Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

My old mat which I've had for nearly 2 years have become old, battered and slippery thus I deemed it was time to look for a new mat. After reading all the great reviews I decided to buy the Clever Yoga mat in Rose, and see for myself. First of all, let me start by saying I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this mat. I have been practicing for quite some time now. When I started my practice I just bought a generic mat with lots of good reviews. Back then, I didn't know what a good mat is. Many months into yoga, I have come to realize that there are a few things to look for in a mat, and these are good grip, non-slip and thickness. Weight and colour are the bonus factors. This mat has got all five factors. I have tried using it at home where it's carpeted and in the studio as well wherein it has got a wooden floor. My mat stayed on the floor and didn't budge. As for the grip, this mat has got 2 sides which you can use, I prefer to use the dotted side (I feel as if it's got a better grip). This mat also has a good feel to it, like velvet rubber. I practice vinyasa in a non-heated room, and I tend to sweat bucket loads. I find that there are few times wherein I feel as if my hands will slip in a downward dog pose, but did not. When the mat gets wet with perspiration I just wiped the mat off with a towel and my grip is good again. Balancing poses are not a problem despite it's thickness, as this mat is thicker than other mats, but it is still stable. Unlike other that have got memory foam but tend to be a bit unstable. It says that this does not have a smell, but I find that there is a faint smell of natural rubber, but not the awful chemical smell that most cheaper mats have. This is also lightweight. I walk to yoga class and it takes me about 20 minutes and the weight does not bother me. Overall I give this 4.5 out of 5 stars, since Amazon doesn't have half rates then 4 it is. I decided to give it a half star (okay a star) lower because it takes time before the mat becomes full flat on the floor. What I tend to do is roll it with the dotted side out, so when I unfurl it only the ends will stick out. It flatten out eventually but if you tend to arrive just on time for class then the forst 5-10 minutes of practice will have curled up corners on your mat. Plus it does not have a mat bag. A mat bag or straps is really a plus factor since this mat is quite thick. I carry this inside my old mat bag, but because it's not designed for thick mats, it takes time before I can fit it properly inside. In a nutshell, buy this mat!! You will not regret it.