Our pick of the best exercise mats for every workout

Suitable for yoga and pilates or HIIT and plyometrics – for use at home, in the gym or on the go – these are the best exercise mats for 2024, tried and tested by us.

If you’re looking to kit our your home gym, good-quality exercise mats are often the best – and least expensive – place to start. Unless you want to risk discomfort or injury, you can’t really carry out prone stretching exercises or dynamic plyometric exercises on a hard gym or home floor.

The best way to perfect your pilates or hammer out your HIIT sessions in comfort and safety is with an exercise mat. Despite their relative simplicity, though, not all mats are made equal. They vary in dimensions, cushioning and thickness, as well as material, grip, weight and portability, so it’s important to find one that suits your needs. 

We tested out a wide range of options to find the very best exercise mats on the market.

These are the best exercise mats

It’s tough to single one exercise mat out, but in our opinion the Body Power Never Quit Fitness Mat edges out the rest. For starters it’s the cheapest on test but it’s also one of the comfiest, thanks to that 10mm slab of luxurious foam-like nitrile butadiene rubber. It’s also double-sided with a handy carry strap.

Other exercise mat recommendations

Best for taller users	The Lululemon (Big) Mat wins hands down here. It’s a whopping 30cm longer than most other mats and is built to last. It’s reversible between smooth and grippy surfaces and features an antimicrobial coating too.
Best for grip	The Myprotein Yoga Recovery Mat has a soft and spongy 6mm foam construction that provides just the right amount of cushioning. The wavy grooves in the material give your hands and feet extra purchase and make sure the mat stays put too.
Best for extra width	The Karma Fitness Extra Wide Workout Mat does exactly what it says on the tin. At 31.5in / 80cm it’s the widest mat we tested, and it’s plush, comfy and easy to clean and carry too.

1. Body Power Never Quit Fitness Mat

Materials	Nitrile butadiene rubber
Dimensions	71.7 x 24in (182 x 61cm)
Features	10mm cushion, double-sided, carry strap
Color	Black

The Body Power Never Quit Fitness Mat is the cheapest exercise mat we tested but you wouldn’t know it. While testing, we found the generous 10mm-thick nitrile butadiene rubber construction gave a luxurious, comfortable and foam-like feel. 

Its non-slip textured surface provided us with plenty of grip, and that 10mm cushion felt plush underfoot. It’s also great for absorbing impact during more dynamic workouts. We also like the fact it has a carry strap and is double-sided, making it even more versatile.

Overall, we think the Body Power Never Quit Fitness Mat holds its own in the company of the best exercise mats over five times its price.

• Read our full Body Power Never Quit Fitness Mat review

2. The Lululemon (Big) Mat  

Materials	FSC-certified natural rubber
Dimensions	83.9 x 27.9in (213 x 71cm)
Features	Reversible, antimicrobial additive
Colors	Six multi-coloured designs

The Lululemon (Big) Mat may seem pricey but its FSC-certified rubber construction has such a quality, long-lasting feel, we reckon could easily be your mat for life. Its top layer absorbs moisture and an antimicrobial layer keeps mould, mildew and bad smells at bay.

It’s worth noting that this is substantially bigger than any other mat we tested, around 10cm wider and a whopping 30cm longer than regular mats, making it ideal for taller users. It’s reversible too, so you can swap between smooth and grippy surfaces depending on your workout. The Lululemon is available in six eye-catching marble designs, too. 

• Read our full The Lululemon (Big) Mat review

3. Karma Fitness Extra Wide Workout Mat

Materials	Dual-layer waterproof TPE
Dimensions	72 x 31.5in / 183 x 80cm
Features	0.4in / 10mm thick, carry strap
Colors	Yellow, red, blue, grey, dark grey, black

If you often find yourself teetering on the edge of your workout mat, give the Karma Fitness Extra Wide a try. While its length is fairly standard, the width is whopping – at 31.5in / 80cm it’s the widest mat we tested.

We found it to be plush and comfortable too, and easy to clean and carry thanks to the included strap and optional mat cleaner.

• Read our full Karma Fitness Extra Wide Mat review

4. Myprotein Yoga Recovery Mat  

Materials	High-density foam
Dimensions	72 x 24in (183 x 61cm)
Features	6mm cushion, textured surface, strap included
Colors	Blue, grey

The Myprotein Yoga Recovery Mat is a lightweight, inexpensive mat that’s an ideal option for stashing in your gym bag. It comes with a handy strap and we were able to roll it up nice and compactly after use, despite it having a soft and spongy high-density 6mm foam cushion.

In our opinion, it’s just the right thickness to provide a strong, stable base for your feet, despite its soft and cushioned feel. We also found the wavy grooves provided plenty of grip. Although this is one of the cheaper options on our list of the best exercise mats, it stands up to plenty of wear and tear for a foam mat.

• Read our full Myprotein Yoga Recovery Mat review

5. Kimjaly Yoga Mat 

Materials	Foamed natural rubber / polyurethane
Dimensions	72.8 x 25.6in (185 x 65cm)
Features	Available in 3mm, 4mm, 5mm and 8mm thickness / alignment lines
Colors	Various

The Kimjaly Mat is available in a wide array of versions (Light, Comfort, Grip+, XL), all with different thicknesses ranging from 3mm to 8mm. While testing, we thought the 5mm Grip+ version felt soft and well-cushioned. We also love that it provides a plush platform to protect spines from hard floors without compromising on grip.

The smooth elastomer top layer works well to wick away moisture – our hands and feet were locked firmly in place while on the mat. At 820g it’s lightweight and compact when rolled up. There’s a carry strap, too, making this suitable for taking to the office for after-work gym sessions.

• Read our full Kimjaly Yoga Mat review

6. Gymshark Studio Mat

Materials	100% natural rubber
Dimensions	70.8 x 25.9in (180 x 66cm)
Features	Full-length screen-printed logo / strap and band bought separately
Colors	Black, brown, hibiscus pink

The Gymshark Studio Mat is a quality piece of kit. Made from 100% natural rubber, we found it to be soft underfoot with a reassuringly grippy surface. It’s hefty too, so we didn’t have any issues with it budging on the floor. However, that does make transporting it a bit of an effort.

There are three colour options, each with the striking Gymshark logo emblazoned across the front. Plus, if you do want to take it out and about, there’s an optional strap and band, which you can also use for banded exercises. Overall, a robust exercise mat that should last you for years.

• Read our full Gymshark Studio Mat review

How we tested the best exercise mats

Our testers put these exercise mats through their paces in a range of workouts, from HIIT sessions to yoga, to bring you the best of the best. In particular, testers were looking to see how grippy the mats were, how comfortable they were to exercise on and how easy they were to transport on the go. Bonus points were also awarded for durability, design options and value for money.

What to look for in the best exercise mats

Grip

A good grip between your hands, feet or other contact points and the mat surface is key to performing exercises with confidence, and therefore with proper form. The last thing you need when performing the best hip stretches is a knee or groin strain caused by slipping off the mat. Look for options with a non-slip or textured surface that let you plant your limbs with confidence.

Stability

Stability is another important factor to consider. After all, a mat that moves beneath you is as likely to annoy, distract or even injure you as one with little grip on the top layer. Heavier rubber or cork mats tend to lie flat more easily without curling at the corners like lighter foam ones, for example. Look out for mats that tend to bunch up in the middle, too – you want to avoid trip hazards mid-burpee if possible.

Comfort

There’s usually a tradeoff between comfort and portability. This is because thicker, heavier mats are harder to roll up and carry. But don’t ignore the comfort factor, particularly if you plan to work out on hard surfaces. There should be enough cushioning to do crunches without crippling your spine, but not too much that you lose your balance holding one-legged yoga poses. The average mat tends to be about 4-8mm thick, though there are some exceptions here. 

Durability

How long your exercise mat lasts will depend greatly on the material it’s made from and its thickness. Rubber mats, or those made from other natural fibres such as jute, will most likely last longer than foam ones. You’ll be more likely to take a lighter foam mat out to evening classes too. This will add to its wear and tear. Durability is worth bearing in mind especially if you plan to wear shoes on it, or to use weights or medicine balls.

Portability

Another thing to consider is portability. The mats in this list range from 500g to well over 3kg so some are easier to lug around than others. Not all mats come with straps or a carry handle either (though sometimes a bag or strap is an optional extra). It depends on what’s important to you – if you want to do regular classes after work, you’ll want a smaller, lighter and probably less durable mat than one set up permanently in your home gym.

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