Features
Superior wear and longevity
Non-stick, grip prevents slippage due to perspiration
Comfortably cushions spine, hips, knees, and elbows from hard floors
Measures 26 inches wide by 85 inches long by 1/4-inch thick
Recommend for anyone who is 5'10" up
With the extra-long yoga mat, none of these issues is a problem. The Manduka yoga mat is solid and dense, and stays put on the floor no matter what I do. It cushions really well, but because it is so dense it is no problem to balance or move on the mat. The extra length allows me to move with confidence, knowing I won't run out of room or slip off the mat. An additional benefit of the Manduka 85-Inch Yoga Mat is that it allows you to change your starting position on the mat somewhat, so that the small area worn by your feet is not the same every practice. In other words, you can spread the wear over a larger area to make it last even longer. The surface is plenty sticky for normal yoga, and if you do a hot yoga class or sweat a lot you will likely want to have a towel anyway. No complaints about stickiness.
As for weight, it seems that if you are big enough to need an extra-long yoga mat you are probably plenty strong enough to carry it around.
Now let me make a case for why this mat is actually a good value:
"I have only been practicing yoga for a year (three 1-hour classes a week), and in that time I have purchased two mats for $30 each. One I've already worn out (material broke down from use) and the second one is on its way to wearing out. If I buy a third $30 mat I am now up to $90 in just over a year. The Manduka yoga mat will last a lifetime and will make your practices better. And at $85, it's cheaper than any single club in my golf bag (and I carry 14 of those). So my opinion is: suck it up and spend the money. It only hurts for a minute and you'll forget all about it the first time you step onto this mat!"
Manduka Yoga Mats
