Are cork yoga mats good? Yes! I love my cork yoga mat. They are warm and soft and have a great, natural texture you can’t get with any other mat. Cork yoga mats are also one of the few truly ecologically friendly and sustainable yoga mat options you can get. However, they do have a few down sides as well. In this blog we will look at the pros and cons of cork yoga mats and the best places to get one.
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Are Cork Yoga Mats Good? The Good
- Comfortable – Cork yoga mats feel great against the skin and give the perfect amount of cushioning for your relaxing yin poses and flow yoga routines.
- Antimicrobial – Cork is naturally antimicrobial displaying high antibacterial activity (almost 100%) when compared to commercially available antimicrobial materials.
- Warm – Cork yoga mats feel warm against the skin unlike some mats that can feel cold and clammy.
- Lightweight – Cork is a naturally light material.
- Eco-friendly – Cork is a natural product that is sustainable, environmentally friendly, carbon positive, biodegradable and renewable. No trees are cut down to harvest cork. The bark of the cork oak is simply stripped off, then left alone from 9-12 years to regrow, when it can be harvested again. This cycle continues for the life of the cork tree (100 to 300 years).
- Natural material – The natural, wholesome texture and feel of cork allow you to deepen mindfulness practices and connect more fully with nature.
- Makes you feel grounded – Cork is much better for grounding than synthetic mats.
- Extra grippy when wet – Cork mats have an okay grip when dry and actually get grippier when wet making them great for hot yoga!
Are Cork Yoga Mats Good? The Bad
- Can hold shape – Some cork yoga mats are not as flexible as synthetic mats making them difficult to roll tightly on a regular basis. They can also take a few days to flatten out after you first buy one. I generally keep mine loosely rolled and placed in a corner. When kept like this it is easy to lay out flat and use right away. If you roll up some cork yoga mats too tightly, they keep that shape and don’t stay flat on the ground during practice. The Yoloha mats don’t have this problem and lie flat strait away.
- Can be slippery when dry – Some people find cork yoga mats slippery when dry. If this is a problem for you give the mat a quick water spritz and you should be good to go. The Yoloha Unity is super grippy all the time.
- Delicate – Cork mats are generally not as durable as some synthetic yoga mats.
Are Cork Yoga Mats Good? The Ugly
Just joking, there is no ugly. All in all, I love my cork yoga mat and use it as my go to, at home yoga mat. The cork mat I regularly use is the Yoloha Aura and it is great! Though a bit on the expensive side it is phenomenally comfy, grounding and well made. I also like the larger sizes available with the Yoloha mats and they lie flat strait away after unrolling them.
Most Eco-Friendy, Quality Cork Yoga Mat
Non Slip, Sustainable, Soft, Durable, Lightweight, Premium, Handmade
- Made with Plant Foam which contains ZERO PVC’s, latex, plasticizers or rubber smells.
- Plant Foam combined with the Cork Surface achieves a yoga mat made with 70% renewable materials!
- Unrolls and lies flat strait away. No need to flatten like some other cork yoga mats.
- 80″ x 26″ x 6 mm thick. The extra length and width are great for taller people.
- 100 % Vegan!
Best Cork and Rubber Blend Yoga Mat – Best for Hot Yoga
- Non Slip, Eco-Friendly, Durable, Premium Quality.
- Made from a blend of two recycled materials: cork and rubber.
- The surface of the Unity is not as soft as some other cork yoga mats due to the blended rubber and cork surface. This mixture gives great grip, but if you are looking for the pure, natural feel of cork, go with the Aura.
- Very absorbent, great for hot yoga!
- Non-toxic and eco-friendly foam backing with no latex, PVC’s or harsh chemicals.
- Unrolls and lies flat strait away. No need to flatten like some other cork yoga mats.
- Heavy for a cork mat (6 lbs).
- 72″ x 26″, 80″ x 26″ and 84″ x 30″ options x 6 mm thick. The extra length and width are great for taller people.
Best Mid-Range 4 mm Thick Cork Yoga Mat
- Made from 100% all-natural, sustainably sourced organic cork and recyclable rubber.
- No PVC’s, TPE’s, toxic glues, silicone, phthalates or other harmful chemicals.
72” x 24” x 4 mm thick
Best Inexpensive 5 mm Thick Cork Yoga Mat with Mandala
All-natural sustainable cork is eco-friendly, lightweight and durable. The closed-cell construction seals out germs, odor and bacteria, making it the ideal surface for your yoga practice.
- Mandala printed design.
- All-natural cork and lightweight TPE.
- Closed-cell design seals out odor and bacteria.
- Superior cushioning and support.
- Requires flattening before use.
- Lightweight yet durable.
- 68″ x 24″ x 5 mm thick.
Best Inexpensive Plain 5 mm Thick Cork Yoga Mat
Performance Cork Yoga Mat (5 mm)
With cork on one side and eco-friendly TPE on the other, this lightweight and durable mat may just be your new best friend.
- All-natural cork and lightweight TPE.
- Closed-cell design seals out odor, bacteria.
- Superior cushioning and support.
- Requires flattening before use.
- Lightweight yet durable.
- 68″ x 24″ x 5 mm thick.
Tips on Using a Cork yoga Mat for the First Time
- Unroll your cork yoga mat gently. Lay out flat on the floor and place books on the edges for a few days to help flatten. If the mat is still stuck in a rolled position, loosely roll in the opposite direction with a towel or other yoga mat and set aside for a few days. This is unnecessary with the Yoloha mats as they lie flat strait away.
- Do not unroll and immediately roll in the opposite direction like you might with other yoga mats. This can create creases in some cork yoga mats.
- If you find your cork yoga mat slippery, try spritzing with water or get your sweat on. Cork yoga mats are grippier when wet!
- Enjoy!