Whether you’re attending a socially-distanced yoga class or following workout videos at home, having a proper yoga mat can make a big difference. They keep your body from slipping on the floor, absorbs sweat so it doesn’t make a puddle, and even brushes up gently on your skin. Problem is, they roll up big and often require their own bag, making them quite an inconvenience to bring anywhere. The YOGO Ultralight Folding Yoga Mat changes that.
Like other yoga mats, this gives you a stable, non-slip surface for doing yoga poses or performing floor exercises as part of your regular workouts. Unlike them, it’s not made from a thick material, so it folds into a very compact bundle that can easily slip into backpacks, suitcases, and whatever other bag you’re carrying for the day.
The YOGO Ultralight Folding Yoga Mat measures 68 x 24 inches (length x width) when laid out on the floor, so it’s just as wide and long as regular exercise mats, ensuring it will accommodate most individuals. What sets it apart, of course, is the folded up size, which is a mere 12 x 4.5 x 2 inches (length x width x depth), making it very convenient to carry in hand, stash inside a backpack, or tuck in somewhere in your suitcase, so you can still get your workouts in the hotel when you’re going away on business. Suffice to say, this brings portability to yoga mats a whole other level.
Unlike traditional yoga mats, it doesn’t roll up into a bundle. Instead, the thin material allows it to fold up “origami-style,” for a truly space-efficient collapsed form. Attached straps with buckles allow you to keep it folded the whole time it sits inside your bag, while a strap handle makes it even easier to carry by hand.
The YOGO Ultralight Folding Yoga Mat is made with natural rubber that’s durable and sticky, so it facilitates a strong grip on the floor, preventing it from sliding even while you perform constant movements during your workouts. It comes with the same texture on both sides, so you can lay it down the floor either way, although the outfit recommends choosing a side to touch the floor and using it that way each time out to keep the upper side clean at all times. In case you might have a hard time remembering which side goes up or down, you can probably leave a mark on one side using a Sharpie.
It measures just 2mm on the thickest section, so you don’t get a lot of cushion against the hard flooring. According to the outfit, though, it’s surprisingly comfortable, so it provides the necessary cushion to minimize pressure on knees, elbows, and hips while you roll around during exercises. Oh yeah, it’s machine-washable, too, so long as you keep it on a cold, delicate cycle and hang it up for air-drying, so it’s convenient even when it comes to cleaning up.
The YOGO Ultralight Folding Yoga is available now, priced at $62.