Lotuspad Yoga Mats: A Great Thing Just Got Even Better

Unlike most yoga mats, which get sticky, smell like plastic, are dust magnets, and are made of phthalate-containing PVC, Lotuspad yoga mats are made of phthalate-free TPE. They come in kid and adult sizes, are biodegradable and recyclable, and after the company sent us one to review last year, we named it one of our 2007 Top Picks and bought two more. (You can read our review here.)

Lotuspad is a small company, and small companies buy their products in big batches just a few times a year. Companies that master this challenging boom-and-bust rhythm without going broke plan design improvements very carefully, and Lotuspad has made a couple of very smart adjustments that have made an already great product even better. The company has shifted production from mainland China to Taiwan, gone with an even plushier-feeling TPE (we thought they were pretty soft already), and shifted to the brighter, bolder colors (pinks and blues for both adults and kids, and a bunch of others for adults), in addition to the more subtle tones of their earlier mats. They still offer carry straps, and now sell a "yoga mat wash" to keep your mat spic and span. They also decreased their packaging footprint and use labels made out of - wait for it - elephant poop.

Honestly, the most amazing thing to us is that Lotuspads haven't gone up in price. When we first reviewed the Lotuspad kids' yoga mat, we recommended it with a warning that their prices were probably introductory ones, but the mom entrepreneur behind Lotuspad is still selling kids' mats for $28, which is an unheard-of deal for a non-PVC mat at a kid-friendly size.

We have two treats for ZRecs readers.

First, a giveaway: One Lotuspad in the size and color of your choice, with a strap. To enter to win (U.S. residents 18 and up, please) comment on this post with a favorite yoga pose. We'll accept entries through 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 18, pick a winner shortly thereafter, and announce it on PRIZEYWinners as well as emailing the winner and two alternates if they provide an email address in their comment.

Second, a coupon code: Lotuspad is offering ZRecs readers $5 off any mat, with no limit to the number of mats it's applied to, through next Wednesday (July 23). That means you can get kids' mats for $23 and adult mats for $35. The code is ZRECS, and you can use it in the Lotuspad shop.

If you want to take advantage of that coupon code, you can buy mats now without cursing your good luck later - if you win the giveaway, Lotuspad will refund your money for your highest-price mat and strap.