Head-to-head · Best Extra-Thick Yoga Mats

BalanceFrom GoCloud All-Purpose 1-inch Mat vs Gaiam Premium 6mm Print Yoga Mat

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

BalanceFrom GoCloud All-Purpose 1-inch Mat comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.0 vs 3.6). BalanceFrom GoCloud All-Purpose 1-inch Mat is best for: Stretching, floor exercises and gentle sessions on hard floors where maximum cushioning matters more than a stable, grippy surface. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Extra-Thick Yoga Mats

BalanceFrom GoCloud All-Purpose 1-inch Mat

4.0

1 sourceall derived$30.99as of Oct 14

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.

Strengths

— Best Cushioned Mat award from OutdoorGearLab, which found it the most comfortable mat it tested
— High-density foam resisted squishing and sinking more than other brands in OutdoorGearLab's use
— Waterproof closed-cell foam wipes clean or washes with soap and water

Watch-outs

— Hands and feet tended to slip when the surface was wet, per OutdoorGearLab
— Too soft to give a stable surface for standing balance poses

$30.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #3 in Best Extra-Thick Yoga Mats

Gaiam Premium 6mm Print Yoga Mat

3.6

1 source$24as of Oct 17

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.

Strengths

— 6mm of padding cushions knees and wrists during longer floor holds
— Stays put on both wooden floors and carpet
— Light and easy to carry, at 3.3 lb as measured by OutdoorGearLab

Watch-outs

— Surface turns slippery when wet, so it is a poor fit for hot or sweaty sessions
— Cushion compresses and scuffs with regular use
— Strong plastic smell when new that takes weeks to fade

$24 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

BalanceFrom GoCloud All-Purpose 1-inch Mat

At 1 inch (25mm), the GoCloud is roughly twice as thick as the half-inch Amazon Basics (12.7mm) and ProsourceFit Extra Thick (13mm) mats and much thicker than the 10mm Gaiam Essentials, so it offers the most padding on this page. The thinner mats give a firmer base for standing poses.

Gaiam Premium 6mm Print Yoga Mat

At 6mm, the Gaiam Premium Print is noticeably thinner than the Gaiam Essentials Fitness Mat & Sling (10mm), the Amazon Basics 1/2-inch Extra Thick Mat and the BalanceFrom GoCloud All-Purpose 1-inch Mat. woman&home found that thickness gave enough cushion without feeling unbalanced when standing, and it is a PVC yoga mat sold in printed designs rather than a foam exercise pad.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	BalanceFrom GoCloud All-Purpose 1-inch Mat	Gaiam Premium 6mm Print Yoga Mat
Thickness	1 inch (25mm)	6mm
Material	High-density anti-tear EVA/NBR foam	PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
Dimensions	71 x 24 in	68 x 24 in
Weight	2.2 lb	3.1 lb
Surface	Double-sided non-slip texture	—
Includes	Carrying strap	—
Care	Wipe clean, moisture-proof	Dry flat

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