Better Balance Abroad with these Top Travel Yoga Mats

For traveling yogis who take care of their minds, bodies, and spirit on-the-road, one of the biggest challenges is finding the right yoga mat to bring. When traveling, you want your bag to be as compact as possible, and most of the time, traditional PVC mats are not that travel-friendly.

Regular yoga mats also take a much bigger space, and there are some that you can’t fold in your suitcase. For travel-friendly yoga mats, we will be looking for three main factors: portability, comfort, and sustainability.

Best Rated Eco-Friendly Travel Yoga Mats

In this list, we’re going to go over the best travel yoga mats you can bring anywhere. In addition to yoga, these mats make a great surface for Pilates, mediation, simple stretching and even can double as a slim sleeping pad if crashing at a friend’s place or camping.

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Here are the top yoga mats for travel, in no particular order:

Manduka eKO Superlite Travel Yoga & Pilates Mat

The eKO Superlite Travel Yoga and Pilates Mat is the latest iteration of the product. The company has been in existence longer than the newer brands on the list. Over the years, Manduka have improved their yoga mats based on the feedback and suggestions of their most loyal customers.

Portability: Manduka’s eKO Superlite is the lightest and slimmest version in the eKO series. The mat only weighs 2.2 pounds and is malleable enough to be folded into any bag or suitcase. If you have a small suitcase or a backpack for your trip, you can fold it four times to make a slim pack out of it. When folded, it’s about the same size as a laptop.

Comfort: It’s a narrower version with 1.5mm thickness to help you find that perfect grip during your yoga poses. The surface texture is comparable to an orange peel, so there’s a dimpled feel.

Sustainability: One of the biggest challenges in bringing your yoga travel mat is finding a clean floor to do your practice. The eKO Mat is made from sustainably harvested tree rubber, so it’s easy to clean. Manduka has its own Mat Restore Spray to keep your eKO Lite clean after your trip.

• Brand: Manduka
• Model: eKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat
• Size: 2.2 lbs; 71″ x 24″; 1.5mm thick
• Colors: 14

JadeYoga Voyager Yoga

Made of natural rubber and eco-friendly, JadeYoga is popular with frequent travelers. The brand has impressive scores on durability and comfort. These come in four colors, and if you’re buying a new one, it’s easier to break in than the afforementioned Manduka eKO.

Portability: You can choose between two JadeYoga Mats: the Jade Travel and the Jade Voyager. The Travel will add in 3.5 lbs. to your suitcase, while the other one will be 2 lbs. lighter at 1.5 lbs. The difference is in the thickness. If you need more support, a plushier texture, pick the Traveler. But if you want to prioritize a lightweight version, the Jade Voyager will still be able to give you enough padding in a more compact manner.

Sustainability: As yogis, we want to make sure that the products we’re using are not harmful to the environment. Since JadeYoga is run by a former lawyer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the company is quite strict when it comes to following a sustainable production line. The mats are made in the U.S., and they also dedicate one tree planted for every mat they sell.

• Brand: JadeYoga
• Model: Voyager Yoga Mat
• Size: 1.5 lbs; 68″L; 1/16” thick
• Colors: 4

YOGO Ultralight

For those who prefer a zen, minimalist feel YOGO is the best company for you. Their folding design is great for travel. The company is quite new, but they’ve aced it with its flagship Ultralight Travel Mat. These guys understand what it takes for a yoga mat to be travel-friendly.

Portability: YOGO Ultralight is 2.1 pounds and is 1.5mm thick. The travel pack has its own buckles, so it has an origami folding that helps you take care of the tricky folding process. The buckle can be attached on top of your backpack or on the rollers of your suitcase. If you’re going out, the straps can also serve as a handheld handle.

Comfort: The travel mat is quite slim, but it has a matte, rug-type texture that helps when you’re sweating during your practice.

Sustainability: The mat is made of natural tree rubber, cotton, and natural texture additives. The company is also passionate about tree planting, so each purchase of the mat helps their tree-planting project in Africa!

• Brand: YOGO
• Model: Ultralight Travel Yoga Mat
• Size: 2.1 lbs; 1.5mm thick
• Colors: 6

Gaiam Yoga Mat

Made of light-weight rubber, this mat easily folds like a cotton shirt. Despite its minimal size, its no-slip feature has become popular to travel yogis all over the world. The Gaiam brand makes a myriad of fitness gear, from yoga mats and apparel, to foam rollers and balancing boards.

Portability: Gaiam Yoga Mat has a smooth texture. It also has a 2 mm thickness and weighs just 1 lb. This makes it convenient to pull in and out of your bag whenever you need to do that quick practice during your trip.

Comfort: One of the best features of the Gaiam Mat is the grip. Whether you’re practicing on a hardwood floor, tiles, or carpet, the mat will give you enough support during your practice. Just note that since it’s very light, if you’re in an airy location, the ends may be lifted by the wind pretty easily.

Sustainability: Gaiam Mats do not have ample information about the products on their site. The mats are made from plastic PVC, and one reviewer noted receiving it with a thin, oily film. The company cleared that this is usually the residue left during manufacturing, and customers can clean it with any detergent.

• Brand: Gaiam
• Model: Yoga Mat Folding Travel Mat
• Size: 1 lb; 68″L x 24″W; 2mm thick
• Colors: 7

Toplus Travel Yoga Mat

Affordability is the best selling point of the Toplus Travel Yoga Mat. It has fashionable colors and a grip that’s on par with the best on the market. The Toplus brand specializes in yoga mats, featuring these four popular models: Basic, Travel, Kids and Suede, among others.

Portability: This 1.5mm travel yoga mat is very convenient to bring for your travels. It has its carrying strap, and it can be folded into a slim or a bulk rectangular version. It’s also double-sided (with different colors on each side), and you can either choose the suede or the rubber side for each for your practice.

Comfort: The Toplus Travel Yoga Mat is very easy to break-in. It’s durable and lightweight. The company also offers a 1-year durability guarantee. At the same time, it’s sweat absorbent and waterproof. Wash it with soap and water.

Sustainability: The Toplus is made in India, and they use eco-friendly materials that do not include PVC or plastics. The company also has a dedicated team researching the impact of yoga on human physiology and psychology.

• Brand: Toplus
• Model: Travel Yoga Mat
• Size: 1.5mm thick
• Colors: 8

Liforme Travel Yoga Mat

This is an internationally acclaimed yoga mat that’s been supported by popular teachers in the yoga world. The Liforme brand is also a pioneer of alignment mats. Liforme Yoga Mats have this iconic alignment design that helps yogis find a perfect balance during practice.

Portability: Liforme Travel Yoga Mat has an incredible balance of grip, size and durability. It’s only 1.6 kg. and has a thickness of 2mm (not too thin, not too bulky). The mat comes with a portable bag, so you can bring your mat anywhere you go.

Comfort: This performance mat has the revolutionary “GripForMe” material, which is noted to be the “grippiest Yoga mat material currently available on earth.” It stays grippy even during your sweat-heavy practice.

Sustainability: The Liforme Travel Mats are PVC-free and are biodegradable in 1-5 years “in normal landfill conditions.” These are also made with non-toxic materials so it’s safe for your body and the earth. The company has a 360° sustainability mantra, so they implement a fully recyclable packaging.

• Brand: Liforme
• Model: Travel Yoga Mat
• Size: 3.5 lbs; 2mm thick
• Colors: 4

Yoga Design Lab

Yoga Design Lab probably has the most exciting designs on this list. They have a unique gradient feature for their mats. Though YDL focuses on aesthetic, they also make sure that the mats are flexible for travel and various types of exercises. YDL Travel Mats can also be used for barre, pilates, light weight training, and Bikram.

Portability: The mat weighs about 2.4 pounds and is 70 inches long. It has a 1mm thickness to support your spine, knees and joints during practice. It’s also a foldable mat that’s perfect for small bags.

Comfort: The travel mat has a natural tree rubber base so it helps you get that no-slip function. The top is made of microfiber that’s why it absorbs sweat pretty quickly. Its towel-like texture feels so soft so there’s no obstructive feel during your practice.

Sustainability: You will love YDL when it comes to sustainability. It’s one of the very few yoga mats in the market that’s machine-wash friendly. If your mat gets dusty, you can easily toss it in your washing machine and it’ll feel brand new again. Its microfiber top is also made of recycled plastic bottles, so there’s another high-five to mother nature. Lastly, the company supports Urban Youth Yoga Programs in Africa.

• Brand: Yoga Design Lab
• Model: Travel Mat
• Size: 2.4 lbs; 70″L x 24″W; 1mm thick
• Colors: 18

Khataland YoFoMat

Khataland is breaking new grounds when it comes to bringing a new level of soft texture to yoga mats. For a towel-like weight and feel, pick Khataland YoFoMat for your next adventure.

Portability: Khataland’s specially engineered, patent pending YoFoMat® is the only yoga mat that has a unique folding design, which helps you maintain the side facing the floor to not touch the side facing the body. It enables you to keep your mat more hygienic every time you use it. This travel mat weighs 2.7 lbs. and has a 4 mm. thickness.

Comfort: Because of its patented design, you can use the mat for both yoga practice and meditation. It’s also great for high-performance practices because of its non-skid, non-sticky, and slip-resistant features.

Sustainability: Khatalan’s products are exclusively engineered with durable, recyclable, and waste-reducing materials.

• Brand: Khataland
• Model: YoFoMat
• Size: 2.7 lbs; 72″L; 4mm thick
• Colors: 6

Thanks for checking out the top rated yoga mats for travel! Whether it’s for work or holiday, you’ll feel better and more balanced on the road with your yoga mat along for the ride.