Gaiam Athletic Yoga Series 2gripMAT Xtra-Large Mat

I've been using this in a bikram style class for about 4 months now. I got it because I heard that it actually worked better when wet. I had used a lesser mat before and was sliding around pretty bad. A 60$ mat vs a broken wrist is a no-brainer.When the mat is clean and slightly moist it works wonders. It actually does get grippier when wet so before every class I spread a half cup of water where my hands and feet will be. Too much and it get's slippery, no water and you slide a bit. And that's my main issue with the mat, it seems to be grippy some of the time and not grippy enough a lot of the time. About 10-20 minutes into class with my hands and body sweaty does the mat really seem to work well.The trick may be to wash the mat every 2-3 classes to ensure the grip is still there. I use plain dishwashing soap and a microfiber. I have noticed that there is some peeling but nothing extreme, the mat will probably last a year or two at this rate.I still enjoy this mat but being grippy is it's selling point and that is hit or miss. Like many other students in my class I probably just need a yoga mat on top of this, to catch my sweat and the oils/lotion from my body. It's still a great mat but I'll try more models next time I purchase one.

The jury is still out on this mat. Overall, I've been very happy with the grippiness--I no longer slip all over, however it arrived a little dirty. It also shows wet spots, and it has happened where I've used it one day, and when I go to use it again the next, there are still the wet spots from the day before (and they're fairly obvious looking).Update 4/28, after several months of use: I am still unsure whether the pros outweigh the cons, or whether the positive aspects of this mat are better than the positive aspects of other mats.Good: this mat absorbs sweat and keeps my hands and feet firmly planted.(Pretty large) negative:The bottom side is not sticky at all, meaning that when its time to do handstand kicks or the like, all that ends up happening is my mat sliding on the floor. This also happens sometimes in balancing positions--I'm trying to hold a pose, get a little off balance, and the whole mat shift, causing me to become even more unstable.This mat is very difficult to clean because it's so absorbent, and even though it does a pretty good job of minimizing odors, it absolutely needs to be cleaned--I just do a "spray" down after class.Overall, I still don't know if other good quality mats get the same benefits without the negatives, or if they're trade offs you have to make. I think I lean towards thinking the latter is the case.I'm a fan of the length, but I do sometimes feel like a self-conscious space-hogger, because its extra length is fairly noticeable, and while I'm tall (5ft8), I'm not extraordinarily so that it necessarily warrants an extra long mat (despite how much I appreciate it).

I bought this mat mainly for its advertised grip, and I've had it for almost a year now. I have an aggressive, sweaty Ashtanga practice (5 - 6 days a week for up to 90 minutes). It was perfect at first, but it began to be less and less consistent after about 4 or 5 months. Once I get it warmed up and begin sweating, it's fine, but the grip is most important at the beginning of my practice, when I do sun salutations and standing poses. At this point, I have to use a towel and a spray bottle for things to get started.The mat gets a decent 3 stars, because it has a nice size, texture and durability. The grip might be good enough for lighter practices, but, if you have considerable grip needs, as I do, I would look for another mat.

I've been using this mat for about five months now, about 3x week. I like the slick black surface - non-slippery solid grip from the get-go, which is usually my issue with mats. My minor complaints about this mat: it really attracts dust/dirt, so you have to clean it pretty assiduosly. The grey side is pretty not-sticky, which means once in a while the mat gets a little slidey. The only time it's a real problem is for times when you need to fold the mat over and use the bottom (for instance, setting up shoulder stand with blankets, or maybe doubling the mat over for extra cushion for a knee or for headstand); the bottom is very slippery and your elbows (or whatever) will tend to slide off the mat, which feels dangerous. Obviously can just flip the mat over, but it's a little extra step that other mats don't require. After about four months' use, it already started wearing down and there are very little black bits that come off and stick to my hands and feet. It doesn't bother me a ton, but I don't see this being a very long-lasting mat. Still, the grippy surface was a big win in my book and I would definitely consider buying another one when this one wears out.

I have spent a lot of time on this mat over the last 6 months and overall I think is has lived up to my expectations. I see 2 issues with the mat:1. Because the mat is so absorbent it is more difficult to clean. If I try to spray and wipe down the mat after class the spray soaks in before I can actually wipe it.2. This great absorbency also means if you do a lot of yoga your mat might be damp from your last class when you roll it out. In an odd way I kind of like this reminder of how hard I worked last class, but I can see this grossing someone else out.3. The surface has no texture so if it gets dusty or dry it is not as grippy. Again, this isn't usually a big problem.Overall, the durability of the mat has been excellent and I think the thickness/padding is just right for me.

I am so sad to say that this mat has begun to shred on me. I really liked it at first, and found it a great length (I'm 6'3) and a great level of stickiness. But in the past month or two, it has started to shred. I've cleaned it diligently after almost every practice with Gaiam mat cleaner, and I store it in a climate-controlled part of my house. But after I practiced this week, I noticed green shredded material all over the floor near my mat, causing me to slip and slide mid-class. I am super disappointed, and though this mat was really perfect in many ways, I don't think I want to replace it, as I'll go with another brand.