I asked for this yoga mat for Christmas, and I was NOT disappointed.
I am in love with this yoga mat. Here are my pros and cons for those considering buying:
Pros:
1. The mat is perfectly grippy, especially once you begin to break a sweat. I also use yoga socks for some additional grip.
2. The suede material is very simple to clean. My dog accidentally tracked some dirt onto this and I was able to easily get it out with diluted apple cider vinegar.
3. The thickness is *chef’s kiss* just excellent. Huuuuge upgrade from my older mat.
4. Incredibly soft, feels like I am laying on a cloud!
5. The length and width definitely comes in handy for a lot of poses.
6. When I unfurl this and lay it flat, I don’t have any issues with it curling upward like my old mat. With my old mat, I would have to weigh down the edges with a medicine ball to convince the mat to lay flat. This mat is heavy enough that when you uncurl it’s it just stays how you want it to.
7. It’s beautiful! I mean, just look at it!!
Cons:
A. This mat is a Big Boy so you won’t be able to pair it with any of the popflex yoga bags due to its size. Not a big deal though. I got yoga mat straps for carrying this for 15 dollars elsewhere online.
B. This would probably be a con for 99% of yoga mats, but I have a Bernese Mountain dog and despite weekly brushing, vacuuming, and sweeping there is always hair EVERYWHERE. Such is the life with a big furry dog as a companion. The mat is no exception, the suede material attracts dog hair a bit. As a dog owner, I always carry a lint roller so I just roll it before and after every use. I had the same issue with my last mat, which was foam rather than suede. However, only the suede side of the mat seems to collect the hair luckily, so it is easy to maintain.
I have been eyeing this for months and am soooo pleased to finally get to use it. If you are on the fence, get it!