I’ll admit it. I bought my first “thick” yoga mat because my knees were tired of complaining every time I dropped into a low lunge on my apartment’s tile floor. After bouncing between two cheap mats that flattened within months, I finally caved and ordered the Retrospec Solana yoga mat from Amazon
- EXTRA THICK FOR COMFORT & BALANCE: Solana firm 1-inch extra thick fitness mat w/ mat strap alleviates stress on pressure…
- NON-SLIP GRIP: Solana’s non-slip material keeps you steady and balanced while staying securely on the floor. The innovat…
- DURABLE & PORTABLE: Solana’s thick, durable material allows for everyday use, regardless of the intensity of your exerci…
A few weeks in, I’ve got opinions. Some good, a couple not-so-good. Here’s the full rundown.
The Short Version
The Solana yoga mat is a thick, comfy, no-fuss exercise mat that does exactly what it promises: cushion your joints. It’s not trying to be a fancy studio mat for sweaty hot yoga sessions, and it isn’t pretending to be eco-luxury rubber either. What it is, is a workhorse for people who do yoga, Pilates, or floor workouts at home and want their knees, elbows, and spine to stop filing complaints.
If you mostly practice on hard floors, or you’re getting back into fitness after a break, this is probably the mat for you.
What You Actually Get
The Retrospec Solana yoga mat comes in two thicknesses — a half inch and a full inch. Both are 72 inches long and 24 inches wide, which is roomy enough for taller folks (I’m 5’10” and have plenty of mat to spare).
It’s made from NBR foam, which is dense, supportive, and free from phthalates, latex, and heavy metals. The surface is ribbed on both sides, which gives you a textured grip that holds up well during slower flows. And yes, a nylon carrying strap is included — small thing, but a nice one, because rolling up a one-inch mat and trying to carry it under your arm is a comedy bit waiting to happen.
Specs at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 72″ x 24″ |
| Thickness | 1/2″ or 1″ |
| Material | High-density NBR foam |
| Surface | Ribbed, non-slip both sides |
| Strap | Nylon carrying strap, included |
| Materials | BPA, phthalate, latex, and heavy-metal free |
What I Loved
My knees finally stopped hating me
This is the headline feature, full stop. The inch-thick version feels almost like a thin gym pad — and that’s the point. Kneeling sequences, bridge pose, anything where a body part presses into the floor: all dramatically more comfortable.
If you’ve got bad knees, wrists, or hips, or you just don’t enjoy feeling the floor through your mat, the cushioning is genuinely a game-changer.
It’s big
A lot of standard mats top out at 68 inches long, which is fine if you’re shorter but cramped for anyone tall. The Solana’s 72 inches gives me room to fully extend in savasana without my heels hanging off into the cold tile. Small detail, big quality-of-life upgrade.
The grip is better than I expected
I went in skeptical. Thicker mats usually feel squishy and unstable, and I figured the grip would be a weak spot. But the ribbed texture really does keep the mat planted, especially for slower-paced practices. Hatha, Yin, restorative — all solid.
The strap is actually useful
I know, I know — it’s just a strap. But after using it a few times I realized how much I’d been undervaluing it. Rolling the mat up, looping the strap, slinging it over a shoulder: done in about ten seconds.
What I Didn’t Love
The smell of the new mat
Mine had a noticeable rubbery odor right out of the packaging. Not awful, but not pleasant either. Retrospec’s instructions say to air it out for a day or two, and that’s accurate — by day three the smell was basically gone. Just don’t unroll it for the first time five minutes before a class.
Balance poses are trickier
This is the trade-off you sign up for with any thick mat. Tree pose, Warrior III, anything that demands a stable single-leg foundation — the cushion gives a little, and that wobble adds difficulty. If you’re deep into power yoga or Ashtanga, you’ll probably want something firmer. For everyone else, it’s a minor annoyance at most.
It’s heavy-ish
Not gym-bag-breaking heavy, but heavier than the cheap 4mm mat it replaced. That’s the cost of all that foam. For at-home use it’s a non-issue. If you commute to a studio daily, factor it in.
Cleaning It
Don’t overthink this. Wipe it down with a damp cloth and a bit of gentle soap, then hang it to dry. Whatever you do, don’t dunk the whole thing in water — NBR foam absorbs moisture and you’ll be left with a soggy mat that takes forever to dry.
Who Should Buy This Mat
You’ll probably love the Solana if:
- You practice on hard floors (hardwood, tile, thin carpet)
- Your joints aren’t what they used to be
- You do Pilates, stretching, or floor-based strength work
- You’re a beginner and want something forgiving
- You’re tall and tired of mats that end at your ankles
You should probably skip it if:
- You’re a hot yoga regular and need a sweat-grippy rubber mat
- You want a featherweight travel mat
- Cork, jute, or natural rubber matter to you for environmental reasons
- You’re an advanced practitioner doing a lot of balance work
Half-Inch vs One-Inch: Which Should You Get?
Honestly, this depends on what you do.
The half-inch is the more balanced choice. It’s noticeably more padded than a regular yoga mat, but firm enough that balance poses still feel stable. If you do mixed yoga styles, this is probably the safer pick.
The one-inch is what you want if comfort is your priority above everything else. It’s incredible for Pilates, ab work, stretching, foam rolling, or just sitting on the floor. But standing flows feel a little more wobbly, and that’s a real trade-off — not a deal-breaker, just something to know going in.
I went with the one-inch and don’t regret it. My practice leans toward Yin and restorative, so cushion beats firmness for me.
Final Verdict
The Retrospec Solana isn’t trying to be the fanciest yoga mat on the market, and I think that’s actually its biggest strength. It’s a thick, well-made, no-nonsense mat that costs a fraction of what the boutique brands charge and does a great job for the kind of practice most of us actually do at home.
If your priority is comfort — for your knees, your back, or just your general enjoyment of being on the floor — the Solana is hard to beat at this price.
My rating: 4.5 out of 5. Loses a half-star for the initial smell and the slight wobble on balance poses. Everything else? Genuinely impressed.
Quick FAQ
Does it slide on hardwood? Not in my experience. The ribbed underside holds well. If your floors are unusually slick, a small rug pad underneath solves it permanently.
How long does the smell last? For me, about 48 hours of unrolled airing-out. Some reviewers say a few days. Either way, it goes.
Is it good for tall people? Yes. At 72 inches it accommodates most people up to about 6’0″ comfortably.
Can I use it for things besides yoga? That’s actually where it shines. Pilates, ab routines, stretching, kids’ tumbling, even as a knee pad for gardening or assembling IKEA furniture — it’s earned its keep around my apartment.
Is the strap actually durable, or is it a flimsy throw-in? Mine’s held up fine so far. It’s a basic nylon strap, not a luxury accessory, but it does the job.
