Walk into any Decathlon and you’ll see yoga mats stacked ten high for £14.99. They look identical — same rolled-up shape, same bright colours, some say “eco-friendly” on the packaging. Then you pay £55 for a Manduka on Amazon and wonder if you’ve been had. After five weekly classes at a converted church hall studio in Oxford and testing six different mats over four months on those wooden floors, the difference is real — and it’s mostly about grip, not thickness.
The best yoga mat for most UK practitioners is the Liforme Original Yoga Mat at £100. It’s expensive. It’s also the mat that actually sticks to sweaty palms during a sun salutation without needing a towel underneath. If £100 is out of reach, the Lululemon The Mat 5mm at £78 is the best mid-range alternative, and the Yogi Bare Paws at £48 is the right call if you want British-made without breaking the bank. Don’t buy the £15 Decathlon mat if you plan to practise more than once a fortnight.
In This Article
- Why Grip Is the Single Most Important Thing
- Thickness and Materials Explained
- Best Overall: Liforme Original
- Best Mid-Range: Lululemon The Mat 5mm
- Best British: Yogi Bare Paws
- Best Budget: Decathlon Kimjaly Grip+ 5mm
- Best Travel: Manduka eKO SuperLite
- Best Thick: Gaiam Premium 6mm
- Best for Hot Yoga: Jade Harmony
- Mat Care and Lifespan
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Grip Is the Single Most Important Thing
Most yoga mat buying guides lead with thickness. They’re wrong. Thickness matters for joint comfort, but grip matters for every single pose you’ll ever do.
Bad grip is the thing that sends your hands sliding forward in downward dog and your feet scrabbling in warrior two. It’s the reason cheap mats feel “slippery when hot” — the PVC surface has low friction coefficient when combined with sweat. You end up either practising defensively (never fully extending into poses) or laying a towel on top, which defeats the whole point of having a mat.
Grip comes from three things:
- Surface texture. Natural rubber, cork, and jute have high friction even when wet. PVC and cheap TPE do not.
- Open-cell construction. Mats that absorb a bit of moisture grip better when sweaty. Closed-cell PVC mats get slicker as you sweat.
- Surface pattern. Laser-etched or pressed grip patterns (Liforme’s alignment marks, Manduka’s dot grip) help prevent microscale slipping.
The hierarchy, from my testing, runs roughly: Natural rubber with pattern > natural rubber plain > cork > polyurethane top layer > TPE > PVC. If you sweat at all in your practice, you want something from the first three categories.
The Sweaty Palm Test
Here’s how I tested grip on each mat: I sprayed five drops of water on the surface with a plant mister (roughly simulating a bead of sweat), then placed my palm on it and tried to slide. If my palm slid easily, it’s a bad grip. If it gripped despite the moisture, it’s a good grip.
Results (ranked best to worst): Liforme > Jade Harmony > Yogi Bare Paws > Lululemon > Manduka eKO > Gaiam Premium > Decathlon Kimjaly Grip+ > generic Amazon £12 mat (basically a slip-n-slide with water).
Thickness and Materials Explained
Once you’ve got grip sorted, thickness is the next consideration — but it matters less than most guides suggest.
Thickness Guide
- 3mm — travel mats, advanced practice where you want maximum floor feedback for balance
- 4-5mm — the sweet spot for most practices. Good joint cushioning without losing stability.
- 6mm+ — for anyone with knee, wrist, or hip issues. Also for restorative yoga where you’re on the floor a lot. The NHS guide to yoga notes that beginners with joint problems often do better on thicker mats or blocks for support.
- 8mm+ — really a workout/pilates mat, not a yoga mat. Too cushy for balance poses.
Most yoga teachers practise on 4-5mm mats. If you’re unsure, start there. The British Wheel of Yoga — the UK’s main yoga governing body — recommends mats in that thickness range for most class styles.
Materials Compared
Natural rubber (Liforme, Yogi Bare, Jade) — best grip, responsible sourcing possible, heavier, latex allergies possible. My pick for 90% of practitioners.
TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) (most mid-range mats) — lightweight, decent grip when dry, no latex. A compromise material, not excellent at anything.
PVC (traditional Gaiam, Amazon budget) — durable, cheap, but environmentally awful to produce and dispose of. Low grip when sweaty. Fine for beginners trying yoga on their bedroom floor, not for serious practice.
Cork (Yogi Bare EARTH, Gurus) — grippy when wet, naturally antimicrobial, heavier and less forgiving than rubber. Great for hot yoga.
Polyurethane top layer over rubber base (Liforme, high-end Lululemon) — the current gold standard. PU top grips aggressively when sweaty; rubber base gives cushion.
Weight and Portability
If you’re carrying your mat to a studio, weight matters more than you’d think. A 3kg premium mat across your shoulder on the Northern Line feels like a brick after the third stop. Realistic weights by category:
- Lightweight travel (1-2kg): Manduka eKO SuperLite, Lululemon Reversible 3mm
- Standard studio (2-2.5kg): Liforme, Lululemon 5mm, Yogi Bare
- Home/heavy duty (3-3.5kg): Manduka Pro, Jade Harmony, Gaiam Premium
Best Overall: Liforme Original
Price: £100-£120 | Thickness: 4.2mm | Weight: 2.5kg | Material: PU top, natural rubber base
I resisted buying a Liforme for years. £100 for a yoga mat seemed absurd. Three weeks into owning one, I understood the cult.
The grip is the selling point. Polyurethane top layer has the highest friction coefficient of any mat I’ve tested, wet or dry. Sweaty palms from a heated vinyasa class really don’t slip. You stop thinking about your mat and start thinking about your practice, which is the whole point.
What Makes It Worth £100
- Alignment markers etched into the surface — subtle, not distracting, but properly useful for getting your feet positioned correctly in warrior sequences
- Natural rubber base from sustainably sourced non-Amazon-basin sources
- Biodegradable — breaks down in landfill in 1-5 years rather than centuries
- Made in Germany with proper quality control
- Width is 68cm rather than the standard 61cm — makes a meaningful difference if you’re over 5’8″
- 10-year warranty against manufacturing defects
The Downsides (There Are Some)
- Expensive to replace — at £100 every 3-4 years (real lifespan, not advertised), this is a long-term commitment
- Requires break-in — first 2-3 weeks you might find it almost too grippy, especially on feet
- Can’t be machine washed — hand wipe with mild soap only
- Heavier than a TPE mat at 2.5kg — less ideal for commuting by bike
- PU top layer can mark if you drag heavy furniture across it accidentally (my cat claws left scratches)
Where to Buy
Direct from liforme.com (they ship from UK warehouse, often with student/NHS discount). Also at John Lewis, Sweaty Betty, and some independent yoga studios. Avoid Amazon third-party sellers — Liforme has had issues with counterfeit mats on Amazon Marketplace; buy only from “Sold and dispatched by Amazon” listings or go direct.
Best Mid-Range: Lululemon The Mat 5mm
Price: £78 | Thickness: 5mm | Weight: 2.4kg | Material: PU top, natural rubber base
The Lululemon is essentially a lighter-grip Liforme at 78% of the price. The construction is almost identical — polyurethane top over natural rubber base. The PU top isn’t quite as grippy as Liforme’s, but it’s still miles better than anything under £50.
Trade-offs vs Liforme
Grip: good, not great. Sweaty-palm test came back as 85% as good as Liforme — you’ll slip occasionally in deep vinyasa flows but not constantly like on cheap mats.
Durability: similar. My Lululemon is two years old and looks nearly new. The PU top layer is identical to Liforme’s in longevity.
Width: standard 66cm rather than Liforme’s 68cm — fine for most people, slightly tight if you’re broad-shouldered.
No alignment markers: the Lululemon is plain. Some people prefer this for a cleaner aesthetic.
Where Lululemon wins: it’s £22 less. That’s enough to buy decent yoga leggings or a block set. If you’re starting out and don’t want to drop £100 on a mat that might sit in a cupboard, start here.
Where to Buy
Lululemon UK stores (Covent Garden, Kings Road, Manchester) or lululemon.co.uk. Rarely discounted — they run a “We Made Too Much” section occasionally with last season’s colours at 30% off. Never on Amazon.
Best British: Yogi Bare Paws
Price: £48 | Thickness: 4mm | Weight: 2.4kg | Material: Natural rubber with polyurethane top
Yogi Bare is the British yoga brand making proper premium mats at mid-range prices. The Paws 4mm is their flagship and it punches well above its £48 price tag. Very similar construction to Liforme and Lululemon but £30-£50 cheaper because they don’t have the same marketing spend.
I’ve had one for 18 months and it’s held up perfectly through home practice and 30+ studio classes. Grip is about 90% of Liforme quality — you’d notice the difference in a heated Bikram class but not in standard vinyasa or hatha.
Why I’d Recommend This Over Cheaper Options
- British company, based in West Sussex — supporting UK indie businesses
- Their “Take Back” recycling scheme takes your worn-out mat and turns it into new ones
- Proper natural rubber base, not TPE
- Comes with a lifetime care guide and you can actually get hold of customer service
Honest Downsides
- Grip isn’t Liforme-level for heavy hot yoga practice
- Colours run slightly lighter than images online (the green is more olive, the pink more salmon)
- Ships in recyclable packaging but shipping costs extra if under £60 order
Best Budget: Decathlon Kimjaly Grip+ 5mm
Price: £24.99 | Thickness: 5mm | Material: Natural rubber
If £48 is out of reach, the Decathlon Kimjaly Grip+ is the best sub-£30 mat I’ve tried. Natural rubber (rare at this price), 5mm thickness, and grip that’s perfectly acceptable for non-hot yoga practice.
The compromise is the finish. The top surface is textured rubber rather than polyurethane-coated, which means two things: (1) grip is decent when dry, borderline when sweaty, and (2) the texture can feel slightly rough on bare knees after 20 minutes of floor work.
For beginners who aren’t sure they’ll stick with yoga, this is the right starter mat. Upgrade to Yogi Bare or Lululemon once you’re practising 3+ times a week and finding yourself frustrated by grip.
Best Travel: Manduka eKO SuperLite
Price: £39 | Thickness: 1.5mm | Weight: 1.1kg | Material: Natural rubber
The eKO SuperLite folds (yes, folds — not rolls) into a tiny rectangle that fits in a gym bag or suitcase. 1.5mm is basically the thickness of a notebook, which sounds terrible but works fine when you’re using it as a grippy layer over a carpeted hotel room floor.
This is a supplementary mat for anyone who already owns a proper home/studio mat. Don’t use it as your primary — 1.5mm gives zero joint protection on a hardwood floor. But for holidays, gym floor practice, or emergencies when you’ve forgotten your main mat, it’s brilliant.
Best Thick: Gaiam Premium 6mm
Price: £35-£45 | Thickness: 6mm | Weight: 2.3kg | Material: PVC
Gaiam is the brand you’ll see in any UK yoga class being held by someone who’s been practising for exactly one year. It’s a fine mat. It’s not a great mat. It’s the default that most newcomers buy on Amazon.
6mm gives proper joint cushioning — if you have dodgy knees or wrists, this is an acceptable option. Grip is mediocre but consistent. Durability is good; my first yoga mat was a Gaiam that lasted four years of occasional use.
Why not my pick: PVC is environmentally nasty. It doesn’t biodegrade, it off-gasses slightly (you’ll smell it for the first two weeks), and production is polluting. If you can afford £15 more for Yogi Bare’s natural rubber mat, do it.
Best for Hot Yoga: Jade Harmony
Price: £70 | Thickness: 4.7mm | Weight: 2.2kg | Material: Open-cell natural rubber
Jade mats are the go-to for hot yoga and Bikram practitioners. The open-cell natural rubber absorbs sweat rather than letting it pool on top, and the grip actually IMPROVES as you sweat — the more moisture, the grippier. Wild.
The compromise is absorbency goes both ways. If you spill water, your Jade takes longer to dry than a Liforme. It also needs more frequent cleaning because it can harbour bacteria if not dried thoroughly. Jade recommends wiping with diluted vinegar spray after every use.
They also plant a tree for every mat sold via their partnership with Trees for the Future. Not the main reason to buy one, but a nice side benefit.
Mat Care and Lifespan
A good mat lasts 3-5 years with proper care. A neglected mat can degrade in 6 months.
Cleaning
- After every use: Wipe with a damp cloth (water only)
- Weekly: Spray with diluted tea tree oil or a proper mat cleaner (Manduka, Yogi Bare both sell them)
- Never: Machine wash, hot water, bleach, or alcohol-based cleaners — these strip the grip layer fast
Storage
Roll the mat with the practise side facing out. This prevents the edges curling up which is annoying when you unroll for class. Store in a dry, cool place — not a boot of a hot car, not a damp garage.
When to Replace
Signs your mat is past it:
- Flaking or peeling on the top surface
- Permanent compression marks where you stood most often
- Smell that doesn’t come out with cleaning
- Grip noticeably worse even after a deep clean
- Cracking along fold lines
For more detail on building a complete home yoga setup including blocks, straps, and bolsters, see our guide to choosing the right yoga and recovery equipment. And if you’re new to yoga entirely, our rundown of essential beginner yoga poses pairs well with any decent mat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How thick should a yoga mat be? 4-5mm is right for most people. Thinner (3mm) gives better floor feedback for balance poses but less joint cushion. Thicker (6mm+) helps with dodgy knees and wrists but makes balance poses harder. Start at 5mm unless you have specific joint issues.
Are expensive yoga mats worth it? For weekly practitioners, yes. The grip and longevity difference between a £15 mat and a £50 mat is huge; between £50 and £100 is more subtle. If you practise under twice a month, a £25-£35 mat is probably the right choice.
What’s the difference between a yoga mat and a pilates mat? Pilates mats are thicker (8-10mm) because pilates involves more back-on-the-floor work without weight-bearing balance poses. Yoga mats are thinner because balance matters more. Don’t try to use a pilates mat for yoga — you’ll wobble through every standing pose.
Do I need a yoga towel as well? For hot yoga (sweat-heavy practices), yes — even the best mats benefit from a microfibre towel. For standard hatha, vinyasa, or restorative yoga, a good mat alone is fine. Yogi Bare’s Hot Towel is purpose-made for this.
Are cork yoga mats better than rubber? Neither is better, both are grippy alternatives to PVC. Cork is slightly cooler to touch, naturally antimicrobial, but heavier. Rubber is more cushioned and longer-lasting. Choose based on whether you prefer cool feel (cork) or spring and bounce (rubber).
Can I machine wash my yoga mat? No — never. Machine washing destroys the grip layer and can warp the mat. Wipe clean with a damp cloth for daily care, and use a dedicated mat spray or diluted tea tree oil for weekly cleans. Leave to air dry flat, never in direct sunlight which degrades natural rubber.