In planning my yoga and surf trip to Costa Rica, I wanted to pack as light as possible, including my yoga mat.

The Manduka eKO SuperLite attracted me because it is environmentally friendly, low-profile, super-sticky, and has lush color offerings. It weighs less than two pounds and I was able to fold it up small enough to fit in my carry-on––it was as thin as a notebook. If I wanted to roll it out in the airport, I could and without adding bulk to my backpack.

The top surface provides excellent grip even with a little moisture from sweat. The only issue I had was the bottom of the mat is smoother and has less traction. You may find your mat sliding and pulling out of place in poses like warrior or lunge––any pose where all four quadrants of the mat are not anchored down by the weight of your body. I tried the mat on a wooden deck, in grass, on carpet and hardwood studio floors.

I do not recommend using the eKO SuperLite on soft or carpeted surfaces––that increases the sliding. The mat performance is great for what it is. Now that I’m home, I use my eKO SuperLite on top of my regular mat which stops it from sliding and gives me the grip I want in my regular studio classes. I had the most success on wood floors.

There is room for improvement in the Manduka eKO SuperLite but overall it is a good product and I recommend it to those who want to travel light and compact.

The mat costs $39, but you can find it for as low as $30 on some online stores. You will probably need to special order this product if you buy from your local Manduka retailer. Happy Travels!

~

Editor: Lindsay Friedman

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Gabrielle Goldberg is a Yoga Teacher & Yoga Connoisseur based in Burlington, VT. She specializes in designing Yoga classes that complement and enhance outdoor activities like Snowboarding, Skiing, Snowshoeing and Hiking. She works for Burton Snowboards where the culture encourages product testing & feedback to deliver authentic snowboard-driven products to the snow sports community. She offers objective experiential feedback that will help you get the most bang for your Yoga buck! Connect with Gaby: Facebook: GabyGYoga