IUGA Eco Friendly PU vs Hugger Mugger Earth Elements 5mm: Which One Should You Buy?

These sit close on the spec sheet: both 5 mm, both a shade over two pounds, both easy to carry, both grippy from the first unroll.

The IUGA scored 75 out of 100 and took a Best Buy award at $66.99. The Earth Elements scored 70 and came ninth of nineteen at $83. The cheaper mat grips better; the pricier one is softer and latex free.

The IUGA’s polyurethane top absorbs moisture rather than shedding it, so traction holds or improves when your palms are damp. GearLab scored it 8 out of 10 dry and 7 wet, which is close to mats costing twice as much.

The Earth Elements is sealed closed-cell TPE and scored 6 for grip, with mediocre wet grip listed among its cons. In a cool room doing gentle work you may not notice; the moment you sweat, you will. That gap is the main argument for the IUGA and it comes with a lower price attached.

Hugger Mugger’s TPE is foamier than the IUGA’s firmer polyurethane over rubber. GearLab’s testers described the cushion as deliciously comfortable for seated postures, yin classes and sound baths, and scored it 7 out of 10 for comfort and support.

The IUGA scored 8 on the same measure, because that score is mostly about support rather than softness. For kneeling, the Hugger Mugger is the kinder surface; for standing, the IUGA is the steadier one.

The Earth Elements is TPE with no natural latex in it and no rubber base underneath, which makes it safe with an allergy.

The IUGA has a natural rubber base under its polyurethane top, so it contains latex even though the surface you touch is PU. If an allergy is your constraint, that single fact settles this comparison regardless of the test scores, and it is worth knowing that nearly every absorbent-topped mat has the same issue.

The IUGA is 72″ × 26″ and the Earth Elements 72″ × 24″. So the Hugger Mugger is marginally longer and the IUGA is two inches wider, and GearLab counted the IUGA’s dimensions among its pros.

Width is generally the more useful of the two, because 24 inches puts a hand on the floorboards in a wide-legged stance. Neither brand offers a bigger cut of the mat in question.

2.1 pounds against 2.4, with GearLab measuring 2.1 and 2.2 on its own scale. Both are among the lightest full-thickness mats anyone makes, so weight should not decide this.

Both roll rather than fold, and both carry easily on a shoulder. If you want something that packs inside luggage, neither of these is it, and a dedicated travel mat is the category to look at.

The IUGA’s absorbent top is its wear point. Owners report it turning shiny and losing traction after a year or two of heavy sweaty use, and IUGA offers a 45-day return window rather than a warranty. GearLab scored its materials 7 out of 10.

Soft TPE takes compression set, so the Earth Elements dents where you kneel, and durability concerns appear in its GearLab cons. Hugger Mugger gives 30 days on unused mats only. Neither is a mat you keep for a decade, and both are priced accordingly.

Nothing soaks into the Earth Elements, so a damp cloth handles it in seconds and it goes back in a bag without needing air time. GearLab rated it one of the easiest mats in its entire test to clean, at 8 out of 10.

The IUGA absorbs by design, so the sweat you leave on it has to come back out and it wants cleaning after sweaty sessions. GearLab also scored it 8 for care and cleaning, so it is not difficult; it just asks for more attention. Neither tolerates harsh cleaners or direct sun.

$66.99 against $83, so the better-scoring mat is the cheaper one by $16.01. Check the live IUGA price, which is frequently below list, and the Earth Elements, which has been running under Hugger Mugger’s own list price.

If hot yoga is your main practice, neither of these is the tool. A mat built for it, such as the Manduka GRP Adapt 2.0 that took GearLab’s hot yoga grip award, beats both by a distance.

Get the IUGA if you do vinyasa or anything where you sweat, if you want 26 inches of width, or if you simply want the better-scoring mat for less money. It grips where the Hugger Mugger gives up and it is steadier under a standing foot.

Get the Earth Elements if a latex allergy rules out anything with a rubber base, if your practice is gentle or restorative, or if you want the softest surface of the two. It is the more comfortable mat to spend an hour on the floor with and the easier one to clean.