Manduka vs Jade, both names that elicit feelings of quality and performance in the yoga world. Both companies are known as industry leaders for quality yoga mats, but how do Manduka and Jade compare to each other.
I have been practicing on a Manduka Pro for 10 years and on my Jade Harmony for 5 years. And so these are two of the best yoga mats on the market that I will be focusing on in this article.
The Manduka Pro was designed with longevity in mind. It is a sustainably made closed-cell yoga mat that offers a lifetime guarantee. The Jade Harmony is one of the most eco-friendly yoga mats produced, as it even plants a tree for even mat sold. It is made of rubber and is an open-cell yoga mat.
These are both excellent yoga mats and, for any type of yoga practice, they can perform in their designed role. The question is which one would yoga practitioners choose when trying to decide between the two?
For more information on how to find your ideal yoga mat, here is How To Choose the BEST Yoga Mat in 8 Steps.
In this article:
- I will show you a breakdown of the various features of these mats in table format.
- I will then discuss each mat separately
- I will give you my personal recommendation in the Conclusion
As a side note, I filmed a video where I did a side-by-side comparison of these mats. You can check it out here:
Below you will see all about the specifics of Manduka Pro vs Jade Harmony.
| Manduka Pro | Jade Harmony | |
| Weight | 3.4kg | 2.2kg |
| Thickness | 6mm | 5mm |
| Price | over $100 | under $100 |
| Colors available | 15 | 14 |
| Eco-friendly | Sustainable PVC | Overall most eco-friendly yoga mat |
| Brand cleaner | Manduka Mat Wash | Jade plant-based mat wash |
| Guarantee | Lifetime | 1 year |
| Best for travel | too heavy | light enough |
| Star quality | Mat for life | Most eco friendly |
| Negatives | Needs to be broken in first | Prone to wear and tear |
Related articles you may be interested in:
- Manduka Yoga Mat Review: 12 Years Later
- Lululemon Reversible Mat Review: 1 Year Later
- How To Choose the BEST Mat in 8 Steps
- Yoga Mat in the Washing Machine – Yes or No?
THE JADE HARMONY IS THE FIRST NATURAL RUBBER MAT
The Jade mat is nice- it is extremely nice when you consider it costs less than $80! Jade mats are made in the US and interestingly, they actually started off in the oriental rug business. And then as most moments of business magic or business serendipity, if you will, they noticed a gap in the market.
And lucky of us, that gap was in the yoga mat business. So that is how we had the first-ever natural yoga mat.
Indeed, according to the Jade website:
“JadeYoga began in earnest in 2000 after we learned of the fundamental problem with most yoga mats on the market at that time – they were slippery. As we were already making natural rubber rug pads, we approached the problem from that angle and developed Harmony, the first natural rubber yoga mat.”
As I mentioned above, the Jade Harmony is a 100% natural rubber mat making it one of the most known open-cell mats. So what does that mean? Well, it means that it has an almost spongy feeling and is able to offer very good cushioning. But don’t get me wrong, think of it like a dense sponge, with the right amount of cushioning.
And so if you practice a grounding practice like Yin yoga or Restorative yoga, this mat will feel very comfortable for your joints.
On the other hand, if you practice a more dynamic form of yoga, like Ashtanga yoga or Vinyasa flow, when you’re in downward dog, this mat will be able to offer exceptional grip. Additionally, as it is an open-cell yoga mat, it will absorb your sweat. This means that the grip will not be affected if you tend to sweat a lot during your practice.
THE FEATURES
- Weight 2.2kg
- Overall Length 68″, 71″ and 74″
- Price under $100
- Thickness 5mm
- Guarantee 1 year
FEATURES TO LOVE ABOUT JADE YOGA MAT
- Made of natural materials
- Lightweight meaning it is easy to carry to your local studio
- At 5mm it is considered a thicker mat and offers great cushioning
- Affordable
- It is moisture absorbing meaning that it is a perfect yoga mat for a dynamic and sweaty practice, like hot yoga.
- Offers great grip
FEATURES TO *NOT* LOVE ABOUT JADE HARMONY MAT
The key advantage of the Jade Harmony is also its major drawback.
So the Jade Harmony is a rubber mat. This means that it is an eco-friendly yoga mat and will absorb your sweat making it a great yoga mat for sweaty practices. However, this also makes it more prone to wear and tear. And so the major drawback of the Jade Harmony is that it won’t last for more than a few years.
See my photo below of my Jade Harmony. Bits of the rubber started coming off after a year and then it just got worse.
This can mainly be seen where the hands and feet are positioned.
I will say that because I practice Ashtanga yoga which is a dynamic type of yoga, this may have made it worse. And so if you practice a more gentle type of yoga then your Jade Harmony may last much longer than mine did.
One important thing to point out is that as the Jadeyoga Harmony mat is one of the many rubber yoga mats, it is important to keep it out of direct sunlight. You can simply wash with some warm water and a damp cloth. For more information, check out my article: How To Clean Jade Yoga Mat: Step-By-Step
Check out my review of the Jade Harmony!
THE MANDUKA PRO: THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT
There are quite a few Manduka mats to choose from, but for this article I’m going to focus on the Manduka Pro. As a premium yoga mat, it does come in at a higher price point, but unlike some of its premium competitors, you are investing in a mat for life. For just over $100 you can own a good quality yoga mat that you may never need to replace.
I have had my Manduka Pro for around 10 years. As a yoga teacher, I teach on this mat and I practice on it and I will say that there is almost no wear and tear, even despite the fact that I practice Ashtanga yoga which is a dynamic form of yoga!
It should come as no surprise to find out that the Manduka Pro is actually the most preferred yoga mat amongst Ashtanga yoga practitioners. And I know this because I did a poll in a very popular ashtanga yoga group.
Check it out below.
And so as you can see, the vast majority of those who responded stated that they use Manduka. And that’s an incredible 73% of those who responded!
Ok this poll was for ashtanga yoga practitioners.
But think about it this way.
Ashtanga yoga is a dynamic practice that can cause a lot of wear and tear to a mat. And so if it is the preferred option by them, well think how well it can perform for less dynamic forms of yoga, like Hatha yoga and Yin yoga.
It is 6mm meaning it is a thicker yoga mat compared to most premium yoga mats on the market. This means it can offer great cushioning for your joints. However, as it is a closed-cell mat, it doesn’t allow any moisture to penetrate. And so this means that you may need to use a cotton rug or yoga towel on top once you start sweating.
I travel to Mysore, India to practice with my teacher Sharath Jois once a year. There I generally sweat A LOT, as do most people! And so what we all do is add a cotton rug or towel once we get particularly sweaty. And so if you are considering this yoga mat, know that you will have to also use a rug (like the Yogasana Yoga Mat) or towel (like the Yogitoes Manduka Yoga Towel for Mat).
One thing to point out is that the Manduka Pro is a polyvinyl chloride mat. And as such, it has a recommended way to be cleaner. For more information, check out my article: How To Clean Manduka Yoga Mat: Step-By-Step
FEATURES TO LOVE ABOUT THE MANDUKA PRO
- Mat for life as it offers a lifetime warranty
- 6mm thick, meaning that it offers great cushioning of sensitive joints
- Comes in different lengths, regular 71 Inches and extra-long 85 Inches
- Made in an emissions-free facility
- You can clean it by making your very own DIY yoga mat cleaner with essential oils
FEATURES TO *NOT* LOVE ABOUT THE MANDUKA PRO
Naturally, there really is no perfect yoga mat, and so in my opinion, the only two drawbacks of this yoga mat is:
1. This is a rather heavy yoga mat, and so this may not be your best option if you have to carry it to your local yoga studio, or if you are planning on traveling with it.
2. As a new mat, you may need to break it in at first to experience the superior grip. For more information check my video below on how to break in your Manuka Pro.
Check out my review of the Manduka Pro!
CONCLUSION – MANDUKA VS JADE – WHICH ONE TO GO FOR?
Manduka vs Jade – The truth is that both the Jade Harmony and the Manduka Pro are excellent yoga mats. The Jade Harmony will absorb your sweat while the Manduka won’t. The Manduka is rather heavy at 3.4 kg while the Jade Harmony is much lighter at 2.2kg. The Jade Harmony is a comfortable 5mm thick while the Manduka Pro is an incredible 6mm thick.
Both are eco-friendly yoga mats and both offer excellent grip. Additionally, both companies also have travel mats if you want to add to your collection.
And after owning both and practicing on both my unbiased opinion is that the Manduka Pro is the top pick.
You will have it for a long time and love practicing on it. Just keep in mind that you should ideally pair it with a yoga rug (like the Yogasana Yoga Mat), especially if you sweat a lot.
For more information on how to find your ideal yoga mat, here is How To Choose the BEST Yoga Mat in 8 Steps.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Both Manduka and Jade are excellent yoga mats. They both offer excellent grip, are eco-friendly, and offer great cushioning. If you want a mat that will last a lifetime and that won’t absorb your sweat then go for the Manduka Pro. If you want a mat that is ideal for sweaty practices, go for Jade.
Jade yoga mats are definitely worth it. They are well under $100 meaning that you are buying a premium and yet affordable yoga mat. They are sustainably made and because they are open-cell, your sweat will be absorbed meaning you won’t need to also purchase a yoga towel or a yoga rug.
Manduka yoga mats are definitely worth it. The Manduka pro may be over $100, however, keep in mind that this is a mat for life. Manduka offers a lifetime guarantee so rest assured that you won’t need to ever replace it. It is no wonder this is the preferred mat amongst Ashtanga yoga practitioners.
Manduka is indeed the best yoga mat. It offers excellent cushioning as it is 6mm thick. Additionally, once broken in, it offers excellent grip and even after years of daily practice you will hardly notice any wear or tear. It is a sustainably made yoga mat that is used by most Ashtanga practitioners.
