9 best yoga mats for perfecting your downward dog at home

Sick of your toes slipping off the end of your yoga mat? This Yash mat may be the best pick for you. Measuring 182cm by 68cm, it’s one of the largest options we could find, and it certainly fits the bill when it comes to taking up space. The non-slip cork surface wicks away sweat, while the rubber base protects joints from getting sore on any surface. But the best part comes down to the design, with small lines at both the top and bottom helping to make sure your body is in line, so a little look down every now is only going to elevate your practice.

If you’re after a low-cost yoga mat, you’ve come to the right place. Always stocking budget-friendly fitness equipment, Decathlon is a popular high-street workout shop for a reason. While this mat doesn’t have any fancy features – such as moisture-wicking cork, extra cushioning or travel straps – compared with some of the other options in this list, it’s a bargain basic for those who just want to get onto the mat. Made from foam, it is a bit slippy, but the mat does have a cross-grid pattern, enabling you to stay stable when still in a variety of positions. The best part is it’s lightweight enough to carry around, without feeling as though transporting it is a workout in itself.

Incredibly lightweight, this yoga mat is great for those wanting an option that’s easy to cart around. It’s also incredibly soft, leaving an imprint of any hand or foot placed onto it, showing just how much it really does absorb any shock, making it great for those with sore joints. Made from polyvinyl chloride, it can get rather slippy after an especially sweaty session, so be sure to have a towel to hand. On the website, it looks like this yoga mat comes with a strap, which it doesn’t, so be sure to buy one if you do wish to travel with it.

It’s safe to say Gymshark knows more than a thing or two when it comes to sweat sessions, so, of course, its yoga mat has been made to impress. If you’re after a rubber yoga mat, you won’t be disappointed. In a basic black – pink and red options are also available – the large logo mat is incredibly chic, offering a muted shade to really get you into the zone. It’s textured more like a basketball, to stop any slippage, and is weighty enough not to have any folding-up corners, no matter how tight you roll it. The only downside is it is on the heavy side, so be sure to buy an additional travel strap if you do wish to take it out and about.

This yoga mat is sure to stand out from the crowd. With a fierce, fun leopard print, it’s beautifully designed and feels just as good as it looks. Unlike your conventional yoga mats, this one is topped with vegan suede, giving it a very luxurious, soft and silky finish that we loved, and it was almost entirely slip-free – a huge bonus for hot yoga. The downside is that it is rather heavy and doesn’t come with a travel strap, so may be best for at-home practise.

The name of this yoga mat gives the game away, as it’s the perfect one to pick if you’re always out and about with your practice. At just 1.5mm thick, the super soft suede-feel mat can fold flat into any gym bag, or roll into an incredibly lightweight and thin tube. Of course, this means it doesn’t have the most protection for those with sore joints, knees or arms, so be sure to stay away if this is you. But for the rest of us, we’re dubbing this a game-changer for outdoor exercise in particular, and you can even pop it in the washing machine at 30C. What more could we ask for?

Peloton needs little introduction. In fact, the online-led training classes have taken the world by storm, with both the brand’s treadmill and bike becoming must-have pieces of home-gym equipment. What you may not know is the classes include a huge range of activities, from dance to yoga, and there’s a great range of products to accompany each one. This yoga mat is one of our favourite finds, and it’s not dual-sided just for aesthetics either. The red side is heavily textured for smooth flow, while the black side is smooth yet completely slip-free. At 5mm thick, it’s one of the best picks for protecting joints, especially on hard surfaces. The one downside is it isn’t the easiest to take out and about, but if following one of Peloton’s classes at home, this won’t be an issue.

For those serious about their practice, sometimes getting a good yoga mat can make the world of difference, and we promise this one delivers in spades. Made from vegan suede crafted from recycled plastic bottles and natural tree rubber, it’s soft, supple and at 4.5mm thickness, protects joints from any hard surface. The bold, bright colour was just a bonus, instantly uplifting us on even the darkest of days, and the handy travel strap enabled us to sling it over our shoulder and take it anywhere. Whether buying for yourself or another yogi friend, this is a little luxury anyone’s sure to love.

The Corkspace yoga mat continues to impress us, day after day. While it is on the pricier side of things, we promise you won’t be disappointed. Made from natural grounding rubber and soft cork, it protects your body from the ground, whether you’re crouching in crow or attempting an inversion. While we’ll confess to having incredibly sweaty hands and feet, we found this mat to have the best grip out of any yoga mat we’ve tried, and there are no annoying bumps, thanks to the heaviness of the material. So, whether you’re diligent about doing your daily downward dog or are new to pilates or yoga, this piece of kit will be a great aid. The brand also stocks small accessories, such as a cork massage ball (£12, Corkspace.co.uk), to add an extra dimension to your practice, too.