This really is an amazing yoga mat. It is thin, but well-made and is holding up very well to daily and often twice daily yoga practice. This is very important of course, as it does cost more than some other yoga mats, but also features a 6 month warranty! That was a strong selling point to me, as I had just returned another, cheaper mat after less than 1 month of daily use. It was starting to shred and break up, but the Jade Travel Yoga Mat is clearly holding up under constant use.
It is made from a fairly dense, yet supple rubber material. Yes, it does smell like rubber at first, but that fades with time. Some people like the smell, some don't, it didn't seem to bother me. If the odor does bother you, washing with a mild detergent and rinsing will help, but really it may take some time for the rubber smell to go away.
I did notice that the tacky, pebbled surface did seem to pick up almost every single hair and piece of dirt, fiber,etc. that it came in contact with, which was annoying, but not a deal-breaker. I clean the mat as needed and the surface does take a little longer to clean, but not by much.
Early on, I designated one side, the Jade logo label side, the "Up" side and the reverse, the "Down" side. This seems to help with reducing maintenance/cleaning. Also, before rolling, I fold the mat almost in half, folding the short end "bottom" maybe 6"-8" shy of the top end. Then I gently roll from the folded edge. This greatly speeds up the rolling process.
Once rolled, the mat is much smaller than what you may be used to. Also, it is dense material, so it is a little heavier. No matter, it works well for me to easily strap on my motorcycle.
The thinner height of the mat allows you to feel more grounded and stable. If you are at the stage in your yoga practice where you don't really need a lot of cushion and want something that is a happy-medium between a standard height mat and no mat at all, this is it. You will feel secure and confident on this mat. It always lays flat with no curling edges. If you are doing an asana that requires more cushion, it is easy enough to fold up a small towel and place it under a knee, which you probably already have nearby.
There is no slipping on this mat. This is coming from a guy that sweats a LOT during yoga practice. All of the other mats I have used, have had slipping "issues" when wet. This is the exception. I always place a small towel at the top of the mat, covering the first 12" inches of the mat, so my hands have something additional as cushioning as well and I have never had a problem. The tacky, pebbled surface is perfect for giving you a solid, stable and comfortable footing, providing such a sense of confidence and security that you never have to think about the possibility of slipping.
Occasionally, when moving on the mat, a portion of it will get caught and bunch up a little, but is easily smoothed out.
I chose this color, Sedona Red, after seeing it and liking it at a yoga practice. It has a nice grounding quality to it and isn't black, which I am bored with or teal and purple which are more feminine. Midnight blue looked pretty cool also, as did Olive Green, but not as much to me.
Oddly, the longer 74" mats are currently $2 cheaper than the 6" shorter, 68" mats. $47.95 vs $49.95 with Prime delivery. Hey, that's a deal! Thanks Jade!
My understanding is that this mat is made from rubber, which is biodegradable, so it is an environmentally friendly choice. That is a plus, in my estimation. You should not leave this mat in the sun or in your car for long periods, as it will cause the material to age more rapidly.
Made in the USA. Go USA!
I also like the additional length you get with this mat. Some mats are just 68" long. It feels like a bit of luxury to have the additional 6", knowing that when you lay on your mat, even without looking, you won't have to worry about your head landing on the floor.
I am thoroughly impressed with the quality and design of this mat. After seeing and testing my mat, a good yogi friend got one as well and she loves it. Since I use it daily, I don't expect this to last more than a year, if that. As mentioned, it does come with a 6 month warranty, which is well above what is offered with other mats.
I am not affiliated with Jade nor have I received anything from them for this review. I will update this review if I notice any substantial changes.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 23.9 x 3 x 1.8 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 1.38 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 68 x 24 x 0.13 inches |
| Item Weight | 1.3 Kilograms |
| Brand Name | JadeYoga |
| Color | Black |
| Material | Rubber |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Jade Yoga |
| Part Number | 868BK |
| Size | 68-inch |
