Athleta Yoga Mat: Honest Buyer's Guide Before You Buy
Athleta, the women's activewear brand owned by Gap Inc., sells yoga mats and accessories as a small line alongside its core apparel business. That matters if you are shopping for an Athleta yoga mat: the brand is not a dedicated mat manufacturer like Manduka or Jade, the lineup has shifted over the years, and what you actually find on the product page today depends on whether you land on a partner-brand mat (Athleta has historically resold the Manduka Prolite, for example) or on the brand's own in-house mat. In January 2023, Athleta announced its first own-label yoga mat under the "Flow Freely" collection, made with natural rubber, and that changed the question from "does Athleta even sell mats" to "which Athleta mat should I pick, and when is a specialist mat brand the better buy". This guide covers both.
What Athleta actually sells in yoga mats today
Athleta is best known for leggings, tops and studio apparel, and its equipment line is a complement to that. In a press release dated January 17, 2023, Gap Inc. announced the launch of the brand's first ever yoga mat and accessories collection, "Flow Freely", including a mat, a block and a bag. Two practical consequences for a shopper in 2026:
- There is now an Athleta own-label mat to evaluate. According to Gap Inc.'s press release, the Flow Freely mat is made with 70% YULEX natural rubber, a plant-based foam responsibly sourced from FSC-certified forests. The collection also includes a yoga block made partly from sugarcane and a bag made from recycled polyester ripstop.
- Athleta has historically stocked partner mats too. Search results for "athleta yoga mat" return Manduka Prolite product pages on athleta.gap.com, meaning at times Athleta has resold a well-known mat brand rather than a house label. Always verify the current spec sheet (thickness, material, weight, length) on the product page itself, because the lineup rotates.
The honest summary: Athleta is an apparel-first company that now ships at least one first-party yoga mat and, depending on the season, partner mats as well. That gives you options, but it also means the brand is not trying to out-engineer Manduka on a pro-level dense mat. Judge any specific mat by the same objective criteria you would apply to any brand.
Is Athleta a "yoga mat brand"? The company context
Before you buy a mat from a brand, it helps to know what the brand is best at. A few things about Athleta are public, sourced, and worth getting right.
- Owned by Gap Inc. According to Gap Inc.'s corporate site, Athleta was acquired by Gap, Inc. in 2008, with the first Athleta-branded store opening in Mill Valley, California in 2011.
- Certified B Corporation since 2018. In a March 20, 2018 press release, Gap Inc. announced that Athleta had earned B Corp Certification from the nonprofit B Lab, "becoming one of the largest apparel companies in the world to certify as B Corp." The directory entry at bcorporation.net confirms certification since March 2018, an overall B Impact score of 94.5 (against a median of 50.9 for assessed businesses), and headquarters in California.
- What the B Corp mark does and does not tell you. The credential covers the company's overall social and environmental performance, governance and transparency. It is a real differentiator at the corporate level. It does not, on its own, tell you whether a particular mat will be grippy under sweaty hands or last a decade. For that, you still need the spec list.
For values-driven shoppers, this is genuinely useful context. For everyone else, the practical takeaway is that the B Corp mark is a corporate claim, not a per-mat material claim. Always check the material on the actual product page.
The five specs to check on any yoga mat
Whether you buy from Athleta or anyone else, these are the criteria to check on the product page:
- Thickness. Around 3 mm suits balance work and travel; 4–5 mm is the comfortable all-rounder; 6 mm and up cushions sensitive knees but feels less stable in standing poses. Our yoga mat thickness guide goes deeper.
- Material. Natural rubber grips well wet or dry but is heavier and unsuitable for latex allergies; TPE is lighter and often cheaper; PVC is durable but the least eco-friendly option. For a sustainability-oriented mat, look for natural rubber and check whether the rubber is FSC-certified (the standard the Flow Freely launch cites).
- Grip when wet. If you sweat or do heated classes, look for a polyurethane top layer or closed-cell rubber, or plan on using a mat towel. Open-cell natural rubber is grippy from day one but absorbs sweat, which is a different trade-off.
- Size and weight. Standard mats run about 68–72 inches long; taller practitioners should look for 72+ inches. Anything over 5 lb gets tiresome to carry to class, especially if you bike or walk.
- Care requirements. Natural rubber degrades in direct sunlight and with harsh cleaners; check the care label before buying if you practice outdoors or travel with the mat. How to clean a yoga mat covers what works on each material.
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Athleta vs. dedicated mat brands
| Brand | Type of company | Known for | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athleta | Apparel-first (Gap Inc.), B Corp since 2018 | First-party Flow Freely mat (2023) with YULEX natural rubber; historically also resells partner mats like the Manduka Prolite; store network and easy returns | Casual practice; shoppers already buying Athleta apparel who want one mat from one brand |
| Manduka | Dedicated mat maker | Dense PRO-series mats with long lifespans; performance grip lines; the Prolite is the model most often resold by Athleta | Daily practitioners wanting a long-term mat |
| Lululemon | Apparel-first with a flagship mat | Polyurethane-topped mats with strong wet grip | Sweaty flow and hot classes |
| Jade Yoga | Dedicated mat maker | Open-cell natural rubber, very grippy from day one | Eco-minded buyers; dry-hands grip seekers |
| Gaiam | Mass-market fitness brand | Affordable PVC and TPE mats, wide retail availability | Beginners testing the waters on a budget |
The honest summary: if you practice daily and want a mat engineered to last years, dedicated makers have the edge in materials engineering. If you practice a few times a week, want easy returns, and like consolidating purchases with your activewear, an Athleta mat is a perfectly reasonable choice — just verify the spec sheet first. For the budget end of the market, see our companion guide to yoga mats at Walmart.
Match the mat to your practice, not the brand
- Slow, gentle, or restorative practice: prioritize cushioning (5 mm+) over grip.
- Flowing styles: grip and stability come first — a thinner, denser mat behaves better in transitions. If that is your style, here is what vinyasa yoga involves.
- Heated or sweaty classes: wet grip is non-negotiable; polyurethane tops, closed-cell rubber, or a mat towel over a base mat. The Manduka Prolite is a popular choice here; the Flow Freely's grippy-by-design claim is worth checking on the current PDP before you commit.
- Beginners: a mid-thickness all-rounder is the safest first buy — pair it with our morning yoga for beginners routine to put it to use.
- Pregnancy: extra cushioning and a non-slip surface matter more than brand; our pregnancy yoga guide covers safe setups.
- Premium Performance Mat for Every Practice: Built for yoga, Pilates, stretching, and fitness routines, this Gaiam Dry Grip Yoga Mat delivers lightweight stability and comfort for daily use. Suitable for yoga, meditation, floor workouts, mobility exercises, and sessions at home or the gym
- Moisture-Wicking Grip for Sweaty Sessions: Designed with a unique moisture-wicking topcoat, this non-slip Pilates mat helps wick away sweat to maintain traction and grip through every pose. Great for hot yoga, Vinyasa, Bikram, and high-intensity workouts where stability and control matter most
- Cushioned Support for Joints and Stability: The rubber exercise mat provides cushioning and support for hands, feet, knees, wrists, elbows, and spine during floor exercises and post-workout stretching. Helps improve comfort, alignment, confidence, and balance through every movement
- Lightweight and Easy to Carry: Designed for portability, this lightweight workout mat is easy to roll up and carry to yoga studios, gyms, fitness classes, home workouts, or travel workouts. The Dry-Grip surface helps reduce the need for a separate towel during hot yoga and high-sweat sessions
- Built for All Yoga Styles & Fitness Goals: Suitable for Hatha, Vinyasa, meditation, rehabilitation exercises, bodyweight training, and year-round use. Pairs well with yoga blocks, straps, towels, foam rollers, and other accessories to support flexibility, body control, and alignment
Caring for a yoga mat so it lasts
Mat care is the same regardless of label: wipe down after sweaty sessions with water and a drop of mild soap (or a purpose-made mat spray), air-dry fully before rolling, store away from direct sunlight, and roll with the practice surface facing out so the corners lie flat. Avoid alcohol-heavy cleaners on rubber mats — they dry the material and shorten its life. For step-by-step guidance, see how to clean a yoga mat.
- Natural Cork: Elevate your yoga practice with our eco-friendly, non-slip Gaiam Cork Yoga Brick, perfect for yoga, Pilates, and more.
- Modify Your Poses: Ideal for all skill levels; shorten or deepen your stretches effortlessly. Dimensions: 9"W x 5.5"H x 3"D, lightweight at 1.5 lbs.
- Rounded Edges & Superior Grip: Designed for your comfort, the rounded edges and textured surface provide excellent grip and control during challenging poses.
- Perfect Dimensions: Measuring at 9"W x 5.5"H x 3"D, this yoga brick provides ample support for optimal alignment and posture.
- Versatile & Portable: Compact and lightweight, this cork yoga brick is your go-to fitness accessory for home or gym workouts.
Yes. Athleta launched its first own-label yoga mat, the Flow Freely, in January 2023, according to a Gap Inc. press release. The mat is made with 70% YULEX natural rubber from FSC-certified forests. Athleta has also historically resold partner mats, most often the Manduka Prolite, so always check the current product page for the exact specifications of any mat it sells.
It depends on the specific model. For heated classes the key feature is wet grip, typically from a polyurethane top layer or closed-cell rubber. The Manduka Prolite that Athleta has historically resold is a common choice for sweaty practices. For the Flow Freely mat, check the current product page for the wet-grip spec; if it is unclear, plan on using a mat towel.
About 3 mm favors balance and portability, 4 to 5 mm is the comfortable all-round choice, and 6 mm or more protects sensitive knees at some cost to stability in standing poses. Match thickness to the style you practice most.
Athleta has been a certified B Corporation since March 2018, according to a Gap Inc. press release and the B Lab directory, with an overall B Impact score of 94.5. The certification is corporate, not per-mat, so the sustainability of a specific Athleta mat still depends on its material: natural rubber, TPE, or PVC.
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Last update 2026-09-10. Price and product availability may change.
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