Alo Yoga Mats are known for their good quality yoga mats that also offer great grip, but are they good enough to buy? I purchased their pink Tie Dye version and have been practicing on it for a few months. And so for the purpose of this Alo yoga mat review, I have done some additional research, and here is what I found.
With its polyurethane top layer and rubber base, the Alo yoga mat has more than exceeded expectations, to say the least. Thanks to its fantastic grip and good cushioning, the Alo yoga mat has quickly become a favorite of mine. If this yoga mat wasn’t on your radar it sure will be now.
The Alo Yoga Mat is an excellent choice of a yoga mat. It offers exceptional grip, even when sweaty, and offers great cushioning due to its rubber base. It also comes in a variety of colors.
In this review, I used my own pink Tie Dye version, which I have been practicing on for the past couple of months. I will be covering many of the different features that this yoga mat offers as well as its comparison to other yoga mats of similar price on the market today.
The Best Things About an Alo Yoga Mat
Beauty – It Comes In Many Beautiful Patterns
The next thing to love about the Alo yoga mat is the beautiful colors and patterns it comes in!
I purchased the pink Tie Dye version and oh what a beautiful yoga mat it is! I decided on this design as I remember this being the very first pattern I had seen of these mats and I guess it stuck in my mind.
At the time of writing this article, I counted 6 different colors this yoga mat comes in, plus 3 tie-die options, so you are sure to find something you like.
Grip – Great Grip When Wet
One of my favorite parts of the Alo yoga mat is the incredible gip it offers, making it one of the best non-slip yoga mat options on the market. I’m not sure if you have done a yoga practice on a yoga mat without any serious grip, but it can be a real pain in the neck.
As you can imagine, having good grip is one of the most important features of a good quality yoga mat. And so I wanted to try out the grip on this yoga mat. In fact, I’ve done quite a lot of research on yoga mat grip, so I wanted to see how this mat compares.
Interestingly, most mats tend to lose grip once wet. And yet that is where the Alo yoga mat differs.
With the Alo yoga mat, you will know that once you have started to sweat you will get to experience a superior grip during your practice.
The reason is that the Alo yoga mat comes with a Polyurethane top layer bonded to a natural rubber base layer.
And this is why this is a great yoga mat for those who sweat a lot or go to a hot yoga class as this is a great hot yoga mat.
If you want to see the grip test in action, check out my video, where I test the grip with both dry and wet hands. One this to point out is that I filmed this video before buying my Alo yoga mat. And so if you are wondering which yoga mat is the closest to the Alo yoga mat? It’s the Liforme.
Thickness – 5mm Thick
One further advantage of the Alo yoga mat is that it comes in just one main thickness option. And that is 5mm thick. To put this into perspective, the manduka prolite yoga mat is 4.7mm thick, while the very popular Manduka Pro is 6mm thick.
Now, yoga mat thickness is a very important factor to look into when choosing a yoga mat. And at 5mm it is thick enough so you don’t feel the floor beneath you, your joints are protected, your hands and feet don’t sink into the mat.
This particular mat has a rubber base. And so the 5mm Alo yoga mat can feel like enough cushioning for your joints.
Cleaning – Use soap and water
Cleaning with soap and water is the main recommended method to clean a Alo yoga mat.
According to WebMD, if you want to remove dirt and grime and get rid of some germs, then simply clean with soap and hot water.
And so it’s no wonder that Alo yoga, Liforme, B Yoga, and Sugarmat all recommend using soap and water to clean your yoga mat.
And so for a regular clean every 5-10 uses wipe your mat with some soap and water. For more information check out my article here: 6 Ways To Clean Your Yoga Mat Naturally
Of course, you could always buy a ready-made yoga mat cleaner spray, or make your very own. For more information check out my article: 7 BEST Yoga Mat Cleaner Sprays: I Tried Them All
And if you’re wondering if you can put your Alo yoga mat in the washing machine, the short answer is no.
Why? Well, Alo mats are not designed to be exposed to a high amount of water in this way, we would strongly recommend against putting your mat in the washing machine. For more information read my article: Yoga Mat in the Washing Machine – Yes or No?
Alo Yoga Extras
I will add this to the list of things to love about Alo Yoga.
If you are looking for a variety of accessories to add to your collection, then you won’t be disappointed.
Alo Yoga has a variety of yoga accessories:
- Yoga mats
- XL yoga mats
- Yoga blocks
- Yoga straps
- Yoga mat bags
- Yoga wheels
Check them out here!
The Worst Things About an Alo Yoga Mat
As much as I do really like Alo Yoga, it still has its issues.
It’s One Of My Most Expensive Yoga Mats
A big hang-up with the Alo Yoga mat isn’t a cheap yoga mat. Of course, I knew this when I bought this mat. I knew this was going to be one of my most expensive yoga mats.
But you know what? In my opinion, most times expensive yoga mats are worth it.
Why? Well, this one has a rubber base that offers great cushioning. Plus, the top polyurethane layer offers superior grip with both wet and dry hands.
If you get a tie-dye option (like I have) it has a great discount. So if you’re looking to treat yourself, then know that you’re getting a really good quality yoga mat.
Weight – A Heavy 3.6kg
Yoga mat weight is actually an important factor to consider when looking for a yoga mat.
Why? Well if you are planning on traveling with your yoga mat or want to carry it to and from your local studio, then perhaps it’s best to go for a yoga mat that isn’t too heavy.
And that’s actually where the Alo yoga comes in. At 3.6kg it’s my heaviest yoga mat, so not very comfortable to carry around with you.
For a bit of comparison, the Lululemon Reversible is 2.4kg and the Manduka Pro is 3.4kg.
Not a Latex Free Yoga Mat
The Alo yoga mat is not guaranteed to be latex free. Though they don’t mention it on their website, here is what Liforme says on their website (and their yoga mats also have a rubber base):
“The bottom layer of our mats is made from natural rubber, and natural rubber does contain latex. However, our top surface does not contain latex. We, therefore, urge caution to any Yogi who suffers from a latex allergy when using the Liforme Mats, and recommend you check with a medical practitioner as to the extent of your allergy and as to whether using a mat with even a rubber base layer could be an issue for you.”
Comparison
When comparing the Alo yoga mat against other yoga mats of similar materials the Alo yoga mat just keeps coming up ahead.
Looking at yoga mats such as the Lululemon Reversible with its affordable price, the Alo yoga mat has the upper edge on grip with dry hands making it more preferred to myself.
When comparing the Alo yoga mat to the Liforme the Alo yoga mat comes in at a better price point, even though it is much heavier.
Conclusion of Alo Warrior Yoga Mat
The Alo Yoga mat is not perfect, but it is still a terrific buy. If you are thinking of settling for a cheaper yoga mat you may want to reconsider.
In my opinion, the added price it takes to get the superior quality of the Alo Yoga mat is well worth it making it one of the best yoga mats on the market.
I really love the grip (with both dry and wet hands).
Not to mention the fact that its absolutely beautiful and a pleasure to practice on!
The Alo yoga mat is a very good yoga mat. It offers fantastic grip with both dry and wet hands thanks to its polyurethane top layer. At 5mm thick it also offers great cushioning thanks to its rubber base.
As a general rule, ALo yoga mats may smell at first due to the rubber in its base. If your ALo yoga mat smells at first, let it air dry for a couple of days and the smell will go away.
There are 3 key differences between ALo and Lululemon. First, the Alo is more expensive than the Lululemon. Second, the Lululemon comes in 3 thickness options (1.5mm, 3mm, and 5mm), while the Alo just offers one (5mm). Thirdly, the Alo is much heavier at 3.6kg while the Lululemon is just 2.4kg.
Yes, Alo Yoga is high quality. Their yoga mats are made of a top polyurethane layer which offers fantastic grip for both dry and wet hands. They also have a rubber base which helps offer great cushioning for your joints.
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