Manduka eKO yoga matAs I mentioned in a few previous posts, I recently ordered a Manduka eKO yoga mat due to the fact that it was skidless and I needed some extra grip when going into the downward dog position. In addition to providing superior grip, the Manduka eKO mat is also eco-friendly product that doesn’t contain foaming agents and plasticizers — stuff that is toxic and commonly found in other yoga mats.

The Manduka eKO is a hefty yoga mat. It is 5mm thick and weighs 5 1/2 pounds. When rolled out, it measures 71″ long and 26″ wide and is currently available in 4 colors: Moss, Lava, Ember (my choice), Aqua, and Sand.

While the eKO mat is supposed to be extremely durable, I can’t honestly back that up yet as I’ve only had the mat for a week now. Manduka does have a great reputation for making extremely high-quality yoga mats that last for many years, so I don’t really have any concerns in the durability department.

As far as grip stickiness goes, this mat was definitely the best out of the bunch that I’ve reviewed so far. The surface has a sticky, textured layer on it that provides pretty good grip and the mat is cushioned which adds to the comfort factor as well. Overall, I would give the Manduka eKO mat a 9.5 out of 10 for grip at this point. This rating will likely get even better as the mat breaks in.

Another thing that I like about the Manduka eKO mat is the fact that it does not have retain “memory” when it is rolled up. Once you unroll the mat, it lays completely flat and you won’t have to deal with annoying edge roll.

And last but not least, for those of you who make a conscious effort to support eco-friendly products with your buying power, you’ll be happy to know that Manduka’s eKO mat is made from 100% natural, non-Amazon forested tree rubber. It’s the only “eco yoga mat” on the market with non-toxic foaming agents. Because of this fact, when the eKO mat is disposed of and biodegrades, it leaves behind no toxic residue.