Best Yoga Mats for Hot Power Yoga Class

Best Yoga Mats & Towels for Hot Power Yoga

So, you’ve taken a liking to hot power yoga—but you’re sliding around on your mat.

As your practice evolves, you may find that the inexpensive yoga mat you started with just isn’t cutting it anymore. You don’t need the fanciest or most expensive mat to practice yoga, but for a regular hot power yoga practice, having the right combination of support and grip can make a big difference.

How Do I Know if My Mat Is Good for Hot Power Yoga?

Here’s a quick test: squeeze your yoga mat between your fingertips. Does it flatten down until it’s almost as thin as a sheet of paper?

If so, you may start to notice your wrists or other pressure points aching with consistent practice. When a mat compresses that much, it isn't providing much support between your body and the hard floor underneath.

Most of us came to yoga because something in our body already hurt—we don’t need our yoga mat adding to it!

Then there’s the other problem: grip.

Some inexpensive mats (we’re looking at you, foam mats!) will squeak, stretch, bunch up, or slide around as class heats up and you begin to sweat. Aside from being distracting, a mat that moves underneath you can make it harder to feel stable and secure in your poses.

Our yoga teachers and students have tried numerous yoga mat brands over the years, and these are some of our favorites for hot power yoga—with an option for just about every preference.

1. Manduka PRO Yoga Mat

The Manduka PRO is a tried-and-true power yoga mat. It’s a high-density mat that offers excellent support and stability, has an easy-to-clean surface, and comes with Manduka’s lifetime guarantee.

This mat will last you forever. It’s basically the Honda of the yoga mat world.

The one challenge for hot yoga is that the Manduka PRO doesn’t absorb sweat. Once class gets hot and sweaty, you'll likely want to pair it with a yoga mat towel to give you some additional grip.

Best for: Yogis who prioritize cushion, support, durability, and a mat that can handle years of regular practice.

Need a test drive? We have Manduka mats available to rent at our studio, so you can try one during class before investing in your own.

2. Liforme Yoga Mat

If you're looking for a yoga mat with plenty of grip, Liforme is a great option.

Liforme mats are slightly thinner than the Manduka PRO, but they still offer great support. They're especially good for those who perspire heavily because the surface absorbs moisture, helping you maintain your grip even as class gets sweaty.

Are you a puddle sweater? That’s okay! If you eventually overwhelm even your Liforme, pair it with a yoga mat towel and you’ll be set.

Liforme mats also come in beautiful colors and designs, and many feature alignment cues right on the top of the mat. They can give you that extra little assist when you're working on positioning during your practice.

Best for: Sweaty yogis who want a grippy, non-slip yoga mat and prefer something a little thinner.

The best news? We have Liforme mats available for purchase at our studio, so you can see and feel them in person.

3. b, mat Strong 6mm

Can’t decide between cushion and grip? The b, mat Strong 6mm is a great combination of both.

Think of this mat as a hybrid between the Manduka PRO and the Liforme. You get the cushion and support you might be looking for in a thicker mat, along with a grippy surface that helps keep your hands and feet from slipping as you sweat.

For most people, no towel is necessary with this mat. If you sweat puddles, though, you can’t go wrong with adding a towel as you need it.

Best for: Yogis who want plenty of cushion and support without sacrificing grip.

Which Yoga Mat Is Best for Hot Yoga?

There really isn’t one “best” yoga mat for everyone. It depends on your body, how much you sweat, and what feels best during your practice.

If you want maximum cushion and durability, try the Manduka PRO. If grip is your biggest priority, you may love the Liforme. And if you want a combination of cushion and grip, the b, mat Strong 6mm gives you a little of both.

These aren’t the cheapest yoga mats out there, but if you practice regularly, a quality mat can be worth the investment. The right mat lets you spend less time thinking about slipping hands, aching wrists, or a mat moving underneath you—and more time getting out of your mind and into your body.

Yoga Mat Towels for Hot Yoga

For a sweaty hot yoga practice, we recommend Manduka Yogitoes or Manduka eQua Hot Yoga Mat Towels.

Yogitoes towels have little grip dots on the bottom, which help keep the towel from sliding around on your mat—even when it’s still dry.

The eQua towel works a little differently: its microfiber material becomes grippier with moisture. This is why you’ll often see a spray bottle of water in our practice room, usually near the blocks and straps.

Before class, students will lay their towel over their yoga mat and give it a good spray with water to add some initial grip. Then, they’ll accordion fold the towel at the top of the mat. As they begin to sweat during class, they can easily slide or unfold more of the towel down the mat as they need it.

It’s a simple little trick that makes a big difference in a hot, sweaty practice.

Not sure how to accordion fold your yoga towel? Just ask! Our teachers and regulars will happily show you how to do it.

And if you’re on a budget, you don't need to spend a fortune on a towel. Amazon has some great yoga mat towel options, too!

Hot Yoga Mats & Towels FAQs

The best yoga mat for hot yoga depends on how much cushion and grip you prefer and how much you sweat. At True North Power Yoga, some of our favorites are the Manduka PRO for support and durability, Liforme for excellent grip during sweaty classes, and the b, mat Strong 6mm for a combination of cushion and grip.
You don't technically need a yoga mat specifically designed for hot yoga, but we highly recommend using a mat with good grip and support.
Hot power yoga gets sweaty—really sweaty. A basic foam or low-grip mat can become slippery as moisture builds, and some mats may stretch, bunch up, or slide on the floor during your practice. When your hands, feet, or the mat itself are slipping underneath you, it can become a safety concern.
A quality yoga mat with good traction—or a mat paired with a hot yoga towel—helps you feel more stable and secure so you can focus on your practice instead of worrying about slipping.
For hot power yoga, look for a mat with good support, stability, and grip. Your mat should provide enough cushioning for your wrists and other pressure points without feeling overly soft or unstable. Because you’ll sweat in a heated class, you’ll also want a surface that maintains its grip when wet or can be paired with a yoga mat towel.
If sweaty hands are causing you to slip, a mat designed for strong grip can make a big difference. Liforme mats have a moisture-absorbing surface that provides excellent grip during sweaty practices. The b, mat Strong is another grippy option. You can also add a yoga mat towel as you begin to sweat for additional traction.
Not necessarily. A thicker mat can provide more cushioning for your wrists, knees, and other pressure points, but thickness alone doesn't make a yoga mat better. You also want enough density to feel stable and supported during your practice. The right thickness ultimately comes down to your body and personal preference.
Yes. The Manduka PRO is a supportive, high-density yoga mat that works very well for a regular hot power yoga practice. However, its surface doesn't absorb sweat, so we recommend pairing it with a yoga mat towel once your practice gets sweaty.
True North Power Yoga has Manduka mats available to rent, so you can try one during class before investing in your own.
Yes. Liforme is especially popular for hot yoga because its surface absorbs moisture and provides excellent grip as you sweat. It's slightly thinner than the Manduka PRO but still offers good support. Many Liforme mats also include alignment markers that can help with positioning during your practice.
It depends on your mat and how much you sweat. If your mat becomes slippery when wet—or if you tend to sweat heavily—a yoga mat towel can make your practice much safer and more comfortable.
A hot yoga towel absorbs sweat while providing another surface for your hands and feet to grip. Even if you don't need one at the beginning of class, you may want one nearby to add as your mat gets wetter.
Manduka Yogitoes towels have small grip dots on the bottom that help keep the towel from sliding around on your yoga mat, even when the towel is still relatively dry.
Manduka eQua towels use a microfiber material that becomes grippier as it gets damp. Both are great options for a sweaty hot yoga practice, but they work a little differently.
Some yoga towels, including Manduka eQua towels, grip better when they're damp. Before class begins, students will often lay their towel over their mat and spray it well with water to give the towel some initial grip before they begin sweating.
That’s why you’ll often see a spray bottle in the True North practice room near the blocks and straps—it’s there for you to use!
You may not need your yoga towel covering your entire mat when class first begins. Instead, you can spray your towel with water for grip and accordion fold it at the top of your mat. As you begin to sweat, you can easily slide or unfold more of the towel down your mat as you need it.
Not sure how to accordion fold your towel? Ask us! Our True North teachers and regulars will happily show you how.
Absolutely. You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on a yoga mat before taking a hot yoga class. What matters most is having a mat and towel combination that gives you enough grip and stability to practice safely in a sweaty room.
If you’re new to hot yoga, it can actually be helpful to practice for a bit before investing so you can figure out what you prefer in terms of cushion, thickness, and grip. True North Power Yoga also has Manduka mats available to rent, which gives you a chance to try a higher-quality mat before purchasing one.
Eventually, you may want to—but you don't necessarily need to start class that way. Many students spray their towel with water and accordion fold it at the top of their mat. As they begin to sweat, they gradually unfold the towel farther down the mat.
This gives you the grip of the towel where you need it without having a dry towel covering your entire mat at the beginning of class.