Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip yoga mat review: Is it really worth the price tag?

Looking for a new yoga mat? The Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip yoga mat (opens in new tab) – which won’t slip even when soaking wet – could be for you. How to be sure? We’ve put one through its paces from the moment it was unwrapped, so you can see if you think it’s worth the investment.

I tested a wide selection of the best yoga mats (opens in new tab) and considered comfort, grip, design and versatility. 

Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip specifications

Dimensions: 180mm x 66mm
Thickness: 4mm
Material: Natural rubber and PU
Weight: 2.5kg

Who will the Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip suit?

The Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip will best suit someone who is worried about slipping.

What is the Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip yoga mat like to use?

Super smooth with no toxic smell, the Yogi Bare Paws mat feels really special to use. It’s a fraction wider than standard yoga mats and that extra width really makes a big difference. At 5ft 6in, I found the Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip a good length. If you are much taller, you may want to pick the X version (opens in new tab), which is 213cm long. 

One downside of this yoga mat is that it is quite heavy. At 2.5kg, this is around double the weight of cheaper varieties. This means you really wouldn’t want to carry it around too much, so it’s a better choice for someone who wants to exercise at home. Carry straps (opens in new tab) are available for around £30, but you might want to consider the Yogi Bare travel version (opens in new tab) instead which is just 1.5kg. I also found this yoga mat quite tricky to roll up in a hurry – not great if you’re stressed and need to make a quick exit before the next class arrives. 

The Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip material and design

On the Yogi Bare website, this mat is available in black, red, blue, dark green and grey. I tried and tested the grey version, which is a slate colour and almost black. The beautiful Aztec-style design is subtle and can’t be seen from a distance, but includes a central horizontal and vertical line. This is useful when it comes to alignment, so really good for beginners. Plus, the design is laser etched on to the mat itself, so it’s not going to rub or wear off.

As this is made with natural rubber and PU, there’s no chemical smell when first unravelled. It doesn’t contain any latex on the top (although there is latex on the bottom), so could be the right pick for you if you have allergies. Plus, this mat has really been designed with sustainability and the environment in mind – it’s biodegradable, made with fully sustainable materials, 100% vegan and even the packaging used is 100% recyclable.

Worried about hygiene or want to share this mat? It won’t absorb bacteria as easily (thanks to the closed-cell PU), but it can be cleaned with a mix of warm water and lemon juice. The one thing I did notice while trialling the Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip yoga mat was that, when used on carpet, it really did pick up dirt and fluff on the underside.

The grip of the Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip

Wow, this is where the Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip scores highly! Despite not having any grooves on the mat, my hands and feet really didn’t slip and this is the same even if you sweat heavily, too, making this pick great for Hot Yoga. In fact, at one point I even went as far as pouring a whole glass of water on it to see, and my hands and feet still didn’t slip. It really does offer extreme grip and perform well. Plus, the water dries really quickly afterwards, especially compared with cheaper mats.

Used on floorboards, there was no movement at all, even when I jumped around. On carpet, there was only some movement, but nothing compared with other mats I tried. Plus, once the mat was unrolled it didn’t roll up at the ends at all and stayed relatively flat.

Thickness and comfort of the Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip

At 4mm, the Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip mat is a standard thickness. You can still feel a connection to the floor, which certainly helps with standing poses. And, if you are using it for HIIT workouts, knowing it won’t slip can really help boost your confidence. 

While it definitely helps to reduce impact on joints, if this is an area that really concerns you (especially knee joints), it may be better to opt for something slightly thicker.

How does the Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip rate online?

The Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip yoga mat rates well online, with many users saying the grip is something they have never experienced previously with standard foam mats. The only negative really involves the colour of the mats not matching those in the photos online.

Is the Yogi Bare Paws Natural Rubber Extreme Grip worth buying?

Yes, if you have the money, then this buy is definitely worth the investment, especially if you sweat lots when you exercise. It will last for years and years.