When comparing Aurorae Classic Extra Thick vs Manduka eKO, the Slant community recommends Manduka eKO for most people. In the question“What are the best eco-friendly yoga mats?” Manduka eKO is ranked 2nd while Aurorae Classic Extra Thick is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Manduka eKO is:
The mat is longer than standard, giving taller people plenty of room.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Everything you need in a yoga mat for an affordable price
The Aurorae Classic is firm, eco-friendly, and provides a good grip in dry conditions. Aurorae has great customer service, and give a 2 year warranty on all mats.
Pro Biodegradable
All Aurorae mats are non-toxic, phthalate, phenol, PAH, latex, silicone and rubber-free.
Pro Best used in dry conditions
Aurorae does provide a bag of non-slip rosin to improve the grip for use in wet conditions, but you will have to reapply it throughout your workout. When used in dry conditions, it provides good traction with both the floor and your hands and feet.
Pro Comfortable
The Aurorae Classic Extra Thick is 1/4" thick, which provides great support for your knees and joints, while being firm enough to provide good support.
Pro Great for taller people
The mat is longer than standard, giving taller people plenty of room.
Pro Stays flat
The mat rolls out flat every time, and doesn't maintain a curl at the ends.
Pro Good for dry conditions
The Manduka eKO has a textured surface that repels sweat. This makes it good for use in dry conditions, because the sweat will sit on the surface of the mat, causing it to be more slippery than open-cell mats (open-cell surfaces absorb moisture). The closed-cell surface on the Manduka is easier to clean and reduces the risk of accumulating bacteria in its pores.
Cons
Con Not great for very sweaty/ wet conditions
You can use the rosin to make it less slippery, but if that's something that you'll be frustrated by, you should consider getting a rubber mat.
Con Rubber smell
The rubber smell on this mat is most felt right out of the box, but it can be aerated and will dissipate after a few uses.
Con Very heavy
Not easily portable as 8 lbs is a lot to be carrying around, especially if you have other stuff to carry (like a gym bag or a laptop).