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Best yoga mat straps fall into three distinct designs, and choosing badly means a strap that slips off a thick mat halfway to the studio. This guide compares slings, cinch loops and full carriers on total length, webbing width, storage bulk and how securely each one holds a rolled mat above 5 mm thick.
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By Chris Parker
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Start 30-Day Prime Free Trial →See Today’s Amazon DealsHow to Choose a Yoga Mat Carry Strap
A strap has one job and a surprising number of ways to fail at it. Mat thickness, roll diameter and webbing width all interact, and the four criteria below explain why the best yoga mat straps for a 3 mm travel mat are rarely the right choice for a 6 mm cushioned one.
Strap Type: Sling, Cinch Loop or Full Carrier
Among the best yoga mat straps, a cinch sling is one length of webbing with an adjustable loop at each end that tightens around the rolled mat. It is the lightest and cheapest design, packs to nothing, and works well provided the loops are sized for your mat’s rolled diameter.
Full carriers wrap the mat in fabric with a shoulder strap and, in most cases, a pocket for keys and a phone. They weigh more and cost more, but they keep the mat clean on public transport and remove the balancing act of a bare roll under one arm.
Length, Adjustment Range and How You Carry
Most of the best yoga mat straps run 60-72 in (152-183 cm) in total, which covers shoulder carry for the large majority of adults. Check whether that length is adjustable or fixed, because a fixed 60 in strap sits awkwardly high on a taller person and forces an uncomfortable arm angle.
Cross-body carry needs noticeably more length than shoulder carry, usually toward the 72 in end of the available range. If you walk or cycle to class, prioritise the longer adjustable straps, because a mat swinging loose at the hip is the most common reason people stop using one.
Webbing Width, Loop Size and Mat Thickness
Webbing width of 1-1.5 in (25-38 mm) is the standard range, and wider is distinctly more comfortable on a bare shoulder under a heavier mat. Narrow webbing digs in, particularly with a natural rubber mat that can weigh 6-7 lb (2.7-3.2 kg) rather than the 2 lb of a thin PVC one.
Loop size is the spec that actually decides fit. A 6 mm mat rolls to roughly 5-6 in (13-15 cm) across, while a 3 mm travel mat rolls to about 3.5 in (9 cm). Measure your rolled mat before ordering, because the best yoga mat straps for one diameter slip straight off the other.
Footprint and Storage When Not in Use
A cinch sling folds into a pocket and weighs 2-4 oz (57-113 g), so storage is genuinely a non-issue. A full carrier is closer to a small bag at roughly 26 x 6 in (66 x 15 cm) and needs a hook or shelf rather than a drawer alongside your other kit.
If your mat lives rolled in a corner between sessions, a sling can stay attached to it permanently, which removes the step where you forget the strap entirely on the way out of the door. Check that the loops do not compress the mat surface over months, since some foams take a permanent crease.
Top Picks: Best Yoga Mat Straps Compared
The six best yoga mat straps below cover all three designs, from minimal cinch slings through to a full padded carrier. The table lists the deciding specs, and each write-up notes the mat thickness it suits best along with a genuine drawback of the design.
| Strap | Type | Typical length | Suits mat thickness | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaiam Easy-Cinch Sling | Cinch sling | Adjustable | 3-6 mm | Budget |
| Clever Yoga Mat Strap | Dual-loop sling | Around 65 in | 3-6 mm | Budget |
| Hugger Mugger Mat Strap | Cinch sling | Around 72 in | 4-8 mm | Mid |
| Manduka The Commuter | Cinch carrier | Adjustable | 5-8 mm | Mid |
| YogaRat Mat Strap | Dual-loop sling | Around 68 in | 3-6 mm | Budget |
| Aurorae Yoga Mat Sling | Sling with pocket | Adjustable | 4-8 mm | Budget to mid |
Gaiam Easy-Cinch Yoga Mat Sling
The most widely stocked cinch sling and a sensible default for a standard 4-6 mm mat. The loops tighten quickly, the cotton webbing is soft against a bare shoulder, and the whole thing weighs almost nothing when it is not in use.
The cinch grip loosens gradually on very smooth mat surfaces, particularly closed-cell PVC, which means an occasional retighten during any longer walk to the studio. It also has no pocket, so keys and a phone travel separately rather than with the mat.
Clever Yoga Mat Strap
A simple dual-loop design in cotton webbing that doubles as a stretching strap during practice, which is a genuinely useful second function for something you already carry. The loops are generously sized and handle most standard mats without adjustment.
Generous loops are also the weakness on thin travel mats, where the mat can work loose because the loop cannot cinch small enough. If your mat is 3 mm or under, check the minimum loop diameter before ordering rather than assuming it will adjust down.
Hugger Mugger Yoga Mat Strap
Longer than most at around 72 in, which makes it the pick for cross-body carry or for taller users who find standard slings ride up. The webbing is heavier gauge than budget straps and holds its shape rather than twisting into a cord over time.
It costs noticeably more than basic cotton slings for what is still a length of webbing with two loops. The extra length also means excess strap to manage if you only ever carry over one shoulder at a shorter setting.
Manduka The Commuter Mat Carrier
Built for thicker, heavier mats, which is where cheap slings struggle most. If you use a 6 mm natural rubber mat weighing close to 7 lb, this holds it securely and distributes the weight better than narrow cotton webbing manages on a bare shoulder.
The price sits well above simple slings, and the design is overkill for a light PVC mat that any budget strap would carry. It also adds bulk when stored, so it needs a hook rather than folding into a pocket.
YogaRat Yoga Mat Strap
Straightforward dual-loop construction at a low price, with webbing slightly wider than the thinnest budget options, which makes a difference on the shoulder. It is the sort of strap that simply works without any features to go wrong.
Colour and stitching quality vary noticeably between production runs, and the loops are fixed rather than fully adjustable, so fit depends entirely on your mat matching the intended diameter. Measure your rolled mat first rather than assuming a standard size.
Aurorae Yoga Mat Sling
Adds a small pocket to the sling format, which covers keys, a card and a phone without carrying a separate bag. For anyone walking to a studio that is the difference between one item to remember and three, and the sling itself carries mats up to 8 mm.
The pocket adds bulk and swings against the body while walking, which a fair number of people find more irritating than genuinely useful. The strap is also less minimal than a plain sling, so it no longer folds into a jacket pocket when not in use.
Frequently Asked Questions
These four questions cover what most people want settled about the best yoga mat straps before buying — whether a strap fits their particular mat, how straps compare to bags, whether one can double as a stretching tool and how to size the length correctly.
Will a strap fit any yoga mat?
Not reliably. Loop diameter is the limiting spec, and a strap sized for a 6 mm mat will slip off a 3 mm travel mat. Roll your mat, measure across it, and check that measurement against the strap’s stated capacity before ordering.
Are the best yoga mat straps better than a mat bag?
Straps are lighter, cheaper and pack away to nothing; bags keep the mat clean and carry accessories. If you travel by public transport or cycle, a bag or full carrier usually wins. For a short walk, a sling is the simpler answer.
Can a carry strap be used for stretching?
Some can, particularly plain cotton dual-loop designs with no hardware. Cinch mechanisms and clips make a strap unsuitable for stretching, so if you want one item doing both jobs, buy a plain webbing loop rather than a hardware-based carrier.
What length should I choose?
Around 60-65 in suits shoulder carry for most adults, and 68-72 in suits cross-body carry or taller users. Adjustable straps remove the guesswork entirely and are worth the small extra cost if more than one person will use the same strap.
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Final Thoughts
The best yoga mat straps are chosen by loop diameter first and length second, because a strap that will not cinch onto your mat is useless regardless of how comfortable the webbing is. Measure your rolled mat before ordering, choose 1.5 in webbing if the mat is heavy rubber, and pick an adjustable length if the strap will be shared between people.
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