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The 7 Best Yoga Mat Straps, Carriers, and Slings on 2022
By PS EDITORS | Reviewed by HANNAH SCHMIDT
Last Update: 18th September, 2022
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Need a hassle-free sling for a hands-free commute?
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A high-quality mat carry strap could be your ticket.
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We put forth our top picks for yoga mat straps, carriers, and slings.
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Also, check out these ten top-rated yoga wheels of 2022.
TL;DR - Quick Answer
The Manduka Commuter Yoga Mat Carrier and Gaiam Yoga Mat Sling are great choices for all yogis. They are reputable yoga brands and these straps works for mats of all sizes.
Yoga is one of the best forms of exercise for physical and mental well being [1]. Large yoga mats, on the other hand, can be exasperating to carry. It helps to invest in a yoga mat bag or carry straps if you practice outdoor or commute to class.
"A carry strap is an inexpensive tool to store and transport yoga mats," says Hannah Schmidt, a yoga instructor. "Roll up the mat, secure it with the loops or rings, sling it cross-body, and enjoy hands-free traveling."
For most people, top-quality mat straps only need to tick two boxes – durability and comfort. But in our research, we also reviewed the material, stitching, customer reviews, and the cost-value ratio. Thereof, we rounded up top-rated mat straps that deliver the best bang for your buck.
But don’t confuse these slings with yoga straps used for stretching. Although, a few of our top picks are dual-use and can double up as stretching straps.
Here are the seven best yoga mat straps, carriers, and slings of 2022.
Our Top Picks in a Nutshell
Best Overall: Manduka Yoga Mat Carrier ($18) at Amazon|Read Review
Best Value: Tumaz Yoga Mat Strap ($10) at Amazon | Read Review
Top Pick: Gaiam Easy-Cinch Yoga Mat Sling ($10) at Amazon | Read Review
Best Boho: YogizMat Macrame Yoga Mat Strap ($30) at Amazon | Read Review
Best Multi-Use: Manduka Go Play Yoga Mat Carrier ($39) at Amazon | Read Review
Most Durable: Sukhamat Yoga Mat Carry Strap ($13) at Amazon | Read Review
Best Leather: Open Road Goods Yoga Mat Sling ($25) at Amazon | Read Review
1. Best Overall: Manduka Journey On Commuter Yoga Mat Carrier
Sturdy, stylish, and thoughtfully designed, the Manduka Commuter yoga mat strap is a no-brainer for every type of yogi. This mat carrier is made of cotton with sturdy inseams, solid metal buckles, and extra padding under the shoulder for carrying comfort. The best part is, it's a dual-use universal size mat strap, which means it fits mats of any size and can be used as a stretching strap.
What we think:
The Manduka Commuter strap is the best yoga mat carrier we encountered in terms of build quality, materials, and ease of use. The buckles are noise-free and fasten tightly across the mat, keeping it securely in place. No, your yoga mat won't unroll when you place it on the floor. You need to loosen the metal buckles on both ends to take the strap off. Yes, it's slightly pricey, but this is a top-rated mat carrier of value that won’t need replacement for years.
2. Best Budget: Tumaz Yoga Mat Strap
Tumaz offers a thick polyester cotton mat strap in two sizes - a 64" and 85" sling. It's 2.5 mm thick and features loops that can accommodate a mat of any size. The carrier is durable, soft, and uses eco-friendly dyes. It can double up as a yoga strap, which adds to the overall value. Moreover, Tumaz backs up each carrier with no-questions-asked full refund or replacement within a 70-day warranty period.
What we like:
This is a highly functional and no-frills yoga mat strap, ideal for yogis on a budget. It has skin-friendly fabric with a delicate cotton-like texture. The aligned stitched, tight weave and extra-thickness make it a hard-wearing yoga mat strap that won’t bruise your shoulder. Plus, it boasts 8k+ glowing customer reviews. Consider this if you need an easy-to-use mat strap that's light on the pocket.
3. Editor's Pick: Gaiam Easy-Cinch Yoga Mat Sling Strap
Gaiam is known to make yoga props and accessories that are affordable and trustworthy. Their yoga mat strap is no exception. For $9.99, you get a 76-inch nylon mat sling with metal D-ring sliders in four color options. The D-ring slide on/off easily to grip your mat and stays secure while you commute to and from the studio. However, we recommend the Manduka mat carrier if you are tall and intend to wear the strap as a messenger bag.
What we like:
The Gaiam Easy-Cinch Yoga Mat Sling is lightweight, durable, and wallet-friendly. The strap may not be the best-looking, but it's as sturdy and functional as any. The d-rings, material, and stitching are impressive but nylon lacks the skin feel of cotton and can feel coarse against the skin. On the plus side, you can wash and dry the mat strap easily, and it won’t need a replacement anytime soon.
4. Best Boho: YogizMat Macramé Cotton Yoga Mat Strap
YogizMat offers a handmade macrame yoga mat strap made of natural cotton and fitted with wooden rings. It is available in black, white, and braided white. At 66-inches, the mat strap is long enough for all types of yoga mats and can be used as a yoga (stretching) strap . It’s not water or weather resistant, but can be spot cleaned or hand washed by following the product care instructions.
What we like:
The YogizMat Macrame Yoga Mat Strap complements cotton, cork, and boho yoga mats like nobody's business. If that's your jam, this all-natural, handwoven mat strap is undoubtedly the best choice for you. The yoga mat carrier is easy to adjust, multi-use and feels comfortable on the shoulder. It will turn heads, which is a great feeling, but more importantly, the material is renewable and fully degradable. So, you can look great and feel great while you use it.
5. Best Features: Manduka Go Play Yoga Mat Carrier w/ Pocket
The Manduka Go Play mat carrier goes an extra step to help you to keep it together while you are on the go. This is an adjustable yoga mat strap with a storage pocket, suitable for mats of all shapes and sizes. Made from OEKO-TEX certified polyester, it is water-resistant fabric and hard-wearing. It features quick-release buckles and a large 8" x 12" pocket to store personal items like your phone, keys, and wallet. For better or worse, it is only available in black.
What we think:
Manduka Go Play is one of the sturdiest mat carriers, regardless of the weight and thickness of your mat. It is easy to adjust and can be used as a messenger bag with no yoga mat attached to it. The mat strap itself is sturdy, weather resistant, and easy to clean. It has quick-release buckles, as opposed to D-rings, which are more secure and easier to use. Overall, it’s the best choice if you want a yoga mat carrier with extra storage.
6. Most Durable: SukhaMat Yoga Mat Carry Strap
The SukaMat Strap is made from a thick, tightly woven poly-cotton blend with easy-cinch loops and a key-ring eyelet. The strap is 2.54 mm thick, 65 inches long, and 1.5 inches wide. It’s available in 3 color options (eco-friendly dyes) that can be hand washed and dried flat. Lastly, it can be used as a yoga stretching strap, which adds all the more value to your purchase.
What we think:
The SukhaMat Strap is a simple but reliable yoga mat carrier designed to fit yoga mats of any size. The sturdy stitching is reinforced with rivets for extra strength and durability. The extra thickness ensures that it won’t dig into your shoulder and the eyelet is useful to clip a pouch or keys to the mat strap. For under $10, the hassle-free return policy and lifetime guarantee ensure you can buy this yoga mat strap with unrivaled buyer confidence.
7. Best Leather: Open Road Faux Leather Yoga Mat Sling
The Open Road Goods yoga mat strap is a classy take on cowhide leather slings. It's a multi-use vegan leather device with loops rivet-reinforced loops and high quality stitching. The loops can be adjusted between 4" to 8" to securely grip most yoga mats. The strap's length – 34-inches when fully open – is relatively less. However, it's tailored for mid-upper back placement, which prevents the mats from bouncing around during your commute.
What we think:
This vegan leather yoga mat strap is sturdy, well made, and modestly priced. The faux leather material is eye-catching yet earth-friendly. Moreover, you can also use it for blankets, bed rolls, and picnic baskets on your days off. This is the best choice for an environmental-friendly faux leather yoga mat strap. Plus, it’s from a small business audited for fair working conditions.
For a real leather mat strap, consider Hide & Drink’s Bourbon Yoga Mat Strap.
Verdict: Prana Sutra Picks
Our top pick, the Manduka Commuter Yoga Mat Carrier is durable and easy to use. It features noise-free metal buckles to securely grip the mat while you commute.
The Tumaz Yoga Mat Strap, our best value pick, can serve the needs of every yogi. It's an no-frills add-on to keep your hands free and your yoga mat secure.
The Gaiam Easy-Cinch Yoga Mat Sling work for any size mat and it's our best overall pick based on materials, reviews, ease-of-use, and price.
Buyer Guide: How to Pick the Best
Yoga Mat Strap
Yoga mat carriers, straps, and slings are relatively simple accessories, but they have a few specs to consider when you shop for the best one. Below, we get into the things to watch out for to get your money's worth.
Material
Unless you want to buy a new strap frequently, choose a robust yoga mat strap or sling, one with a tight weave and made of hard-wearing material. In this regard, metal or quick-release buckles outperform Velcro and snaps. A polyester-cotton blend is generally the best option among the types available. Also, a cotton and macramé mat strap fray over time, especially if you wash it frequently.
Comfort
A yoga mat strap will bear down on your shoulder, so it should be comfortable for long commutes. Rough material or unwieldy straps can cause shoulder discomfort, particularly with heavy or thick yoga mats. It's best to choose a sling made of cotton, nylon, or polyester, 1.5 mm or thicker. Imaginably, mat straps with shoulder padding are ideal, as is the case with our 'Best Overall' pick.
Adjustability
You should ensure a mat strap fits your yoga mat before you purchase it. Secondly, it should fit your body and feel comfortable when you wear it across the body or over the shoulder. The best length varies, depending on your stature and height. We have mentioned the strap length of all products in our reviews. Alternatively, you can pick a universal-size yoga mat strap to skip the math.
Additional Features
While most manufacturers prefer to keep it simple, some yoga mat carriers, straps, and slings have the lure of additional features. The most common add-on is the ability to use it as a strap for stretching. Some products also integrate zippered pouches or detachable pockets for personal items and key-ring eyelets to hook your keys. The additional features generally come with an uptick in the price. So, at times, a no-frills mat carrier is the best choice for the sake of simplicity.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do you carry a yoga mat around?
A yoga mat carrier strap or sling is the best way to carry your yoga mat while walking, riding a bicycle, or commuting to a studio. These adjustable mat slings are designed to securely grip your yoga mat for easy transport and to keep your hands free to do other things.
What is the best length for a yoga mat strap?
You can choose any adjustable yoga mat strap but those over 60-inches in length will fit yoga mats of any size. Among non-adjustable straps, shorter lengths work fine if you prefer to sling the yoga mat over your shoulder, but it will rest on the mid or mid-upper back. Opt for a strap with 65” -68” length if you want to sling the yoga mat over like a messenger bag.
Can yoga mat straps be used for other things?
You can use a yoga mat strap to carry any item of an identical size or weight, as long as the carrying mechanism works. Most commonly, these straps are used to carry yoga towels, blankets, picnic baskets, and other rolled items. Secondly, most full-size yoga mat straps can double up as a stretching straps to increase flexibility and range of motion.
Can I use my yoga strap to carry my mat?
You can you a yoga strap to carry a mat if it has loops or metal d-rings. However, most yoga mat carrier straps can also double up as yoga stretching straps. If you buy one designed for dual use, you do not need to buy a yoga strap especially for stretching.
Our Review Process
Our yoga equipment reviews are an amalgam of independent research and/or product testing. Our writers also consult yoga influencers, instructors and fitness experts to narrow down the best attributes to look for in a particular product.
In this articles, we researched and reviewed yoga mat straps based on durability, comfort, ease-of-use, customer reviews, and price.We rounded up seven top-rated yoga mat carry straps after researching 20 top-rated straps, carriers, and slings.
Why Trust Prana Sutra
Hannah Schmidt practices Yin and Restorative Yoga, two styles that rely heavily on props. Her first-hand experience gives her a keen sense to sniff out the best products in the vast e-commerce landscape.
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