Manduka BlackMatPRO 71-Inch Yoga and Pilates Mat - BLACKMAT-PRO-71

Half-roll backers beware!

6/17/2009

This mat sure as has a lot of hype! I've been a yoga student for over 7 yrs, but have recently switched to Pilates with a much more dedicated outlook/workout for the past 2, partly due to a recent (2yrs ago) diagnosed lower back issue. This mat appears to be great for yoga, but not nearly thick enough for Pilates. I got this mat hoping there was a happy medium, since I do on occasion still practice yoga at home and in the studio (minus any and all back extensions) So.....planted feet,rib open,extending yogi's you'll love it! Closed rib, hundred, half-roll backers beware!!

Great mat, slippery when wet

5/25/2009

This is a good mat, but a bit slippery when wet. I'm not sure the mat is worth buying if you sweat a lot, since you'll need to put a towel on it anyway.

I bought this mat after practicing for several years on a generic 1/4" thick mat (I do a mix of ashtanga, power and flow). It is a very welcome upgrade -- the mat seems indestructible and has a very nice consistency. The size is great -- not so big as to overwhelm the studio, but enough to feel comfortable (I'm 5'10").

My thoughts on several comments I saw in other reviews:

Common comment: The surface is slippery when covered in sweat.
My response: yes, that is my experience. I sweat a lot, so I bought a Yogitoes towel. It doesn't fully cover the mat, but it is definitely good enough.

Common comment: The mat smells.
My response: Yes, it does have a distinctive odor, but I don't find it overwhelming. This mat smells less than my other athletic items in the same closet, so I don't really mind.

Common comment: It's heavy.
My response: As a 150 lb guy, I rarely notice the weight, and I carry it around a fair amount.

All in all, a good mat. Not sure if it is worth the money if you're going to need to cover it with a towel anyway though. In retrospect, for the same money I would have bought a cheaper mat and several towels. However, I'm certainly happy I have it.

One of the best mats

5/13/2009

I purchased this mat because a friend in my yoga class recommended it and the reviews were great. I still slip some but not as much as I do using the typical sticky mats.

The one thing I am not please about is that I have these marks on the mat, which I am assumming is dueto sliding my feet down the mat on occassion. My new mat has light grey streaks on it.

Manduka: serious mat

5/12/2009

This is a thick, heavy mat similar to industrial floor matting. It is heavy. Pick up a 7 lb weight & see what seven pounds feels like. I committed to an expensive mat on the recommendation of instructors. The inexpensive mat I was using was unsafely slippery, this one stays put. I gave it a vinegar bath and let it sit in the sun for 24 hours, it's good to go. As to smells, wash your mats. It's the same basic hygiene that makes one own, not share, an exercise mat. If you can afford it, do it. (what do you spend on a pair of trainer(sport)shoes that last six months?) Weight is the decision to focus on with this mat.

It Works for Me

4/12/2009

I've had the mat for about 3 weeks now. It did have a bit of a smell when I first opened it but that has disappeared completely now just through normal daily use. Most of the other mats I've used over the years from other companies have also had some sort of "new mat smell" (Hugger Mugger, Wai Lana, Gaiam--even a "Bally" my first mat before I knew anything about yoga). It's never really bothered me much, but everyone is unique. I practice in a very small room at home and once the mat was rolled back up each day after practice I couldn't smell it at all. I never did have to leave it out in the sun or use a cleaner on it.

Originally my hands slipped on it a bit. A note on the product information sleeve mentioned that there is a slight film on the mat. I don't sweat very easily, and it happened only every so often so I think it may have been the oils in my hands. But now after a few weeks I really don't slip any more. It actually helped me bring more awareness to my hands in poses like down dog--whether I was grounding the four corners of the hands as well as the knuckles and drawing muscle energy up from the fingers through the arms well enough. So the slipping became a teacher of sorts for a few practices. (for reference, I practice Anusara)

I do love the mat, though. It is cushiony yet solid and firm, which is a delightful combination. I put my knees into it all the time and it feels just fine. The mat is rolled out over a vinyl flooring, so the mat is all the cushion I have. I find my old mats to be a bit spongy and soft now. But, again, everyone has their own preferences. It's a little wider than my other mats and I like that a lot for some of the asanas I do. It has never slipped on the floor and I feel really safe and confident using it.

I bought the mat because I was wearing them out every year or two and I expect that this one will last for a long time. My Anusara yoga instructor at Lake Center Yoga outside of Orlando has one that he has used for nearly 20 years and another that is about 10 years old. Both are in exceptional condition and he has used them multiple times every day. Another student in class also has one and really loves his. So those were my recommendations before I bought the mat.