred" that the mat has (Illustrated in attached picture). If you rub your dry fingers along a dry "eKO" mat, and then do the same with "The Black Mat PRO", you will notice that the eKO mat has much more traction and less slip potential.As I said, I do hot vinyasa yoga (98 degrees - 103 degrees) everyday, so the best mat for me is the one that keeps you from slipping and sliding around on your mat when you start to get wet and sweaty.When first getting on my Manduka mat, the first thing I realized is the cushion and stability is good.NOW FOR WHAT MATTERS! Which mat is the least slippery?Within the first minute of getting into downward dog on my Manduka mat (without a towel), my fingers were slipping forward. I had not even begun to break a sweat yet. I continued to try to use the mat, but I had to keep resetting my hands. They kept slipping.On the LuLuLemon mat, as long as the mat is properly cleaned after every use (and allowed to dry overnight), I can do an entire 90 minute session without slipping what-so-ever, without a towel.THE CATCH- When I purchased my Manduka eKO mat, I also purchased a manduka eQua towel. After being frustrated with my new Manduka eKO purchase, I layed the towel on top of the mat. THESE PRODUCTS GO TOGETHER LIKE PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY! As soon as i laid my dry towel on my dry mat, the towel clinged to the mat and did not move what-so-ever. I made it through the entire class without ever sliding forward what-so-ever. The only problem was that the towel gets so soaked and retains the moisture. By the end of the class, I was laying in a literal pool of sweat (not just a damp towel).. Even with the pool of sweat, I was not slipping when going back into downward dog, but that does not change the fact that you are laying in a pool of sweat. It was obvious at that point that the LuLu Lemon mat is lightyears ahead of the Manduka when it comes to absorbing moisture.When I got home to clean my mat: I sprayed my Manduka mat with a fine mist cleaner as I do everyday with my LuLuLemon mat after use. The proof of moisture absorption really came to light when doing this. When I spray my LuLuLemon mat, the moisture is absorbed so fast that I have to wipe the area sprayed immediately, otherwise it will just absorb. With the Manduka mat, I was able to spray down the entire mat, with the entire mat staying wet and not absorbed.CONCLUSION- If you need the best mat for hot, wet & sweaty yoga, and like to do yoga without a towel, LULULEMON "THE MAT" IS THE WINNER. If you like using a towel, get MANDUKA eKO 2.0 with the MANDUKA eQua TOWEL. It's a fantastic towel with fantastic static retention. The Manduka mat does not compare to the amazing stickiness and traction of a LuLuLemon mat. However, no towel sticks to a lulu lemon mat like the eQua sticks to the eKO 2.0I read the reviews, looked up outside sources and kept coming back to the Manduka brand for hot yoga mats. I was only interested in the most "green" one available and thought this one had to be the one for me. All of the reviews are right...EXTREMELY smelly. I leave mine unrolled and in the garage when not using in hopes it will eventually air out. It has also spent a night or two outside (it does have a white underside, watch where you lay it if you do not want it dirty!). I have owned it for about 2 weeks and it seems to be slightly better. That being said, I thought the smell would bother me during 75 minute sessions of hot yoga. Does not effect me except when I am face down on it (I do also cover it with a yoga towel, so there is a barrier). I just throw my hand towel on top of it at this time and I am so exhausted and smelly that the mat is the least of my problems.Also, please be advised this mat is large and HEAVY! When picking up the box at the front door I thought there is no way this has a yoga mat inside. I consider it to be part of my workout carrying the mat to and from the studio. I did find a bag that it can fit into after trying a couple {if interested this is what it sells for on Amazon: "Best Yoga Mat Bag Tote for Women (Fashion Forward, Savvy Design, Bold Colors, Sturdy Eco-friendly Materials) - Cute Sling Carrier, Simple Top Loading Sport Bag Tote, Large Size for Extra Storage, Perfect for Modern Yoga Lovers - 100% Cotton Canvas Made in USA - Yoginiology - Fully Guaranteed"}Overall, this mat is extremely sticky and excellent for hot yoga. However, you will not want to keep it in your confined car until the smell disappears! And if you are looking for a light, easy to manage mat, this is not for you. But I still do believe it is the best on the market in it's "green" category.This mat is really substantial. Heavy with great density. Highly recommendReviewing on behalf of a friend (who ordered through our account!) and she says it's brilliant! She did say lots of yoga specific things but all I can remember is that she said the other old ladies in her class were totally jealous of her swish mat! Sorry, not the most helpful review ever but she has now had it for several months so it's obviously wearing well as she yogas three times a week! (pretty sure yoga isn't a verb but you know what I mean)The only downsize apparently it's weight but as she drives to yoga sessions that's not a problem.Not at all what I was expecting as the item that was delivered was a superlite (travel) mat rather than the standard ordered. As a travel mat - it is exactly as the name states - super light. As it was easier to keep than arrange to have it collected, I pop it on top of the mat supplied in the group but still not 'sticky' enough for me as still slipping.Good for Yoga and workout exercisesOverall good product, however if your soles get too sweaty or perhaps sweat runs down on the mat it can get slippery.I love this mat - it is the second one that I have had and I think that it is the best in the Manduka range. Would highly recommend to those looking for a well made, robust and stylish mat.
