Manduka Pro Yoga Mat Review - Read before purchasing

When it comes to durability and stability, few yoga mats can match the Manduka PRO.

I've had the privilege of practicing on mats that have weathered five, ten years of use, and the Manduka Pro maintains its shape and strucutre very well compared to some natural rubber, PVC, Yute and Cork mats.

The Manduka Pro yoga mat is probably the last yoga mat you buy because it's high quality and it comes with a lifetime warranty.

However, if you need a yoga mat that has good grip for sweaty practices and workouts and is light to carry around, the Manduka PRO might not be for you.

IMPERMEABLE SURFACE

Manduka PRO mat is a very high quality yoga mat with a closed surface. This means that no bacteria, sweat or dirt can penetrate the surface of the mat. That's why the PRO mat has a lifetime guarantee.

PADDING

The Manduka Pro yoga mat has two different thicknesses: 6mm and 4mm. I took a 6mm mat so that there is more padding for the knees. This also adds weight to the yoga mat, so you should choose according to whether you want to carry the yoga mat with you to, for example, a yoga studio.

LIFETIME WARRANTY

Manduka's yoga mats have a lifetime guarantee when you order it directly from Manduka's online store. When you order there, you also get 15% off with the code SINIMALISM. You can read more about the lifetime warranty here.

FOR THE EXPERIENCED YOGI

Even the name Manduka PRO indicates that it is not a yoga mat for beginners, and I would not primarily recommend it for beginners.

This is because the mat has a rather slippery surface, compared to, for example, natural rubber mats or Manduka's GRP yoga mat. The yoga mat surface therefore effectively develops the use of bandhas, as the surface is slightly slippery.

SIZE OPTIONS

The Manduka Pro yoga mat is available in a standard length of 180 cm, but also for taller yogis, a mat that is 215 cm is ideal.

The 4.7mm Manduka PRO mat is also available in a long and wide mat, which is absolutely wonderful if you have, for example, your own yoga studio room at home.

DIRT ON THE SURFACE

Because the Manduka Pro yoga mat does not absorb any bacteria, sweat or other dirt particles, at least in my own use, a little visible dirt easily accumulates on the surface. This is easy to clean though even just with a dry cloth.

SURFACE SLIP

I do not recommend the Manduka Pro yoga mat for beginners, because the surface does not have a particularly good grip from the very beginning.

The grip does improve when using the mat, because the surface structure needs to "break" first. Manduka recommends rubbing the mat with salt water as an initial treatment, so that the structure of the impermeable surface is "broken" and the grip is improved.

WEIGHT

If you are looking for a yoga mat that you carry lightly, the Manduka Pro 6mm mat weighs 3.4 kg, so it is not the best option.

The 4.7 mm thick PRO mat weighs 1.9 kg, so it is already a better option.

NOT ECO MATERIAL

Although the Manduka PRO yoga mat is OEKO-TEX®️ certified and zero-waist made to last, it is made of PVC. If you prefer a yoga mat made of eco-materials, I recommend looking at the Manduka Eko yoga mat, which costs €102 and €81 with the SINIMALISM discount code. It is made of natural rubber.

While many yoga mats want to provide a sticky grip, Manduka took a different approach by creating a surface that's intentionally not overly sticky, striking a balance between grip and slide. This makes the Manduka PRO one of our top picks for seamless vinyasa flow, where you move in sync with your breath.

While ultra-grippy mats can be beneficial for beginners or those with sweaty palms, they can sometimes hinder smooth transitions between poses, prompting you to step into positions rather than flow naturally with your breath.

The PRO's textured surface provides just the right amount of grip without excessively locking your hands or feet in place. This texture allows you to feel grounded and connected in poses, such as Bakasana (crow pose), where you need to balance on your hands.

Although some users may find the PRO slightly slippery initially, it breaks in with regular use. Unlike many mats, especially natural rubber, that lose their stickiness over time, the PRO develops a softer, more grippy feel with continued use.

While Manduka recommends a salt treatment to expedite the break-in process, I found that regular practice was sufficient for achieving optimal grip. However, for those who prefer a quicker break-in, applying coarse sea salt and allowing it to sit before wiping it clean may help.

While the PRO provides decent traction when wet, it may not be as slip-resistant as "sticky mats" for those who sweat heavily. Using a microfiber towel can help absorb excess moisture and improve grip. Some yogis indeed like to place a Manduka Yogitoes towel on top of the yoga mat on practices, like hot yoga, where great grip is important. This anti-slip Manduka towel costs € with SINIMALISM discount code.

Additionally, the PRO's less absorbent surface makes it easier to clean and maintain hygiene, as it's less likely to retain odors or moisture.

Personally I like the grip for classes like hatha and vinyasa, but for sweaty sessions like ashtanga, or HIIT workouts I liketo do at home, the yoga mat is too slippery. So with sweaty hands and workouts I use another yoga mat, the Manduka GRP one which has much better grip.

Unlike many other reviews online state this being rather soft yoga mat, I find the surface quite hard and firm especially when using the mat on concrete floor.

However, it is soft in a sense that the PRO surface never abrades the skin when sliding through a transition.

If you are looking for more cushioning, go for the 6mm thickness of the mat. If you really want it soft, I recommend using the Yogitoes towel on top of the mat, which is designed to bring softness and grip.

This way you can make the life-long yoga mat more versatile, as softer yoga mats tends to have shorter lifespan and the surface wears out overtime.