AmazonBasics Extra Thick Exercise Carrying Reviews Summary

Durability

Pros:

• "I have not had it for very long but it seems durable so far."
• "It is durable as well. My dogs are frequently running across it and although they leave claw dents, it has not ripped."
• "The mat is made from high-quality materials that are built to last."
• "This mat is very comfortable to lay on to do exercises and yoga. It is made of good quality material and it should last a long time with normal use."
• "Outperforms all name brands, quality is great after using it for working out 5 days a week for the past 4 months."
• "It has lasted me a full year and I just bought another one so I can have 2."
• "Seems to be holding up well to active exercises."

Cons:

• "After 4 months of use about 2-4 times a week, it is only now just starting to lose some cushion and shape."
• "While rolling it up I noticed it had a small tear on the underside."
• "The top is a fragile foam that tears."
• "The durability is a bit lacking, my cat ran under me when I was in downward dog and it left a few claw marks without him even clawing at it purposely."
• "After owning it for one week, I noticed mine has damage in 3 or 4 spots."
• "It appears to take damage relatively easily."
• "If it can be damaged so easily might end up buying another within a few months."

Comfort and Cushioning

Pros:

• "It is so comfortable and convenient."
• "It's perfect and protects my bony knees!!"
• "It’s plush enough that my knees and wrists don’t hurt when in use."
• "This one is much more comfortable for exercises that require joints or other 'pointy bits' being pressed into the floor."
• "The 1/2-inch foam provides excellent cushioning and support for the joints."
• "It’s super thick which is nice, the foam is soft which also helps my back."
• "Very comfortable feeling sitting and laying on it."

Cons:

• "The padding is thick and comfortable, but probably a little too thick for yoga practitioners who need to exercise on stable surfaces."
• "The cushion on this mat is definitely nice for my old arthritic knees. But it’s so squishy that it’s much harder to balance when doing standing Pilates or barre work."
• "This has too much cushion! The softness adds unnecessary strain on my wrists in a downward dog or plank."
• "I found it harder to keep balanced in yoga poses, probably because the foam is so thick."
• "One downfall, it’s near impossible to hold your balance/stance when on one foot, hand, or your head on this mat, and I think it’s just the thickness of it that makes it that way."
• "It's too thick and it stretches."
• "It’s a decently thick mat while still being thin. Good for Pilates and your feet won’t slide."

Grip and Stability

Pros:

• "It does not have any odor."
• "It has good grip and doesn’t move around or slip even when barefoot."
• "Your feet and hands do not slip."
• "The non-slip feature ensures stability, allowing for a worry-free workout."
• "It's super comfortable and has enough grip that I don't feel like I'm slipping and sliding."
• "No issues with slipping."
• "The non-slip surface of the mat is commendable, providing a stable foundation for exercises that require grip and balance."

Cons:

• "The material is slippery especially when you start sweating."
• "Also, the surface is a bit slippery."
• "The floor-facing side of this mat has zero grip. In fact, it can change position at the slightest touch."
• "after mopping my hardwood and making sure there’s no dust or dog hair under the mat it fails entirely to grip and my feet slide all over the place when trying to do yoga poses."
• "It is very squeaky if you’re doing standing asanas and your feet do not glide well either."
• "It's slippery when wet... Not fun when trying to downward dog."
• "There is not much grip with the mat."

Odor

Pros:

• "It did come with a fairly strong, neoprene-like odor, but that has dissipated after a few weeks of use."
• "No weird smell for me personally, and I'd say I have a rather sensitive nose."
• "Many people complained about the smell, but it goes away pretty fast after unrolling it and allowing it to sit."
• "Well mine doesn't smell like the others have said."
• "No strong chem smell."
• "Another reviewer said that the mat smelled when it arrived and it did but most foam products. I let it air out for a couple hours before using it and there hasn't been any smell since."
• "It’s long, good support, doesn’t smell like some other reviews have said, rolls up easily and comes with the carrying strap."

Cons:

• "The mat has a very strong chemical smell."
• "It also has a chemical smell to it."
• "It still smells bad, 1 year later."
• "The mat is thick and comfy but it STINKS of chemicals and is super easy to tear."
• "There's a strong rubber odor smell that does not go away."
• "The worst part about it is the fishy smell when unrolled."
• "Smells really bad. I've had this thing for months now and it still stinks up close."

Accessories and Convenience

Pros:

• "I really like the black elastic band, how it holds it rolled up and is a handle at once then it just slips right off to unroll."
• "Plus it comes with the handle which makes storing it easier."
• "The carry strap makes it easy to hang up for storage, as well as to carry."
• "Another good thing is a very good strap to hold it together."
• "I appreciate the inclusion of a strap, as it adds to the convenience of traveling with and storing the item."
• "I love the elastic handle."
• "I love the accompanying strap that keeps the mat rolled up and provides a shoulder strap in the process."

Cons:

• "Although the mat seemed like a good thickness, and may very well have been a great mat, it did not come with the strap."
• "Despite the photos and description for this item, which lists a strap, the mat I received had no strap."
• "The mat came in good shape but the carrying strap came frayed and falling apart."
• "Do not buy this for the strap. It's literally a joke and i know it will break after only a few uses."
• "My delivery did not come with the travel strap :( the mat is a pain in the butt without the strap."
• "I tried to get a replacement strap and was told I’d have to return the mat as well and get a whole new mat and carrying strap shipped to me."
• "It was missing its strap."