Why cork

Change the surface under your hands.

If your mat has a smooth synthetic top, you'll notice cork the first time your palms land: a natural grain you can feel, and grip that holds whether your hands are dry or damp.

  • Natural cork top
  • 10 mm thick
  • Grip, dry or damp

Under your hands

Cork where you touch it. TPE where it cushions.

Here's the mat, opened up. The top layer, the one under your palms and feet, is natural cork: the bark of the cork oak. Beneath it, a TPE base does the cushioning. Together they make 10 mm.

Honest by design: the cork is the surface you feel, not the whole mat.

  • Cork top ( )The surface you touch.
  • TPE base ( )The layer that cushions.
  • totalCork top and TPE base together.

What changes

Three things you'll feel first.

Same poses, same practice. What's different is the surface under you.

The NEBULUS mat's cork top, with its printed alignment lines.
The cork top, with its printed alignment lines.

Texture you can feel

Cork has a fine, natural grain that you notice the moment your palms land. No two mats are quite alike.
A woman in a low lunge on the NEBULUS cork mat in a bright room.
Low lunge, hands on the cork top.

Grip, dry or damp

The cork top grips whether your hands are dry or damp, so it's as at home in a hot yoga class as in a slow morning flow.
The mat edge-on: a cork top over a TPE base, 10 mm in all. Illustration, not to scale.

10 mm of cushion

A full centimetre between you and the floor. Cork is firmer than foam, and at 10 mm it still cushions knees and wrists through kneeling poses and long holds.

Side by side

Same pose, different surface.

How the two kinds of top tend to feel under your hands.

From A smooth synthetic top

Touch
Smooth and even under your palms.
Damp palms
Can feel slick once your palms are damp.
Underfoot
Often soft and springy.

To A natural cork top

Touch
A fine, natural grain you can feel.
Damp palms
Grips whether your hands are dry or damp.
Underfoot
Firmer, with 10 mm of cushion.

A general guide to how the two kinds of surface feel, not a test of any particular mat.

Honest notes

Before you switch.

Cork isn't for everyone. Here's what to know first.

  • Firmer than foam

    Cork is firmer than foam mats, though at 10 mm thick ours still cushions knees and wrists.

  • A natural material

    Cork can show wear over time, and as a natural material its colour and grain can vary slightly from mat to mat.

  • Heavier than a travel mat

    At about 2–2.5 kg, it's heavier than a thin travel mat, which is why it comes with a carry bag and strap.

Looking after it

Care, in three steps.

  1. Wipe

    After practice, wipe it with a damp cloth and mild soap or water.

  2. Dry flat

    Let it air-dry flat, out of direct sunlight.

  3. Never soak

    Don't soak it or put it in a washing machine.

Read the full care guide

One mat. Everything included. $89.00 CAD

Mat, carry bag and strap. Free shipping to the US & Canada.

Shop the mat