Best Non-Slip Yoga Mat: How to Choose One That Actually Grips
There is no single best non-slip yoga mat — the right pick depends on how much you sweat. For dry-hands practice, a natural rubber mat (such as the Jade Harmony or B Yoga B Mat) gives the most reliable everyday grip. If your palms sweat heavily or you do hot yoga, a polyurethane-topped mat (like Lululemon The Mat or the Liforme) or a cork mat works better, because both keep or even improve their grip when wet. Dense PVC mats like the Manduka PRO last the longest but handle sweat worst without a towel. This guide compares the main grip technologies and the most established mats in each category, with the trade-offs the marketing leaves out.
- First, know your grip problem
- Comparison: the main non-slip mat types
- Best picks by situation
- How to stop slipping on your yoga mat mid-practice
- Which yoga mat do yoga teachers use? (and why)
- What actually makes a mat non-slip
- Keep the grip you paid for
- Liforme vs Manduka: which one is grippier?
- Frequently asked questions
First, know your grip problem
Mats fail in two different ways, and they need different solutions:
- Dry slip: your hands slide on a smooth or dusty surface even without sweat. Solved by tackier materials (natural rubber) or texture.
- Wet slip: grip is fine until you sweat, then your hands hydroplane. Solved by absorbent open-cell surfaces, polyurethane top layers, or cork — or simply a yoga towel over any mat.
A mat that excels at one can be mediocre at the other, which is why hot yoga practitioners and gentle hatha students rarely love the same mat. If you are unsure which one you are, run your hand across the mat's surface after a few minutes of practice: if it feels slick in the absence of moisture, the problem is dry slip; if it only gets slick once sweat appears, the problem is wet slip.
Comparison: the main non-slip mat types
| Mat / type | Surface | Dry grip | Sweaty grip | Honest trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jade Harmony | Open-cell natural rubber | Excellent | Good | Wears faster than closed-cell mats; rubber smell at first; sensitive to direct sunlight |
| B Yoga B Mat Everyday | Natural rubber | Excellent | Good | Heavier than synthetic mats |
| Lululemon The Mat (5mm) | Polyurethane top, rubber base | Very good | Excellent — absorbs sweat | PU layer stains and shows marks; needs regular cleaning |
| Liforme Original | Polyurethane top, rubber base | Excellent | Excellent | Premium price band; PU surface can wear with heavy use |
| Manduka GRP Adapt 2.0 | Polyurethane / micro-wicking top, rubber base | Very good | Excellent — designed for hot classes | Newer model; fewer long-term reviews than the PRO line |
| Cork mats (e.g., Yoloha) | Cork top, rubber or TPE base | Moderate when bone-dry | Excellent — cork grips better damp | Feels slick to some until you sweat; cork edges can chip |
| Manduka PRO / PROlite | Closed-cell PVC | Good after break-in | Poor without a towel | Famous break-in period; very heavy — extremely durable and backed by a lifetime guarantee |
| Budget TPE mats | Textured TPE foam | Decent | Weak | Grip and durability fade within months of regular practice |
None of the links in this article are affected by manufacturers; these assessments reflect widely reported characteristics of each mat category. Live pricing is shown in the product boxes below.
Best picks by situation
The "best" mat is the one that matches your practice, not the one that tops a listicle. Here is how the main categories map to common situations.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
- Hot yoga or heavy sweating: polyurethane-topped mat or cork, plus a grippy microfiber towel on the heaviest days. For a deeper look at the heat side of the equation, see our guide to what to wear to hot yoga.
- Everyday vinyasa or hatha with normal sweat: natural rubber. It is the best all-round grip-to-price ratio. If you want a detailed walkthrough of the materials science behind it, our guide to how non-slip yoga mats work is the companion read.
- Maximum durability for daily practice: dense PVC (Manduka PRO type) plus a towel for sweaty sessions. These mats genuinely last many years, which offsets their weight.
- Entry-level budget: a textured TPE mat will do the job for a beginner — just expect to replace it once you practice several times a week. If you are only starting out, check what you actually need for yoga before spending more.
- Sensitive knees: grip is only half the story; cushioning matters too. See our breakdown of the best yoga mat thickness before choosing.
How to stop slipping on your yoga mat mid-practice
Most "my mat is slippery" complaints have a quick fix. Try these in order before you give up on the mat.
- Add a yoga towel. A microfiber yoga towel laid over any mat transforms its wet grip. It is the cheapest, most reversible fix and works on rubber, PU, cork or PVC.
- Clean the surface. Body oils are a major cause of mid-class slipperiness. Wipe down with a damp cloth and a tiny amount of mild soap after every practice; deeper cleanse weekly.
- Break it in. Many PVC and some rubber mats arrive with a slick factory film that fades with use. A wipe-down with diluted white vinegar, or a coarse salt scrub on PVC mats only, speeds up the process. Skip this on PU — it can dull the coating.
- Switch sides. Some mats are deliberately different on each side: one side for dry grip, the other for sweaty grip. The Jade Harmony and the Lululemon reversible mat both work this way.
- Replace the mat. If the surface is peeling, flaking, or stays slick after a proper clean, the foam has broken down. Mats past their prime cannot be saved.
For a full routine, see our step-by-step on how to clean a yoga mat.
- GRIP DOT: Fusing the bottom of the yoga towel with grip dots creates maximum grip for all forms of Yoga,Bikram(hot yoga), Vinyasa, Hatha, Ashtanga, Pilates, Asana and meditation.Stay grounded, focused, and in perfect balance during your practice
- SUPER ABSORBENT: Excellent water absorption effect can keep your yoga posture for a long time and ensure safety without worrying about sweating and slipping issues during exercise. In fact, the more you sweat, the more grippy the towel gets
- PORTABLE & LIGHTWEIGHT: 72" long X 24" wide, suitable for most yoga mats. You can pack your yoga towel for easy carrying and storage. It can also be used as beach towel, camping towel, beach body wrap, rest towel, blanket, table cloth and bath towel
- CATCHING EYES DESIGN: Embrace vibrant color patterns and eye-catching contrast stitching design to infuse excitement into your yoga routine, ensuring motivation remains high. Our water-based print inks guarantee enduring vibrancy, even after multiple washes
- EASY TO CARE: Washable with wash machine and tumble dry on low or simply hang dry
- Eco-Silicone Web Grip Bottom to help keep the yoga towel from slipping
- Stay safe and prevent injury; Slipping is the top cause of injury in yoga, and injury is the leading reason people give up on yoga; Prevent skidding with this silicone dotted grippy microfiber towel
- Less slipping, more yoga; Fusing the bottom of the yoga towel with silicone dots creates maximum grip for all forms of yoga
- Improve muscle tone and fitness when you practice yoga with confidence built on a dry, stable base; Go deeper with poses and get the most out of yoga routines
- Keep your yoga mat or floor clean; Simply throw the yoga mat sized towel into the washing machine when you're done with your practice
Which yoga mat do yoga teachers use? (and why)
You will see two or three mats over and over in studios. That is partly fashion and partly function: those are the mats that survive a class load of eight students a day and still grip.
- Manduka PRO line. The PRO and PROlite dominate teacher-only studios because the closed-cell PVC shrugs off the constant wipe-downs a shared mat needs, and the lifetime guarantee removes the replacement question.
- Liforme Original. Common in alignment-focused vinyasa and Iyengar-adjacent teaching, where the printed alignment guide does half of the cueing work for the teacher.
- Jade Harmony. Favored in studios that emphasize natural materials and a stickier, drier grip for everyday vinyasa.
- Manduka GRP series. Increasingly common in hot and power yoga rooms, where the micro-wicking top is the main reason a teacher's mat still grips at minute 45 of a heated class.
This is what a typical studio rotation looks like; specific teachers will of course have their own preferences. If you are shopping for a class-ready mat, the same logic applies: pick the one built for the conditions you actually practice in.
- ULTIMATE GRIP: GRP Adapt delivers Manduka’s best grip yet with a Satin Grip top layer that performs in any condition—no towel needed, no slipping, just pure traction
- VERSATILE FOR ALL STYLES: Designed for any flow, from slow yin to intense hot yoga. Seamless transitions and stability make it the go-to mat for every type of practice
- SWEAT ABSORPTION: Moisture Flow scrim absorbs 2x more sweat than competitors, drawing moisture into the mat for a dry, slip-free surface every time
- PERFECT FIT FOR EVERY PRACTICE: Our mat measures 71 x 26 inches and weighs 5.5 lbs—perfect for everything from hot yoga to Pilates and beyond
- SIMPLE CARE: Spray with Yoga Mat Wash & Refresh and wipe with a damp cloth. Avoid soap, salt, sunlight, or machine washing to maintain optimal performance
What actually makes a mat non-slip
Three factors do the work. Material tack: natural rubber and polyurethane are inherently sticky; PVC and TPE rely more on texture. Cell structure: open-cell surfaces absorb moisture and keep gripping when damp, but soak up sweat and need more cleaning; closed-cell surfaces are easy to wipe down but let sweat pool on top. Texture: raised patterns add mechanical grip, which helps dry slip but does little once a surface film of sweat forms. We go deeper into the materials science — and how to fix a slippery mat you already own — in our companion guide to how non-slip yoga mats work.
Keep the grip you paid for
Two habits preserve grip more than any feature: break in a new mat (many PVC and rubber mats arrive with a slick factory film that fades with use; a gentle wipe with diluted vinegar or a salt scrub on PVC speeds it up) and clean it correctly — body oils are a major cause of slipperiness, but harsh cleaners and oil-based products destroy grip permanently. Our full routine is in how to clean a yoga mat.
Liforme vs Manduka: which one is grippier?
This is a common cross-shop because both brands are premium and both are widely recommended, but they solve different problems.
The Liforme Original is a polyurethane-topped mat with a natural rubber base. Out of the box it grips well both dry and sweaty, the PU becomes tackier as you sweat, and the alignment markings help with form. The trade-off is that the PU top layer shows scuffs, needs more careful cleaning than closed-cell PVC, and wears faster under heavy daily use.
The Manduka PRO (and its lighter sibling, the PROlite) is closed-cell PVC. New PROs are actually quite slippery until the break-in is done; after a few weeks of regular practice, the grip stabilizes and the mat is excellent for dry-hand flows. For sweaty practices, the PRO on its own is the worst performer of the premium mats — it needs a towel.
Short version: pick Liforme if you want one mat that does everything, including hot yoga, and you are willing to baby the surface. Pick Manduka PRO if you want a daily-practice mat that will outlast everything else in your house, and you are happy to add a towel on sweaty days. For a more focused comparison of hot-yoga options, our guide to the best yoga mat for hot yoga goes deeper.
- ✅TRANSFORM YOUR PRACTICE – This Premium Yoga mat is designed to be the most innovative & comfortable mat on the market to optimise your home exercises. BALANCE - The mat is longer, wider and thicker than many other mats - 72.8" long x 26.8" wide and 0.16" thick, giving Yogis the space they crave, with perfect balance between firm stability and comfortable cushioning whilst staying lightweight.
- 🤸♂️ULTIMATE GRIP – This premium mat benefits from the ground-breaking Liforme “GripForMe” material that gives you unparalleled warrior-like grip whilst practicing.
- 🙏REVOLUTIONARY ALIGNMENT SYSTEM – Our intelligently designed unique “AlignForMe” system helps guide and prevent injuries to Yogis of all experience levels, maximising Yoga enjoyment.
- 🌍TRULY PLANET FRIENDLY – Liforme incorporates the most ‘body kind’ specially engineered eco-polyurethane and rubber. These mats are PVC free and made using high quality non-toxic materials that keep the mat clean and hygienic.
- 😀MADE BY YOGIS, FOR YOGIS – Liforme Yoga Mats are loved and adored by 100s of 1000s of Women and Men worldwide. Join the Liforme family with this unique, comfortable and thick Mat. ✅FREE BAG INCLUDED - Carry and protect your mat with the exclusive Liforme Yoga mat bag.
Frequently asked questions
Mats that keep grip when wet: polyurethane-topped mats such as Lululemon The Mat, the Liforme or the Manduka GRP series, and cork mats, which actually grip better damp. Many hot yoga practitioners also lay a microfiber yoga towel over any mat for the sweatiest classes.
Many PVC mats ship with a thin factory residue that makes them slick at first. It wears off with regular use; a wipe-down with diluted white vinegar or a coarse salt scrub on PVC mats speeds up the break-in. Natural rubber and polyurethane mats usually grip well from day one, so if you are still slipping on those after a few sessions, the mat probably needs a proper clean to remove manufacturing residue or body oil.
The fastest fix is to lay a microfiber yoga towel over the mat for the sweatiest parts of class. Beyond that, wipe the mat down after every session so body oils do not build up, break in PVC mats with diluted white vinegar or a salt scrub, and replace any mat that stays slick after a proper clean — the foam has likely degraded.
It depends on the material and how often you practice. Soft open-cell rubber mats may need replacing after one to three years of frequent use, while dense closed-cell PVC mats like the Manduka PRO routinely last five years or more. Replace any mat once it flakes, thins under your hands, or stays slippery after cleaning.
Have a correction? Contact us.
Last update 2026-09-10. Price and product availability may change.
Recommended: