Retrospec Solana 1/2" vs Gruper TPE 6mm: Which One Should You Buy?

As of this update the Gruper sits fifth in Amazon’s Yoga Mats category and the Solana 1/2″ sixth. Their review pools are nearly the same size, about 10,650 ratings for the Gruper and 9,300 for the Solana, and both average 4.4 stars. Both are 72″ × 24″, both come with a strap, and the list prices are $3 apart.

What separates them is the foam and how much of it there is. The Gruper is 6 mm of TPE in two bonded layers. The Solana is 12.7 mm of NBR, softer and more than twice as thick. Nearly every difference below comes back to that.

TPE pushes back. Load the Gruper and it gives a few millimeters, then returns, which gives the mat a slightly lively feel underfoot. NBR is softer and slower. It compresses further under the same weight and recovers more gradually, so the Solana feels plush where the Gruper feels springy.

Gruper markets its TPE as safer and softer than PVC or EVA mats, which is the brand’s pitch rather than anything tested. Retrospec says the Solana is free of phthalates, heavy metals and latex. Neither is made with natural rubber, so a latex allergy does not rule out either one.

Over a hardwood floor the extra depth shows the moment you kneel. Half an inch of foam protects kneecaps, elbows and a tailbone in a way 6 mm cannot. Still, Amazon’s summary of Gruper reviews praises its cushioning for knees and back, so 6 mm of TPE is enough for plenty of people.

Standing is the reverse. The Gruper compresses a little and stops, so a loaded foot has something to press against. The Solana keeps giving under one foot and your ankle works harder in tree or half moon. For a standing-heavy flow the thinner mat is steadier.

So if most of your session is kneeling, seated or lying down, the Solana is the more comfortable mat. If you spend it moving between standing poses, the Gruper suits you better.

Gruper also sells this mat at 8 mm. It uses the same two-layer TPE and weighs 3.1 pounds, and for anyone torn between these two it is the obvious one to look at: a bit more cushion than the 6 mm, with a surface that still springs back.

Retrospec goes the other way with a full inch of the same NBR foam. That version only makes sense for floor work, and our Solana 1″ vs Gruper page explains why.

Gruper describes a special sticky texture on both sides and calls the grip optimal. Retrospec says the Solana keeps you steady and balanced. Neither mat has been scored by an independent tester, so that is the brands talking. Both surfaces are closed-cell, which means sweat stays on top, and once your hands are wet both slide.

Owner reviews split on the top surface of both, with some Gruper buyers calling it excellent and others very slippery. The clearer difference is underneath. Amazon’s summary says the Gruper stays in place on the floor, helped by its corrugated underside, while a share of Solana owners say theirs slides on smooth floors.

The Gruper weighs 2.6 pounds and the Solana 3. Gruper’s listing says a carry strap and a storage bag come with it, and owners mention the bag favorably. The Solana ships with a nylon strap only, and at half an inch thick it rolls too fat for most bags anyway.

If the mat travels to a gym or a class, the Gruper is the easier one to take. If it lives rolled up in a corner at home, the Solana’s extra bulk costs you nothing.

Gruper’s care notes are worth reading before you buy. The mat is designed for bare feet, and Gruper warns that shoes or pets’ paws can tear it. Wipe it with a damp cloth and cold water or mild detergent, dry it flat, never put it in a washer or dryer, and keep it out of long sun exposure, which is standard advice for TPE.

The Solana takes gentle soap and water and should hang to dry without being submerged. Its main wear pattern is compression: the spots under knees and heels flatten over time, and heavy use can tear the edges.

Expect a new-mat smell from the Solana in particular. Retrospec suggests airing it for a day or two, and odor is one of the more common complaints in its reviews. Amazon’s summary of Gruper reviews does not flag it.

Retrospec covers the Solana against manufacturing defects for 6 months and gives you a 30 day return window. Gruper publishes no warranty at all, so your protection is Amazon’s standard return policy.

Neither covers normal wear, which is how mats at this price end, and neither is built for many years of daily practice. The Gruper is two layers bonded together, though, and if that bond fails early, Amazon’s return window is the only route you have.

List prices are $24.99 for the Solana and $27.99 for the Gruper. Colorways on both listings are sometimes priced differently, so check the Retrospec Solana at Amazon and the Gruper at Amazon before you order. The Solana comes in 13 colorways at last count; the Gruper in eight colorways at last count, most of them two-tone.

If you are also looking at a PVC mat in this price range, our Gruper vs Gaiam Essentials and Solana 1/2″ vs Gaiam Essentials pages put each of these against the same Gaiam.

Buy the Gruper if you want a general-purpose yoga mat. It is steadier in standing poses, lighter, comes with a bag, and owners say it stays put on the floor. It will slip when you sweat, and there is no warranty behind it.

Buy the Solana 1/2″ if your mat time is mostly kneeling, stretching or lying down, or your floor is hard and your knees complain. It is the more cushioned mat by a wide margin, it costs $3 less, and it comes with six months of cover.