Great mat, padded enough to be easy on the knees, but not so padded that balance poses are difficult.  My only complaint about this mat is that the slippery film doesn''t want to come off easily.  I did the vinegar rinse on it as instructed and am now using it with regularity to get the film off. The first time I used it I was reminded of a Slip & Slide. Also, this mat is seven pounds so I recommend getting a mat bag or sling.

A very good mat for larger guys. Worth every penny to my knees andb spine. I am 6 foot 190LBS with very low body fat. I use the mat for bikram (hot) yoga. This mat is firm and almost feels too hard until you really put you weight on it, then you feel the awesome firm cushioning of the mat. Yiu can do any pose in peace and know even though the mat feels a bit hard, you have the supportand cushioning you will need. I feel energized agter yoga and not like I just spent a night sleeping on the floor. It is also a bit wider so its great for me since I have wide shoulders. My arms fit at my side with an inch to spare or more on each side when laying down flat

Well built, extremely dense.  Not quite as forgiving on the knees as the typical yoga mat.

I needed a thicker mat for my knees and this fit the bill. I love that it lays flat and "sticks" on the floor no matter how vigorous the practice. Compared to the other mats I see in the studio, this one is a Rolls Royce. I got the shorter one and it is still plenty big for me (5''2"). The mat was a little stinky at first, so It left it unrolled in my house for a few days and the smell is gone. A yoga instructor at my studio said he used his Manduka mat daily for 4 years and it still looks new. I dont think you can beat the quality of this mat. Love it!

Mom wanted this for the holidays and was SO excited when my brother and I bought it for her! She brought it to her yoga class and said she had never used a better mat :)

This mat came highly recommended.  Now that I''ve tried it I know why:  VERY comfortable for my bony knees and back.  The new surface IS rather slippery - more than I expected (I sweat a lot).)  I still need to wash it down with salt as recommended.  Am told the more I use it the ''grippier'' it gets; I''ll just have to do a lot more yoga!!!  I''m looking forward to the odor wearing off.  Wish I could hang it outside but it''s winter here in Michigan.