Head to head
Lululemon Reversible vs Gaiam Premium (2026)
Lululemon Reversible vs Gaiam Premium: premium sweat grip against budget cushioning.
#2 in our rankings · Best for sweaty practices
Lululemon The Reversible Mat 5mm
Best for: Hot yoga and vinyasa practitioners with sweaty hands
#4 in our rankings · Best budget
Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat 6mm
Best for: Beginners and home practitioners who want cushioning cheaply
Our recommendation
These mats serve opposite buyers. Choose the Lululemon Reversible if sweaty hands are your main problem and you practice hot or intense yoga weekly; its polyurethane grip is genuinely best-in-class for moisture. Choose the Gaiam Premium if you are starting out or practice gently at home; its 6mm cushioning costs a fraction and does the job. Do not buy the Lululemon for gentle home stretching, and do not buy the Gaiam for daily hot yoga.
Grip behavior
The Reversible's polyurethane grips harder as you sweat; the Gaiam's sticky PVC grips well dry but gets slick with real moisture. In a heated room this is the entire decision.
Cushioning quality
The Gaiam is thicker on paper (6mm vs 5mm) but softer; its foam compresses under body weight. The Lululemon's 5mm is firmer and more stable for balance poses. For bad knees on hard floors, the Gaiam's soft thickness feels better initially; for everything else, the Lululemon's density wins.
Durability and value
The Gaiam is a 6 to 18 month mat at a budget price; the Lululemon is a 2 to 4 year mat at a premium price. Cost per year of use is closer than the sticker prices suggest, though the Gaiam remains far cheaper up front.
Choose Lululemon The Reversible Mat 5mm if…
- You practice hot yoga or sweat heavily
- You want a mat that stays stable in balance poses
- You practice often enough to justify a multi-year mat
Choose Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat 6mm if…
- You are new to yoga and testing the waters
- Maximum knee cushioning at minimum price is the goal
- You practice gently at home without much sweat
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | Lululemon The Reversible Mat 5mm | Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat 6mm |
|---|---|---|
| Price tier | Premium | Budget |
| Dimensions | 71" x 26" (180 cm x 66 cm) | 72" x 24" (183 cm x 61 cm) |
| Thickness | 5 mm | 6 mm |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) |
| Material | Polyurethane top, natural rubber base | PVC, latex-free |
| Design | Reversible, two-sided use | — |
| Texture | — | Sticky non-slip surface |
| Best for | Hot yoga and vinyasa practitioners with sweaty hands | Beginners and home practitioners who want cushioning cheaply |
| Skip if | You have a latex sensitivity; the base layer is natural rubber | You practice daily; the softer PVC compresses and wears faster than dense mats |
Strengths and limitations
Lululemon The Reversible Mat 5mm
Strengths
- Polyurethane top layer grips harder as moisture increases, ideal for heated classes
- Reversible design gives two usable surfaces with different textures
- 5mm thickness balances joint cushioning with stable balance poses
Limitations
- Polyurethane surface shows wear faster than dense PVC if dragged or scraped
- At around 5.3 lbs it is lighter than the Manduka Pro but still not a travel mat
- Premium price for a mat that needs replacement sooner than a Pro
Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat 6mm
Strengths
- 6mm of cushioning at a fraction of premium mat prices
- Lightweight at roughly 3.5 lbs, easy to carry and store
- Sticky textured surface grips well for dry-handed beginners
Limitations
- Softer PVC foam compresses permanently with heavy daily use
- 72 x 24 inch size is narrower than the 26-inch premium standard
- Surface can flake or tear sooner than dense-construction mats
How they fit the wider field
- Lululemon The Reversible Mat 5mm: ranked #2 (Best for sweaty practices) in The Best Yoga Mats. Read the full Lululemon The Reversible Mat 5mm review.
- Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat 6mm: ranked #4 (Best budget) in The Best Yoga Mats.
Neither one quite right? The full rankings cover 10 picks matched to different buyers.
Questions, answered
Is the Lululemon mat worth 4x the price of the Gaiam?
Only if you need what it does: sweat-activated grip and a stable 5mm platform. For dry, gentle home practice, the Gaiam delivers 80 percent of the experience for a fraction of the cost.
Which is lighter to carry?
The Gaiam Premium at roughly 3.5 lbs is noticeably lighter than the Lululemon's 5.3 lbs, which matters if you walk to class.