This is by far the most beautiful, grippy, soft yet sturdy yoga mat I’ve ever had the pleasure of using, I’ve been know to have sweaty palms & this mat doesn’t judge me. Or make my life any harder by becoming a slip n slide. No towel needed! The grip is there. Gorgeous designs make me want to lay this out just as a rug. And I would if I didn’t have two claw happy kittys that would demolish it! The texture is very pleasant. It doesn’t feel like your run of the mill mat. There’s a textured softness to it. Like you could pet it, in a good way.
There is a very mild “new yoga mat rubber” smell, but it’s not offensive & I would think it’s totally normal since it’s literally made out of natural tree rubber. This scent fades away after a short period of time.
10/10 hands down recommend.
With this mat, even if you’re having one of those “oh god I don’t feel like doing anything” days, you’ll still want to roll this baby out just to admire it.