Mats for fitness and yoga. How to choose a fitness mat?

The modern field of fitness provides many different types of physical activity to suit every taste. Yoga is popular, especially among women. In addition to physical exercises aimed at developing flexibility, stability and static loads, this gymnastics is also distinguished by a philosophy that came from India. Of course, yoga can be practiced only as physical exercise, without immersion in another culture. For fitness classes, certain sports equipment is also necessary. KP has compiled the top 10 best yoga mats in 2022, which will help you navigate your choice.

Editor's Choice

Indigo IN106 (from 1590 rubles)

Indigo IN106.
Photo: yandex.market.ru The Indigo IN106 mat is made of thermoplastic elastomer. It gives this yoga equipment such useful qualities for training as elasticity, antibacterial, and resistance to heat from sunlight. Retains its shape well in hot and cold conditions. Sweat-resistant, eliminating the risk of slipping during exercise. Add a stylish appearance to your strengths. The mat is soft and pleasant to the touch; doing exercises on it is very comfortable. Does not have an unpleasant odor. It is better not to exercise in sneakers, as marks may remain. It has a rectangular shape. Dimensions of the rug: length - 173 cm, width - 61 cm, thickness - 0.5 cm.

Advantages and disadvantages

Soft, pleasant to the touch

There are no elastic bands to secure it when folded - it will be inconvenient to store and carry it

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KETTLER 7351-120 (from 4990 rubles)

KETTLER 7351-120. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Folding mat KETTLER 7351-120 is an ideal option for those who like to travel and play sports. Suitable for stretching, Pilates, yoga, and classic strength exercises with your own weight. Strengths: Provides good stability when performing exercises regardless of the floor surface. When folded, it can be used as a block or a balancing platform. The ability to fold greatly simplifies the transportation and storage of this equipment. What is important is that there are no creases or deformations when folding. When unfolded, it takes the shape of a rectangle 180 cm long, 60 cm wide and 0.6 cm thick.

Advantages and disadvantages

Excellent combination of softness and elasticity. folds compactly

When used on tiles, the lower part becomes electrified

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Lite Weights 5410LW/5420LW (from 956 rubles)

Lite Weights 5410LW/5420LW. Photo: yandex.market.ru

The Lite Weights 5410LW/5420LW double-sided mat is made of modern NBR material (acrylic nitrile butadiene rubber) in the shape of a rectangle. This material allows it to be both soft and strong enough to withstand mechanical loads well. Designed for fitness training, aerobics, yoga. Has good grip on the body, reducing the risk of slipping during exercise. Easy to wash, store, roll up. For this purpose, the kit includes a special elastic band. The length of the mat is 180 cm, that is, it will suit a person of fairly tall height, the width is 60 cm, which is quite standard. It is 1 cm thick. This is quite a lot. The rug weighs a little less than a kilo - 0.85 kg.

Advantages and disadvantages

Thick, elastic band included

Rubber smell upon first use

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Partners

Using the links below you can order rugs from trusted stores. And with a promotional code, your purchase will cost you 10-20% less:

• 20% discount
  on yoga products from the Yoga Club brand using promo code kiselevavru
• Brand https://egoyoga.ru with beautiful children's rugs
• 10% discount
  from the Russian manufacturer yogamatic when you enter the promotional code kiselevavru
• 10% discount
  in the Yogin store or 4yoga.ru using promo code kiselev (discount cannot be combined).

What other yoga mats are worth paying attention to?

Devi Yoga Fruits with markings (from 1990 rubles)

Devi Yoga Fruits with markings. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Devi Yoga Fruits come in different colors. Made for yoga from a thermoplastic elastomer material that gives the mat good durability. Suitable for both beginners and professionals and has special markings for greater convenience when performing asanas. It is made in a standard rectangular shape with dimensions of 183 * 61 * 0.5 cm. That is, the rug, not small, has a good thickness, which will provide softness on one side and normal stability on the other. The kit includes a special tie for fixing it when folded.

Advantages and disadvantages

Price, thickness

Scratches quickly

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Larsen PVC multicolor red black (from 549 rubles)

Larsen PVC multicolor red black. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Larsen PVC is a fairly budget option for a yoga mat of normal quality. This mat is well suited for beginners who are just starting to try themselves in various fitness areas and are looking for their own. Suitable for yoga, stretching, Pilates, calisthenics and other exercises with your body. The material from which the mat is made is PVC, which is of fairly high quality. As for its shape, everything is standard here - rectangular. The dimensions are as follows: length - 173 cm, width - 61 cm, thickness 0.5 cm. Mat weight - 0.9 kg. Also worth noting is the cool color and design. They give the rug a certain charm.

Advantages and disadvantages

Good thickness, soft

Chemical smell when starting to use

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Adidas ADYG-10100 (from 2088 rubles)

Adidas ADYG-10100. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Adidas ADYG-10100 yoga and fitness mat from a global sportswear brand. In addition to yoga and fitness, it is quite suitable as a mat for training with your body on the floor. The rug's fairly large thickness of 0.8 cm gives it good elasticity, softness and shock absorption. It is especially recommended when practicing poses with an increased sense of balance. It has a pleasant design. Good wear resistance, but slightly reduced stickiness. Possible slipping, especially with wet limbs. It has a standard rectangular shape, length 176 cm and width 61 cm.

Advantages and disadvantages

Soft, pleasant appearance

Not the highest “stickiness” during training

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TORRES Comfort 6 (from 1099 rubles)

TORRES Comfort 6. Photo: yandex.market.ru

The TORRES Comfort 6 double-sided mat is made of polyvinyl chloride material, which is very popular when creating such sports equipment. It is characterized by a standard rectangular shape, good shock absorption and wear resistance. This rug is reinforced with longitudinal and transverse synthetic threads to avoid stretching and increase its strength. A good option for various types of fitness, in which the emphasis is on exercises with your body on the floor. Suitable for yoga too. The soft, velvety surface is very pleasant to the touch. Caring for it does not require any complex procedures. Length - 173 cm, width - 61 cm, thickness 0.6 cm, and weight 0.95 kg.

Advantages and disadvantages

Good cushioning, non-slip

Sneakers leave distinct marks

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Penolon 102D82 (from 529 rubles)

Penolon 102D82. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Penolon 102D82 is another budget option for a yoga mat. At a low price, it is worth noting good quality. It is convenient to perform asanas and other exercises on it. The material from which the mat is made is polyethylene foam. It is characterized by high density, providing comfort during training. A good option in terms of price-quality ratio. Standard rectangular shape. The dimensions are as follows: length - 180 cm, width - 60 cm, thickness - 0.8 cm.

Advantages and disadvantages

Price quality

Wet hands slip

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BRADEX SF 0402/SF 0403 (from 1818 rubles)

BRADEX SF 0402/SF 0403. Photo: yandex.market.ru

The rectangular mat BRADEX SF 0402/SF 0403 is made of thermoplastic elastomer, which provides such qualities as good grip on the floor and on the athlete’s body, softness, excellent wear resistance, and shock absorption. It guarantees comfort during various exercises performed on the floor. Pleasant to the touch, nice appearance. A good indicator of friction - the mat does not slip. It's nice that it doesn't curl. Regarding the characteristics - 183 * 61 * 0.6 cm. The weight of this product is 0.94 kg.

Advantages and disadvantages

Soft, good friction, thickness

No screed

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Starfit FM-301 (from 929 rubles)

Starfit FM-301. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Starfit FM-301 is a rectangular yoga mat that has high density and at the same time good softness. The material from which it is made is NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber). In addition to yoga, it is suitable for stretching, good old gymnastics with your own body weight and other similar exercises. It has very good stickiness - that is, high friction, which means a minimum of slipping during exercise. Let us also note the pleasant appearance of the rug. It is better to practice without shoes, or shoes with soft soles, to avoid mechanical damage to the mat. The length is 183 cm, good for men. The width is slightly smaller than the standard 58 cm. The thickness is sufficiently large - 1 cm.

Advantages and disadvantages

Price-quality, soft

Sensitive to mechanical stress

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Requirements for sports mats

GOST regulates the safety requirements for sports mats used in gyms of educational institutions, sections, schools, etc. It contains standards for types 1–8, for other types (9–12, intended for professional sports competitions at the international level) these requirements do not apply.

The standard contains the following concepts and their definitions:

• Shock absorption characteristics - the ability of an object to reduce shock loads.
• Elasticity is the ability of a material to return mechanical energy after an impact.
• The top side is the surface with which the exercising person comes into contact.
• The bottom side is the surface that comes into contact with the floor during operation.

According to GOST, there is the following classification of sports mats:

Any sports equipment must strictly comply with these requirements. At the final stage of production, each product is marked. Its bottom surface contains information:

• Type.
• Current GOST.
• Manufacturer information.
• Date of manufacture.

How to choose a yoga mat

These are the top ten best yoga mats. And Yanina Molchanova, who has been practicing yoga for several years, will give useful recommendations that will help when choosing this equipment.

Any yoga mat must meet the following parameters:

• hygiene and ecology,
• symmetry,
• friction,
• elasticity,
• suitable dimensions.

Hygiene and ecology

The physical, organoleptic properties, as well as the impact on health, directly depend on the material of manufacture. The smell from a cheap PVC mat can discourage a productive workout. Certain materials may cause an allergic reaction in exercisers. In general, a better decision is to choose well-known brands that are responsible for the quality of their products. The same PVC mat from Germany is much more environmentally friendly than cheap rubber from Aliexpress. Regarding materials of manufacture, the following classification is appropriate here:

• EVA (EVA). A simple and inexpensive option. The material is a modern polymer ethylene vinyl acetate. They are lightweight, hypoallergenic, and easy to carry. However, they wear out quickly. A characteristic feature is low friction, which causes some inconvenience during training - you can slide.
• PVC. Polyvinyl chloride is a very common material for making rugs. Compared to EVA, it is more durable and wear-resistant. Modern PVC mats are resilient, soft and dense. Anti-slip qualities entirely depend on the manufacturer and the technique he uses. It is better to give preference to European manufacturers, especially Germany.
• TPE. Thermoplastic elastomer mats are among the more professional options. The material gives the rug a number of advantages - elasticity, softness, pleasant to the touch, antibacterial. They do not fade in the sun. A very good option for training, as it has high anti-slip properties. The downside is that in the presence of moisture, the level of slipping increases significantly.
• Rubber. One of the best options for yoga. An excellent choice for both professionals and confident amateurs. Pros - high grip on the body, slipping is excluded, even with wet feet and hands. Natural, pleasant to the touch, environmentally friendly. The weakness of this material is its high cost and not so high durability.
• Cork. The top layer of the mat is made from this material, and the bottom component can be made of rubber, TPE or PVC. Such mats do not have a reinforcing mesh; its role is played by the cork layer itself. It is comfortable to perform asanas on a cork mat. Another advantage of these mats is the ease of applying the pattern. A fairly wear-resistant mat that is not afraid of creases. Easy to repair with wood glue. The mat is cleaned manually.
• Polyurethane (PU). Polyurethane rugs appeared not so long ago, but have already gained considerable popularity. This has an obvious explanation - hygiene, durability, excellent grip, bright design. Able to hold wet limbs well, in a dry state there is a very high friction index. From experience, I can note that some printed PU rugs can slip. Therefore, it is better to test them before purchasing. There are rugs with poor quality polyurethane. Usually, they are distinguished by their low price and are not durable.
• PER (Polymer Environmental Resin). A modern material similar to PVC, but with greater concern for the environment. It is distinguished by the complete absence of toxins, heavy metals and other harmful impurities. There is almost no smell. Characteristic features are elasticity and good friction. Can be combined with jute reinforcement.
• Microfiber. Microfiber yoga mats are designed for the application of bright, eye-catching color patterns. It looks very impressive, but unfortunately, it has a high level of slipping. Dry friction is minimal on such a mat, which gives increased load when performing asanas with emphasis. When the limbs are sweaty, the level of friction increases, therefore, training should be of good intensity.
• Jute. This material has high wear resistance. Typically, a reinforcing mesh is made from jute, which is soldered into the mat, which gives it high strength and an unusual appearance.
• Cotton. The material is traditional for yoga classes. Before modern times, most practiced on ordinary cotton mats. Such a rug must be thick. The threads should be large. Cotton thread is quite coarse, and quite unpleasant sensations may arise.

Symmetry

The ideal shape for a rug is rectangular. It's also great to have markings on the mat, especially for beginners. There are rugs with beveled edges. On such a mat, due to inexperience, it is inconvenient to maintain the symmetry of asanas.

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Friction

If the mat has low friction, then when performing asanas, you will slide quite a lot. This is quite traumatic, especially if the training is high intensity. The stickiest mats are made from rubber. But there is a downside to the coin - the better the friction, the faster the mat wears out.

Elasticity

The overwhelming majority of rugs are reinforced, that is, they have a mesh-like frame inside and a textile core. This technology increases the rug’s strength, durability and prevents it from stretching out. It happens that reinforcement performs functions in one direction. For example, a rug is not deformed along its length, but is very vulnerable across. It's worth checking before purchasing.

Suitable dimensions

If your training is dominated by static practices, then the length of the mat should be equal to your height, plus or minus 5 cm. If there is a greater emphasis on intense dynamics, then it is better to take a length reserve of 20-20 cm. The standard width for the mat is 60 cm. As a rule, this is quite enough. But for people with a large build, there are mats with a width of 80 cm. The thinner the mat, the more comfortable and compact it is. However, with a smaller thickness, the rigidity is higher. In my opinion, the optimal thickness is 4.5-6 mm. Rugs with a higher thickness are characterized by worse stability. When traveling, mats with a thickness of about 3 mm are more suitable.

Care Tips

Yoga mats are treated with a special compound to prevent sticking during transportation and storage. Therefore, the new rug needs to be washed in a machine, without using powder. When the mat becomes dirty, it is necessary to wash it, which will improve its “stickiness”. Storage should be done rolled up. The rug must be rolled up with the bottom side inward. This will eliminate any upward folding on the edges. Folding the rug is not the best solution, as furrows form over time. These areas are where the rug is especially susceptible to wear and tear.