Last week we reviewed yoga mats and now we'll take a look at travel mats. Who knew there was so much to say about yoga mats! 

To take it or not to take it....that is the question.  Whether it's a weekend in San Diego or 3 weeks in New York, it's fun to visit other studios and keep up your practice when traveling.  But hauling your 80 lb. yoga mat isn't always practical and using the stinky public (communal) yoga mats is certainly not desirable(1), depending on the studio(2).   

Do you take your main mat or a travel mat was the question I posed to some of my yoga homies.   Kashi Ananda, owner of Devi Yoga Center. is not shy about bringing the kitchen sink.  She travels with her Manduka Pro-Light and "I also bring my blocks, strap and small cushion, my malas and a small travel altar with pictures of my gurus and candle," she adds.  Ann Austin, brings her "bad boy", her trusty Manduka Black Pro.  She makes good sense when she says it "makes every surface the same. It makes carpet firm and concrete soft. It works everywhere!".(3).   Creator of Irie Yoga, Iris Lambert, keeps it simple, depending on her destination and circumstances she with or without a mat. 

A lightweight travel mat can be stuffed in your suitcase, but if you plan on bringing your larger mat, you may have to pull out your mat bag (reviewed next week) and either check it or carry it on the plane.  As Ann remarked, it's questionable whether your yoga mat meets the airline's carry-on size requirements.  Unless you're flying Southwest, you might have to check your mat and pay for the privilege.   You could  travel with an old mat, so you don't worry about losing it or can leave with the studio or a friend you're visiting.  The last time I travelled, I took my old Jade mat.  It's not my main mat (Manduka Lite), but it would definitely meet my needs for a few days. 

What should you look for in a travel mat?  Well, obviously weight and thickness.  Especially if it's going in your suitcase, you'll need to leave room for your 10 yoga tops, new Clarey Sage cropped yoga pants, and metallic platform Tsubos.   Thin and light is not always the best.   I had a travel mat that was so sticky and thin that it stuck to my foot when I moved from downward dog to Warrior I!   

OK, let's get down to specifics.  What's out there?  We'll look at Jade, Manduka, LuluLemon and Gaiam.

Manduka eKO SuperLite:  If he's not using his 1/8" off the roll mat, Erick Thuss, owner with his bro, Collin, of Westside Yoga Studio in Sebastopol, is using this Manduka mat, which a friend gave him while in China.  "I really ended up digging it, great little mat," says Erick.  International yoga teacher, Anne O'Brien, weighs in on the eKO.  "The travel Manduka is super for its paper thin quality and ease of folding or rolling. However since it offers no padding... it just is not enough for long practices on hard floors".  The eKO SuperLite will leave no footprint in landfills as it's made from a biodegradable material.  It's weighs 2 lbs, which doesn't seem "super" lite to me. 

Jade - At 1/8" thick, this is Jade's travel mat and is available in two lengths, 68" and 74", and a bunch of colors.  Its $55 pricetag is surprisingly higher than the Manuka.  Amazon lists its weight at 1.6 lbs and prices it much less than Jade's website.   Ms. O'Brien thinks the Jade travel mat is great with "a little more cush than the Manduka.... so it is a little thicker/heavier for travel but gives you more of a real yoga mat feel".

LuluLemon -  In addition to their must-have logo on your pants and tops, you can also get The Un Mat.   It's their mat for "yoga-on-the-fly".   At $38, it still leaves you a few bucks to buy their $98 (yikes!) Groove Pant. It's double-sided with different textures so you can choose your grip.  Interesting.  It's made of polyurethane and natural rubber and weighs in at 2 lbs. I own a LuluLemon travel mat, but purchased it years ago.  I've been happy with it and usually place it on top of a studio mat for added padding. 

Gaiam  - This mega-yoga company has a Reversible Travel Mat at only 1 lb.  Their website says it's "comfortable and slightly sticky blend of microfiber and natural rubber. Layer over your regular mat for vinyasa or hot yoga practice; absorbs sweat and gives you increased grip."  With a mat this thin, it should be extra easy to pack, leaving you more room for a few more pairs of Commando underpants.  It would be ideal to use in your hotel room or to layer over a communal mat.  It's super affordable on Gaiam's site at $23.   There's also the Gaiam Sol Bhakti Ultra-Light Yoga Mat, at 1 lb., 12 oz. It's part of Gaiam's Sol  line and is made from 100% natural rubber.  Iris has this mat and says it's, "really thin, rubber, and will fold without creasing packed in your suitcase.... though not a lot of padding.... just sticky". 

So, there you have it.  More than you ever thought you'd need to know about practicing on the road.  Next week (and maybe beyond) I'll cover specialty mats, bags, cleaners and  toppers.  In the meantime, I always love your input and suggestions for future columns or what you think about this one.