(I received this product as a gift or at a discount in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.)
NOTE: I wrote this review on February 24, and I updated it on May 23. I’ll leave my original review, and you can see my May 23 additions after the original. 🙂
February 24, 2016:
Even though there are rubber, jute, and cork yoga mats out there in the world, the majority of mats we see and think about are made of PVC. They’re soft and sticky and they do last a long time, but they’re difficult to recycle. If you’re looking to make more sustainable choices, you’d do well to look elsewhere. (Here’s a guide to buying a yoga mat, which includes the eco-friendly consideration as well as other considerations.)
I have PVC mats myself, but I’ve been wanting to try something else–and I got my chance when I had the opportunity to review this mat and block by Kakolee.
The yoga block is made of cork, the mat of cork and rubber, and the mat bag is made of jute and cotton. Kakolee is a family-run company committed to sustainability. (And I love their mission statement: “Connecting you, with you, and the planet.“)
The first thing I noticed was how heavy it felt! Both the mat and the block are much heavier than your typical PVC mat and foam block. For me, that’s not a big deal. I do most of my practice at home, and when I do go take a class somewhere I can use the mat bag.
The mat isn’t quite as soft as a regular mat, but it’s still softer than the floor. My knees and ankles were not bothered by it, and after a few minutes of getting used to it, I forgot about it altogether.
I was very concerned about the sticky factor, because that’s really the beauty of a PVC mat: your hands and feet don’t slide when you don’t want them to. But as I moved through my practices on the cork yoga mat, I was surprised and delighted to find that I didn’t slip at all.
The only time I felt like I was about to slide was during downward dog. I had to adjust the way I grip with my hands, more of a grounding straight down rather than down and forward. I also found that an ever-so-slightly shorter stance (feet just a half-step closer to my hands) helped a lot. At first, I didn’t feel like I was getting the length in my spine that I’m used to during that particular pose. That part I really didn’t like, but after the seven practices I’ve had on this mat now, I guess I’ve adjusted to it because it doesn’t bother me anymore.
If you’ve used PVC mats, you’ll have probably noticed that they’re so sticky that sometimes your hand or foot pulls the mat as you move, and you end up with a lump or a fold you need to smooth out. While you don’t slide on this cork mat, it’s not sticky in that same way (plus it’s heavier and has a very grippy rubber bottom) so you won’t get those lumps and folds.
Here’s the coolest thing about this mat, something I wasn’t expecting at all: it feels good under my hands and feet. It feels earthy. It has a neutral, yet neutral-on-the-side-of-nice smell to it.
I’m kind of embarrassed that it took me this long to try a cork yoga mat. It’s hard to make the switch, because I had always heard mixed reviews about mats made of sustainable materials, and I was nervous about sacrificing the comfort and functionality of my mat for the environmentally friendly factor.
Turns out, you don’t have to sacrifice anything, and I am so happy to know that and so happy to be using this mat. I’ve got a couple of PVC mats, and as they have plenty of life left in them I’ll keep them around for the variety, or to leave at one of the places I visit regularly (like my parents’ house), but this is my new daily practice mat.
You can watch it in action during this week’s beginner yoga class.
May 23, 2016:
After a few months of regular use, I noticed the cork layer starting to separate from the base layer! The glue was un-gluing. I figured I would try something (maybe super glue?) to reattach it, but I wanted Kakolee to know about it, since they had asked me for my review in the first place. So I wrote to them to let them know.
They said they were already aware of that problem, and they had already improved the mat! They sent me the new one right away so I could check it out.
The cork layer is now thinner, making the mat easier to roll up and hopefully less likely to separate. I’ve only had it for a week or so, so I will know more about that after a few months of use.
Instead of  a jute bag, the mat is now sold with a strap so you can carry it around that way.
I am still very much enjoying this mat, and I’m looking forward to my new one staying in one piece! The original is still functional, and I’ll be adding some glue to see if I can prolong its life.