Gaiam Premium 6mm Review

Likes

The Gaiam Premium is six millimetres thick — about 40 percent thicker than most budget mats — which means happier knees and wrists. While many budget mats have only 3 to 5 mm of padding, the Gaiam Premium's 6 mm thickness provides noticeable cushioning for sensitive joints during seated or kneeling asanas. Happy hips and happy butts — we appreciate this mat's cushion.

We found that the 6mm thickness creates a noticeable buffer between our bodies and the floor, which we especially appreciated during kneeling poses like ustrasana (camel), low lunges, and seated stretches. Our sit bones welcome the extra padding, which helps protect the ischial tuberosities (bum bones) from the pressure that can build up during seated postures and long holds.

We found it is one of the most portable mats to sling on our backs and head to the studio. At just over 3 pounds, it is easy to roll up and pack around beyond the studio as well. We hiked it into the desert for a meditative kirtan, and the lightweight combined with the budget price tag had us less worried about bringing it along.

Plus, Gaiam has been known for its colorful, patterned yoga mats for over 25 years, and you can choose from a wide range of delightful colors and patterns like mandala flower-bursts and celestial skies.

Dislikes

While it performs well for gentle yoga or stretching, the cushion, which is an advantage in floor sequences, becomes squishy and sacrifices stability in balance poses like the classic tree pose or inversions like headstand.

Grip is adequate, but it can feel slick during sweaty sessions or faster flows. Test sessions showed that hands occasionally needed subtle adjustments even during dry practices in poses such as downward dog. Practitioners who sweat heavily or do hot yoga will prefer a mat with more traction.

The foam is softer than higher-end mats, which can lead to visible compression over time. During testing, areas where hands and feet land show slight indentations when you press them into the cushion. This doesn't immediately affect performance, but it suggests the mat may compress and wear faster with heavy practice.

Should You Buy The Gaiam Premium 6mm?

If you're a beginner, practicing gentle flows, or simply want a budget-friendly, cushioned mat, the Gaiam Premium 6mm is a solid choice. It is one of the best affordable choices for comfort and joint cushioning. The mat's foam compresses slightly under weight, giving it a forgiving feel that makes longer holds more comfortable for knees, wrists, elbows, and the bum. If you want a comfortable mat, this one provides a good cushion for practice. However, it can become slippery when wet, so we don't recommend it for power vinyasa or hot yoga. For everyday stretching, restorative yoga, or casual use, this is a comfortable mat for most people, and we appreciate that it helps prevent soreness so we can relax and stretch our bodies with our breath.

What Other Yoga Mats Should You Consider?