Most people find out their mat wasn't a high quality yoga mat the hard way: a corner starts to peel, the surface goes slick halfway through a class, or it simply stops smelling new and starts smelling like a mat that's been rolled up damp too many times.
Price is usually the first thing people compare when shopping for a new one, but price on its own doesn't tell you much. A mat can be expensive and still be badly made, and a modestly priced mat can outlast one that cost three times as much.
What separates a high quality yoga mat from a mediocre one comes down to six things you can assess for yourself, on any mat, from any brand. Here's what's worth checking before you buy.
1. Materials and how the mat is made
Every mat is made up of two key parts: the surface you move on and the base underneath it. The surface is what your hands and feet come into direct contact with, while the base gives the mat its weight, stability and grip against the floor.
Common materials include PVC, TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), natural or synthetic rubber, and cork. Each behaves differently, and the materials used can affect everything from grip and durability to how the mat feels and even how it smells when first taken out of the packaging.
PVC mats, for example, are often affordable and durable, but they can contain phthalates and other chemicals used in the manufacturing of plastics. This is one reason some people choose PVC-free mats made with more naturally sourced materials instead.
There's no single "correct" material. But understanding what a mat is made from, rather than relying on a label that simply says "eco-friendly", is a useful first step in judging its quality.
2. Grip and traction
Grip is where many mats reveal themselves fastest. A mat can feel perfectly secure straight out of the box, then become noticeably more slippery as moisture builds during use.
There are broadly two ways a mat handles this. Some surfaces are designed to be tacky from the first touch and rely on that stickiness throughout a session. Others, like cork, work differently: they become grippier as moisture builds rather than more slippery.
That distinction matters most in warmer or more dynamic practices, where maintaining traction helps you stay stable as you move between poses.
Whichever type you're evaluating, the real test isn't simply how a mat feels when it's dry. It's how well it maintains its grip as you move through a full practice.
3. Support and stability
A mat's job isn't only to stop you slipping. It also needs to give you the right level of support through standing poses, floor work and everything in between. That comes down to finding the right balance between cushioning and stability.
Too much cushioning can make a mat feel unstable during standing balances, as your feet can sink into a softer surface. Too little, and areas such as your knees and wrists have less cushioning from the hard floor underneath.
There isn't one ideal thickness that works for everyone. Thinner mats tend to give you more direct contact with the floor, while thicker mats provide additional cushioning. The right choice depends on your practice, how much support you prefer and where you'll be using your mat.
ThriveLiv mats are 4mm thick, giving them a balance of cushioning and a stable connection with the floor.
Organisations such as Yoga Therapy Ireland place particular importance on alignment and joint support during practice, and these are useful things to consider when choosing a mat too. The aim is enough cushioning to feel supported without making the surface unstable underneath you.
4. Durability and longevity
A high quality yoga mat should still feel and perform like itself after months of regular use, not just after the first few sessions.
Watch out for early signs a mat is degrading: flaking or peeling at the edges, a surface that's gone thin or shiny in high-contact spots, or grip that disappears even when the mat is clean and dry.
This is also where price and value can pull apart. A cheaper mat replaced every few months can end up costing more over a year or two than a single well-made mat that's built to last.
Durability isn't just a comfort issue either. As a mat wears down, its grip and support can change too.
5. Sourcing and production transparency
Where and how a mat is made is worth asking about because it can tell you much more about the material choices behind the marketing.
A brand that can clearly explain where its materials come from and how they're processed can usually provide more substance behind its sourcing and sustainability claims than a broad label such as "eco-friendly".
This is the kind of detail we explore for our own Portuguese cork in From Cork Oak to Yoga Mat: Why Portuguese Cork Makes Such a Good Yoga Surface, which traces the material back to the forests where it's harvested. Whatever brand or material you're looking at, it's worth looking for the same level of detail before taking a sustainability claim at face value.
6. Comfort and confidence during practice
All five of the points above eventually come down to one thing: what it feels like to practise on the mat, session after session.
A high quality mat doesn't need to draw attention to itself. It stays in place, maintains its grip and provides the support you need, allowing your attention to stay where it should: your breath, your alignment and your practice.
That's harder to put on a spec sheet than thickness or price, but it's often the difference practitioners notice once they've spent time using a well-made mat.
Bringing these six qualities together
You don't need to compare a dozen different specs before buying a mat. It means knowing what to check: what it's made from, how it grips wet or dry, whether it gives you the balance of cushioning and stability you need, how it holds up over time, whether the brand can explain its sourcing and, ultimately, how it feels once you're on it.
These are the same qualities that shape every ThriveLiv mat. Each one pairs a Portuguese cork surface with a natural rubber base, chosen to provide grip, support and stability throughout your practice. The construction stays consistent across the collection, so choosing between designs comes down to the look that feels right for you.
You can explore the full ThriveLiv cork yoga mat collection.
High quality yoga mats: FAQs
What is a good thickness for a yoga mat?
There isn't one ideal thickness for everyone, but around 4–6mm is commonly recommended as a versatile range for regular yoga practice, balancing cushioning with stability. Thinner mats can offer greater connection with the floor, while thicker mats may suit those looking for additional cushioning. ThriveLiv yoga mats are 4mm thick, placing them within this general-purpose range.
Is a thicker yoga mat always better?
No. While additional thickness can provide more cushioning, particularly during floor-based poses, a very soft or thick mat can make standing and balancing poses feel less stable. Material and density matter alongside thickness, so the thickest mat isn't necessarily the best choice.
Does yoga mat material matter as much as thickness?
Yes. Two mats of the same thickness can feel very different depending on the materials and construction used. Density, surface texture, grip and the material used for the base can all affect how supportive and stable a mat feels in practice.
