The million dollar question: which mat should I buy???

I started practicing yoga nearly 10 years ago, and I had one well-used and beloved mat up until a couple of years ago. It was a bright pink Wai Lana mat purchased on a whim from TJ Max or Marshall's. That mat had (and still has!) such a special place in my heart despite it's deficiencies (way too soft, incredibly slippery, narrow, etc.), mostly because it had supported me through my whole yoga journey from the very beginning. But I'd known for a while that it was time for a "big girl" mat... something that could withstand hours of hot yoga, something that could support me through inversions and balancing postures without the added not-so-easy-to-balance-on cushioning. Plus, I sweat a LOT and I really need something that keeps its stickiness. Wheels and arm balances are challenging enough; worrying about whether one hand would slip out from under me was something that I was ready to let go of! So I finally threw in the towel (in some ways) and started exploring the world of yoga mats.

In the past few years I've developed quite the mat collection, but I return to the same two mats over and over again: my Manduka eKO (www.manduka.com;http://www.amazon.com/Manduka-5mm-Eco-Friendly-Yoga-Acai/dp/B001HX36QE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1295824724&sr=8-5), and "The Mat" made by Lululemon (http://reviews.lululemon.com/7834/The_Mat/reviews.htm). They both have a very strong smell as both are made from rubber, but the smell does fade quickly if you leave the mat unrolled for a few days. Just a little sacrifice that comes with being eco-friendly! Both are also slightly longer and wider than than most mats you'd find at sporting goods stores or department stores.

The eKO mat is thinner, and has a patterned surface which is a little sticky and has some grip, but in a hot yoga class it does become slippery and I still need a towel (my favorite: the manduka towel by far!! Sold at lululemon or online). The great thing is that the manduka towel fits perfectly on the manduka mat and really sticks to the mat, so it doesn't slide around and I feel completely grounded through my practice. On the other hand, The Mat does has a smooth surface but is much stickier than the eKO. The Mat is designed to be used without a towel as it absorbs sweat and therefore should provide a dry, sticky surface throughout your practice. Normally The Mat is true to its design, but if I'm in a really hot class I simply sweat too much and too fast so I still need a towel, only the towel doesn't stick to the mat that well.

So bottom line: if you are someone who doesn't practice in high heat (or you do practice in high heat but you are one of the lucky ones who still doesn't have to ring your clothes out after class no matter how hot the room) then I would recommend The Mat. If you practice in high heat and sweat a ton (or even if you practice in unheated rooms and sweat a ton) then I would recommend the eKO along with a Manduka towel. Honestly though, I don't think you could go wrong with either option! Happy mat shopping!