Manduka eKO vs Gaiam Premium Reversible: Which One Should You Buy?

The Gaiam Premium Reversible is $39.98 for 6 mm of printed PVC foam with a different design on each face. The Manduka eKO is $114 for 5 mm of closed-cell natural rubber.

OutdoorGearLab tested both in its 2026 roundup and the gap is wide: 87 of 100 for the eKO, second of nineteen mats, against 54 for the Gaiam, which came fifteenth. That is the honest starting point, and the rest of this page is about whether the $74 matters to you more than the difference does.

The eKO scored 9 of 10 for grip, and in GearLab’s separate wet and dry testing it took a perfect 10 dry, a score only the Prana Verde matched, with 7 wet. Their testers noted it grips from the first class with no break-in period.

The Gaiam scored 4 of 10 for grip, 5 dry and 5 wet, and “slippery when wet” is on its list of cons. PVC foam gets its traction from surface texture rather than tack, and once there is moisture on it, that texture stops doing much. If your hands slide forward in down dog on your current mat, the Gaiam will not fix it.

The Gaiam is a millimeter thicker on paper, and GearLab still scored its comfort 6 of 10 against the eKO’s 9. “Poor cushion” is the first item on the Gaiam’s list of downsides, which sounds strange for a 6 mm mat until you press a hand into it: soft foam compresses out of the way rather than supporting you.

The eKO’s rubber has spring in it. GearLab called it good on hard and soft ground and praised its stable foundation. Density is what separates a comfortable mat from a squishy one, and it is most of what you are paying for here.

The eKO is 71″ × 26″; the Gaiam is 68″ × 24″. Three inches of length and two of width in the eKO’s favor, and 26 inches is the standard studio width, so a wide-legged stance stays on the mat.

Manduka also sells a 79″ eKO Long for $124. Gaiam sells the Reversible in one size only, though it offers around ten printed designs, which is more visual choice than Manduka gives you.

The Gaiam is 3.3pounds and GearLab weighed theirs at 3.2. That is genuinely convenient for a mat that commutes to a class, and it is the Gaiam’s clearest advantage.

The eKO is 7pounds, and GearLab listed “heavier” as its first con. Neither comes with a strap. If you walk a mile to a studio, that four pound gap is real.

Soft PVC foam compresses with use, and the Gaiam shows it: flattened patches where hands and feet land, then a mat that has stopped cushioning. Gaiam does back it with a lifetime guarantee, which is unusual at this price, though a mat that has gone flat is rarely the kind of failure people claim on.

The eKO is dense rubber and lasts years with one condition: natural rubber degrades in sunlight, so it should be stored indoors and out of a hot car. Manduka gives it a 30 day return window and nothing more, since the lifetime guarantee applies to the PRO line rather than everything Manduka sells.

Both wipe clean, and both are closed-cell so nothing soaks into the mat. GearLab scored the eKO 8 of 10 for care and the Gaiam 7.

One specific warning on the Gaiam: GearLab listed “can stain clothing” among its cons, and printed Gaiam mats have a reputation for transferring ink onto light leggings in the first few weeks. Buffing the surface with a damp cloth before first use helps. The eKO has no equivalent issue.

The Gaiam is latex-free PVC and Gaiam does not say where it is made. GearLab scored its materials 5 of 10. The latex-free part matters if you have an allergy, and it is the one material argument the Gaiam wins outright.

The eKO is natural tree rubber, non-Amazon harvested, made in Taiwan, and GearLab scored its materials 8 of 10, behind only the Manduka PRO. It is not latex free. Rubber also smells for the first couple of weeks, which foam does not.

$114 against $39.98. The Gaiam is on Amazon constantly and discounts often, so check the current Gaiam Premium Reversible price at Amazon before paying list.

Manduka runs colorway sales on the eKO through its own site, so it is worth comparing that against the current Manduka eKO price at Amazon.

Buy the eKO if you practice more than occasionally. Better grip by a wide margin, better cushioning despite being thinner, a bigger surface, and a material that holds its shape for years. Seven pounds and a rubber smell are what it costs you.

Buy the Gaiam Reversible if the budget is the constraint or you want the prints. It is a fine mat for stretching, a slow flow on carpet, or a mat that lives behind a sofa and comes out on Sundays. It is not a hot yoga mat. If you want a cheap Gaiam that cushions better, the plain Premium 6mm against this one is the comparison to read.