Choose a mat by how you’ll use it. A grippy mat about 4 to 5mm thick suits most people. If you practise on hard tiles or have sensitive knees, go a little thicker. If you travel, buy a thin one that folds.
We should be plain about one thing first: we have not tested any of the mats on this page. The suggestions below come from general published specifications from manufacturers and retailers. There are no affiliate links and we earn nothing from recommendations. Specifications change, so check the maker’s page before you buy.
What should you look for in a yoga mat?
Grip
Grip matters most, because slipping is both annoying and a safety issue. Natural rubber and polyurethane surfaces tend to be the grippiest, particularly once your hands start to sweat. Smooth PVC can feel slick when new and may need some breaking in.
Thickness
Thicker mats are kinder to knees and wrists, but too much cushioning can make balance poses wobbly. Common thicknesses are 4 to 6mm for everyday use and 1 to 2mm for travel. Maltese homes usually have stone or tiled floors, so take that into account if you’ll mostly practise at home.
Material
- PVC is durable, often closed-cell and easy to wipe clean, but it’s a plastic and doesn’t suit everyone’s environmental priorities.
- Natural rubber grips well and comes from a renewable source. It can smell strongly at first, it breaks down in sunlight, and it isn’t suitable if you have a latex allergy.
- Polyurethane-topped rubber feels smooth and grips well when damp, but it tends to mark easily and sits at the premium end.
- TPE is light and common among budget mats, and usually less durable.
- Cork-topped mats tend to grip better when slightly damp, though they feel firmer underfoot.
Weight
A studio-grade mat can weigh well over 3kg, which you’ll notice on a bus from Mosta to Sliema. If you carry your mat most days, aim for around 2kg or less.
Sweat
An open-cell mat absorbs sweat, which helps grip but means it needs thorough drying. A closed-cell mat keeps moisture on the surface, so you can wipe it dry, although it may need a towel in a hot class. In Malta’s humid summers that difference matters, because a damp mat rolled up in a warm flat can start to smell quickly.
Price
We don’t quote prices because they change too often, but the mats below mostly sit towards the upper end of the market. If you go to yoga once a week, a decent budget mat will be fine. Spending more makes sense if you practise several times a week, since a tough mat can last for years.
Which well-known mats suit which needs?
These are published figures, which can vary by size and retailer.
| Mat | Published specification | Could suit | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manduka PRO | 6mm, PVC, closed-cell, about 3.4kg | Daily practice, sensitive knees, tiled floors | Heavy to carry. Often reported to need breaking in. Sold with a lifetime guarantee, so read the terms |
| Manduka PROlite | 4.7mm, a lighter version of the PRO | Regular practice with some carrying | Thinner, so less cushioning on tiles |
| Manduka eKO Superlite | 1.5mm, natural rubber, closed-cell surface, about 1kg, folds | Travel, or laying over a studio mat | Very little cushioning. Contains natural rubber |
| Liforme Original | About 4.2mm, about 2.5kg, natural rubber with a polyurethane surface, printed alignment markers | Sweaty vinyasa or ashtanga, people who like alignment guides | Generous size, premium price |
| Jade Harmony | About 4.7mm, open-cell natural rubber, about 2.3kg | Grip when sweating, buyers avoiding PVC | Needs careful drying, and the rubber smell can last a while. The maker’s guidance is to avoid direct sun |
| Lululemon Reversible 5mm | 5mm, about 2.4kg, rubber base with a polyurethane surface | Mixed practice, as the two sides feel different | Contains latex |
The Alo Warrior Mat is another popular name, but published figures for its thickness and weight differ between retailers, so we’ve left it out of the table. If it appeals, go by Alo’s own product page.
Which mat copes best with Malta’s humidity and travel?
On paper, the Manduka eKO Superlite is the one we’d look at first. Its closed-cell surface is designed to keep moisture out, so it should dry faster than an open-cell mat in humid weather, and at about 1kg it folds into a suitcase. Bear in mind that it offers almost no cushioning, so it works best on top of a studio mat or on sand and grass. Being natural rubber, it also shouldn’t be left out in the sun.
If you want one mat for your flat, the studio and the occasional trip, the Manduka PROlite makes sense. It’s closed-cell, so it can be wiped dry, and it’s thicker than a travel mat and lighter than the PRO.
Remember that this is a judgement from specifications. We haven’t taken either mat through a Maltese August.
Do you need your own mat in Malta?
Not always. Island Yoga includes Manduka mats with a booking, and Zen Yoga Studio in Mellieħa is also equipped with Manduka mats, which gives you a low-cost way to find out how the brand feels before buying one. Ananda Marga in Gżira provides mats as well.
Others expect you to bring your own, including Lotus Room, Malta Yoga in Mellieħa and Yoga Malta. Seaside classes are the main reason many people buy one. For the full picture, see what to bring to your first yoga lesson.
Where can you buy a yoga mat in Malta?
Two providers in our directory say they sell mats. Lotus Room in Żebbuġ sells them at the centre, and PowerYogaWorld sells mats and props, though its published address is inconsistent, so contact it before travelling. Studio shops are handy, because you can ask a teacher what they’d suggest for your practice.
We can’t say which of the models above are stocked in Malta. If you order online, check whether the seller delivers here, what shipping costs and how returns work, as sending a heavy mat back can be expensive.
How do you make a yoga mat last in Malta?
- Dry it fully before you roll it up, in the shade rather than on a sunny balcony.
- Keep it out of hot cars. Heat and sun break down rubber, and summer temperatures inside a parked car can be severe.
- Rinse off salt and sand with fresh water after a seaside class, then dry it.
- Clean it gently. Use a damp cloth and mild soap unless the maker says otherwise, as oils and harsh cleaners can damage some surfaces.
- Store it airy. Avoid leaving it in a sealed bag or a damp cupboard, where mould can take hold.
- Use a towel in hot classes. It protects the mat and improves your grip.
A good mat helps, but it won’t make or break your practice. If you’re still working out what kind of yoga you like, start with choosing a yoga style, since a hot vinyasa regular and a yin student want quite different things from a mat.