Lululemon The Mat 5mm is the grip champion of the thick-mat tier, scoring 81/100 at OutdoorGearLab and 4.2/5 at Garage Gym Reviews. Its polyurethane top layer keeps hands and feet planted even in heavy sweat, and the reversible construction lets you choose a grippy smooth side or a cushioned natural-rubber side. The 5mm thickness gives joint-friendly padding without sacrificing balance-pose stability. It is on the heavy side at 5.2 lbs and commands a premium, but for hot-yoga and high-sweat practitioners the traction is hard to beat.
Full review
Real-World Performance
Lululemon The Mat 5mm has built its reputation on grip, and the reviews bear it out. Garage Gym Reviews, which rated it 4.2/5, summarized the standout trait simply: "excellent grip even with sweat." That is the headline. The polyurethane top layer absorbs a thin film of moisture and grows grippier as you sweat, which is the opposite of how closed-cell mats like the Manduka PRO behave, and it makes The Mat a favorite for hot yoga and vigorous vinyasa where slipping is the main frustration.
OutdoorGearLab, scoring it 81/100, highlighted the cushioning, noting that "the cushion is also springy and firm enough to keep the wrists from overextending or rolling in arm balances and drawbacks." At 5mm the padding is joint-friendly without compromising stability, and the dense natural-rubber base gives the mat a planted, secure feel in standing poses. The result is a mat that performs across practice styles but truly excels when things get sweaty.
That all-around competence, strong grip, supportive cushioning, and a reversible surface, is why The Mat has become one of the most recommended premium mats for sweaty practice. It does not chase the maximum thickness or the lowest weight, but it nails the balance most regular practitioners actually want, and its second-place ranking here reflects how close it runs to the Manduka PRO while pulling ahead on the single dimension of wet grip.
Cushioning and Support
The 5mm thickness places The Mat solidly in the thick-mat tier while keeping it firm enough for balance work. The natural-rubber base is dense and supportive rather than soft, so it cushions the knees and elbows without the squishy instability that afflicts cheaper foam mats. Mountain Weekly News, in its long-term review, praised how the mat "offers great cushioning for longer sessions," which is where a 5mm rubber base earns its keep, holding up through extended floor sequences without bottoming out.
Compared with a true 6mm mat like the Manduka PRO or Gaiam Premium, The Mat is marginally thinner, but the difference is small and offset by the rubber's superior firmness. For most practitioners the 5mm rubber feels more supportive than a 6mm foam mat.
The springiness OutdoorGearLab praised is worth dwelling on: it keeps the wrists from overextending in arm balances and gives a small energy return during repeated transitions, which reduces fatigue over a long flow. That responsive quality is something foam mats cannot replicate, and it is a big part of why practitioners who try The Mat often struggle to go back to a softer surface, even one that is nominally thicker.
Grip and Surface
Grip is The Mat's defining feature and the reason it ranks second here. The reversible design offers two surfaces: a smooth polyurethane top side engineered for maximum traction, and a textured natural-rubber side that trades some grip for extra cushion. Mountain Weekly News noted that the "reversible design adds versatility for different practice styles," letting you flip to the grippier side for hot yoga or the cushioned side for gentle work.
An antimicrobial additive helps fight the mold and mildew that natural-rubber, sweat-absorbing mats are prone to, which is a thoughtful inclusion given the polyurethane layer's moisture-wicking design. The only caveat is that the absorbent top can pick up stains and needs careful cleaning, but in exchange you get the most dependable wet grip in this lineup.
Long-Term Durability
The Mat's dense natural-rubber construction holds up well to regular use, and the FSC-certified rubber base resists the rapid compression that retires foam mats. Reviewers note that with proper care, keeping it out of direct sunlight and wiping it with a gentle cleanser, it stays grippy and supportive for years. The polyurethane top is the wear point to watch: it is the surface that contacts hands and feet most, and aggressive cleaning or harsh chemicals can degrade it over time.
It will not match the near-indestructible decade-plus lifespan of the Manduka PRO, but it is built to a genuinely premium standard and significantly outlasts budget options, making its higher price easier to justify for a regular practitioner.
Owner reports and Garage Gym Reviews' long-term notes suggest the rubber base holds its cushioning well over years of use, with the grip remaining consistent provided the mat is cleaned gently and stored away from heat and sunlight. The FSC-certified rubber also gives it a sustainability angle that the PVC Gaiam lacks. For a buyer who practices several times a week and wants a mat that will look after itself with basic care, The Mat strikes a strong balance between premium longevity and everyday usability.
Where It Falls Short
The Mat's first drawback is weight: at 5.2 lbs it is on the heavy side, so while lighter than the Manduka PRO, it is still not an ideal daily-commute mat. Natural rubber also carries an initial smell that some users find strong, though it fades with airing out. The absorbent polyurethane top, while excellent for grip, can stain and requires gentler cleaning than a wipe-clean PVC surface.
Finally, it is expensive for a 5mm mat, and buyers who do not practice in sweaty conditions may not need its standout grip enough to justify the premium over a JadeYoga Harmony or a budget Heathyoga. The value is highest specifically for hot-yoga and high-sweat practitioners, who will use its defining strength every session; for everyone else, the premium buys grip insurance they may rarely call upon, which is worth weighing honestly before committing to the price.
How It Compares to Alternatives
The Mat 5mm and the JadeYoga Harmony are the two grip-focused natural-rubber mats here, but The Mat's polyurethane top edges ahead in heavy sweat where the Jade's open-rubber surface can eventually slicken. Against the Manduka PRO, it gives up some cushioning depth and lifetime durability but wins decisively on wet grip and weighs two pounds less. The Gaiam Premium 6mm and Heathyoga 6mm are thicker and cheaper but cannot match its traction. For sweaty practice specifically, The Mat is the pick; for dry practice and maximum longevity, the PRO remains ahead.
The decision between The Mat and the Jade Harmony often comes down to surface preference: The Mat's polyurethane top feels smooth and predictable, while the Jade's open-cell rubber has a coarser, grainier texture some practitioners love and others find rough. Both grip exceptionally well; The Mat simply has a slight edge once you are dripping with sweat, and its reversible second side gives it a versatility the single-surface Jade lacks.
Who It's Best For
Lululemon The Mat 5mm is the best choice for hot-yoga devotees, heavy sweaters, and anyone whose main frustration is slipping mid-flow. The reversible surface adds flexibility for those who alternate between vigorous and gentle practice. It is also a strong all-rounder for a dedicated home practice where grip matters most. Buyers on a budget, those who need a light mat to carry daily, or practitioners who want the absolute thickest, most durable mat should look at the Heathyoga, a lighter travel mat, or the Manduka PRO respectively.
It is also a sensible pick for anyone who already values the Lululemon ecosystem and wants a mat that pairs design with genuine performance rather than just branding, since reviewers consistently confirm the grip lives up to the price. The main reasons to pass are budget and weight: at a premium price and 5.2 lbs, it is neither the cheapest nor the lightest option here, so casual or commuting practitioners may be better served elsewhere.
Strengths
- +Outstanding grip, especially in sweaty sessions, thanks to the polyurethane top layer
- +Reversible design pairs a grippy smooth side with a cushioned natural-rubber side
- +Antimicrobial additive helps prevent mold and mildew
- +Made with FSC-certified natural rubber for a more sustainable build
- +5mm thickness balances cushioning and stability well
Watch-outs
- −At 5.2 lbs it is fairly heavy for daily carrying
- −Natural rubber has a noticeable initial smell that fades over time
- −Polyurethane top layer can absorb stains and needs careful cleaning
- −Premium price for a 5mm mat
How it compares
Lululemon The Mat 5mm shares the natural-rubber, grip-focused approach of the JadeYoga Harmony but adds a polyurethane top layer that excels in sweat, where the closed-cell Manduka PRO struggles; it is slightly thinner than the 6mm Manduka PRO, Gaiam Premium 6mm, and Heathyoga 6mm but more grippy than all three.
Who this is for
At a glance: Hot-yoga and high-sweat practitioners who prioritize grip and a reversible surface in a cushioned 5mm mat.
Why you’d buy the Lululemon The Mat 5mm
- Outstanding grip, especially in sweaty sessions, thanks to the polyurethane top layer.
- Reversible design pairs a grippy smooth side with a cushioned natural-rubber side.
- Antimicrobial additive helps prevent mold and mildew.
Why you’d skip it
- At 5.2 lbs it is fairly heavy for daily carrying.
- Natural rubber has a noticeable initial smell that fades over time.
- Polyurethane top layer can absorb stains and needs careful cleaning.
Rating sources
“The cushion is also springy and firm enough to keep the wrists from overextending or rolling in arm balances and drawbacks.”
“Excellent grip even with sweat”
“The reversible design adds versatility for different practice styles.”
Our 4.4 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
