Amazon Basics Extra Thick Exercise Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap: A Cushioned Budget Mat for Everyday Workouts

Quick Summary

The Amazon Basics Extra Thick Exercise Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap is a budget-friendly, general-purpose exercise mat aimed at users who want extra cushioning for floor work, stretching, and light yoga without a complex feature set.

Key points:

Material: 100% NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber) foam, known for softness and shock absorption rather than ultra-strong grip.
Thickness: Approximately 1/2 inch (about 12–13 mm) for substantial joint cushioning.
Size: Around 73–74" long by 24" wide (188 x 61 cm), adequate for most users.
Weight: About 2.2 lb, light and easy to carry.
Surface: Textured for basic traction; designed primarily for low- to moderate-intensity exercise.
Extras: Includes an elastic carrying strap for transport and storage.
Price positioning: Typically in the entry-level range (around $22.48), undercutting many branded yoga mats with similar thickness.

If your priority is comfort on hard floors for casual workouts, this mat is a compelling option. If you need top-tier grip, durability, or an eco-focused material, it may feel too basic.

Detailed Analysis

Design and Build Quality

The mat uses 100% NBR foam, a closed-cell synthetic rubber often used in budget and mid-range fitness mats for its combination of softness, resilience, and low cost. It is designed to:

Provide deep cushioning for knees, hips, elbows, and spine.
Compress under load but spring back into shape after use.
Resist absorbing moisture, making it relatively straightforward to wipe clean.

The dimensions—roughly 73.2" x 24.3" x 0.5"—are slightly longer than some standard 68–70" mats, giving a bit more room for taller users while remaining compact enough for small home spaces. The 0.5" (1.3 cm) thickness is substantially thicker than typical 3–5 mm yoga mats and closer to what many users consider a cushioned exercise pad.

In terms of construction, the mat is a single-density foam layer without intricate layering or reinforcement. The edges are cleanly cut, and the foam is designed to resist permanent compression with normal home use. However, as with most single-density NBR mats, you can expect:

Gradual impression marks in high-pressure zones over time.
Some surface wear if used daily for high-intensity or shoe-on workouts.

Grip and Stability

The mat features a lightly textured surface on both sides to enhance grip. It performs adequately in several common scenarios:

Dry, low-intensity yoga: Standing poses, basic flows, and stretching are generally fine; hands and feet stay reasonably planted.
Floor work and Pilates-style movements: The mat stays in place on most hard floors, though on very smooth surfaces you may occasionally need to adjust it.

Where it can fall short:

Sweaty or hot sessions: As perspiration increases, the NBR surface can feel slippery, particularly under the hands in down-dog or plank.
Balance-intensive poses: The extra thickness introduces a slightly spongy feel, which can make single-leg balances less stable than on a firmer, thinner mat.

If your practice emphasizes static standing poses, restorative yoga, or stretching, the grip is usually sufficient. For dynamic vinyasa or hot yoga, you may want a mat with a more advanced, high-traction surface.

Thickness and Comfort

Cushioning is the main selling point of this mat. At about 1/2 inch thick, it offers noticeably more padding than standard mats. This is especially helpful for:

Users with sensitive knees or wrists.
Workouts on tile, laminate, or concrete floors.
Floor-heavy routines like Pilates, core training, and mobility sessions.

The foam compresses enough to feel stable yet is soft enough that most users will experience a clear reduction in discomfort during kneeling or supine positions. For many beginners and home exercisers, this translates to longer, more comfortable sessions.

The trade-off is that some advanced practitioners prefer thinner, denser mats for better connection to the floor. If that’s you, this level of plushness may feel overly cushy.

Portability and Storage

The mat includes a simple elastic carrying strap that:

Wraps around the rolled-up mat to keep it tightly secured.
Doubles as a shoulder strap for easy transport.

Because the mat weighs roughly 2.2 lb, it’s light enough to bring to a studio, gym, or office. The roll remains reasonably compact for storage in a closet or corner, though the 1/2‑inch foam does create a slightly larger roll than a thin travel mat.

Cleaning and Maintenance

With its closed-cell NBR foam, the mat does not readily absorb sweat or spills, making maintenance fairly straightforward:

Wipe down with a damp cloth after use.
Use a mild soap solution occasionally if sweat or dirt accumulates.
Avoid harsh solvents or abrasive scrubbers that could degrade the surface.

Regular light cleaning will help preserve the texture and reduce odor build-up. As with most foam mats, storing it away from direct sunlight and extreme heat will prolong its life.

User Experience

For Beginners and Casual Users

This mat is particularly well-suited to users who are:

New to yoga or home workouts and want a forgiving surface.
Prioritizing comfort over technical performance.
Practicing mostly at home, on hard floors, with moderate-intensity routines.

The generous thickness often makes initial sessions less intimidating, especially for stretching and floor-based exercise. The straightforward roll-and-strap system also keeps setup and storage quick.

For Yoga-Focused Practice

If your sessions involve primarily gentle hatha, restorative, or yin yoga, the cushioning and basic grip are likely to be adequate and comfortable. You may notice:

Excellent comfort when holding poses that put pressure on knees and hips.
Acceptable stability for most two-footed standing poses.

However, for more dynamic flows, hot yoga, or advanced balance work, the mat’s limitations become more apparent:

The thick foam can feel bouncy or unstable in single-leg poses.
Grip may decline when the surface becomes damp.

For General Fitness and Floor Work

For home workouts, bodyweight training, and stretching, this mat performs well:

Provides a soft platform for sit-ups, planks, bridges, and side-lying exercises.
Reduces discomfort during prolonged floor contact, like glute bridges or clamshells.
Offers better insulation than thinner mats on cold floors.

Light use with clean shoes may be acceptable, but heavy shoe-on workouts (e.g., plyometrics) will likely accelerate wear and tear.

Pros

Extra thick cushioning (about 1/2") for joints, ideal on hard floors.
Lightweight and includes a carrying strap for easy transport.
Generous length (around 73–74") suitable for most users.
Simple to clean thanks to closed-cell NBR foam (wipes clean easily).
Budget-friendly pricing (around $22.48 at the time of writing), making it accessible as a first mat.
Versatile for yoga, Pilates, stretching, and general floor workouts.

Cons

Grip is basic, especially when hands or feet get sweaty; not ideal for hot or very dynamic yoga.
Spongy feel can make some balance poses less stable than on thinner mats.
Long-term durability may be limited with heavy, daily use—impressions and surface wear can appear over time.
NBR foam is not the most eco-friendly material compared with natural rubber or cork.
The extra thickness makes the roll bulkier than slim travel mats.

Value Assessment

Positioned as a budget mat, the Amazon Basics Extra Thick Exercise Yoga Mat delivers strong value for its intended use case:

For about $22.48, you get significantly more cushioning than most mats at a similar or even slightly higher cost.
The included carrying strap eliminates the need for a separate accessory.
It competes well with other entry-level thick mats, often at a lower or comparable price point.

Where it clearly saves costs is in premium features: advanced non-slip surfaces, multi-layer construction, eco materials, and heavy-duty durability are not part of the package. If those aspects matter to you, you may find it worth upgrading to a higher-end mat later on.

For many users, especially beginners or those primarily doing gentle yoga and floor exercises at home, the comfort-to-price ratio is excellent.

Final Thoughts

The Amazon Basics Extra Thick Exercise Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap is best viewed as a comfortable, no-frills starter mat. Its standout strengths are:

Deep cushioning that makes floor work more pleasant.
Lightweight, portable design with a convenient strap.
Affordability, represented here by the macro $22.48, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

It’s not the ideal choice for seasoned yogis seeking top-tier grip, durability, or eco-conscious materials. But for newcomers, casual practitioners, and anyone who wants a thick, comfortable surface for stretching and home workouts, it offers a practical and reasonably priced entry point.

If you fall into that latter group and are comfortable with the trade-offs—especially around grip and long-term wear—this Amazon Basics mat is a sensible, value-driven option to consider.