MandukaPRO Yoga Mat 71" - 6mmOEKO-TEX STANDARD 100

I researched mats for weeks before finally deciding to go with the top of the line Black Mat Pro.What I love: I really love the size of this mat. No more hanging off the mat. It gives you a fair amount of real estate with out looking out of place in the room. (I am 5'4", perfect for me). I love the density of this mat. Plenty of cushioning but with a good level of firmness which helps when balancing on the mat. This is a big improvement over my previous mat (Nike). This mat does not move on the floor. No shifting in Warrior 2. It has a nice feel to it. Slightly fabric-like. You have the feeling this mat is well made.About the color: I am in my grey phase as I like to call it so this color works for me. It is more of a charcoal grey than a true black. Personally, I get tired of the colored mats after a while, so this is nice an neutral color to look at. The downside of the color is that it does tend to show dirt but really, you are face down on the mat, it should be cleaned regularly anyway, right?About the smell: I was a bit surprised about the smell at first. I left the mat hanging over a half wall for several days and the smell quickly diminished to not noticeable. I can still smell it after 1 month but only when my nose is right against the mat and it really is not an offensive smell to me.About the stickiness: After reading some reviews about the slipperiness of the mat, I was worried, but I got through the breaking in period easily and a month into it, I find it is perfect. Just the right amount of stickiness.Regarding the break in period: The day the mat arrived, I washed it down with a gentle cleaner followed by the sea salt wash, waited a couple of hours and off to class I went. Well, that first class, I was slipping all over the place. I am not sure if it was the new mat or maybe I didn't wait long enough after the washings. Next I tried wiping it down with vodka (I read about this online) and that made a big difference. I left the mat open for a week+ on the floor and walked on it every evening in bare feet to try and break it in a little quicker. Next time I tried it at class, no slip. (Disclaimer: I don't sweat all that much typically, if you are a heavy sweater try rosin or a yoga towel)About the weight: it weighs 7 lbs. if you live in NYC, maybe this might not work, but if you are carrying this from car to class, this is no big deal. Honestly, the weight is no issue in my mind at all. You are going to class for a workout, right?Overall, after a couple of weeks of regular practice and just walking on my mat with bare feet, I got through the breaking period. I love the lifetime warranty. This is a great mat and a good investment. I think my mat and I will be very happy together.

I Love this mat! I am a relative newbie in yoga, have been sporadically going to YMCA yoga classes for a little over a year. I started out by just using the mats at the Y. Then I decided that I would get my own mat... I didn't really want to use the same mat that lots of other people have been using; wasn't too sure how often they are cleaned or the health of previous users of the mats.Well... I got a yoga mat in the $20 range. Thin and my hands slipped in Down Facing Dog. Moved up to a mat in the $30 range and used both mats during practice. No problems with the thickness of the combined mats stacked together (comfort of knees in poses that require you to be on all fours), but still a little problem with slipping hands. And standing balance poses were a little more difficult since the two mats together were a little "spongy" and my balance is not that great that I needed the extra "added benefit" of a less stable surface to balance on!I noticed that all my instructors use Manduka mats... Hmmmm, wonder if the mats are worth the (lots) extra money they cost??? Asked a couple of my instructors, and they all said emphatically "YES!" Sooooo.... Decided to give the $$$ mat a try. I mean, after all, I spend well over $100 for running shoes... and stability and comfort in my yoga mat is also important!Well, I have to say, the instructors are right! I LOVE this mat. My hands do NOT slip in Down Dog, even toward the end of a strenuous yoga workout when I am a little "damp". (I sweat like a well lathered horse after a hard run...). The mat is comfortable in all of the poses that I have done; no issues with knees on the hard surfaces of the gym floor. Standing balance poses have become a little easier; the firmness of the Manduka mat provides stability that I was just not getting with less expensive options.The mat itself is obviously of better material than my previous less expensive mats. Firmer, heavier, less slippery. I have seen some reviews that say it is TOO heavy... not a problem. If you are doing plank position, and you are complaining about the weight of this mat, then something does not equate!I like the fact that the mat has a lifetime guarantee. One of my main instructors has used her mat for over 4 years; and she teaches classes 2 hours a day on average ... every day (or maybe more...). Her mat is still in perfect condition. She said that she went through 2 mats a year before moving up to the Manduka... So is it really more expensive than the cheaper mats??? Maybe not!!!I got the extra long Manduka mat. I am not tall (5'9") but I like to stay on the mat and not on the floor - shorter mats have me hanging off the ends on some poses with the normal sized mats. The longer mat is perfect!If you are new to Yoga, give yoga a try using the studio mats at the class before buying a Manduka (they are expensive).If you like Yoga and want to continue... BUY A MANDUKA MAT!!! You will not be sorry!