While there are countless yoga brands, there are only a handful of quality manufacturers who consistently produce high-quality yoga products, adhering to strict standards and competing with other. It’s not easy to produce a perfect yoga mat, and most brands fail miserably. In this article we will discuss the most trusted brands, making your yoga mat shopping experience a bit easier, once a reference point is set.
#1 Manduka (the Rolls-Royce)
Manduka has been around for over a decade. This company was originally started by an architect on a mission to create a perfect yoga mat. The company’s founder sent the first prototypes to most famous yoga instructors worldwide, using their feedback to further perfect the product before releasing it on the general market. The mission was a success, a high-quality yoga mat was crafted under strict standards, using the best materials and pleasing the pickiest yogis. Since the introduction of the original Manduka mat, there have been more tweaks to the mat’s material and overall construction, creating a perfect surface to practice on. Manduka mats are made of natural rubber with additional stitching inside. These mats have received the highest praise by almost anyone who ever tried then. Countless rave reviews
#2 Jade (the BMW)
Jade yoga mats are almost sharing the #1 spot with Manduka. Featuring the same natural rubber design as Manduka, Jade yoga mats are lighter and less expensive. Think of Jade Mats as a budget version of Manduka products. Jade offers the same high quality materials and manufacturing but their mats are usually slightly less durable. If you are seeking a premium yoga mat but have a strict budget, Jade yoga mats may be the answer. Also, consider the fact that premium Manduka mats are quite heavy, while Jade products do not suffer from this problem.
#3 Gaiam (the Toyota)
Gaiam deserves the #1 spot because they are probably the most Earth-conscious of all yoga mat manufacturers. This company creates reliable, attractive and accessible yoga products for all levels of practice and all budgets. Consistently keeping up with their mission of being committed to personal and global well-being on all levels, Gaiam is definitely a company of the new millenium. This company produces everything for yoga, including props, DVDs and music. All of their products are created to strict quality standards that Gaiam is famous for. Unlike Manduka and Jade, Gaiam strives to captures the general market, producing yoga accessories for all levels of practice (the previous two get most of their revenue from premium products) and targeting a wide audience of conscious yoga practitioners with good taste. Gaiam products are very attractive and features pretty decent qualities. Their mats are made of a mixture of natural materials that may not last as long as pure natural rubber, but will deliver solid performance for a very attractive price. We strongly suggest you invest into at least some of their products, you won’t be disappointed.
There are few other brands that are worth mentioning, but their products do not feature quality as consistent as the top 3 brands mentioned above.
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