Premium Large Exercise Mat - 84" X 27" X 1/4" Thick Durable Workout Mat for Home Gym Flooring - Works Great for All Cardio, Yoga Mat, Exercise Bike Mat - Use with Or Without Shoes

[Update 2: I've had the mat for about 7.5 years now. It's still going strong. I will absolutely be buying another Pogamat if this one ever breaks down, though at this rate I'll be worm food before that happens (which is a good thing, not for me, but for the mat).][Update 1: Just wanted to add that after nearly 5 years of use this mat is still holding up extremely well. Even the little "Pogamat" logo patch that's attached to the mat is in good shape - and I figured it would have gotten torn off long ago. I cannot recommend this mat enough. With shoes, without shoes, yoga, Insanity (etc.), whatever you plan to do with this mat it's well worth the price.]When I first ordered this mat (a year ago) there weren't any reviews on Amazon yet, so I mainly had to rely on the manufacturer's website and a smattering of external mentions. It's also worth mentioning that it was 15$ more expensive then. So I took a bit of a gamble in ordering it, but a year later, I'm glad I did.This is a very tough mat. One year of solid use, we'll say 6 days a week on average, and there is NO damage to the mat. The mats I had used previously were breaking down in as little as a 1-2 weeks, but not this mat. It is heavy, but I like that, namely because it reduces slippage. It's also easy to clean. Also, when I first got the mat I contacted the manufacturer with a few questions and they were very responsive.Now, while this is definitely a 5 star mat in my opinion, here are a couple of caveats. When I first got it, it was MAJORLY sticky. It was like there was a reside all over the mat, a thin film layer of "something." At the time that I ordered the mat, I wasn't provided with the information about biodegradable soap and a brush, but I did find it on their website. What I found, is that even with the soap, it really takes time to break this mat in. Had I reviewed the mat one month out, it would probably have been three stars for the price. However, one year out and I'm definitely giving this product 5 stars. It had the longest break-in period of any mat I've ever used, but the point is that the mat got better with more uses and that it's PERFECTLY held up over the past year (as an example I've used it for strength training, pylometrics, yoga, running in place, flopping around like a fish during floor exercises - basically you name it, I've done it - and oh yeah, I've extensively used shoes on the mat).So, unless they've substantially changed something in the production process you'll need to give this mat some time to reach its true potential. Also, if you have slippery cheap carpet like me you'll probably still need to put weights on the corners if you plan to really go crazy, but it still slides far less than any other mat I've used.

I love this mat!!! My sister showed up to class with the gaiam XL mat and i loved the idea of having the extra room. I enjoyed the size of her mat but it felt really thin for my tastes. My knees felt like they were directly on the floor. I started searching for a large mat with good grip and decent thickness. It wasnt long before i discovered this gem! This mat not only has the added length and width, but it is also the thickest mat i have found (while still being functional for yoga). I was worried that the thickness would disturb by stability but i have found it to be quite the opposite. The thickness helps me stick much better. I can dig my toes in and not worry about taking chunks out of the mat. Ive used shoes on it as well and had no problems. This mat does not slide around on the floor or roll up. It stays put and it helps me stay put. I did notice a very slight amount of slipperiness on my first couple uses, but the slipping was no more than i experience on a regular cheap mat. After a week the slipperiness went away and now this mat grips like no other. I also love that it is responsibly made and wont leech toxins onto my skin. There was no weird odor or anything like that. I took it out of the bag, laid it flat for 48 hrs in high traffic area (as stated to do so in the directions), walked all over it and then it was ready to use. I am so excited because i have found my mat for life! The only negative i can give (and to me this is a very minor issue) is that this thing is heavy! Its too heavy to comfortably carry with a mat strap (digs in to the shoulder) so i end up just lugging it in my arms. If this product came with a special padded carrying strap then it would be perfect. As it is, Ive never been more pleased by a mat in my life! I would say i would purchase again, but this thing is so durable i doubt ill need another one any time soon.

I'm using this mat primarily for P90X Plyometrics and Yoga routines. After this round of P90X I plan to try it out with Insanity. This was a definite upgrade over the wimpier yoga mat I was using previously. For one, it's not shredding all over the place. It's also much thicker, though I'd describe it as firm, not spongy - I'm not sure how much shock absorption I'm really getting.Took off 1 star primarily because after a month of leaving it out, it still has indentations at the end from the straps that it ships with. I can understand needing to pack it as tightly as possible to reduce shipping size, but I feel the mat could have been protected better from the straps. This was also my second mat - I sent the first one back because it was slightly damaged - but both of the mats had the indentations.Also wanted to note that it does move around quite a bit when on carpet. I primarily use it on hardwood so it doesn't bother me often, but it was something I read in other reviews and I can confirm that if I was using this primarily on carpet, I'd also be upset. It fares a little better than my other yoga mat (mostly because it's just heavier), but I do find myself constantly adjusting its position when I use it on carpet.