eKO Yoga Mat

This thing will probably put live me.. it is so sturdy. It’s such a great mat. I think the only problem is that it’s so heavy that rolling it up it takes some getting used to, but I love it. It is easy to wash and luckily I picked a dark color because I’ve learned that bright colors on yoga mats stain and the stains never come out.

If you are looking for mushy cushioning, this mat is not for you. But if you want a good, non slip mat that will give you the foundation you need to feel secure in your poses, this is the mat you want.

Good mat purchase. It has the grip I need for Vinyasa, Hatha and Yin Yoga. I have not done any "Hot Yoga" yet. I believe it will have the durability I'm looking for in a Yoga mat. It does have a lingering rubber smell which is not a show stopper for me as it has been decreasing over time. The 5mm gives me the support I need and yes it is heavier but it is not back breaking. I take it in the car when I go to Yoga but can see myself carrying it without any problem while riding a bike. I've been using the Manduka Mat Wash for the break-in period and clean it with a damp cloth and water as well after every use. There is a Mat Review youtube video by Brett Larkin and she found the EKO to have better grip than the pricier PRO even though it has 5mm thickness as well. Amazon sent me the Eko Lite by mistake but promptly corrected the problem.

Good support feels dense and heavy underfoot, sticky so hands and feet don’t slide. Does have a little rubber smell up close but that’s improving daily. Great mat that we have recommended to many people.

This mat is affordable and visually appealing, but it has significant drawbacks. Despite claims of being made from natural materials, it has a persistent rubber smell that doesn’t seem natural, even after two months of use. The odor is especially strong during heated practice and might be bothersome for those sensitive to smells. Additionally, my hands tend to sweat while using it, making it uncomfortable to practice. While it’s non-slip and functional, the lingering smell, questionable material quality, and sweaty feel make it disappointing for anyone seeking a truly natural, odor-free, and comfortable option."

I 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.

I love this mat! At 5mm, it provides the perfect thickness to protect my knees. I like the slight cushion it provides and there is absolutely no slip. Though it's a little on the heavy side, it's not too heavey. It does look a little chalky when it needs cleaning. I love this mat so much, I attempted to purchase a second identical mat to keep at home. I could not find the exact mat, but found a newer version of the same mat. The new mat, though the same model, does not provide the same non-slip level. If you can find this exact mat, I absolutely recommend it!

It's just about a week shy of 4 years since I've purchased this mat, and it's survived, a lot more than I expected. It went with me from indoor yoga studios to outdoor boot camp style workouts in public areas on hot concrete. The reason I'm even writing this review is because I've been noticing threads coming out of the edges of the mat and today just saw that the edges and bottom show some breakdown and was curious when I had bought it. 4 years of abuse, poor storage (using a sling carrier and not worrying about exposing it to direct sunlight), literally tossing it around (nothing figurative about it) and all I have to show is a little breakdown on edges... plus if I remember right, these mats were made to be biodegradable, which was a selling point for me, so maybe a little disintegration is expected? I can't say enough about the eKO mat and the company. BTW, the mat did have an interesting smell to it when I first got it... not that synthetic smell otherwise I probably woulda returned it from the start... it smelled like... maybe cinnamon cookies? Don't know if that's changed with the newer ones over the years but to me, workouts on something that smells like dessert... the only way they could've improved this was to make it smell like coffee, bacon and a hint of maple syrup... but I'm guessing bacon scented mats wouldn't be a big selling point for those that use it strictly for yoga LOL.

The item is narrower than described (61cm v 66cm)

We use this for mat for body conditioning exercises. It has a good grip on the ground and just enough cushion. The mat rolls up and is easily stored next to the rest of our exercise gear. Very very pleased with it's overall performance.

I have been using this mat for yoga, and it is probably one of the best in the market, doesn't slip at all, very nice grip.

Me encanta porque tiene muy buen agarre, su superficie es antiderrapante. De material muy resistente

This is my first Manduka mat and it definitely lives up to the hype. I looked at a lot, and I mean A LOT, of yoga mats before deciding to invest in this one. It's a little more expensive but it seems like it'll last longer than the previous Gaiam mats I've had. It has a different feel and texture than what I'm used to but I like it. There's really great grip and it's comfortable on the knees. The only complaint I have is that the product photos make it out to look like it's more of a 'wildberry' colour and this is not quite the case. I posted some photos that I edited to match the in-person colour the best I can and I think it's a pretty close representation. A little disappointed the colour wasn't quite the same but it's still nice and overall I'm happy with it so it's a keeper.