Manduka Black Mat Pro Yoga Package, Graphite, 71 Inch Mat

The Manduka mat is as good as everyone says it is; much sturdier and provides more support than a sticky mat; sort of like the difference between really good running shoes and spongy flip flops. The bag is good and this was a good deal on it. I wouldn''t have paid full price to buy the bag separately. I did have problems with the bag''s lining getting caught in the zipper initially and had to pull out my sewing kit. I probably could have returned it, but it was an easy one-time fix. All in all, satisfied.

After buying a new yoga mat every 6-8 months, I finally decided to grow up, break down and buy the Manduka. I am so glad I did. A couple of things I really like about it are; though thick, it does not have a squishy feel. So for balancing poses, you actually feel as though you are on a sturdy surface, not a sponge. Though environmentally friendly, it does not disintegrate in to pilly balls over time. It is solid, durable, sticky, reliable and stylish. It is like I went from a Datsun to a Hummer. Amazing. Love the bag as well, which has 2 compartments and air holes! I also want to point out that if you do a hot yoga style (like I do), and you sweat a lot, the mat is going to get slippery. There is NO way to avoid that without a towel or a rug. Sweat + Frictionless Surface = Slip, regardless of stickiness. If you were doing hot sweaty yoga on rough sandpaper you would slip. It is not the mat''s fault. It''s Physics! Right out of the box, the mat has a film on it that makes it more slippery at first. This will eventually wear off, but you can also speed up the process by cleaning it with light soap and water, and rubbing the whole mat with a cloth. Also, instead of the pricey Yoga Toes, I would recommend a YogaRat Microfiber YOGA TOWEL for a fraction of the cost. This will help prevent slips on sweaty mats. Namaste.

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I read the reviews, bought the mat, took it to a heated vinyasa class. It was very slick the first time I used it. Took it home, used some simple green cleaner on it, scrubbed with a nylon brush. I allowed a couple of days for drying, and used it again with much better results. I anticipate it will get better with a little wear, and am quite satisfied with my purchase. It is quite heavy, and gives off a strong odor.

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After reading all the good reviews about this mat I decided to give it a try. I practice ashtanga yoga and I was looking for something that could last a lifetime. This is what I found:

It is more slippery than I expected. I was surprised to find out that my hands sweat more than usual while in contact with this mat''s surface (I had tried the cheap mats that my gym provides and many of them are less slippery than the manduka).

At first it had a strong rubber smell. I just left it under the sun for a couple of days and the smell diminished (I think that it will vanish completely as time goes by).

It is heavy. I wouldn''t recommend it for long distance walks (if you are walking one or two blocks with the mat, it is not a problem).

Size is great (larger than most mats).

Cushion is great (thick and firm).

Corners don''t roll. It behaves like a sticker on the floor. This mat has sides, so you have to turn it around to use it and then turn it again to roll it.

Seems durable (and in most reviews it says that there are yoguis that have had this mat for more than 4 years and that it is still in great shape).

The bag is great. It is easy to put the mat in even if it is not rolled tight.

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One regular yoga mat wasn''t supportive enough for me. For a while I tried two regular mats, but that was slippery, and after only a few months I could see signs of wear. I decided to invest in a quality mat. I asked a bunch of yoga teachers which mat to get, and several recommended the Manduka.

When it arrived I was skeptical--it didn''t seem very cushy. But the first time I used it, I immediately noticed how much more support it provided. I left class with my wrists and ankles feeling great!

The mat does have a slippery coating on it, but that wore off after a few weeks of classes. I wiped it often with some regular yoga mat cleaner, and used a cut-off section of one old standard mat to brace my hands until the coating was gone. Now it''s sticky, but not "eyeww" sticky. Just right! The surface is easy to clean--no bumpy texture to trap dirt--and it doesn''t absorb the sweat that can lead to that old-sneaker aroma on standard mats.

I highly recommend getting the Mat Sak as well. It''s a great bag--well made, and the ventilation holes are a good idea. As previous reviewers have mentioned, the mat is a bit heavier than some other mats, but the Sak is very helpful in that regard with a comfy strap that makes carrying your mat easy.

If you''re looking for a great supportive mat that will wear a long time, Manduka''s the one you want!

Update, March 2012: Two years later, six classes a week, and this mat still looks and feels new! Wiping it with regular old yoga-mat cleaner after class is the only maintenance I''ve done on it. It was expensive, but it has turned out to be an amazing bargain. Thanks, Manduka!

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