Most beginners train at home on an old towel or buy the first 5 EUR mat from the bazaar. In the first week they find out it slips in Downward Dog, or that it does not cushion crunches at all, and their knees ache the next day. The wrong choice creates neck pain, knee pain, or simply makes people quit before the habit takes root.
In Portugal, gyms are the second most common place for physical activity, but yoga, pilates and home training have been a growing trend since 2020 (). Anyone training at home needs a mat that does the work of a professional gym floor. It is not an optional piece; it is the interface between your body and the floor for the whole session.
This guide covers the 4 technical criteria (thickness, material, dimensions, non-slip and transport), follows with 7 real picks for the PT 2026 market, maps the main shops in Portugal with prices, and closes with the quick table by training type. At the end, the 4 most common mistakes when buying.
The 4 technical criteria (in order of importance)
1. Thickness (mm by workout)
Thickness defines comfort and stability. Three tiers cover most cases:
3 to 4 mm: yoga and pilates. A thin, firm mat gives floor feedback and keeps stability in standing postures (Tree Pose, Warrior). A thick mat for yoga means lost balance and an insecure posture.
5 to 8 mm: fitness, moderate floor exercise, stretching. Enough comfort for crunches and plank without compromising stability. The versatile sweet spot.
10 to 15 mm: sensitive knees, high-impact cardio (home HIIT, jumping jacks), pre-natal and post-surgical exercise. Maximum cushioning, but reduced stability in standing postures.
For mixed use (yoga plus ab work plus a few jumps), 5 to 6 mm is the best compromise. Above 8 mm you sacrifice yoga; below 5 mm you sacrifice fitness comfort.
2. Material (PVC, TPE, NBR or natural rubber)
Material defines durability, grip and environmental impact:
PVC: standard budget. Good cushioning, good initial grip. Slips when you get sweaty, loses elasticity in 12 to 18 months, not biodegradable. Mats at 5 to 15 EUR. Useful to get started; replace with TPE or rubber once you know the habit has stuck.
TPE: biodegradable, lighter than PVC, naturally non-slip. Mid-range sweet spot. Mats at 15 to 35 EUR. Lasts 2 to 4 years with 3x/week use.
NBR: thick, very cushioned, lightweight. Common in 10 to 15 mm fitness mats (Decathlon Domyos Tone). Grip worse than TPE on sweaty surfaces. Mats at 15 to 30 EUR.
Natural rubber: top-tier premium yoga (Manduka eKO, Liforme). Exceptional grip even when wet. Heavy (3 to 4 kg), expensive (90 to 150 EUR), lasts 5 to 10 years. Initial rubber smell that disappears in 2 to 4 weeks.
Cork: eco-friendly premium alternative (Liforme Cork, JadeYoga Travel). Naturally non-slip when damp. 80 to 130 EUR.
3. Dimensions (length and width)
Standard is 173 cm × 60 to 61 cm. Enough for most adults up to 1.80 m of height.
For taller heights:
1.80 to 1.95 m: look for a 183 cm mat ("long mat") or 200 cm ("XL"). Manduka PRO 71in (180 cm) and Manduka X (180 cm) are standard XL.
Above 1.95 m: 220 cm mats (Manduka PROlite XL, Liforme Tall) are rare but they exist; price rises 20 to 30%.
Width: 60 to 61 cm is universal. Widths of 66 to 76 cm ("wide mat") exist for anyone who wants lateral space in open postures (Warrior 2); a personal choice. Check the label before buying; sellers on marketplaces sometimes hide the real size under "XL" without stating cm.
4. Non-slip and transport (decisive accessories)
Non-slip is a more subtle criterion than it looks. There are two types of grip:
Dry grip (dry hands and feet): most mats work here, even the cheap ones.
Wet grip (sweaty hands, intense vinyasa, hot yoga, summer HIIT): only Liforme, Manduka eKO, Lululemon The Mat and similar keep their grip. Standard PVC and NBR slip. For hot yoga or intense summer training, this is an essential criterion, not a detail.
A textured top layer gives better grip but marks easily; a smooth top layer looks better, marks less, slips more with sweat. The choice is between aesthetics and function; for real daily use, function wins.
Transport:
Cord or strap: essential for anyone carrying the mat to the gym or studio. Without a strap, the mat unrolls itself as you walk and you have to hold it with your free hand.
Mat bag: tidier (protects the outside of the mat), 15 to 25 EUR. See the gym bag guide for more transport options.
Travel mats: 1 to 2 mm, foldable (Manduka eKO Superlite, Yogo Travel). For occasional use while travelling, not for daily use; too thin to cushion.
The 7 gym mat picks for 2026
The list combines what is available in Portugal today with international models worth importing. Picks 1 to 4 cover 80% of cases; the rest optimise specific cases (premium yoga, extreme cushioning).
Thickness 4 mm, biodegradable TPE, dimension 173 by 61 cm, strap included. For beginners in yoga or pilates who want to start well without investing before they know whether the practice will stick.
Against: medium wet grip (not an alternative to Manduka); visible Kimjaly branding in the corner.
2. Decathlon Domyos Tone 15mm (around 22 EUR), best fitness cushioning
Thickness 15 mm, NBR (synthetic rubber), dimension 180 by 61 cm, strap included. For sensitive knees, prolonged floor exercise, jumping jacks at home. Maximum cushioning at an accessible price.
Against: not very stable in standing postures (do not use for serious yoga); weak wet grip; bulky when rolled (does not fit in compact gym bags).
3. Decathlon Domyos Fitness 100 7mm (around 10 EUR), best total budget
Thickness 7 mm, PVC, dimension 172 by 61 cm. For beginners who want to cover all bases (light yoga, fitness, stretching) with minimum investment.
Against: weak grip when sweaty; PVC loses elasticity in 12 to 18 months; 7 mm is a compromise, not great for anything specific.
4. adidas Performance 7mm (around 30 EUR), European alternative
Thickness 7 mm, PVC with textured top layer, dimension 173 by 61 cm. Mid-range fitness with adidas aesthetics; better dry grip than the equivalent Decathlon Domyos PVC. Versatile sweet spot.
Against: still PVC (no durability gain); price doubles the equivalent Decathlon without a proportional technical gain.
Thickness 5 mm, TPE with textured top layer, dimension 183 by 61 cm. A serious mat for those training yoga or pilates 3 or more times per week at home. Medium to good grip, durability 3 to 5 years.
Against: visible Nike branding in yoga splits opinion in the community (fitness vs pure yoga aesthetics); high price for the material (TPE is cheaper than natural rubber).
6. Lululemon The Mat 5mm (around 82 EUR), imported premium yoga
Thickness 5 mm, natural polyurethane top layer over a natural rubber base, dimension 180 by 66 cm (wider than standard). Exceptional grip even when wet; the mat seen most often in premium studios in Lisbon and Porto.
Against: 88 USD via direct import (around 82 EUR plus shipping plus VAT at customs); heavy (2.5 kg); top layer marks easily with nails and trainers.
7. Manduka PRO 6mm (around 130 EUR), top-tier yoga
Thickness 6 mm, high-density PVC (not biodegradable but service life of 10+ years with the brand's lifetime warranty), dimension 180 by 66 cm. The world reference mat in yoga for 25 years. Cost per use is the lowest on the list if you are going to practise yoga seriously for life.
Against: 138 USD via import; heavy (3 kg); low initial grip, improves with "break-in" (a few weeks of use or an active "salt scrub" process); PVC is the Manduka environmental contradiction.
Quick table (mat by training type)
For anyone who has come here just looking for the choice by training:
Training
Best choice
Thickness
PT price
Beginner yoga
Decathlon Kimjaly
4 mm
around 15 EUR
Regular yoga
Nike Mastery
5 mm
around 50 EUR
Premium yoga or hot yoga
Lululemon The Mat
5 mm
around 82 EUR + shipping
Lifetime yoga
Manduka PRO
6 mm
around 130 EUR + shipping
Pilates
Decathlon Kimjaly or Nike Mastery
4 to 5 mm
15 to 50 EUR
Mixed fitness / ab work
adidas Performance or Decathlon Domyos 100
For the right clothing for the practice, see the guides on women's gym clothes and men's gym clothes. If you train barefoot (yoga, pilates), the mat is your only contact with the floor; it is worth choosing well.
Where to buy in Portugal (with 2026 prices)
The PT 2026 offer covers every price tier. Quick map:
Decathlon: Domyos line for fitness, Kimjaly for yoga. 10 to 25 EUR. Unbeatable on price; the range covers every thickness (4 mm to 15 mm) and material (PVC, TPE, NBR).
adidas Portugal: Performance 7mm (30 EUR). European alternative to Nike, same price tier.
Sport Zone: brand aggregator. Good for end-of-season discounts and to compare Nike, adidas, Puma in one place.
H&M Move: a line more focused on aesthetics; mats at 15 to 25 EUR. For anyone who prefers to coordinate with H&M Move clothing.
Lululemon: The Mat 5mm (82 EUR). No official retail in PT; international shipping from the United States.
Manduka: PRO (130 EUR), eKO (95 EUR). The lifetime yoga premium; lifetime warranty on some models.
Liforme: Original (140 EUR), Yoga Mat Plus (170 EUR). Grip considered the market top in vinyasa and hot yoga.
Marketplaces: useful for occasional discounts on specific models. Always check that the seller is the official brand or an authorised retailer, not a third party with no warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
3 to 4 mm for yoga and pilates (stability); 5 to 8 mm for fitness, ab work and floor exercise (versatile comfort); 10 to 15 mm for sensitive knees or high-impact cardio at home (cushioning). For mixed use, 5 to 6 mm is the best compromise.
PVC for pure budget (10 to 15 EUR, lasts 1 to 2 years). TPE for biodegradable mid-range (15 to 35 EUR, lasts 2 to 4 years). Natural rubber or NBR for premium and durability (90 to 150 EUR, lasts 5 to 10 years). For use 3 or more times per week, TPE is the cost-benefit sweet spot.
For beginners, Decathlon Kimjaly TPE 4mm (around 15 EUR). For regulars, Nike Mastery 5mm (around 50 EUR) or Lululemon The Mat (around 82 EUR). For a lifetime, Manduka PRO (around 130 EUR with lifetime warranty). The difference between 50 EUR and 130 EUR shows up in wet grip and real-world durability.
For casual mixed use, yes, choose TPE 5 to 7 mm (Decathlon Kimjaly thicker version, or adidas Performance). For serious use in both, two separate mats last longer and give a better experience: thin and firm for yoga plus thick for fitness cushioning.
Natural rubber mats (Manduka, Liforme) smell of rubber for 2 to 4 weeks. Lay it out in a ventilated space away from direct sunlight; wiping with a damp cloth and diluted white vinegar speeds things up. PVC and TPE have an initial chemical smell of 2 to 7 days; same routine.
Decathlon Domyos PVC and budget TPE, yes (40 degrees, short cycle, no softener, air-dry). Premium (Manduka, Lululemon, Liforme) NO; use a damp cloth with mild soap. Tumble dryer never for any type (it warps the mat).
For people who practise yoga 4 or more times per week and prioritise wet grip (vinyasa, hot yoga), yes. For use 1 to 2 times per week, Decathlon Kimjaly or Nike Mastery have you covered. For pure fitness (not yoga), it is never worth 80 EUR (the function is cushioning, not fine grip).
Standard 173 to 183 cm covers up to 1.80 m of height comfortably. For 1.80 to 1.95 m, look for 200 cm ("XL", "Long Mat", Manduka PRO 71in, Liforme Tall). Above 1.95 m, rare 220 cm models exist made to order; the price rises 20 to 30%.
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TLDR: Key Points
Thickness: 3 to 4 mm for yoga, 5 to 8 mm for fitness, 10 to 15 mm for sensitive knees or high-impact cardio.
Material decides durability: PVC lasts 1 to 2 years, TPE 2 to 4, natural rubber or NBR 4 to 7.
Non-slip can only be proven with a damp hand. Premium (Liforme, Manduka) has a textured top layer, budget slips.
Standard dimensions are 173 to 183 cm. Above 1.80 m, look for 200 cm (Manduka XL, Liforme Tall).
In Portugal, Decathlon is the budget option (10 to 25 EUR), Nike and adidas the sweet spot (30 to 50 EUR), Manduka and Liforme the premium tier.
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