Likes
The Jade Fusion provides the best wet and dry traction of any mat tested. Whether practicing in a cooler 50F outdoor climate or pushing the limits of surface tension in a 105F heated vinyasa class, the Jade provides by far the best "stick", wet and dry, of any mat out there.
Buy a Yoga Mat — We Plant a Tree; Off the Mat, Into the World; Africa Yoga project; Global Mala; Art of Yoga Program; and the list of organizations Jade has worked with and directly supports just goes on and on. With respect to our planet's health, Jade joins companies like Patagonia in both environmental and social responsibility. Constructed from a renewable resource, natural rubber, this mat contains no PVC or ozone depleting substances, is made in the USA in compliance with all U.S. Environmental and labor laws, and is packaged in minimal packaging made from recycled material. We absolutely love this company!
This mat is offered in four earthy hues and two lengths (68" and 74"). We highly recommend the 74" mat for anyone 6' or taller. Weighing in at around seven or eight pounds (dependent on length), this mat easily flattens grass and neutralizes uneven surfaces. We found that using this mat in tall grass, normally not conducive to yoga, provides a great experience.
All Jade products are made with open cell, natural rubber, and in the case of the Jade Fusion, it provides a 5/16" thick surface that feels great on your hands and offers a perfect balance of grip for wet and dry traction, firmness for stability, and cushion for comfort. The benefit of this open-celled porous surface is that it absorbs sweat readily, keeping you from sliding around as sweat oozes out of your pores. The drawback of this open-cell technology is that oils and bacteria accumulate in the mat, making it desirable to give the mat a periodic deep cleaning.
Dislikes
We absolutely love the comfort this mat provides, but in general at 5/16" thick we feel this mat is a little heavier than a yoga mat needs to be. Since we often walk long distances with our mat to practice, we prefer the Jade Harmony, which is only 3/16" thick but offers enough cushion to satisfy us in virtually all styles of practice.
Speaking to others who own, or have owned Jade mats in the past, we have heard that over time the rubber begins to degrade and pieces shed off. We have also spoken with people that have used theirs for years with no problem. We surmise that if left in the sun, the natural rubber will begin to break down, so storing the mat out of the sun is critical to increasing its longevity.
The reason this mat is so sticky when wet is that it acts as a giant sponge and absorbs moisture quite readily. Inherent in this benefit, however, this open cell technology will allow in oils, bacteria, and other things that must be cleaned out from time to time. The cleaning process is not too bad, although without drying in the sun (the mat will break down), it can take quite some time for this mat to dry (as long as 2-3 days in some cases).
Value
We have all heard the expression "you get what you pay for." In this case it is absolutely true. This mat is definitely not cheap — in fact it's the most expensive mat we reviewed. But for the price of one month of unlimited yoga you (and the earth) will most definitely reap the benefits of an amazing product.
