About Manduka
Manduka is first and foremost a sustainable brand. In the description of each item, you will find consciously sourced materials and environmentally friendly production methods at the forefront. The company offers a comprehensive range of yoga mats, clothing, towels and accessories and makes yoga equipment the way it should be – with respect for the earth.
Manduka’s products have been praised by New York Magazine, Bustle, Self, Glamour and many other notable publications, and consistently appear in “best of” lists. The brand also has a whopping 271,000 followers on its Instagram page.
In this Manduka yoga mat review, we’ll give you an overview of the brand and its best-selling mats, let you know what customers are saying about them, answer important FAQs and much more to help you decide if they’re worth buying.
Overview of Manduka
Since its inception in 1998, Manduka’s quality, selection and practices have evolved, but the heart of Manduka has remained the same. Twenty-three years ago, Peter Sterios set out to develop a yoga mat that would “change the world”.
He believed that “the joy of yoga can promote a more positive world”, and the brand is still based on this principle today.
Sterios only designed one mat, but it was a mat that changed the way people practiced yoga forever. He sent his designs to yoga teachers in the USA, who in turn passed them on to their students – and so Manduka was born.
Based in El Segundo, California, the brand has since expanded its product range to include several mat series as well as clothing and accessories. It has evolved into a company that not only sells mats, but shares a vision.
Before we look at exactly what the brand’s mats are like, this review of Manduka yoga mats will pause briefly on their pros and cons.
Pros
- Wide range of clothing, equipment and accessories
- Several series of mats with different thicknesses and materials
- Mats are manufactured in OEKO-Tex certified factories
- Sustainable collections and practices
- Fantastic sale section
- Shipping all over the world
- Satisfaction guarantee for mats
- Free US returns
Cons
- The PRO line of mats requires a break-in period
- Can be expensive due to the high-quality, sustainable materials
Just like every movement in yoga, Manduka mats are purposeful. With smart designs that keep you in the flow, prevent slippage and repel bacteria, these functional mats serve to keep your eye on the prize and reduce distractions.
In this review of yoga mats from Manduka, which offers three different collections, we’ll introduce you to them all. We also introduce you to a few special products that will enhance your sequence.
Manduka Yoga Mats Review
In this section of our Manduka yoga mat review, we look at the brand’s impressive range of yoga mats, which come in dreamy prints, comfortable materials and a variety of lengths and thicknesses. We’ll also introduce you to some of the brand’s accessories that will enhance your practice and make transporting your mat a breeze.
We’ll start with the mat that’s been getting a lot of attention lately: the PRO Yoga Mat 6mm.
Manduka Breathe Easy Yoga Mat Review
Manduka yoga mats can get heavy – and people like them that way. But that doesn’t exactly make it easy to transport your mat to and from practice, and that’s why the Breathe Easy Yoga Mat Bag is here to help.
It’s a simple mesh bag that allows your mat to dry after a sweaty practice. It features a contoured zipper that makes it easy to remove. Measuring 26.5“ x 6.5” x 6.5”, this bag can be used with PROtravel, PROlite, eKO lite, eKO mat, eKO superlite, X Mat and the Begin series.
Available in black, harbor green and thunder, make traveling with your mat all the easier with one of these lightweight, breathable Manduka bags for $30.
Manduka Enlight Rectangular Bolster Review
Some poses require a little extra support. The Enlight Rectangular Bolster is made from 30% recycled filling that provides a firm but snug cushion. The microfiber cover is soft, dries quickly and can be removed and thrown in the washing machine.
The bolster weighs 2.5 lbs, measures 28″ x 11.75″ x 5″ and is available in six enlightened colors.
Add the Manduka Enlight Rectangular Bolster to your practice for $70.
Manduka Yogitoes Yoga Mat Towel Review
When sweat starts to drip, any mat becomes slippery. This is where Manduka’s yoga towels come into play. The smooth, absorbent material of this mat/towel wonder is easy to roll up and take outside so you can continue your practice anywhere.
The Yogitoes Yoga Mat Towel is equipped with Skidless® Technology (silicone grips), which ensures that you won’t slip on the mat. It is made from at least four recycled water bottles, and although there are 14 wonderful patterns, the color is free of AZO and heavy metals.
But let’s talk about these patterns for a moment – Ocean Swell Midnight? Looks like a dream.
Available in standard (68″ x 24″; 1 lb), standard+ (71″ x 24″; 1.25 lbs) and long (79″ x 24″; 1.6 lbs), you can pick up one of these gorgeous and outdoor-friendly mats for $60-$65.
How Sustainable Is Manduka?
To get an idea of how sustainable Maduka is, visit any product page. The description will tell you exactly how the item was made and what certifications it has.
Certain Manduka mats have higher sustainability standards, such as the eKO series, which is made from biodegradable rubber from responsible sources (not from the Amazon!). Or the Yogitoes range, which is made from at least four recycled plastic bottles.
All items are made in OEKO-Tex certified factories, which means that the factories use sustainable practices.
What Are Manduka Mats Made Of?
The Manduka PRO mats are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a material normally used for electrical insulation. This material is tightly woven, durable and moisture resistant – qualities that certainly make it as useful for yoga as it is for electrical wiring!
The brand’s eKO mats are made from non-amazonic tree rubber. Both materials are easy to clean, just use some Manduka mat cleaner and a towel.
Who Is Manduka For?
Manduka is for yogis with a conscience. Sustainable practices and yoga go hand in hand, so it only makes sense that this brand fuses the two
Creating mats that last an entire decade (maybe even longer), yogis of all levels can purchase the company’s various thicknesses, prints and features and use them to strengthen their practice.
Comparison: Manduka vs. Lululemon
Lululemon is rightly considered the queen of the yoga market. Take a look at their extensive collections of workout clothes for men and women, as well as their accessories and equipment, and you’ll find great looking items that ooze quality.
And although you’ll find leggings from Manduka in our featured brand’s collection, just like their competitor, since this is a yoga mat review, we’ll stick to Lululemon’s mat selection to see how it compares to our featured brand.
Lululemon offers nine mats, some reversible, some not, but many with pretty patterns that rival Manduka’s options (although there’s nothing better than Ocean Swell Midnight, so really!) Browsing through our competitors’ mats, we didn’t see any that were thicker than 5mm. So our featured manufacturer has already beaten them, in friendly competition of course.
We took a closer look at the Lululemon Reversible Mat 5mm ($88) and found that it is made of polyurethane and rubber and has an antimicrobial finish.
Again, we have to give the edge to Manduka, as the Prolite Yoga Mat 4.7mm ($100) is latex-free (Lululemon’s are not) and forgoes the finish, instead tightly weaving the PVC material to naturally resist sweat and bacteria.
Manduka Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
There are three aspects to evaluating a yoga mat: firstly, how it looks, secondly, how it feels, and thirdly, how it works. We already have a good idea on the first point, but for the others we need a little help from customers.
In this section of our Manduka yoga mat review, you’ll find a selection of feedback from various sources on the internet that shed light on what the brand’s mats are really like.
Let’s start with some reviews from the brand’s website, shall we?
- PRO Yoga Mat 6mm: average 4.5/5 stars from 1,397 reviews
- Yogitoes Yoga Mat Towel: average 4.5/5 stars from 470 reviews
- Manduka X yoga mat: average 3.8/5 stars from 124 reviews
- EKO Yoga Mat 5mm: average 4.4/5 stars out of 601 reviews
- Manduka EKO Lite Yoga Mat 4mm: average 4.4/5 stars based on 408 reviews
We chose the PRO Yoga Mat 6mm because it seems to be the brand’s most popular mat. According to customers, it is very stable, durable and does not slip on carpet. It is also thick and heavy.
This review of the Manduka yoga mat pretty much sums it up: “I can practice on a carpet and the mat doesn’t deform or slide around. The stability is wonderful and the size is great!”
Just like this one: “Have owned the mat for 3 years. Shows no signs of wear and tear.” The thickness and weight of a mat are crucial to making it last for years, and of course the woven PVC isn’t bad either.
To find out more about the PRO Yoga Mat 6mm, we turned to Outdoor Gear Lab, a reliable source of quality information.
The blog’s team gave the mat an overall rating of 74/100 with the following points:
- Comfort and stability: 10/10
- Portability: 4/10
- Durability: 10/10
- Traction dry: 7/10
- Wet grip: 5/10
- Ease of care: 8/10
These ratings clearly show how durable and comfortable the mat is and how easy it is to maintain. Even though Outdoor Gear Lab gave the mat a lower score for wet traction, the team says it is “nowhere near as sticky as the other top models”.
The Manduka yoga mat review also states that it “provides enough cushioning even for bony yogis, but is overall stable and not squishy.” In yoga, balance is key, and squishy yoga mats can ruin your form, so it’s good to know that this mat performs strongly.
Since we felt like we knew the Manduka Pro mat well, we wanted to take a look at another version that caught our eye: the Yogitoes Mat Towel 2.0, available at Zappos.
With a total of 119 reviews, the Manduka mat towel has an overall rating of 4.7/5 stars. Broken down, 84% of buyers give the towel a perfect rating, while only 3% rate it a 1 or 2.
Just as it looks, the Manduka mat is lightweight and soft, and buyers say it has a good grip. Take this helpful review:
“I love this towel. It doesn’t get tangled and doesn’t slip on my mat of the same brand…. The material is very soft.” Others mention the durability, which is great for such a soft mat.
Is Manduka Worth It?
The brand’s yoga mats are more expensive than the offerings at the store around the corner, but you get more out of them. The differences between one of the mats in this Manduka yoga mat review and one from Walmart are pretty stark, but we’ll summarize them here in case you need a refresher.
Manduka puts sustainability at the center of everything it does. When you’re dealing with an industry that’s mostly foam or plastic, things like this are important.
Manduka’s mats age incredibly well, no matter which one you use. We saw this in the previous section of this Manduka yoga mat review, where we looked at the PRO and the Yogitoes – both very different thicknesses, but both very durable.
And because they’re made from a closed-cell fabric that keeps bacteria and moisture out, they’re easier to clean. And you don’t have to worry about germs on your face or icky odors while holding kids.
So yes, we’d say the brand is worth it. But if you need a few more reasons, read the next section of this Manduka yoga mat review.
Manduka Promotions & Discounts
Quality and social responsibility often come at a higher price. Saving the world has its advantages. Although the brand’s products are worth the money, a good deal is always welcome.
During this Manduka yoga mat review, we discovered a few that would definitely come in handy, like a stellar sale section, and free shipping on orders over $75.
Where To Buy Manduka
To get the widest selection of products, make sales and take advantage of discounts, we recommend buying directly from Manduka.com. If you prefer to shop around, you can also find specific items at Well.com, Amazon and a handful of other wellness-focused retailers.
FAQ
Who is the owner of Manduka?
As far as we know, the original founder of the brand, Peter Sterios, is still the current owner.
Where is Manduka made?
Manduka PRO mats are made in Germany, while all of the brand’s other mats are made in China in OEKO-Tex certified facilities.
What is Manduka’s shipping policy?
Manduka ships all over the world, and typically orders placed before 12:30 p.m. PST are shipped the same day. Orders placed after this time will be shipped the next business day.
When your package is shipped, you will receive a confirmation email with a tracking link that you can use to track the progress of your package. This link will also show you when your order is expected to arrive.
What is Manduka’s return policy?
Manduka offers different types of products, all with different return periods and guarantees. To make things a little clearer, we have compiled this information in a neat little list:
- Yoga mats: 30-day satisfaction guarantee
- Accepts used returns
- Must not be damaged or soiled
- PRO Series mats: 90-day satisfaction guarantee
- Can return used mats
- Must not be dirty or damaged
- Props: 30-day return period
- Must not be used, soiled or altered
- Must be returned with poly bag
- Garments: 30-day return period
- Must not have been worn, washed, altered or damaged
- All tags and original packaging must be included.
To make a US return, follow these steps:
Fill out the return form and include it with your package
Email or call customer service
Download the prepaid return label (provided by customer service)
Attach this label to the outside of your parcel.
Drop off the package at the nearest FedEx location.
International customers are responsible for returning the item and are responsible for all shipping costs.
Send your return to: Manduka LLC, Attn: Returns, 2207 E. Carson Street, Unit C3, Carson, CA 90810, United States
How to Contact Manduka
We hope you’ve found all the information you needed and more in this Manduka yoga mat review. However, if you still have questions, feel free to get in touch with the brand using one of the methods below:
- Email: info@manduka.com
- Phone: 1-877-626-3852
- The brand’s customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST.
