I've had this mat for over 1.5 years now. Nothing about it has been worn or diminished. I'm surprised I haven't worn heel/ball of foot marks into it from poses like 3 legged dog and warrior. I love that it's the perfect size. I've tried an XL jade yoga mat before this. It was 10+ pounds, and extremely long (mat width) which made walking through doorways difficult. Also hurt the shoulder. I'm big on wide child's pose and standard 24" just does not cut it. My usual studio's floor is also extremely dusty and old. The other mat was also stupid heavy. I like that this mat is only 6.5 pounds and has the most comfortable/convenient/cool carrying case. The latex jade mat I tried also wound up making me extremely ill due to the strong latex fumes. Even in class huffing the fumes in child's pose made my fingertips tingle and feel light headed. I am... admittedly quite sensitive to smells. This is one of the only 100% latex free rubber mats on the market. Lulu and Manuka are only 99. I sleep on latex pillows bc their springiness and rebound is unmatched - but only in waterproof pillow cases. I love the qualities of latex but I'm not willing to huff it. I also like that the rubber bottom is a nice thick tread type pattern. Unlike Lulu's bottom which appears to be made from recycled tires. Lulu's bottom looks like shredded rubber fused together. Also their mats have that 1 rounded corner which... I don't care for. Clever has 4 rounded corners. This mat is also amazing for hot yoga. I slip too much on PVC in down dog in a regular class, nevermind heated. I'm also content that this mat is the perfect balance of size, thickness, and weight. Now, I can't roll my life away in happy baby like I could on the half inch thick jade. And I do feel floor on my knees.. but that's not the mat's fault. It's carrying weight is perfect as is. Also... you feel very secure and supported in your poses like warrior 2. Something you'll have to live with if you roll your mat face down, you will pick up grains of dusty on the floor your rolling it on. Read more
Ahhh...I absolutely love this mat. I've only had it for a few weeks and it has already transformed my practice. It's grippy and absolutely beautiful. I love that the mandala in the middle is subtle enough that it doesn't overpower the mat but still so detailed and beautiful. I don't typically write reviews but I had such an amazing experience with the seller that I had to. About a week ago, I had gotten some dirt and footprints on my mat and decided it was time to clean it. After reading the reviews and the general info on how to clean the mat, I used an organic, chemical-free cleaner and a microfiber towel. Sadly, the cleaner I used left dark spots and streaks all over my mat. I was going to reach out to the seller and express my disappointment, but Ellie from the Clever Yoga Team had already contacted me asking if I was satisfied with my mat. I proceeded to express my concerns and provide pictures of the damage and received a response within 24 hours. After a couple days of communication, Ellie confirmed that what happened to my mat was not typical for a new mat and that she would be sending me a replacement. She informed me that the darker mats will show more marks than the lighters ones and the lighter ones will show more dirt. She also recommended gentle cleaners (a gentle soap&water, or a white vinegar&water mixture) work best and to stay away from essential oils. Lay your mat flat to dry and the marks/dirt should go away after a good clean. Needless to say, I'm extremely happy with my mat and the help I received :) Read more
As someone who has used a $10 yoga mat from Target for the last 3 years, this is a vast improvement without spending crazy amounts of money for an exercise mat! I do not consider myself a yogi, but do practice yoga 3-5 days a week at home. I do a lot of more intensive Vinyasa practices (lots of down dogs, chaturangas with jump-backs and balancing after working up a sweat). When I first opened it up, I could tell the quality of the material seems to be quite good. I have always preferred a thinner mat, and I am sure most would find my old mat uncomfortably thin, so I was concerned this mat would be too thick. Even on carpeting, this mat does not feel too thick to me, yet it provides nice cushioning that I think would be sufficient for most (haven't tried it on hard floor, but again, compared to my old mat I know I would be fine with it). I would not call this a non-slip mat. I sometimes struggle with my hands slipping on this mat but not always and not as bad as some other mats I have used. I could see someone having difficulty during a hot yoga class, but haven't tried misting it with water before use which works for some. One other aspect I am unsure about is that it seems to stretch a bit in areas that receive a lot of pressure. For example, where my feet are during down dog has stretched slightly. There was a small amount of smell when I first opened it but nothing extreme and I didn't notice it after letting it air out. I spent a lot of time reading reviews and looking for a decent yoga mat that wasn't a fortune and supposedly wasn't made out of materials that are terrible for your health or the environment. Overall I am happy with this purchase, I think for the price it seems to be good quality and has been an improvement to my regular practice Read more
