Best Extra-Thick Yoga Mats

The Amazon Basics 1/2" Extra Thick is the dependable budget entry point to extra-thick mats: 12.7mm of NBR foam that CNN Underscored praised for holding its shape over time the way many thick mats do not. Best Exercise Gear called it 'the reliable workhorse of entry-level yoga gear — simple, effective, and ready to perform.' At around $22, with the longest footprint in this guide, it is the value-and-length pick; basic construction and grip are the trade-off.

The Gaiam Premium 6mm Print is a 68 x 24-inch PVC yoga mat with 6mm of cushioning and printed designs. woman&home named it the best thick yoga mat overall after about two years of use, Women's Health UK chose it as its best thick yoga mat, and OutdoorGearLab scored it 62/100 and named it its best first yoga mat, all praising the joint-friendly padding. OutdoorGearLab also found the surface slippery once wet and saw the cushion compress over time, and both UK publications noted a chemical or plastic smell when new. It suits beginners and casual home practice; anyone doing hot yoga or vigorous daily flows should look at a grippier rubber mat.

The BalanceFrom GoCloud packs a full inch of high-density foam into a budget mat. OutdoorGearLab gave it its Best Cushioned Mat award and called it the most comfortable and cushioned mat it tested, recommending it for stretching and floor exercises. The trade-offs it found: the surface gets slippery when wet, the soft foam is unstable for standing balance poses, and durability is a concern.

The ProsourceFit Extra Thick 1/2" lands between cushioning and stability: dense 13mm NBR foam that, per OutdoorGearLab, is 'a great all-around mat that we would recommend for anyone.' Its ribbed non-slip surface holds poses more securely than the plushest mats. Buyers who want extra-thick joint protection without sacrificing a firm, stable base should start here.