The Best Travel Yoga Mats [Updated 2024]

Taking your yoga practice on the road with you can be key to surviving long flights, bus rides, and road trips.

I walk a LOT on vacation and my muscles are so tight at night and my feet so achy I need to do yoga.

I’ve been practicing yoga since 2017 and am a certified yoga teacher who travels for a living, I know what you need in a travel yoga mat.

This post is a complete guide to the best travel yoga mats on the market (and I’ve tried them all!).

QUICK NOTE: This post contains affiliate links and Sol Salute may receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.

The Best Travel Yoga Mats at a glance

Don’t have time to read the whole article?

Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • BEST OVERALL | YOGO Ultralight Travel Mat | This mat is lightweight, compact, folds perfectly with it’s own system, and has beautiful simple colorways. It’s been my favorite travel yoga mat on the market for years and with a new version coming out in 2024 it has managed to improve upon itself.
  • MOST BEAUTIFUL/BEST FOR HOT YOGA | MIKKOA | Mikkoa is a combination of hot yoga towel meets travel yoga mat. They have the most beautiful designs and a soft texture that just feels good. I have two and practice on them regularly.
  • BEST “BIG” BRAND | Manduka eKO Superlite | This is a classic on the travel yoga mat market. Their new Pro travel mat offers a thicker and familiar texture in a travel version but the eKO Superlite is the most compact of their offerings.
  • BEST BUDGET TRAVEL MAT | Gaiam Travel Mat

Keep reading for more suggestions and more details…

My Favorite Travel Yoga Mats [2024 Edition]

There are so many yoga accessories and props on the market today that it can be hard to decipher what you truly need and what’s just extra fluff.

A travel yoga mat, for me, is not fluff.

Whether it was during my yoga teacher certification in Austin or I’m road tripping through Argentina, I always have my foldable yoga mat with me.

Stepping foot on my mat simply puts me in the right headspace to practice, otherwise I’m sure I’d find an excuse not to find the movement I need when I travel.

This post is a complete guides to help you find the perfect mat for you.

Why can I help you?

I own and regularly use three mats on this list, and thanks to friends, I have practiced on the rest.

Not sure what you need in a travel mat?

At the end of the article I go into detail on what’s important to look for.

My YOGO Mat traveled with me to the Argentina Wetlands

Here are a list and breakdown of the best options for a yoga travel mat in 2024.

1. YOGO Ultralight Travel Yoga Mat: Best Overall

This YOGO Ultralight travel mat is perfect for frequent travelers and quickly became my favorite.

It’s an incredibly compact yoga mat that even comes with its own built-in straps and handle.

Cleaning has also been very easy because I just use the built-in handle to hang it in the shower.

I rinse it off with the gentle soap I use for my kids while I shower and leave it hanging to dry.

You can read my full review of the YOGO mat here.

The surface of this mat reminds of the Manduka travel mat. It’s smooth but very grippy.

That’s because the YOGO mat is also made from renewable tree rubber. And even better, as a company, they give back by planting food-bearing trees and providing restorative agroforestry training in Africa.

What I love most about YOGO: This mat is designed to be sanitary. The folding system allows for the bottom of the mat to never come in contact with the top.

You don’t have to worry about rolling the hotel room floor germs onto the top of the mat, where you rest your face in child’s pose.

YOGO At A Glance:

  • Weight: 2.1 lbs 
  • Thickness: 1.7 mm
  • Dimensions: Open 24” x 68” (folded 12” x 2” x 4.5”, comparable to a newspaper)
  • Certified-responsible tree rubber; recycled straps and label

✅ Pros

  • Very compact and easy to pack when folded
  • Sanitary by design
  • Very grippy texture

❌ Cons

  • Thin mat can be hard on joints
  • On the pricier side of this list

2. MIKKOA | Best Travel Mat for Hot Yoga (& Most Beautiful Mat)

MIKKOA Travel Yoga Mats are the most beautiful yoga mats I have ever seen.

Most notably, their mats are a hybrid of yoga mat and yoga towel.

If you practice hot yoga or Bikram, this is the mat for you, full stop.

The bottom of the mat is also made of a grippy rubber that clings well to the floor.

It never bunches up or moves during my transitions like my Manduka mat sometimes does.

I have two travel MIKKOA mats (researching for this article has turned me into a bit of a travel yoga mat hoarder) but they also offer regular yoga mats and beach towels.

What I love most about MIKKOA: I love the soft texture of the mat and it’s slowly become my main go-to mat.

It’s easy to fold up and when unfolded there are zero creases or marks. And importantly, the rubber base means it never slips during transitions.

MIKKOA At A Glance:

  • Weight: 1.5 kg (3 lbs)
  • Thickness: 1.5 mm
  • Dimensions: 72″ x 26″, folds down to 10″ x 6″
  • Material: Natural rubber bottom, vegan microfiber suede top

✅ Pros

  • The mats designs are very beautiful
  • Rubber base means no slipping
  • 10 cm longer than the average mat
  • Machine washable
  • Vegan & Eco-friendly

❌ Cons

  • Thin mat can be hard on joints
  • The microfiber may be slippery at first until you break a sweat
  • High quality comes at a cost, it’s not a cheap mat

3. Manduka EKO superlite Travel Mat

Manduka is a fantastic brand and one of my favorites.

I actually have their EKO Superlite in two different colors, three of their prolite mats (as my main, daily use mat) and I like their affordable eQua towels when I practice hot yoga.

Manduka is well-known for its quality, so it was a given that their travel mat was also going to be good quality yoga mat. Colors are simple but beautiful.

Manduka mats are very grippy and smooth. You won’t slide around in warrior 2.

It’s a very environmentally friendly, non toxic yoga mat.

Manduka mats include no PVC, toxic plasticizers or harmful dyes.

They’re made from sustainably harvested natural tree rubber and are biodegradable.

Some people complain of an obnoxious rubbery smell fresh out of the box, but I honestly didn’t notice any odor on my mats.

Manduka EKO Superlite Yoga Travel Mat – 1.5mm Thick Travel Mat for Portability, Eco Friendly and Made from Natural Tree Rubber. Superior Catch Grip for Traction, Support and Stability (Acai)

What I love about Manduka: As I mentioned before I own two of these mats and a number of their other products. Being a huge name in the industry you know you can trust them. The quality is expected and my mats have withheld a lot of wear and tear.

Manduka Eko Superlite at a Glance

  • Weight: 1.1 kg (2.2 lbs)
  • Thickness: 1.5 mm
  • Dimensions: 71″ x 24″
  • Material: Orange Peel Top Surface for traction, non-Amazon tree rubber

✅ Pros

  • Grippy texture offers stability in poses like Warrior 2
  • Dependable brand reputation
  • Easy to fold
  • Very lightweight

❌ Cons

  • Thin mat can be hard on joints
  • It can bunch up during some transitions

PSST! HEY!
Stay with me to the end of this post for my recipe for all-natural homemade mat cleaner!

4. Jade Voyager Fold Up Yoga Mat

Jade shares the top of the yoga mat market with Manduka.

In fact, most yoga studios offer either Manduka or Jade mats as their rental mats so you know you can trust their quality.

Jade’s Voyager mat is an extremely lightweight yoga mat at only 1.5 pounds.

The mat folds up compactly to easily fit in your suitcase or backpack.

If you trying to decide between the Jade Travel Mat and Manduka, in my personal opinion it comes down to texture.

Both companies produce a great anti-slip yoga mat, but where Manduka mats are smooth, Jade mats have more texture that you’ll feel under your feet.

JadeYoga Travel Yoga Mat - Packable, Lightweight, & Portable Yoga Mat - Non-Slip Natural Rubber Mat for Women & Men -Great for Yoga, Home, Gym, Pilates, Fitness & Stretching (Midnight Blue, 74" x 24")

What I love about Jade: They’ve taken their popular mat and made a travel version, if you have a Jade mat and want a travel yoga mat, getting their travel version is a no brainer.

Jade Voyager At A Glance:

  • Weight: 1.5 lbs
  • Thickness: 1.5 mm
  • Dimensions: 68″ x 24″
  • Material: Renewable tree rubber

✅ Pros

  • Very grippy texture on bottom and top of mat
  • Dependable brand reputation
  • Eco-friendly sustainable company
  • Very lightweight

❌ Cons

  • Thin mat can be hard on joints
  • Like Manduka, some complain of a strong smell right out of the box

Read Next | The 5 Best Online Yoga Programs I Use

5. Gaiam | Most Affordable Travel Yoga Mat

Gaiam is a great yoga company because they offer good quality yoga mats at very accessible prices.

The Gaiam travel mat folds into a 10″ x 12″ compact square.

The mat is perforated for easier folding, these markings may or may not bother you during your practice, but it’s something to keep in mind.

This Gaiam yoga mat weighs 2 pounds and has a smooth (besides the creases for folding), grippy texture.

It comes in fun patterns that are a bit more subdued than those on the MIKKOA mats.

Gaiam Yoga Mat Folding Travel Fitness & Exercise Mat | Foldable Yoga Mat for All Types of Yoga, Pilates & Floor Workouts, Icy Paisley, 2mm, 68"L x 24"W x 2mm Thick

What I love about Gaiam: At an unbeatable price point, this is the most accessible mat out there. It is also great for workouts beyond yoga.

Gaiam At A Glance:

  • Weight: 2 lbs
  • Thickness: 2 mm
  • Dimensions: 68″ x 24″
  • Material: PVC

✅ Pros

  • Very affordable travel yoga mat
  • Easy to fold
  • A bit thicker than other mats at 2 mm (still very thin)

❌ Cons

  • Marks and creases stick around when the mat is open

6. Liforme Travel Yoga Mat | Best Mat for Alignment

This mat is ideal if you’re focused on improving your alignment with markers for where to put your hands and feet in

The Liforme Yoga Travel Mat is thicker, wider, and longer than most travel mats.

Consequentially, it’s the least compact mat on this list.

It’s not foldable. It must be rolled and comes with its own yoga mat carry bag.

It’s also heavier than the other mats here at nearly 4 pounds.

Honestly, while I’ve loved using my friend’s Liforme mats, it’s too big for me to justify as a regular travel mat but it does have its pros.

Liforme Travel Yoga Mat – Free Yoga Bag included - Patented Alignment System, Warrior-like Grip, Non-slip, Eco-friendly and Biodegradable, Ultra-lightweight, Sweat resistant, Long, Wide and Thick - Blue

What I love about Liforme: I find the Liforme mats to be extremely soft. The surface is smooth but has a good grip and it’s a high-quality yoga mat and thicker than the typical thin travel mats. This is the best travel yoga mat on the list for knee and joint support.

Lifeform At A Glance

  • Weight: 1.6 kg
  • Thickness: 2 mm
  • Dimensions: 72″ x 26″
  • Material: Natural Rubber base and Liforme’s unique eco-polyurethane top surface.

✅ Pros

  • Markings help with perfecting form
  • Thickest, softest travel yoga mat on this list for great joint support
  • Unique smooth yet grippy texture
  • Eco-friendly and biodegradable

❌ Cons

  • Doesn’t fold down, must roll up so it isn’t great for long term travel but is a great yoga mat for road trips or teacher trainings
  • Heavier at 4 lbs
  • High price point

Knee Support for a Thin Yoga Mat

The only con to travel yoga mats derives from the main pro, they’re very thin!

This is why it shouldn’t be your main mat for your daily practice (unless you practice on carpet), it can really tire your knees and joints.

When I practice on a hard floor while traveling, I usually bring a hand towel or t-shirt with me to provide a cushion for my knees during poses like tabletop or low-lunge.

But if you have particularly sensitive knees, there are specific cushions (like this knee pad that can just live on your mat throughout your practice.

A cushion like that provides the needed joint support for your knees.

Proper Care for your Folding Yoga Mat

After investing in your new travel mat, be sure to take good care of it so it will last through all your exciting travels.

Here’s some tips and tricks to get serious mileage from your new mat.

Store it rolled

While most travel mats on this list are foldable yoga mats, it’s best to not store them that way long term.

I travel with my Manduka Superlite folded, but when home or at the hotel, I store it rolled like a regular mat.

This just prevents unnecessary wear and tear.

Keep it clean

It’s also important to maintain a clean mat.

Give your mat a cleaning after each trip to keep it sanitary, grippy and long-lasting.

Use an all-natural cleaner for the best results. I particularly love this lavender cleaner.

ASUTRA Organic Yoga Mat Cleaner (Calming Citrus Aroma), 4 fl oz | No Slippery Residue | Cleans, Restores, Refreshes | Comes w/Microfiber Towel | Deep-Cleansing for Fitness Gear & Gym Equipment

My Homemade Travel Yoga Mat Cleaner Recipe

While the above cleaner is easiest for travel with its small, compact spray bottle, when at home I make my own mat cleaner in a large, glass bottle.

Of course, you can use whatever empty bottle you have laying around, but I bought these amber glass spray bottles on Amazon because they’re easy on the eyes.

I fill them 3/4 of the way with water and top it off with white vinegar.

Generously add in drops of lavender essential oil and tea tree essential oil.

That’s it!

Picking a Travel Yoga Mat 2024: What I Look For

Before choosing the perfect travel yoga mat, it’s important to know what to look for.

Here are the 5 most important features you should keep in mind while shopping for your mat.

1. Weight

First and foremost, how much your travel mat for yoga weighs dictates how often you’ll actually pack it.

Packing is an art-form and with overweight luggage fees as high as they are, you should first check how much each mat weighs, the lighter the better.

Almost all the mats on this list weigh 2 pounds or less.

Some prefer a little extra weight for the comfort of more thickness (like Liforme mats).

2. Foldable Travel Yoga Mats

How small does the travel yoga mat fold down?

For me, foldability is the most important feature to save valuable suitcase space.

3. Stickiness

Is this mat sticky? Does it offer good grip so you’re not sliding all over the place in Goddess pose?

Or is the non-grip texture so rough that it will irritate you when you’re relaxing in supine positions?

If you’re sensitive to textures (a bit of a Princess and the pea), then you may prefer a smoother mat, like the Mikkoa mat on this list.

Do you practice hot yoga? You’ll need a grippy mat, like Mikkoa or YOGO, for when the sweat inevitably begins to flow.

4. Sustainability

Yoga is more than a workout, it’s a way of life.

One of the main tenants of the philosophy is the concept of ahimsa: practicing a lifestyle of non-harm.

Be mindful when purchasing your yoga mat and consider sustainability.

Is it made of an ecologically friendly material?

Does the company contribute to green causes?

Like this Jade mat, they plant a tree for every mat purchased.

5. Style

This last one may seem less important, but is it?

Your yoga practice is personal and an outlet for self-expression.

Do you want a mat in a color that will calm you or in a bright pattern that will energize you?

If you’re working on a specific chakra, you can search for a mat in its color to help keep you mindful of it.

Some mats are more technical, with markings to help with alignment, like Liforme.

Others are just jaw-droppingly beautiful, like Mikkoa.

You’ll be spending a lot of time on your mat, so be sure to find one you love.

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19 thoughts on “The Best Travel Yoga Mats [Updated 2024]”

  1. Hi! Thanks for the roundup, really informative! A quick question: would you say that the YOGO mat is twice as good as the Manduka ekolite? Since I don’t live in the US, the shipping cost for YOGO is quite hefty, whereas Manduka has importers in my country. So, although the YOGO does seem the best option, with shipping it is over twice the price of Manduka’s mats, and I was just wondering whether you though it was worth it?

  2. Hi Sanna, I wouldn’t say that the YOGO mat is worth paying shipping that makes it twice as costly as the Manduka mat. I love my Manduka travel mat! While the folding/storage/strap of the YOGO mat is convenient, I wouldn’t say it doubles it in value. Get the Manduka mat if it’s located near you, you’ll love it.

  3. Hi Erin,

    Whould you have a preference for a manduka Eko travel mat or a pro one?

    Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š

  4. Hi Anna! It really depends what on what you want it for. If you’re looking for a mat to use every single day at home, get the pro-lite. It’s thicker and will be a lot more comfortable for you (and they last forever!). If you’re looking for a travel yoga mat that you can toss in a suitcase it has to be the eko travel mat because it folds up so compactly but it IS very thing and not as comfortable for an every day at home mat.

  5. Hi Anna,
    I just received my Manduka Pro mat and it needs to be broken in. I’m leaving for a trip in under 2 weeks and am shopping for a travel mat. Does the Manduka eKo travel mat need the same brake in period or does it come already very sticky?

    Thanks,
    Karen

  6. Hi Anna

    I require a yoga mat for my travels, the Manduka Pro is definitely a good suggestion – thanks for the tips!

    What size would you recommend –
    71โ€, 180cm or 180cm x 60cm?

    Thanks,
    Satvinder

  7. Hi Satvinder, the Pro mat is an excellent mat but keep in mind that it’s a normal mat great for a daily practice and doesn’t fold down to pack easily. Choose the length best for your height, the 71 inch is standard length and good for most people. If you’re tall the longer mat would be great.

  8. I’m afraid all mats will be hot for your practice after a day in the Arizona summer heat! Perhaps the Yoga Design Lab mat will hold up well since the surface is more like that of a yoga towel for hot yoga.

  9. Hi, I have been traveling with my manduka eco Lite for a year now and over the last month’s it has become so sticky that it’s impossible to practice on it – it won’t let go of my hands and feet! If I use it the other way round, the rubber sticks to the floor and I have to tear the mat off – goodbye rubber. Has this happened to anyone else? Is there a way to make it unstick again? I should mention, that most of the time I have been traveling in tropical hot and humid climate

  10. Hi Jenn! I’m so sorry you’re having problems with your Manduka mat. I have two of their travel mats and both are MUCH less sticky with a bit of use, maybe you’re right and it has something to do with the humid climate… I recommend contacting their customer service, they have a great lifetime guarantee and they should be able to help you since the mat isn’t breaking in properly. And for hot, humid climates maybe try a yoga towel type of mat like the Yoga Design Lab or Mikkoa mats on this list.

  11. Hi Erin! Hubby an I just want to say how much we appreciate your review. We’re taking a trip to Spain, Morocco, and Portugal next year and we’ll only be on public transportation. On previous trips, we used the bulky folded-into-squares models. There ok for camping trips in our truck, but without our own wheels, they’re just 1 step better than a bulky roll. We settled on the Yogo matt because we’ll be traveling with only small carry-on lugagge.
    We just ordered two! Problem solved! Thank you.

    P.S. We’re expats from California, we’ve been in Mexico for 25+ years. We love yoga and travelling. The world could be a better place if more of us practiced both, don’t you agree? We loved Argentina! So glad we found your blog.

  12. Thanks so much for your comment, you’re going to love the YOGO mat, it’s so compact and easy to travel with!
    And agreed, yoga and travel make the world a better place ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Hi! Iโ€™ve had a Manduka EcoLite before and found that it did not lay/stay on the floor. Stepping forward would cause it to bunch up. (Yes- that could just be me- lol)
    I do โ€˜liveโ€™ on my Manduka Pro, so am still a fan. Iโ€™ve also loved Jade mats until theyโ€™ve worn out. Question- which of these travel mats you so lovingly reviewed would you say has enough substance to stay on the floor?

  14. You’re right, I’ve noticed that about my Manduka travel mat too on certain surfaces, I haven’t had that problem with my Mikkoa mat, just note that the surface is like a hot yoga towel, not grippy like Manduka’s. But I find I don’t slip on it, it’s slowly become my favorite mat and I just ordered a second!

  15. Hi Erin, I’m a sort of a slow nomad and currently staying in Argentina, the reason I found your blog. Thanks for all the generous information you put together that has been very helpful! I’m a yogi too and have been travelling with my Manduka Eco super light for quite some time now, and I’d like to ask you a question: Do you know anywhere or any way I can buy white distilled vinegar in Buenos Aires as a foreigner? I need to make a new yoga mat cleaner but can’t find the vinegar(nor witch hazel) anywhere. Or do you have recommendations for a yoga cleaner I can buy here? Thank you so much in advance ๐Ÿ™‚

  16. I just use the vinegar I find in the supermarkets, is it distilled? Your average cheap white vinegar…I mix it with water and add essential oils (tea tree and lavender). I don’t use witch hazel but a quick search on MercadoLibre showed it as agua de hamamelis, maybe ask in dieteticas or homeopathic pharmacies for that.

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