Sweaty Betty makes the most considered affordable yoga mat — natural rubber base for genuine grip on any surface, a closed-cell top layer that doesn't absorb sweat, and a length and width that accommodates most practice styles. Comes with a carry strap and the grip genuinely improves when warm. The rational starting mat for anyone serious about a regular practice.
Manduka's PRO is the mat that serious practitioners eventually settle on — 6mm thick PVC that provides exceptional cushioning without compromising stability, a closed-cell surface that doesn't absorb bacteria or odour, and a lifetime guarantee that Manduka actually honours. The grip improves the more you use it, and the construction has outlasted cheaper mats many times over.
Lululemon's Reversible Mat uses their proprietary polyurethane top layer that provides exceptional grip the moment it meets sweat — no break-in period. The reversible design means a softer side for restorative practice and a firmer side for vinyasa, and the construction holds its texture and shape through years of daily use. The mat that makes other mats feel obviously inferior.