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Gaiam Premium 6mm Yoga Mat Review: Is It Worth It?
The cushioned 6mm yoga mat in dozens of prints that's been Amazon's #1 for years — gentle on knees, grippy enough for downward dog, and finally affordable.
Illustrative image — see Amazon for the actual product.
Our verdict
The Gaiam Premium 6mm Yoga Mat is the right starter mat for almost everyone — cushioned enough to protect joints, grippy enough for real practice, in dozens of prints, at a price that doesn't make you flinch. The yoga-mat bestseller list for good reason.
The short version
The Gaiam Premium is the yoga mat most people start with for one good reason: at 6mm thick it's substantially cushier than the 3-4mm budget mats, so your knees and elbows survive long floor sequences, and the textured surface gives just enough grip for poses like downward dog without going full-rubber sticky. Comes in a huge selection of prints that hold up to washing, and at a price that means you can replace it every couple of years without thinking twice. Not for serious hot-yoga sweaters, but for living-room yoga, pilates, stretching and home workouts, this is the right starting mat.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Generous 6mm cushioning protects knees and joints
- Textured non-slip surface for stable poses
- Huge range of prints and colors
- Lightweight enough to roll up and carry
- Far cheaper than premium rubber mats
- Easy to wipe down with mild soap and water
Cons
- Not ideal for hot yoga — gets slippery when very sweaty
- PVC construction, not natural rubber
- Premium yoga teachers may prefer denser pro mats
Why people love it
Unroll on any floor
6mm of cushion levels uneven floors and protects your joints during long holds and floor work.
The texture grips you back
A textured non-slip surface keeps your hands and feet planted in standing and balance poses.
Roll, strap, store
It rolls into a compact bundle that fits behind a couch or in a closet, and most options include or pair with a carry strap.
Who it's for
- Yoga, pilates and stretching beginners
- Home workout floor cushioning
- Knee-sensitive practitioners
- Anyone who wants a fun-print mat without spending $80+
Is the Gaiam yoga mat worth it — or should you spend more on a Manduka?
The yoga-mat market splits cleanly. At one end, you have $25-$45 mats like the Gaiam Premium — PVC construction, fun patterns, plenty of cushion, and they last a few years before the surface starts to break down. At the other end, $80-$140 mats like the Manduka PRO or Liforme — denser, longer-lasting, with premium materials and superior grip for serious daily practitioners. The Gaiam sits firmly in the budget-friendly category and is honest about it.
For 90% of people, the budget end is the right call. If you're starting yoga, doing it a few times a week at home, or using it for general floor exercise and stretching, the Gaiam Premium will serve you well for two-plus years and you can replace it without flinching. The Manduka PRO is the right buy if you're going to a studio four-plus times a week, want a mat that lasts 10+ years, and have an established practice where surface grip really matters. Don't let yoga-influencer culture talk you into the premium mat for occasional home use — the Gaiam is genuinely fine, which is why it stays at the top of Amazon's bestseller list.
Gaiam Premium vs Lululemon The Mat vs Manduka PROlite
The three yoga mats people compare most are the Gaiam Premium (~$30), the Lululemon Take Form / The Mat 5mm (~$98) and the Manduka PROlite (~$85). They sit at very different price-to-performance points. The Gaiam wins on cushion-for-the-money and print variety. Lululemon's mats have a unique polyurethane top layer that absorbs sweat, making them genuinely better for hot yoga and heavy sweaters — that's the main reason to spend the premium. Manduka PROlite is the long-haul mat: incredibly dense, will outlast everything else, but firmer and less cushioned.
Match the mat to your practice. Beginner to intermediate home yoga, pilates, stretching, general fitness floor work → Gaiam Premium, no contest. Studio classes 3-5x per week with moderate sweat → Lululemon Take Form. Daily long-term practice, hot environments or you want a mat for the next decade → Manduka PROlite or Manduka PRO. Most people who buy the premium mats first wish they'd started with a Gaiam and upgraded later, once they knew exactly what they wanted.
How to use, store and extend the life of your yoga mat
Unroll the mat 24 hours before first use to let it off-gas the new-PVC smell, ideally somewhere with good airflow. For the first few sessions, the surface may feel slick — this is normal and resolves once the manufacturing residue wears off. Wipe it down with a damp cloth after each session, focusing on the side your hands and feet touched, and deep clean every few weeks with mild soap and water in the bathtub.
Roll the mat up the same direction each time (with the side you stand on facing out is most common) and don't fold it — folds create permanent creases that affect grip. Store it standing on its end or laid flat, away from direct sunlight, which degrades the surface over time. Avoid leaving it in a hot car. With these basics, a Gaiam Premium will hold up for two to three years of regular home use; treat it harshly and it'll start to flake at the edges in under a year.
See Gaiam Yoga Mat on Amazon
Check the latest price, photos and buyer reviews on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Sold and shipped by AmazonFrequently asked questions
Is 6mm thick enough for yoga (or too thick)?
6mm is the sweet spot for most home yoga practitioners — thick enough to cushion knees, hips and the spine during floor poses, but not so thick that balance poses get wobbly. Pro mats are typically 3-5mm and feel more stable in standing poses but offer less cushion. If you have joint sensitivity or do a lot of floor-based work, 6mm is the right call; if you're an advanced yogi doing mostly standing flows on a hard floor, you might prefer a 4mm pro mat.
How do I clean the Gaiam yoga mat?
Wipe it down with a damp cloth and mild soap or a yoga-mat spray after each use, especially the side your hands and feet touched. For a deeper clean every few weeks, lay it flat in a bathtub or shower with mild soap and water, gently scrub with a soft cloth, rinse, and hang it over a shower rod to air-dry fully (24 hours). Never put a yoga mat in the washing machine or dryer — it shortens the life of the surface.
Is the Gaiam mat suitable for hot yoga?
Honestly, not really. The PVC surface becomes slippery once you're sweating heavily, which is the trade-off for the cushioned construction. For occasional warm classes a yoga towel laid over the mat solves it. For dedicated hot-yoga practitioners, a natural rubber mat or a microfiber-topped hot-yoga mat is a better choice — Gaiam itself makes mats specifically for hot yoga.
What's the difference between the Gaiam Premium and Classic yoga mats?
The Classic is 4mm thick, lighter and the cheapest entry point. The Premium is 6mm, with more cushion, a slightly textured surface and a higher-quality printing process for the patterns. For most home practitioners, the Premium is worth the small upgrade. Gaiam also makes a 'Yoga for Beginners' bundle that pairs the mat with a strap and pose guide.
Does the Gaiam mat come with a carry strap or bag?
Some versions include a carry strap, others don't — check the product page. If your mat doesn't include one, Gaiam and other brands sell separate straps and bags inexpensively. Most home users keep the mat rolled up behind a couch or in a closet and don't need a bag at all.
Is the Gaiam yoga mat made of PVC, and is that safe?
Yes, the Premium is PVC, which is the most common yoga-mat material because it's grippy, durable and affordable. Gaiam states their mats are 6P phthalate-free, which addresses the main historical PVC health concern. If you specifically want a non-PVC mat for environmental or material reasons, Gaiam and other brands make natural rubber, TPE and cork alternatives — but those cost more and offer less cushion at the same thickness.
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