If you’re looking for the best lightweight, easy-to-store travel yoga mats, then this is the article for you. Traveling can be stressful enough without having to worry about carrying your mat around with you! With these ideas in mind, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best options on the market today.
For some travelers, the thought of exercising on vacation—beyond walking around a new city—seems ridiculous. To others, taking time to stretch, do a few downward dogs, or head to a local class is a necessity after spending hours on a plane. For those who fall in the latter camp, we’ve got you covered. While your standard mat is likely a bit too heavy to make the cut, these travel yoga mats are designed with portability in mind.
When deciding which ones fit the bill, there were a few factors to consider: for one, is it lightweight? If you’re going to be packing it in a suitcase, a weekender bag, or backpack, you don’t want it weighing you down. With that said, though, you want there to be some cushion and support, especially given that the more lightweight mats won’t have the same thickness as regular mats.
We managed to find a few that are still fairly supportive (for added comfort, try placing a yoga towel on top) and also looked at grip and packability—like whether it can only be rolled, or if you can fold it up flat. Below, our top choices for travel yoga mats, plus a few more accessories to help keep you zen on the road.
Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Thickness: 1.5mm
Traveler editors tried out both Manduka’s eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat and the Pro Travel Mat and preferred the eKO version—while still fairly thin, the Superlite offered a bit more cushion, despite weighing less (every ounce matters in a checked bag). It doesn’t bunch up or move on the floor, and held up well, grip-wise, in a hot yoga class.
It also rolls up to be super slim, so we recommend packing it that way; if you’re putting it in a tote or backpack, though, fold it flat into a square for less height. As a bonus, it comes in 10 colors, catering to yogis who like a neutral mat as well as ones who prefer a pattern, and is made out of sustainably harvested tree rubber and synthetic polyester.
Hugger Mugger Tapas Ultra
Weight: 2.5 pounds
Thickness: 6mm
We asked a New York-based yoga instructor for her mat suggestions, and this Hugger Mugger model stood out as being both lightweight and cushiony. It comes in two lengths, depending on your height (68 inches or 74 inches; the longer one adds .2 pounds). It’s thicker than the Manduka mat, but just a few ounces heavier, so if you like a bit more support under you, or are staying somewhere with hard floors, this mat is a solid choice. The stickiness will help you stay in place mid-pose, too.
Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat
Weight: 1 pound
Thickness: 2mm
Another instructor-recommended brand: Gaiam. While their traditional mats offer much more cushioning, this foldable mat is great if you’re really tight on space or travel frequently. At just a pound, it’s the most lightweight option we found and folds easily into a 12″ by 10″ rectangle after use. It has a sticky texture on top for stability and works just as well at the beach or the park. Reviewers note it is great to use in hotel rooms and is thin enough to slide into the outer compartment of carry-on suitcases.
Yogo Ultralight Travel Yoga Mat
Weight: 2.1 pounds
Thickness: 1.5mm
Yogo’s Ultralight Travel Yoga Mat makes taking a yoga mat wherever you go a no-brainer—it’s designed to easily fold up into its attached clips, which keep it secure and roughly the size of a rolled newspaper when not in use. The straps can also be used to hang the mat to dry after rinsing it off or to secure it to a bicycle if you’re really taking it on the go. Like the other mats, it has a sticky top layer to aid with grip; it’s also made of eco-friendly materials (natural rubber and cotton). While on the thinner side, it gets points for its packability, and is flight attendant-approved, per reviews.
More accessories to consider
For those serious enough about their practice to bring a yoga mat on vacation, these tack-on products will find a good home in your suitcase, too:
Yoga block
While yoga blocks aren’t the most compact items, they are extremely lightweight (Gaiam’s weighs a pound and a half). And for road trips, they’re a no-brainer: Toss one in the back of the car, then pull it out in your hotel room or Airbnb for help stretching out and getting into poses, even when your muscles are especially tight.
Carrying case
If you plan on taking your yoga mat outside the place you’re staying—say, to a yoga class in town or a local park—a mat carrier will come in handy (and functions just as well back home). Manduka’s rolls up to about the size of a belt, and loops around your rolled yoga mat to form a shoulder or cross-body strap, with a padded strap for extra comfort. Alo’s version—the Duality Yoga Strap—is meant to be used during your practice, too, to help with stretch and support.
Cleaning spray
Before you roll your mat back up after a class or sequence, give it a spritz of cleaning spray, like this AUSTRA Natural Yoga Mat Cleaner, which comes in soothing scents like peaceful lavender, calming citrus, and energizing peppermint. Then, wipe it down with a damp cloth to get rid of the gunk and towel it dry to keep your mat from getting slippery. While it doesn’t come in a TSA-friendly size, the four-ounce spray can go in checked bags or on road trips.
Conclusion:
While it doesn’t come in a TSA-friendly size, the four-ounce spray can go in checked bags or on road trips.
