Customer Reviews

Jade Fusion 74-Inch x 5/16-Inch Yoga Mat (Olive Green)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this mat about a year ago ... I wanted a durable mat with as much padding as possible for hot vinyasa yoga. This seemed like the thickest one out there. It took a couple of months to break in, with a strong rubber odor and a little too firm. Then it was a terrific mat for 8-10 months, no odor, thick, soft and not slippery. Then it started to break down, offering less cushion, felt thinner (and rolled up thinner as if the material had compressed), and started to stretch under me and lose its grip on the floor, often sliding and stretching under me while I practice. My joints have started bothering me due to the reduced cushioning from the worn out mat. I practice about 5x/week and this mat wore out in less than a year, and it is expensive for less than a year of use.

This mat is amazing!! I needed a really thick mat because I've had knee surgeries (ACL tear) and this mat is perfect. The grip is also perfect and I no longer slide when doing down dog. It is pretty heavy (for a yoga mat) and because its so thick it can kinda unroll- I bought a sling so that it doesn't unroll and is easier to carry.
I highly recommend this mat!

From Michele Knudsen:

The grip and comfort this mat provides has helped me achieve more with each practice. Poses are easier and more enjoyable. It is a wonderful expierence.

Because of the thickness there is absolutely no discomfort on my knees or elbows. I love it! It is worth every penny. You will not be sorry.

So, as I wrote in previous reviews...I admit it, I have been on the "Holy Grail" search for the perfect yoga mat (for me, IMHO etc.) I tried the Manduka giant mat (see review; if you are a tall yogi/ini, it is a fantastic mat!); loved the Manduka after I gave it a few good washings and uses-finally got sticky. Then the grass was greener on the other side, so I got the Jade mid-range 3/16" padding mat. REALLY loved it regardless of funky rubber smell, I mean, what do I expect? Its main component is...rubber. I have used that Jade mat A LOT-regular classes, yoga teacher training certificate program, and was very happy with it. Until...I touched my one yoga teacher's 5/16" mat, and went..."OMG!" (I had also noticed that the beloved 3/16" mat was starting to stretch out and creep around a bit during practice). Needless to say, after these observations, I HAD to order the 5/16" mat PRONTO through Amazon and was finally able to put it through the paces this morning in a power/flow class.
Guess what? THIS is the ONE! Sure, it is heavier, like the Manduka primo, but this mat-strait out of the wrapping,was super-grippy, no slippage, and it smelled really great-it had no obnoxious odor like the 3/16" mat has had. I don't know if something in the manufacturing process changed with that, but that was a nice surprise. (The rubber smell did dissipate after a few weeks with the 3/16, but don't leave it in a warm car=total industrious reek).
This mat, true, costs a bit more, but I wish I had just gone with IT in the first place. I highly recommend this mat for the comfort and the immediate no-slip surface/texture. If you are practicing several times a week, are heavier, or are petite and want the comfort the extra padding offers, I highly, highly, suggest purchasing this mat. It is money VERY WELL spent!

This has to be the best yoga mat I've used. Worth the $$$. It has excellent traction. I can use it for hot yoga and don't find my hands slipping. Since the mat is thicker than most mats, it is heavier which means it does not move when you vinyasa/chataranga. While it does have more cushioning than most mats, it offers firm cushioning (not spongey or soft).
It's made in the USA and of a sustainable resource - rubber. The mat does have a rubber odor that wears off in a few weeks.

Minor complaint - I do find the mat gets a dusty look from hands/feet after use but, it washes away easily.

I recommend this mat to everyone who practices yoga. Namaste.

2 months ago, I purchased the Jade Fusion 74" x 5/16" mat in olive green. I am a yoga teacher trainee, have practiced for almost 10 years, and was looking for a quality mat that would prevent slipping. Even after reading all the reviews regarding the strong smell of rubber, I was still shocked and dismayed when UPS delivered the package and the smell emanated from the cardboard box! I unpacked the mat and hung it up in my diningroom, only to discover that after 24 hours the odor had permeated the entire house. I was so disappointed. However, I hung the mat outside for a week and the smell is now gone.

Practicing on this mat has GREATLY improved my personal practice. Slippage is now zero. No more sliding around in downdog. Although this is a much thicker mat than is standard, I have no problem doing balance poses such as tree and warrior 3. Because it is so thick and made from natural materials, it is also a good deal heavier and larger than the standard mat. I purchased a velcro mat sling because this mat wouldn't fit in my mat bag. Dirt and debris are easily removed with a simple shake or brush of the hand.

I absolutely LOVE my Jade Fusion mat. It's been 2 months since purchase, but every time I use it, I'm just so pleased. I recommend this mat to everyone and can say it was well worth the price.

~Namaste~

I was disappointed with the durability of this mat. It began wearing out after just a few months - literally shedding small pieces onto the studio floor. I only had it six months and already there are wear spots at the top of the mat - a hole is starting to form. I've had to flip it over to get some more use out of it. Soon I will have to buy a new mat - and it won't be this one.

Pros: High quality, recovers its shape much better than synthetic mats, performs exceptionally well in a wet environment (Bikram) in terms of mat not sliding on the floor and towels not sliding on the mat. Cons: although heavy to carry, the big issue if you live in an apartment is the month I found I needed to let the mat hang so that the smell was reduced enough to take into a studio. That new tire smell is intense in a little apartment. And it never completely leaves the mat. Final issue to consider is that this is a thick mat: very comfortable, but makes balance more challenging in single-leg standing postures. (Not necessarily a bad thing.)

Six Months Later...
I stopped using this mat outside the home. Too heavy and on balance I don't like the additional destabalization that comes with the deep thickness of the mat. I reemain a fan of rubber and would be tempted to buy a thinner rubber mat in future. For now my preferred mat is a standard-thickness Gaiam synthetic yoga mat I bought on sale at a closing Barnes and Nobles store. Cheap, light, easliy replaced.

It needs to air outside for a few weeks to make the rubber smell less. Otherwise, I love everything about this mat.Jade Fusion 74-by-5/16-inch Yoga Mat

This mat is thick, comfortable, long, sturdy and doesnt slip. The bad thing is that its HEAVY and smells rubbery. But overall I am proud of this mat. The quality is awesome but the price is steep :(