Best for folding and travel
Gaiam Foldable 2mm
FitScore for Budget Yoga Mat
- WarrantyLifetime
Choose it if you want a low-priced mat that folds flat for trips, a gym bag or a small room.
Best for cushion
Gaiam Premium 6mm
FitScore for Budget Yoga Mat
- WarrantyLifetime
Choose it if you want 6 mm of cushion for knees and wrists at home or in class.
Overall winner for a low-priced mat: Gaiam Foldable 2mm, by 0.2 points (68.8 against 68.6) with the weights of our best budget yoga mat guide. It leads on affordability and practicality. The Gaiam Premium 6mm leads on comfort.
Gaiam Foldable 2mm wins 1 round- Gaiam Premium 6mm wins 1 round
- =3 ties
Product photos from Amazon. FitScore weights are explained below.
Gaiam Foldable vs Gaiam Premium: two low-priced, latex-free PVC mats of 68 by 24 inches with a lifetime guarantee. The Foldable is 2 mm and folds into a small square at 3 lb; the Premium is 6 mm and rolls, at 3.3 lb. Our FitScore puts them a fraction of a point apart, with the Foldable just ahead.
Head-to-Head Specs
Here are the two side by side. A check mark shows the stronger spec on each line. Check both warranties before you order: the FTC explains how to read a product warranty. The CDC recommends muscle-strengthening activity at least twice a week for adults, and a regular yoga practice can count toward it. Harvard Health Publishing describes the physical and mental benefits of a regular yoga practice.
| Specification | Gaiam Foldable 2mmFitScore 68.8 | Gaiam Premium 6mmFitScore 68.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Travel mat | Studio mat |
| Material | PVC | PVC |
| Surface | Not stated | Not stated |
| Thickness | 2 mm | 6 mm✓ |
| Size (length × width) | 68 × 24 in | 68 × 24 in |
| Weight | 3 lb✓ | 3.3 lb |
| Latex | Latex-free | Latex-free |
| Alignment marks | No | No |
| Strap or bag | Not included | Not included |
| Folds | Yes | No |
| Certification | None named | None named |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Specs won | 1 of 12 | 1 of 12 |
Check Amazon for current pricing and availability.
FitScore Duel
Both scores use the weights of our best budget yoga mat guide (how we score). Affordability (30%) counts most, then performance and comfort (20% each), durability (15%), practicality (10%) and features (5%). The Gaiam Foldable 2mm ranks #1 in that guide. The Gaiam Premium 6mm ranks #2 in that guide. The order flips with other weights: in our best yoga mat for beginners guide the Gaiam Premium 6mm scores 63.3 against 62.4 for the Gaiam Foldable 2mm.
Key Differences
- Type: Travel mat on the Gaiam Foldable 2mm; Studio mat on the Gaiam Premium 6mm.
- Thickness: 2 mm on the Gaiam Foldable 2mm; 6 mm on the Gaiam Premium 6mm.
- Weight: 3 lb on the Gaiam Foldable 2mm; 3.3 lb on the Gaiam Premium 6mm.
- Folds: Yes on the Gaiam Foldable 2mm; No on the Gaiam Premium 6mm.
Round 1 of 5
Gaiam Foldable vs Gaiam Premium: Grip, Dry and Wet
Tie. Neither model has a clear edge here.
Grip depends on the surface material and how it handles sweat.
Material: both list pVC.
Performance score in this comparison: Gaiam Foldable 2mm 50, Gaiam Premium 6mm 50.
Round 2 of 5
Durability and Warranty
Tie. Neither model has a clear edge here.
Material and guarantee are the stated measures of how long a mat lasts.
Warranty: both list lifetime.
Durability score in this comparison: Gaiam Foldable 2mm 90.26, Gaiam Premium 6mm 90.26.
Round 3 of 5
Cushion and Stability
Gaiam Premium 6mm wins this round
Cushion comes from thickness and how dense the material is.
Thickness: 2 mm on the Gaiam Foldable 2mm, 6 mm on the Gaiam Premium 6mm.
The Premium has three times the thickness, so knees feel the floor far less.
Comfort score in this comparison: Gaiam Foldable 2mm 48, Gaiam Premium 6mm 66.
Round 4 of 5
Weight, Size and Carrying
Gaiam Foldable 2mm wins this round
Weight: 3 lb on the Gaiam Foldable 2mm, 3.3 lb on the Gaiam Premium 6mm.
Size (length × width): both list 68 × 24 in.
Folds: Yes on the Gaiam Foldable 2mm, No on the Gaiam Premium 6mm.
Practicality score in this comparison: Gaiam Foldable 2mm 54, Gaiam Premium 6mm 28.
Round 5 of 5
Materials and Extras
Tie. Neither model has a clear edge here.
Latex: both list latex-free.
Alignment marks: both list no.
Certification: both list none named.
Features score in this comparison: Gaiam Foldable 2mm 30, Gaiam Premium 6mm 30.
Who Should Buy Each
Trips and small spaces
Pick the Foldable to pack it: testers found it surprisingly sticky for PVC when dry, though thin on a hard floor and slick when damp.
Everyday cushioned practice
Pick the Premium for comfort: owners like the soft 6 mm feel, though grip weakens once hands sweat.
Consider Instead
Gaiam Essentials 10mm
If neither fits, look at the Gaiam Essentials 10mm: it offers a higher comfort score than the Gaiam Foldable 2mm. It ranks #3 in our best budget yoga mat guide.
Final Verdict
Overall winner for a low-priced mat: Gaiam Foldable 2mm. Pick the Gaiam Foldable to pack a mat; pick the Gaiam Premium for cushion at home and in class. See our best budget yoga mats and the yoga mat materials guide.
Gaiam Foldable 2mm vs Gaiam Premium 6mm FAQ
With the weights of our best budget yoga mat guide, the Gaiam Foldable 2mm scores higher: 68.8 against 68.6. It leads on affordability and practicality, while the Gaiam Premium 6mm leads on comfort.
Both are latex-free PVC, 68 by 24 inches, with a lifetime guarantee. The Foldable is 2 mm and folds; the Premium is 6 mm and rolls.
The Premium, with 6 mm of cushion against 2 mm.
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