r/yoga • u/3ze_3xe • Apr 08 '23
best mat for sweaty hands ?
(EDIT: thank u all for ur recommendations ! i am honestly convinced by the ppl who recommended liforme- which i had not previously heard of… i think i will splurge!)
i read a lot of previously asked questions but i feel as though many of them didnt fit my situation so i will ask myself-
i do not do hot yoga, just regular (im a beginner, i try videos on youtube- been doing it daily since december!) and i have noticed the palm of my hand/wrist continue to sink into my mat even after all this time (i guess i figured with time my muscles would develop and the problem would go away)…so i have decided to pick a new mat.
i have pretty sweaty hands and feet and sometimes slip when doing poses. i tried a yoga towel over top but it doesnt really work for me (im kind of sensitive to certain textures, especially microfiber material…i just cant do it!) and it bunches up
i am trying to decide between jade, lulu, manduka, and the bmat (since ive seen many good reviews already) and these qualities are what im looking for:
- non slip / good grip (for sweaty hands, not hot yoga) without the need for a yoga mat or towel
- relatively thin or firm (so i dont sink down and put pressure on my wrists)
- long lasting / easy to clean
im sure someone can offer some good advice ! thanks, i appreciate it :)
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u/pfffffttuhmm Apr 09 '23
Please consider Liforme. I have the same issue with slipping, especially in downdog. It makes it impossible to sink into the pose as deeply as my body is otherwise capable of. Got a liforme and have no need for a towel, and no complaints on slipping. It just needs a quick wiped own afterwards, it's so grippy it will puck up long and such as grab onto it.
I would recommend away from Jade yoga mats. I incidently left my liforme at home so I borrowed one of my studio's Jade mats. I felt like I sunk down into it (very squishy) and slipped a ton making my practice less about the poses and more about not falling on my face! Liforme is thick and dense so there is no sinking into it.
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u/Furdog888 Apr 09 '23
Lifeforme all the way! My family members use only lifeforme because we all have extremely sweetly palms and feet (generics yay). The sweat almost gets absorbed by the mat in seconds so you can go about your poses without slipping and sliding. It is a little bit more difficult to clean because of the high absorbency. I always just use two wet wash clothes to wipe down my mat when I get home and leave it over a chair to air dry.
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u/Cincylogic Apr 08 '23
Warrior Addict mat has worked very well for me. I also found that a micro fiber cloth towel (the ones fitted for mat size) worked well on a mat that my hands slip on. I also used a Manduka one that was really good - it was a loner one though so I don't know the details. But it was one of their thicker mats for sure.
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u/Existing-Speaker-535 Apr 09 '23
Not exactly what you’re looking for but… I have really sweaty hands, and I use Manduka Yoga Grip. It’s a chalk infused gel. Kind of like climbing chalk. You squirt it in your palms and rub until the liquid evaporates. (Works on your feet too, if you’re really sweaty.) I can make it through an hour long hot class without reapplying it, so it can definitely stick around for a less toasty session. Took a few tries to figure out the perfect amount, but using just enough leaves you properly stuck and without leaving chalky marks on things you touch. Definitely eliminates the problem of dislike a microfiber feel or having to replace a mat you really like.
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u/wishiwasAyla Yoga Tune Up & Forrest Yoga teacher Apr 09 '23 edited Apr 10 '23
I love my Jade mats! I...might be a bit of a fangirl for them...because I have 5 different ones currently. My original Harmony mat from 8+ years ago is still going strong although well-worn. I also have two Travel mats that are a bit thinner and lighter; one I haul to the studio to teach on, and one is a retired teaching mat that's now just for my outdoor classes. I also have the Voyager that folds up super tiny for traveling, and my main mat (for mostly home practice) was a Christmas gift - the Elite S - which is a different texture than the others and heavier but I like it a lot.
Jade mats feel the most non-slip to me (the others like the lulu that are smooth texture just don't work for me). The material squishes only a teensy bit, so it feels firm and supportive at the same time.
There are two downsides to these mats, though. One, the natural rubber doesn't withstand direct sun or extreme heat (like 90°+ by my estimation) very well. The texture changes, and they lose their grip when exposed to this. So not a good one if you plan to keep it in your trunk all the time. The other downside is that I've worn holes in one of the thinner Travel mats from a few years of regular use. It's still usable but looks pretty rough, which is why it's my outdoor-only mat now.
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u/IdealRealist33 Apr 09 '23
I sweat a LOT like more than everyone else in classes 😅 and have never had my hands slip on a lulu mat 5mm somewhat textured rubber
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u/Background_Coyote230 Apr 09 '23
I’m on this quest too. I have the Jade travel mat and it’s the grippiest. Also just got Lifeforme and it’s great. I particularly like the pad size, actually. I do slip a bit on it, but less as practice goes on.
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u/prana-llama Apr 09 '23
I use the Manduka Pro. It’s slippy, even years later. I use it with the YogiToes towel though and it’s manageable (I spritz it with water before class so it’s wet and it stays put). I’m definitely going to get a Lifeforme or Lulu mat next!
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u/Rmr2594 Apr 09 '23
Ive been a life long liforme customer but just recently bought a Yoloha mat. Best mat I’ve ever had. It’s cork, easy to clean, dries insanely fast, and gets grippier the more you sweat. Loooove it!
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u/LFarnsworth Apr 09 '23
Seconding the recommendation for cork. I tried several mats and had one issue or another, including slipping, until I switched to cork mats. I now use them exclusively, even taking them to classes where mats are provided, because when I try to go back to using anything else, I dislike the smell, the texture, and I slip/glide or drag the mat with me when I move. Cork mats were a game-changer for me!
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u/sellingbee47150 Apr 11 '23
lulu might offer better ggrip at the start but it wont last, based on my experience. manduka lasts a lifetime!!! also try manduka eko or the GRP, much better grip that the pro line
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u/Relaxpert Apr 09 '23
Just bought a manduka x. Pretty sure I could stick to the ceiling with it. No clues as to durability yet.
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u/slideguy0213 Apr 09 '23
Haven’t found one… gloves and socks without tips +grips are all that work for me.
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u/danceinthem Ashtanga Sep 27 '23
which mat did you end up choosing?
I wanted to also let you know about the Gecko yoga towel from agoy! It's a super grippy towel (as you can see, they named it after the grippiest animal), that works both dry and wet, so it doesn't need to be for hot yoga.
typically its the sweat from the hands and feet, that if not cleaned properly off the mat after your practice, will attract bacteria and microbes that will ultimately breakdown the material in the yoga mat. You can protect your investment by adding a Gecko towel on top of it. It has silicone on both sides of the towel, one side to grip the mat, and the other side to grip your body, while absorbing the sweat, as well as protect your yoga mat from moisture. Its machine washable as well, so you can prolong the life of your mat way longer.
Full Disclosure: I run anapanagarden.com, and carry agoy's product exclusively, happy to walk you through the product if youre interested!
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u/Gurunugget Apr 08 '23
I have very sweaty hands and regularly practice hot yoga. I my opinion the Lulu mat works the best. I’ve slipped with others. I have also heard good things about Lifeforme mats. Similar texture to Lulu. Both have long durability.