****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Pros: it has perfect grip for hands and feet to really get the most out of your poses and also sticks well to the floor (important for jumping from plank to the front of your mat). It also has perfect combination of cushion and stability. I was sticking balance poses like never before and didn't get that achey feeling in my feet when in balance poses for a while. Also, comparing this one to all the other top of the line mats (I've tried Manduka, Jade, and higher-bracket Gaiams), you can tell that it's made to last a long time (no shiny/glossy surface to come apart bit by bit from the friction of frequent use, and the surface is made to withstand any puncture or scrape marks from tossing it around in transit or storage). I'm a frequent yoga practitioner of over 15 years, and now I practice 5 days/week in a variety of yoga classes, from advanced to hot to restorative, and I am extremely picky about mats - I don't want to break the bank, but I will invest in a mat that enhances my practice and will last. This mat is more affordable than others, and it's got the certified Eco-stamp as well. Also, this one is a porous but closed-cell mat, so cleaning and maintenance is easier than with more fabric-like mats such as the Jade or Manduka Eko mats.Cons: 1) the weight - 6.5 lbs. may not seem like a lot, but I ride a bike and tote my mat in a shoulder sling, so it does sit a little heavy on my back, but other mats at this performance level actually weigh a lot more (hello, Manduka Black Mat Pro at 10lbs!!!); and 2) the smell - I honestly never cared about mat smell despite reading many reviews about it with other mats, but it was truly awful with this one when I brought it to class the first time. It was so strong, I could smell it a few feet away so I felt paranoid that others near me would be bothered by it. Also, after practicing that first time, my hands and feet smelled awful and when I touched my lips after class, I could taste the awful smell. Since that first use, I wiped it down lightly with my own personal spray, a vinegar-peppermint oil-water spray, after practice and several times between use, and I let it air dry completely each time, but still it's not gone, not even remotely. I still have to wash my hands and feet immediately after practice (or better yet take a full-on shower since you lay all over it, the smell/residue gets everywhere).
