Best Travel Yoga Mats in 2024

Looking to take your yoga practice on the road with a travel yoga mat?

Luckily, we’re not the only people who want to travel with a yoga mat, so there are several decent options for the nomadic yogis among us.

As usual, I spent way too much time evaluating which travel yoga mat would make my packing list (here’s Anne’s packing list for the ladies). We’ve been traveling nearly full-time for the last 4.5+ years and counting. Without a travel yoga mat, we might have gone insane 😉

What I was looking for in a travel yoga mat?

• Lightweight and packable
• Durable
• Sticky enough
• Foldable (new requirement for me as it saves space)

This guide was designed to make choosing the right yoga mat a breeze! (or at least give you a starting point)

At the end, I will share which mat we chose. However, depending on your specific needs, all of these mats would work great.

Pin me quickly! Then keep reading 🙂

Alright, let’s start with an overview of the travel yoga mat market…

The Yoga Mat Comparison

Alright lets move on to the individual reviews…

Manduka makes great yoga mats, and the eKO SuperLite is no exception. Weighs 2 lbs, only 1/16” (about 1.5mm) thick, which is a very thin yoga mat. It’s very thin and only 68” long, making it a great travel companion. The “orange peel” surface is extremely sticky, even when it gets a little wet. Made from non-Amazon eco-friendly biodegradable tree rubber, which won’t flake or fade. Closed cell design will not absorb bacteria. This mat can be easily folded or rolled to fit into your bag—many colors to choose from.

Manduka – eKO SuperLite Travel mat 68″

2018 update: We love the Manduka travel mat and have used it for several years (and it still works great), but we’ve since retired it. Read on to see what Anne and I are using today.

Manduka eKO Superlite Yoga Mat for Travel - Lightweight, Easy to Roll and Fold, Durable, 1.5mm...

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Potential downside:

• Too sticky? Transitioning from Crescent Lunge to Warrior 2 can cause the mat to bunch up
• Too thin? Very minimal mat here(1/16″). Add a towel for extra support
• Smells like rubber – Not horrible and goes away with time

Gaiam Reversible Travel Yoga Mat

The lightest (1.6lbs) and the cheapest ($23) but also the least capable. One side is a microfiber towel surface, the other a somewhat sticky natural rubber surface. Not recommended to serious yoga students or fans of hot yoga. It can be rolled or folded. Not very durable. We wanted to include this mat because it was the cheapest option 🙂

Gaiam Yoga Mat Premium Print Reversible Extra Thick Non Slip Exercise & Fitness Mat for All Types of...

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Potential downside:

• Too Slippery. Expect to slide around when practicing
• Lacks durability. Hot yoga and regular use will wear it down fast

Jade Travel Yoga Mat

Jade makes excellent yoga mats. Their travel mat scores really high in comfort, durability, and grip… however, it’s on the heavy side (3.5lbs). Roughly double the weight of the others. This is one of the most expensive mats reviewed ($68) and has a high-quality feel to it. The mat cannot be folded, only rolled. Measuring at 1/8” thick it provides better support than the lululemon or the Manduka. Eco friendly and comes in many colors.

Don’t want to bash the Jade yoga travel mat, but it’s a little too big to lug around to your favorite yoga destination. However, it looks like Jade listened to the feedback of the community because they released a more travel-friendly line of mats called the Jade Voyager (which is wonderful).

JadeYoga Travel Yoga Mat - Packable, Lightweight, & Portable Yoga Mat - Non-Slip Natural Rubber Mat...

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Potential downside:

• Too heavy! 3.5lbs is too heavy for a “travel mat.”
• Collects dust. Some say the open-cell design collects dust too easily

2024 Addition: Stakt Folding Yoga Mat

New year, new gear. We’re now rocking the Stakt folding yoga mat. Sometimes, it’s just better to have a rectangular-shaped thing to tuck into a suitcase or duffel bag instead of a round thing.

Plus, this baby does wonders for the ole’ tired traveler’s knees who need a bit more padding, because it is so easy to stack a couple of panels together.

Stakt Folding Yoga Mat

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2023 Addition: Mikkoa Travel Yoga Mat

Looking for something thin and foldable that feels clothlike on top but grippy on the bottom? Check out Mikkoa’s travel mat. It comes in many eye-popping colors and designs, and since it’s made of natural materials, it’s washable. You can fold it down to the size of a hardcover book and easily fit it in your bag.

MIKKOA Travel Yoga Mat 1.5mm | Foldable Yoga Mat | Lightweight Yoga Mat | Use for Travel,...

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2018 Addition: Jade Yoga Voyager Mat

Jade and Manduka are the most popular yoga mats in the world. Unsurprisingly, they both offer solid choices for traveling yoga mats. Comes in four colors, and we love the Olive Green color. This mat is now the lightest yoga mat for travel (1.5 lbs) and has the best value ($39). My favorite part about Jade mats is that they are extremely sticky from the beginning. Although I love Manduka mats, they take time to break in before they reach their full potential. We love to support Jade because they plant a tree for every yoga mat sold!

JadeYoga Voyager Yoga Mat - Lightweight & Portable Rubber Yoga Mat - Non-Slip Exercise Mat for Women...

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After testing out the Jade Voyager, it’s safe to say it’s a contender for the best travel yoga mat 2018 award!

Potential downside:

• Too thin? At 1/16″, it’s a pretty compact mat. More padding than the Manduka

How is the Jade Voyager different from the Jade Travel Mat? The short answer is the Jade Voyager weighs half as much (1.5 lbs as opposed to 3 lbs) and the new Voyager is a foldable yoga mat. Whereas the Jade Traveler mat must be rolled. Here’s a screenshot from Amazon comparing the differences:

YOGO Ultralight Travel Mat

YOGO is the newest mat company on the block but they’ve quickly won us over. The YOGO is our favorite yoga mat for travel! It’s by far the stickiest travel mat on the market. We love how it folds up nicely, which makes traveling a breeze. Although it’s super thin, it still has great support (more than the Manduka). Bonus points for YOGO planting a tree every time one is purchased (just like Jade).

Yogo Ultralight Folding Yoga Mat With Attached Straps, for Travel and Adventure: Premium and...

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Potential downside:

• Too thin? At 1/16″, it’s a pretty compact mat. More padding than the Manduka, though.

Honorable Mention: lululemon Un Mat

lululemon doesn’t only sell yoga apparel – they also dabble in accessories. They created the Un Mat to compete in the portable yoga mat market. The Un Mat is comparable in size to the Manduka… super thin (1/16”) and super lightweight (2lbs). Comes with a different texture on each side, allowing you to choose your preferred grip. It can be rolled or folded. Made with polyurethane and natural rubber.

The (Un) Mat Made With FSC™ Certified Rubber Marble

See Pricing here

Potential downside:

• Not enough padding? 1/16″ may not be enough cushion (same as Manduka)
• Too Expensive? 2nd most expensive mat reviewed

Yoga socks, paws, and wraps… do they work?

I’ve never tried them, nor do I have plans to. Some people swear by these two options…

• Gaiam Grippy Yoga Sock and Glove Set
• Yoga Paws: Mini Yoga Mats for Your Hands and Feet

What do The Yoga Nomads use?

We just started traveling with the YOGO Ultralight Travel Mat and are head over heels with it! It’s by far the stickiest travel mat we reviewed, and love the “origami” folding design. Although it’s super thin, it feels like it has more padding than the Manduka.

We used to travel with the Manduka eKO SuperLite which is an excellent travel mat! It traveled with us for 20+ months with almost daily use, and it held up perfectly, it’s still super sticky, and as always, it’s very packable! Disclaimer: there is one downside: it is very thin, and kneeling for a long time does start to hurt.

Brandon’s personal bias… I LOVE Manduka (and use most of their gear)

• Manduka Prolite 71” for every day use. Check out our review of the Manduka Prolite
• Manduka eQua towel for everyday yoga and as my travel towel (top 5 hot yoga towels)
• Manduka Black Mat PRO 85” for home practice or when I want lots of mat (perfect for guys over 6ft)
• eKO SuperLite 68” – travel yoga mat

Now what?

*Now that you have your travel yoga mat, it’s time to check out the best carry-on sized backpacks for travel.

Cheers!
Brandon

PS: If you want to create a fulfilling yoga career, creating a website you love is crucial. Be sure to capture the Free Beginners Guide: to Creating a Yoga Website you Love

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