Lululemon Yoga Mat Review and Why Latex Matters

February 15, 2021 · 3 min read

The Reversible Mat 3mm

Pros

The Reversible Mat 3mm from lululemon is the ultimate mat for any beginner yogi that needs support, balance, softness, grip, and stability throughout their yoga practice. It’s comfortable, it's soft, and it has a great design. It is thin enough to make you feel connected to the ground while practicing.

The reversible element provides comfort in knowing that you have one side for the sweaty workout and the other for a slower-paced yoga practice. The more bumpy side is excellent for a hot yoga practice or even a HIIT workout that makes you sweat a lot. Your hands and feet will stay where they are meant to, even if you’re pouring water onto the mat during the workout.

It contains an antimicrobial additive, which makes it resistant to mildew and mold.

Cons

The downside of the lululemon yoga mat is that, at first, it has an artificial smell to it. It does go away after a few weeks, though. If you’re allergic to latex, you should pass on this one, because it contains latex.

If you have pets at home, you should avoid this mat because it picks up dust and dirt pretty easily and you won’t be able to just brush it off. It needs to be washed with soap and water on a regular basis, and it needs to be left to dry naturally (which doesn’t take long).

Bottom Line

Is the lululemon Reversible Mat worth it? Absolutely yes. It is good for well-seasoned yogis as well as beginners. It has a good grip—which is essential in order to enjoy and be comfortable during the practice. It provides good cushioning, even though it is not the thickest mat out there. Its unisex design and two sides make it unique on the market.

Its 3mm thickness is just right, unless you have joint pain. In that case, you should go with something thicker to protect your joints and make the practice more comfortable.

While it picks up dust and hair easily, it is also easy to clean—whether with a damp cloth or with water and soap. The most important thing is that you leave it to dry naturally.

The color does change over time, and a lot of people are turned off by the artificial smell that lasts for a couple of weeks before it goes away. But, essentially, it is a great buy, and almost all of the reviews are praising this mat for its grip, stability, and durability.

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Lululemon Yoga Mat Review

Picking your yoga mat is not an easy process. You need to be aware of many things, but, most importantly, you need to know what you want and what you don’t want from a mat.

There are so many varieties nowadays that picking the right one might be overwhelming. But luckily, if you settle on a good one, you likely won’t need to replace it for a long time. This lululemon yoga mat review is going to help you decide whether this particular one is the right fit for you.

What to Look For when Buying a Yoga Mat

When picking a yoga mat to buy, there are three things to consider: thickness, material, and texture.

Healthy young women practicing half spinal twist yoga using lululemon yoga mat. — The Texture Is Important Because It Determines If The Mat Is Slippery Or Has A Grip (Image Source: Shutterstock)

When it comes to thickness, it all depends on what you are looking for. If you want to be more connected to the ground, you should go for a thin mat that’s about 1.5mm thick. The problem is that this thickness gives you less cushion, so doing poses on your back can be quite challenging.
For example, if you’re a fan of pranayama yoga or restorative yoga, there’s no need for you to look at thicker mats because the postures in pranayama yoga are not difficult and usually very flowy and slow. A thin mat will suffice.

If you’re practicing more challenging poses or even like to do it outside, a thicker mat will be essential if you want to feel comfortable during your yoga practice.

Material is another aspect you should be mindful of. Most mats are made of vinyl or rubber. While vinyl mats are durable and more spongy, rubber mats usually have jute and cotton incorporated that makes them less durable and less spongy, but more eco-friendly.

The texture is, in my opinion, the most important thing you should consider as you shop for a new mat. The texture is important because it determines if the mat is slippery or has a grip, which is essential if you sweat during the practice. You should be looking at bumpy textures or make sure the mat has a moisture control mechanism.

For example, if you love Bikram yoga, your best bet is having a grippy mat; otherwise, you won’t feel comfortable at all slipping and sliding in your downward dog.

Best Yoga Mat

If you’re looking for a thin yoga mat, your best bet is to go with a lululemon Reversible Mat 3mm. It is thick enough for more challenging poses, but thin enough so you don’t feel like you’re practicing on your soft bed.

Group of young sporty people practicing yoga lesson with instructor. — If You’re Sweating A Lot, The Grippy Texture Side Is Your Go-To (Image Source: Shutterstock)

It has just the right amount of cushioning and feels great to practice your yoga on. The reversible element in the name refers to it having two different textures, but the design is the same. While this might be disappointing for some, others like the two types of textures it offers rather than two different designs.

The grip is amazing. Even if you pour water onto it while practicing, your feet and hands will not move an inch. If you’re sweating a lot, the grippy texture side is your go-to. For shavasana, you’ll be best on the smoother side.

While not the thickest mat around, its quality makes it as cushy as a 5mm cheaper version mat. It provides stability and cushioning. But if you’re feeling joint pain while practicing yoga, you should upgrade to an even thicker mat.