Every yoga enthusiast understands that there are a number of specialty items you need for yoga practice. Comfortable clothing, including
yoga pants, and your willingness to step away from your busy day, are the key ingredients to a great yoga session. In terms of equipment, you’ll need a
great yoga mat and you’re good to begin your yoga experience wherever you go. The yoga mat is what can make or break your practice. Too-thin mats mean sore knees or tailbone, while a poor grip may cause unintentional splits during a hot yoga class.
Probably, you already have a good yoga mat, adorable yoga attire,
a yoga towel, and maybe a refillable water bottle to keep hydrated. But, how do you carry these valuable items? Do you have a yoga mat bag? Every yoga mat deserves a worthy home. Whether you always travel with your mat and other yoga accessories, or keep them in your car trunk or at home, a great yoga bag will ensure your accessories are safe and secure.
So, how do you choose the right yoga mat bag? A good model should be more durable than your mat, be of the right length, and be thick enough to withstand the daily beating you give it. Yoga mats with straps allow you to keep your hands free by slinging the mat over your shoulders. However, if you’re going for long hauls, these ropes may not withstand the weight of the mat for long. So, you still need to consider a decent yoga mat bag for better strength and comfort.
Whether you choose to go with the traditional yoga mat bags, slings and harnesses, or yoga duffels, we’ve got you covered. We’ve made your work easier by reviewing five of the best yoga mat bags you can rely on. However, you might want to go through the features to look for when shopping for a yoga mat bag below, and then you can dive into our individual reviews.
Price
Sometimes – and many ladies fall victim to this – we buy yoga mat bags simply because we love the look. Some people will just process their thoughts while shopping by saying, “Ooh, it’s my favorite color, I’ll go for it,” or “I love the flowery design, I’m sold.” Don’t be too quick to judge. Buying a yoga mat bag has much more important considerations to be made. Some good news is that they are relatively affordable, with prices ranging between around $10 and $40 for great-quality bags.
Look out for bags with features that will hold almost everything you bring with you to the yoga session. But also focus on the material, size, portability and, of course, a good color. We always discourage our clients from purchasing very cheap yoga mat bags because they may not always give you value for your money.
Features
Let’s now look at the features that make one yoga mat bag stand out from the rest. The most important considerations are size, material, and style. Other extras are just for aesthetics and personal preference.
- Size – Size matters a lot when shopping for a yoga mat bag. For newbie yogis, buying a bag may seem as simple as walking into a store and lifting your favorite color off the rack, or browsing through an online store and keying in the credit card. Most bags you’ll find in the store are large enough for PVC-style yoga mats. You need to know the width of your mat and use that as the basis for your choice.
- Material – Yoga mat bags are made from different materials. Nylon bags are lightweight and look great. These fabrics are also easy to clean in case of stains or spills. Cotton and linen bags are delicate and harder to clean. Canvas, on the other hand, is strong and offers better resistance to spills, is easy to clean, and is extremely durable. Make sure that the fabric is thick and the straps are strong.
- Style – If you are conscious of style, you’ll find a wide selection of stylish yoga mat bags. There is no right or wrong. Just pick a style that best meets your needs.
Construction and Design
Most yoga mat bags fall into three main categories: harnesses and slings, yoga duffel bags, and traditional yoga mat bags. Each type serves you in a unique way. So, you should consider your needs and pick a model that best suits you.
A yoga mat sling comes with a strap that wraps around the yoga mat. It’s designed to prevent the mat from unrolling while you carry it. The yoga mat harness has an additional wraparound sleeve for extra protection for your mat. Most models are very lightweight and come with cushioned shoulder straps. These two options allow your mat to naturally air-dry, which wouldn’t happen in a closed yoga mat bag. The harness style has adjustable velcro straps, making them flexible enough to accommodate different yoga mat sizes.
The traditional yoga mat bags come in various fabrics and styles. Most models are long enough to accommodate the standard 24” mat, but you can find larger sizes as well. Choose a size that adequately fits your mat and leaves a little room for air flow.
Performance and Ease of Use
Yoga mat bags come in a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes. It’s important to know what type of bag will meet your needs before you decide on which one to purchase. However, you shouldn’t sweat over it too much. You’ll never find a single perfect yoga bag for everyone, but you’ll definitely find one that is perfect for your needs.
Now, you need a bag that will keep your yoga mat protected and perfectly dry to maintain the functionality of the mat. A good yoga mat bag will be vital to the life of your mat. However, you need something that is easy to carry around and hassle-free to clean.
A yoga duffel bag is a great option if you need more room to carry yoga extras like water bottles, yoga blocks, keys, towels, and much more. They come with bottom or side compartments to fit your mat, plus extra stash pockets for your accessories.
If you choose the closed traditional bags, consider models with holes to allow for air circulation and eliminate bacterial growth. Some materials are breathable and will circulate enough air. Materials like linen, cotton, and nylon are quite breathable. Canvas is another great option since you can easily throw it into the washing machine when it gets dirty.
If you already have a large or small yoga mat, keep that in mind when purchasing a bag for it. Also, consider whether or not you prefer having pockets for storing items while you're at the studio or walking about. No matter what you're looking for, these yoga experts have products to help you out. We've chosen to focus mainly on standard, sling-style yoga mat bags, since they conveniently free up your hands and are generally lightweight. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and pick a model that best suits your needs.
We are glad to have played a part in your quest to find the best yoga mat bag. Feel free to sample other fabulous models from these same brands for more options.
![Yoga[Addict]™ Compact Mat Bag](/article_images/268/YogaAddict-Yoga-Mat-Bag-1.jpg?z=303 "Yoga[Addict]™ Large Yoga Mat Bag With Pockets & Zipper - Extra Wide, Adjustable Strap, Easy Access, 18 Colors")
![Yoga[Addict]™ Compact Mat Bag](/article_images/268/YogaAddict-Yoga-Mat-Bag-2.png?z=693 "Yoga[Addict]™ Large Yoga Mat Bag With Pockets & Zipper - Extra Wide, Adjustable Strap, Easy Access, 18 Colors")
![Yoga[Addict]™ Compact Mat Bag](/article_images/268/YogaAddict-Yoga-Mat-Bag-1.jpg?z=557 "Yoga[Addict]™ Large Yoga Mat Bag With Pockets & Zipper - Extra Wide, Adjustable Strap, Easy Access, 18 Colors")