Open-cell mat

An open-cell mat has a porous surface that draws sweat into the material rather than letting it sit on top, which is why grip on these mats often improves as a session gets sweatier rather than getting worse. Natural rubber and many suede-topped mats work this way, and they are a common choice for hot yoga and heavy vinyasa flows.

The tradeoff is upkeep. Because moisture soaks in rather than wiping away, an open-cell mat needs more frequent cleaning and thorough drying between uses, or it can start holding onto odor and, in humid climates, mildew. Airing the mat out fully after every sweaty session matters more here than with a closed surface.

A common mix-up is choosing an open-cell mat for a mostly dry, gentle home practice, where the extra care it needs outweighs the grip benefit that only really shows up once sweat is involved. For restorative or slow practice with little sweating, a closed-cell mat is usually the simpler, lower-maintenance option.