Soak up the benefits of Nature and Yoga with these 8 Best Outdoor Yoga Mats

Do you want to salute the sun from a mountaintop? Or kiss the earth in the depths of the forest? Heighten your practice with an outdoor yoga mat so you can take your asanas on an adventure!

You might be wondering why you need a separate yoga mat for outdoor yoga sessions, and although it’s not completely necessary, it is 100% worth it. Outdoor yoga mats are built to sustain tougher grounds, resist rips and tears and be more hygienic with easy-to-clean surfaces.

There is a great debate about which is the best yoga mat for outdoors and that will come down to personal preference. That is why we have chosen a few yoga mats from a range of brands and got the latest info from a number of yoga instructors to help you find the right yoga mat for you! Get ready to roll out your new yoga mat and head outside for your practice.

What are the benefits of doing yoga outdoors?

Taking your yoga practice outdoors allows for the following benefits:

Scenic yoga spots Fresh air in your lungs Fewer distractions than being in a city or yoga studio More space to move and flow at your own tempo Your music can be the sound of the birds You can soak up the negative ions and the benefits of Forest Bathing Get grounded quicker Be at one with the elements

Why do I need an outdoor yoga mat?

An outdoor yoga mat is generally more durable compared to most yoga mats. If you want to get outside and practice on dirt, rocks, wet grass, or other uneven surfaces, you want to make sure that your yoga mat will last for a few outings!

An outdoor yoga mat will also be designated for the outdoors compared to your standard yoga mat indoors. This will help to keep any remnants of outdoor use outside and a clean studio or home practice space inside. This will create a long-lasting yoga mat in both instances so that you can practice yoga poses for many years to come.

What to look for in an outdoor yoga mat?

When you practice yoga outside you want to find a yoga mat that is:

Thick for tough surfaces Flexible and durable mat material Made of eco-friendly materials (no microplastics or toxins in the environment!) Close-celled to prevent dirt and microbes from getting in (and easy to keep your mat clean) Easily washable to wipe off dirt and dust Free from PVC mat

To make the research easier for you, we have put together a list of the 8 best outdoor yoga mats that will stand the test of the great outdoors:

Our Top Picks – A quick overview:

The best yoga mat if you are on a budget: Gaiam Essential Support Mat Best yoga mat for travel: Manduka Eko Lite Mat If you like to fold rather than roll your yoga mats: Gaiam Travel Yoga Mat (foldable) Most durable yoga mat from the Lulu Range: The Reversible Mat Fancy Cork?: Body By Yoga Cork Mat All Natural: Dharba Grass Mat by Jade Yoga Classic yoga mat for indoors and outdoors: Jade Harmony Mat Funky and fresh yoga mats to make your practice stand out: Liforme mats

Top budget choice: Gaiam essential support mat

The Gaiam Essential Support yoga mats are both lightweight and thick, making them a great choice of mat to provide additional cushioning for your joints anywhere you go. With 5 mm of thickness and a sticky mat surface, you’ll be able to practice yoga with ease.

The best thing about this mat is the price point. From less than $30 you can get your hands on one of these yoga mats and due to the cheap price, you won’t be afraid to get it a little dirty.

The Gaiam mat is non-toxic and a healthier choice for you and the planet. For best results unroll and air out your mat for two to three days before using it as a harmless odor may be present when unwrapped.

As one of the most inexpensive mats, you can even purchase one for indoors and one for outdoor yoga.

Most portable yoga mat for outdoor adventures: Gaiam foldable travel mat

Another choice from the Gaiam selection is their foldable travel mat. Rather than rolling, this mat folds up to make a compact travel companion. Again less than $30, this travel mat will give you value for money and save you spending on hiring a mat at each yoga studio you visit along your journey.

To make it lightweight, this mat is only 2 mm in thickness, making it a little less comfy than a standard mat of 5 to 6 mm. But, if used on grass, sand, or a soft mossy surface, you will still be able to enjoy your yoga session.

Best Eco-friendly choice: Jade Grass Yoga Mat

If you are going to get outdoors, you want to make sure that your yoga mat is made of natural material. This ensures that any wear and tear will also be naturally biodegradable and not cause any damage to the local surroundings.

As yogis, the philosophy of Ahimsa (one of the Yamas) is also about doing no harm. No harm to yourself, others, and the environment!

This Jade Grass Yoga mat is made completely of natural materials. In fact, unlike most other yoga mats on the market, this one is uniquely made of Handwoven Dharba grass and cotton. Dharba grass is a tropical grass that grows in India and is considered sacred. Practicing restorative yoga on this mat will transport you to a natural state of meditation with its earthy grass feel and scent.

The great thing about this outdoor yoga mat is that it is handwoven by rural artisans in India, preserving a tradition and art form and providing a livelihood for weavers. Plus, with each Dharba Grass meditation mat purchased, Jade will provide a week of hot lunches for a child in India. 

The Favourite for Indoors and Outdoors (And extra grip!): Jade Harmony Mat

The Jade Harmony Mat is a 100% natural rubber mat which not only means it will have a funky rubber smell to it for the first few uses… but! It will also be completely biodegradable and made of eco-friendly materials. As far as a rubber yoga mat goes, the harmony mat by Jade is one of the grippiest without the need for a break-in period.

If you’re heading outdoors, your harmony mat will work well on soft ground or stable surfaces for outdoor use. It is a standard mat size and chosen as the perfect yoga mat by many yoga instructors.

Also suitable for hot yoga practices, this natural rubber layer absorbs moisture and keeps you dry in all humid conditions. As it is made from one material it can also be used as a reversible mat on both sides. This Jade Harmony Mat rolls up to a reasonable size to accompany you on your hiking or travel adventures.

Best from the Lululemon mat range: The Reversible yoga mat

Of all the lululemon mats, the lululemon reversible mat is one of the best yoga mats for the great outdoors. It is the best yoga mat choice for both outdoor use and indoors too. Recommended by a hot yoga instructor for its grip despite sweaty conditions, and easy to wipe down with a microfiber towel after class, there is no need to use a yoga towel with the Lululemon mats.

One of the big challenges is that this yoga mat is a little heavier than the other mats recommended here, so the reversible yoga mat would be one to use locally in nature, for example, in your backyard or local park. You don’t want to be lugging this lululemon reversible mat from the yoga center to the middle of the wilderness. Due to its weight, it is made from durable and high-quality yoga mat materials.

With 5 mm in thickness, it will give ultimate cushioning for any floor poses and also provide support from hard surfaces when it’s in outdoor use. The textured grip keeps your hands and feet in place making it one of the best rubber mats on the market.

The lululemon reversible mat also boasts a polyurethane top layer that absorbs moisture to help you get a grip during sweaty practices and outdoor workouts for good wet traction.

Best from Manduka Yoga: Manduka Eko Lite

Well known for the ‘Manduka Pro yoga mat’, Manduka has stepped up its portability game by creating a travel mat. Meet the EKO® Superlite Yoga Travel Mat. At 1.5 mm thick, it provides ultimate portability. The surface texture offers superior grip, even with light perspiration and the tightly woven scrim resists tearing or stretching. This makes it a great choice for taking on your next hike as you won’t need to worry about getting a tear on a sharp rock.

Compared to the Manduka Pro Yoga Mat, which is heavy in weight, the Eko Lite version is one of the best yoga mats for hiking, traveling, and carrying over long distances due to its ultra-lightweight quality. It is also the best mat for seasoned yogis who don’t need much cushioning under their bodies but rather just extra grip.

Self-proclaimed by Manduka, the eKO® series is the most durable natural rubber mat on the market and it contains a proprietary surface texture that lasts twice as long as the competition.

Another bonus of this mat is the closed-cell surface that was designed to prevent sweat from seeping into the mat, but also means that it is easy to clean off dirt and dust from being outdoors!

Without polymer environmental resin, it is purely made from natural rubber from sustainably harvested rubber trees. Made with natural rubber, this means that this yoga mat is also eco-friendly for the environment and also for your deep breaths.

Fun Fact: Natural rubber is a renewable resource and is harvested responsibly from farm to production. Each rubber tree regenerates and continues to produce for approximately 30-35 years.

High quality you can trust: Liforme mat

The Liforme mat comes as a full-size or travel-size mat. A travel mat is easier to pack on your travels and lighter to carry than a regular mat for those who are on the go. So if you travel often, and want a lighter, more flexible, and smaller mat it is definitely worth the investment. 

The best thing about Liforme is the strong dry grip capability that exceeds most other mats. You will also thrive in hot yoga in the jungle or other humid locations as the natural rubber will keep your hands connected to the mat.

The mats also have a number of alignment lines on them so you know where to place your hands and feet in your downward-facing dog!

It is thin but great for outdoor use on soft ground. It is also voted one of the best yoga mats for its exciting colors and styles compared to other yoga mats on the market.

The mats are also completely biodegradable, breaking down in only 1-5 years in normal landfill conditions. PVC-free and made using high-quality non-toxic materials, they also avoid plastic packaging. They also have a patented three-layer construction and quick-drying CleanGrip Technology which stops sweat from making its way into the natural rubber base.

Best Cork Yoga Mat: Luxury Cork Yoga Mat

There are so many benefits of cork yoga mats, one particularly being that they are environmentally friendly and a sustainable choice of yoga mats.

One great cork yoga mat for outdoor use is the Luxury Cork Yoga Mat. This mat is designed as the thickest, and widest yoga mat that was found online, which is great for outdoor use because it gives extra room for practicing without needing to step off your mat. As a cork form yoga mat, it provides wonderful cushioning for the joints and is very kind to your joints.

The great thing about this yoga mat is that it was specially crafted by yoga teachers, and made with the highest quality Portuguese cork. Engineered with six times more cork than a standard cork yoga mat, you are guaranteed to get a lot of durability out of this yoga mat!

With a great dry grip for normal yoga and a sweaty grip for hot yoga, you can take this yoga mat outside in any weather conditions.

The only downside about this cork yoga mat is it’s heavy. But, work carrying it around for the extra space and cushioning that this yoga mat provides.

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