After 6 weeks of daily practice — hot yoga, restorative sessions, and home stretching — here's our full verdict. Read our testing methodology.
Fitness Tech & Wellness Editor · Tested May–June 2026 over 6 weeks · Methodology
lululemon's The Mat 5mm has become the brand's flagship yoga mat following the discontinuation of the Take Form mat, and after six weeks of testing across hot yoga, restorative classes, and casual home stretching, it's clear why it has earned that position. The core idea is simple but effective: a genuinely reversible design with two distinct surfaces — a smooth, moisture-absorbing polyurethane top and a textured, FSC-certified natural rubber underside — so you can choose your grip depending on the practice.
The wet-grip performance was the standout in testing. The open-cell PU surface absorbs sweat rather than letting it pool, and counterintuitively gets grippier the more you sweat onto it. In a 90-degree hot yoga session, hands and feet stayed planted through Down Dog and Warrior transitions without the slipping that plagues cheaper PVC mats. This is consistent with what we've seen in other independent testing of this mat.
On cushioning, the 5mm thickness struck a good balance — enough give to protect knees and wrists during long holds and floor work, without feeling unstable during standing balance poses. Restorative and Yin sessions felt noticeably more comfortable than on a thinner 3mm mat, particularly for poses involving extended time on the floor.
The build quality felt genuinely premium — substantial in hand, with color-blended "swirl" designs that hide dirt and wear better than a flat black mat would. That said, the natural rubber base does carry a noticeable smell out of the box; lululemon recommends airing it out before first use, and ours faded within about a week of regular practice.
The honest caveats at $118: at 5.24 lbs, it's not a travel mat — if portability matters, lululemon's own Travel Mat (1.5mm, $88) is a better fit for that use case. The open-cell surface also absorbs body oils and dirt over time and benefits from an occasional deep clean (a damp wipe-down after each use, plus a more thorough soak every few weeks), which is more maintenance than a sealed PVC mat requires. And because it contains natural rubber, this mat is not suitable for anyone with a latex allergy. That said, for the combination of genuine reversibility, standout wet grip, and substantial cushioning, The Mat remains one of the strongest all-around yoga mat picks available. We awarded it Best Reversible Yoga Mat in the 2026 Best Fitness Tech Awards. Browse our full fitness reviews or yoga category.
Scored across our 5-dimension rubric — read our testing methodology for how we calculate weighted scores.
The open-cell PU top absorbs sweat and actually grips better as you sweat, a standout in our hot yoga testing.
5mm strikes a good balance — comfortable for knees and floor work without feeling unstable in standing balance poses.
Feels substantial and premium in hand. Swirl colorways hide dirt and wear better than a flat black mat.
At 5.24 lbs, this is not a travel mat. Better suited to studio or home use than daily carrying.
$118 is a premium price point, but the genuine reversibility and wet-grip performance help justify it relative to budget mats.
Top yoga mat in our Best of 2026 Fitness Tech Awards · Yoga & Wellness category · Best All-Around Pick
The honest breakdown after 6 weeks of regular practice across hot yoga, restorative, and home sessions. See our methodology.
Everything in your lululemon The Mat purchase, plus our tips on what to pair it with.
Full details from lululemon, verified during our testing period.
lululemon The Mat vs other popular yoga mats — based on our testing and published reviews.
| Feature | lululemon The Mat 5mm | Manduka PRO | Liforme Original | JadeYoga Harmony |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $118.00 | $140.00 | $150.00 | $84.95 |
| Thickness | 5mm | 6mm | 4.2mm | 5mm (also offered at 3/16") |
| Weight | 5.24 lbs | 7.5 lbs | 5.5 lbs | 4.6 lbs |
| Reversible | Yes — two distinct surfaces | No | No | No |
| Alignment Markings | No | No | Yes — printed alignment lines | No |
| Latex-Free | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Best For | Hot yoga, wet grip, reversible flexibility | Long-term durability, dense cushion | Beginners who want visual alignment guidance | Eco-conscious buyers on a budget |
lululemon controls distribution of its mats tightly, so options are more limited than most products on this site. We track what's available below. All prices verified June 2026. Best ways to save: lululemon's "We Made Too Much" clearance section, CorePower Yoga member pricing, and the lululemon Like New resale program.
Everything you need to know before buying lululemon The Mat.
The Take Form mat, which launched in 2021 with 3D textured alignment rings, has been discontinued and no longer appears in lululemon's current US yoga mat lineup. It's occasionally still listed as out-of-stock on some international lululemon sites, but it's not available to purchase new in the US. The Mat 5mm covered on this page is lululemon's current flagship reversible mat and the closest active equivalent in terms of price and positioning.
If you specifically want the 3D alignment-ring design, your best bet is checking secondhand marketplaces like eBay or lululemon's own Like New resale program, though availability will be limited and inconsistent.
It's genuinely reversible and functionally different on each side. One side is a smooth, open-cell polyurethane surface that absorbs moisture and grips better as you sweat — ideal for hot yoga. The other is a more textured, cushioned natural rubber surface that some testers preferred for restorative or low-sweat practices. Most reviewers, including our own testing, found real, usable differences between the two sides rather than a cosmetic gimmick.
No — this is important to know before buying. The Mat's base is made from natural rubber and the product explicitly states it contains latex. If you have a rubber or latex allergy or sensitivity, avoid this mat and look at latex-free alternatives like the Manduka PRO or Liforme Original instead.
Not really. At 5.24 lbs, it's noticeably heavier than dedicated travel mats, which typically weigh half as much or less. If you want a lululemon mat specifically for carrying to and from a studio frequently or for travel, the brand's own Travel Mat (1.5mm, $88) is a much better fit — it sacrifices some cushioning for significantly less weight and bulk.
lululemon recommends wiping the mat down with a damp cloth and a natural cleanser after each use, and storing it out of direct sunlight to prevent the colors from fading. Because the open-cell PU surface absorbs sweat and body oils over time, many long-term owners also recommend an occasional deeper clean — submerging the mat in a bath or shower every few weeks and air-drying it fully — to prevent odor buildup, even though this isn't an official lululemon instruction.
Buy lululemon The Mat if: you want a genuinely reversible mat with standout wet-grip performance for hot yoga, and you don't have a latex allergy.
Buy the Manduka PRO if: you want a latex-free mat with a denser, more cushioned 6mm feel built for maximum long-term durability, and you're willing to pay slightly more and carry slightly more weight for it. In our testing and scoring, The Mat edged out the PRO on grip and reversibility, while the PRO remains the stronger pick for buyers prioritizing latex-free materials and long-term durability over a thinner, lighter profile.