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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 found the following review helpful:
 Best mat I've ever owned. Don't worry, the smell will fade! Feb 05, 2009
By Miz James
I've been practicing yoga seriously for eight years, and have never had a mat I loved more. Between the mats I've personally owned (including two Mandukas) and the mats that have cycled through the yoga studio I have attended for years (including Lululemon and Gaiam among others) I've seen me some mats, and this one is about as perfect as a mat can get.
For starters, it's incredibly durable. One of the reasons I decided to pick one up was that the studio I attend replaced all their mats with Natural Fitness mats last year. These mats get used for several classes a day (people are on them for 6 or more hours a day, every day!) and have been in use at my studio for a year. So far there is no breakdown whatsoever! Unbelievable. The mats we've had in the past would start to shed pieces or develop holes within weeks or months. Not this mat! The studio mats look pretty much like they did when we first got 'em.
Second, the surface is amazingly non-slip, even when your hands get sweaty! There are varying degrees of slip factor to almost any mat, but apparently not this one (unless you're wearing lotion, and then, that's not really the mat). Not even my Manduka (which is also incredibly durable, though not as comfy) is as non-slip as the N.F. mat.
Third, it's very pliable and lightweight, making it easy to lug around and even travel with. It doesn't hold creases after being folded, though I do generally roll mine, the mats at the studio are always folded in piles and never seem to suffer for it, even the one or two that sit on the bottom of the pile for a while.
Now...about the smell. Yeah, the natural rubber is stinky when you first get it. I hung mine outside for a few days, but you could also hang it in a little-used room with good ventilation. It takes a little while, but the smell does fade, and the mat is so worth the wait!
A kickass mat at a decent price. Go for it!
Update: I've been using this mat for a year, and as I hoped, it's holding up great. A little wear is starting in the places where I always put my hands and feet, but I use it 3+ times a week and never flip it, so I'm not surprised.
I don't understand the reviews about slipping. All I can think is these people are wearing lotion or something, or maybe I'm just not a huge sweater? I still have no problems with slipping on this mat, and as for the smell, yes I notice it--when my nose is right down in the mat.
Very happy with this purchase, and about to buy another one (that's why I'm revisiting this review to update). This one's for my husband. :)
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Great mat Oct 16, 2008
By Mel
I am a beginner at yoga and just got this as my first mat. I love it--it's comfortable and sticky enough so I don't slip. The only complaint I have is that it might be TOO sticky, but I think this might wear off a bit over time. The rubber smell isn't overly strong to the point where it bothers me.
It's eco-friendly, and it's more comfortable on my spine than other mats I've tried. I recommend it.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Great! Aug 18, 2008
By G. Merritt
This mat reeks for like a week. However, it's really a good mat! It's thick but not overly cushy and the rubber provides a super sticky surface for standing poses and down dogs. I think it was completely worth the money, and it will give me a lot of use before it wears out.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 NOT FOR THE SWEATY!! Apr 01, 2009
By flybynight_lovebymorning
I bought this mat hoping to find a solution for slipping when sweaty during hot yoga class. Turns out this mat is very slippy when even slightly sweaty, worse than my cheapo sports authority yoga mat. And yes it does have a natural rubber smell which I didn't find to be a big deal after airing out. But TERRIBLE for hot yoga.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Yoga Teacher says "Great Mat, here's why" Jan 03, 2012
By Holistic Gurl
Ok I read alot of the reviews and the few negative ones highlight: that the mat is slippery, heavy, smelly. The positive ones also mention smell. So I have to jump into this.
This mat is so--- not slippery! As a yoga teacher I have tried so many mats-it's quite different than the usual yoga mat with the bad chemical smell. I hesitated to buy it frankly because it's not a name brand-and I was bit afraid it would just be a cheap waste of money. But I bought it.
1. Yes it smells-hang it somewhere (not in sun) that is ventilated, where both sides are exposed-better than leaveing it laying flat to air. In about 1 week smell is almost gone, and as time say 2 months completly gone even if you are face down on it.
2. Slipperiness: Unless these folks are either using it when it's damp from wash or using lotion-that is only possibilty-as the mat is what I would describe as "dry" almost, almost abrasively dry, it's texture is not slick at all, it's almost textured and matte, not glossy like usual mat. In fact I'd think it's good for Ashtanga if you do jump through w/o touching. If like most you slide your feet through-this mat is so dry-that you won't slide through, your heel will catch-thats how non-slippery it is. So possible drawback.
3. Weight: It is definitely not a good mat for carrying around-it is heavy-and dense (I'll say more on latter)I use it for at home practice only.
4. Density: a few mention it being thin. It's thickness is normal mat thickness-but it's very dense so it actually feels quite cushiony to me because of that.
What I love about it: I really like the cushionyness ;-)it to me is as cushiony as an "extra-thick" mat is.
I really like also the two colors, as perhaps as I"M also an artist, some days I like the reddish and some days it must be more subdued and I"ll use the brown side. The only neg that is of any consequence is weight.
See all 29 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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