I’d been using a Gaiam extra thick mat, which has great padding but slips around on the floor, and it also affected my balance poses because it’s so soft. I got the Jade mat because reviews said how grippy it is. And wow, what a difference. My balance poses are so much better. I also like that, although it’s not as thick as my Gaiam mat, it is certainly not thin, and it’s compressible but springs right back, so it doesn’t feel soft. With the excellent grip, it’s a perfect combination to stop you losing your poses. Having said that, I almost sent it back. Like other reviewers have said, man, was it stinky. It’s natural rubber. I had to let it off gas in the garage for three weeks and only now is it OK. It still has a rubber smell but is no longer offensive. I was excited to use it straight away and it was like doing yoga on a balloon! The garage smelled like a tire factory for weeks. I emailed the customer service team about the smell and they replied quickly. Basically, bottom line, you’ll love it, but be prepared to let it lie open for a few weeks. It’s pretty heavy, but I’m OK with that. I have a couple of carrying options—a bag and a cinch strap. This mat will likely outlive me!! It’s very good quality. Well worth the cost. And the planet got a tree. Thank you Jade Yoga :-) Read more
It's comfortable, it's supportive, it's grippy, it looks nice, and it's all natural. In no way is it too thick or unstable for standing poses. The rubber scent is is far better than the synthetic smell of other mats. I owned the famous black mat for many years and definitely like this one better. It feels a bit firmer and the texture is better. Very pleased with this purchase! Read more
This is a high quality, dense rubber yoga mat. Perfect thickness to cushion old knees and knobby arthritic joints. Very stable and doesn't slide on the floor at all. Not too thick to affect balance for standing yoga poses. Length is also ideal and I am able to stay on the mat during extended body poses. It doesn't make squeaky noises when I move around like cheap yoga mats do. It is heavy, but so what. It is expensive, but worth it. Read more
I am one of those people who must research something to death before I purchase. I agonized over which yoga mat to buy for a month, reading hundreds of reviews and basically driving myself crazy with indecision. My previous mat was a Jade harmony that lasted years before it started to get "stretchy". What I was looking for: *GRIP! I need a mat that never gets slippery, even when I sweat. *Cushion for my joints and bony knees *A nice solid base that doesn't bunch or stretch under me *Extra length *An aesthetically pleasing color I "test drove" a Manduka Pro, a Manduka Eko, and a Jade Elite, and a Jade Fusion. My husband kept (and loves) the Jade Elite because he wanted something firmer, but it didn't have enough cushion for me. I sent the others back. If you want more details on why, you can check out my other reviews. Aaaaah, the Jade Fusion. My soul mat. What I love about it: The olive green color is lovely and calming, just as pictured. The grip of this mat is beyond compare. The thickness is perfect- even on hard floors my knees and wrists don't bother me. The rubber smell faded quickly. The extra length is great. Very heavy-duty... no bunching, slipping on the floor, or stretching. Downsides to this mat: It is so grippy that EVERYTHING sticks to it....cat hair, dirt, etc. Minimal color selection No option for a wider mat So, after MUCH deliberation and comparison shopping, I can say with confidence that the Jade Fusion comes out on top. Read more
**BUYER BEWARE! This mat was very heavy, and like others have said, it picked up lint and dust as soon as it was outside the packaging. The smell was horrendous. Even more concerning was the fact that I returned it to the seller within a few DAYS and they refuse to refund my money saying it was returned "dirty" I'm sure they are referring to any lint or hair that stuck to the mat upon unrolling. I have since purchased other mats at half the price (I like one for home and for class) which are much better. I have never had an issue with a return in all the years I've been using Amazon, including any third party sellers that I've purchased from. This third party is shady. Don't do it, Folks. Read more
Grip is good. Very sturdy and enough cousion for my knees. Very good for home and room temperature practice. It's rediculously heavy though, so not suited to take to yoga studios. It's also not good for hot yoga class because it will get very slippery. Also I don't like that it's open cell so the sweat cannot be easily wiped away, but this is my fault as I should have done more research before I purchase. Summary: if you want a sturdy mat that will last for a long time for home practice and don't mind the open cell concept, this mat may be worth it. If you want more portability and want to practice hot yoga without the yoga towel, look elsewhere. Read more
This may has been great for yoga. My feet stick to it when changing positions, so I’m having to pull them up a bit. I DO NOT SLIP! Smell is slightly offensive. I put it on my screened in porch and that helped. Read more
This mat is always the thickest mat in class. It is more like a pilates mat. I find it much kinder to my knees and wrists than thinner mats. It also stays flat (as opposed to bunching in the middle). The downside to being thick is it lacks stability when you're trying to balance. I move onto the floor for poses like tree pose. The material feels very solid and dense, in a good way. It feels durable, while still providing more cushion than other high end mats. It is plenty grippy too, right out of the box. I have never slipped on this mat, and I've used it for more than a dozen classes. For the cost, I'm surprised it didn't come with even a simple band to keep it rolled up. All you get is the mat. This is why I didn't give it 5 stars. Read more
