In my last post, I wrote about the yoga props I reviewed during my teacher training at Piedmont Yoga in 2013 (I can't believe it has been three years!). I shared my post with you fine folks, my followers on Twitter, and people in the yoga community (my teachers have shared my post with their students who have asked them what props to buy).

The kind people at Hugger Mugger (HM) reached out to me and asked if I had ever tried any of their mats. Before 15 February (when my Hugger Mugger mats arrived), I could honestly say I had not. HM offered to send me a mat to take for a test drive. I jumped at the chance! They suggested that I choose a mat from their extensive collection of yoga mats.

I'm not kidding when I say they have an extensive collection. It took me two hours to decide which mat to try. I read about all the mats (did not read any of the reviews): weight, material, thickness, where it was manufactured, etc. HM makes a mat for everyone!

I know what I liked about my Manduka mats (read previous post), so I was looking for something similar in the HM mats to which I could compare/contrast. I decided to try the Eco-Rich Yoga Mat. I chose this particular mat because it's made in the USA, made with plant-based oils (but it's PVC), light weight, and one I could compare to my eko lite mat from Manduka. I was a bit conflicted TBH; I was toiling amongst the Eco-Rich, Para Rubber Yoga Mat and the Nature Collection Ultra Yoga Mat. I wanted to get the Para Rubber and Nature Collection Ultra because it was thicker and provided more padding, but my heart strings were being tugged on by the "Made in the USA" Eco Rich. So... I committed to the Eco Rich.

When I emailed HM to let them know I finally made a decision on which mat to try, my contact informed me that my mat would be shipped out the following week. Before shipping my mat, I received an email from HM (have I told you they are really nice?) and they informed me that they would send me an additional mat to try, which was their personal favorite.

Top: Eco-Rich Yoga Mat and Bottom: Para Rubber Yoga Mat

Imagine my surprise when I opened the package above! HM sent me one of the other mats I was also dying to try (happy, happy, joy joy!). I was like a kid in the candy store. I couldn't wait to give my new mats a go! After unfurling both mats, I decided to test drive each mat for a week in my public classes (the classes I taught and attended). I used the Para Rubber during the first week (literally used it within 3 hours of receipt, as I was teaching a class that night) and the Eco Rich the following week. And now, ladies and gentlemen... The moment you've all been waiting for!

My Mat Review

1. Para Rubber Mat - My new favorite mat!

It's no wonder this mat is a favorite. This mat is grippy and cushy, a great mat for any yoga class! It is 1/4" thick, and the rubber it's made of is very soft and springy. Despite the mat being springy, it provides a lot of support during your practice. This mat also has substance; it weighs 6.05 lbs - it's a commitment to carry this around. I typically carry my mat from my car to the studio and don't have too far to walk, so it really isn't much of a problem. This mat is heavier than my Manduka prolite, which I brought to public classes with me (since 15 February, it has been on vacay at home). In class, this mat does not move around. Once I lay my mat on the floor, it stays put and takes more effort than what I am used to when I have to move my mat during practice. If you practice Vinyasa or Ashtanga yoga, you will enjoy this mat because your hands and feet won't slip.

I also invited my teachers and peers to try my mat. The go-to pose for testing the mat was adho mukha svanasana (downward facing dog). My teachers (Vickie Russell Bell and Richard Rosen) liked this mat a lot too.

The only negative comment I received about this mat was the smell. The first few days of use, the smell of rubber was noticeable. My neighbors complained about it (they don't anymore) and I also noticed the scent of rubber on my hands. After a few weeks of use, however, I don't notice it anymore. I'm not sure if my neighbors still do; they haven't said anything to me recently.

2. Eco Rich Mat

While this may not be my new favorite mat, I still really like this mat. This mat is lightweight and easy to tote around. It is 1/8" thick and weighs 2.4 lbs.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I used three Manduka mats: prolite for public classes; eko lite for my home practice; and eko superlite for when I travel. The Eco-Rich can easily replace two, if not all three, of my Manduka yoga mats because it's easy to carry around. I don't find it to be as grippy (for your hands) as the Para Rubber, prolite, or eko lite, but the Eco Rich can hold its own. I would suggest (always) using padding in bent knee poses if you decide on purchasing this mat. If you like to really feel the floor during your practice, this mat is a great option. This mat isn't as cushy or springy as the Para Rubber or the prolite. If you move around quite a bit in your practice and prefer a mat that stays put, I suggest going with the Para Rubber instead of this mat. The Eco Rich moves around less compared to the eko lite and eko superlite, which is a good thing. Both sides of the mat are grippy, which isn't the case for Manduka's eko mats.

Like the Para Rubber, I used this mat for a week in my public classes. I also brought this mat along with me during a week long snowboard trip. The mat is a little bit thicker and doesn't fold flat like the eko superlite, but they weigh about the same (2.4 lbs versus 2.2 lbs). I was still able to fold my mat and pack it in my snowboard bag, along with my boots, helmet, snowboard, etc. I much prefer this mat for travel compared to the eko superlite because it offers more support, padding, and grip.

In conclusion, I would have to say that Hugger Mugger makes excellent yoga mats! They have so many different types of mats that it's hard for me to imagine that one couldn't find a yoga mat to suit their needs. I suggest thinking about what you really want in a yoga mat (e.g. grip, cushion, material, weight, thickness, portability, to name a few) to help with narrowing your options. Once you know your must-haves, it will be easier for you to decide on a mat. I struggled with this a bit, which is probably why it took me two hours to choose a mat, because I didn't make a firm decision about where I intended to use my mat and because I had several mats with which to compare the mats from HM. Luckily, the folks at HM were kind enough to share their favorite with me. Now, the Para Rubber has become my favorite too!