We receive a lot of “yoga related” products to review here at Elephantbeans and just when we think we have seen everything, ten new things pop up. While there is a lot of useless junk made by companies seeking to bank on the yoga trend (translucent white yoga shorts?), there is also an exciting momentum around engineering more sustainable, durable, and convenient mats, clothes, and more.
While the extra seven plus pounds of mat plus awkward rolled appendage is a small price to pay considering the incredibly unhygenic state of many studio mat rentals, it is nice to have an alternative.
At first glance, the Gaiam Reversible Travel Yoga Mat is unconvincing. It is a super thin cloth similar to a yoga towel or rug but with a slight stickiness so you know it is meant to be used as a mat/towel alternative. Very skeptical, our review team threw down a mean primary series and even with the bone cracking rolls of garbha pindasana and neck ouching sarvangasana, the mat provided enough padding for an Ashtangi that appreciates a firm surface.
NOTES:
-Great for travel, folds up and is very light
-Absorbs moisture and is easy to clean
-Ideal surface for someone interested in practicing on a firm surface (you can really feel the floor
-Not good for anything that requires extra padding such as the exit vinyasas at the end of intermediate series
-Not sure this would be the right surface if placed on a carpet
The Ashtangites on our team are mostly traditionalists (or maybe just orientalists?) that take an unhealthy pride in their “authentic” cotton Mysore rug usage. That being said, even the main shala in Mysore is carrying their own rendition of the yoga towel.
Manduka’s eQua Plus Towel reminded us of a pack towel and when we checked their website, indeed this was listed as an alternative use. Mat towels are placed on top of your mat or your mat rental. This towel is lighter and packs up smaller than a cotton Mysore rug, but it is also thinner. If you want the extra cushioning that a rug provides, look elsewhere.
NOTES:
-Great for travel, folds up and is very light
-Absorbs moisture and is easy to clean
-Possibly not good for anything that requires extra padding such as the exit vinyasas at the end of intermediate series unless you pair it with the classic Black Mat® PRO
-Comes in bright vibrant colors
-The suede-like surface claims to be slip-resistant when moist, however, our reviewer isn’t the super slippy whining type so we can’t varify this
-New coconut technology claims to “spread and evaporate moisture and provide superior odor management by eliminating bacteria”
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