Yune Yoga Ascend Yoga Mat: Specs, PER Material and Buying Guide

The Yune Yoga Ascend yoga mat is a printed, double-sided mat made from PER, listed at 24 by 72 inches, 5mm thick and 2.5 pounds. This guide is based on the manufacturer’s published specifications and category standards rather than hands-on testing, so every figure below comes from a retailer listing, Yune Yoga’s own product pages, or published independent research.

Before buying, it helps to know two things that most product pages leave out. The Ascend name now covers mats with different thicknesses depending on where you buy, and the “PER” material it is made from is not what its name suggests.

What Are the Yune Yoga Ascend Yoga Mat Specs?

The clearest published specifications come from a Walmart listing for the Ascend Hemlock mat, branded Yune Yoga, as of October 2026:

• Size: 24 x 72 inches
• Thickness: 5mm
• Weight: 2.5 lb
• Material: PER, described as free of phthalates and latex
• Construction: double-sided, with a printed top and a dark bottom
• Surface: ridged, textured top over a firmer bottom layer for grip
• Printing: digital print using UV-cured inks
• Care: wipe with mild soap and water
• Warranty: the listing states there is no written warranty

The Ascend name is used across many printed designs, such as Hemlock, Taurus, Juno and Pumice, plus a range made with the blanket brand Pendleton. The design changes, but retailer listings for other Ascend designs give the same 24 x 72-inch, 5mm specification.

One copy detail is worth knowing. The Walmart description for the Hemlock mat calls it “our Trekk travel mat” in its opening line, while the title and specifications call it an Ascend mat. It reads like reused product copy rather than a different product, but it shows how loosely these listings are maintained.

Is the Ascend Mat 5mm or 6mm Thick?

It depends on where and when you buy. Retailer listings for Ascend mats list 5mm. Yune Yoga’s own website, as of October 2026, no longer uses the Ascend name in its product titles, and the same designs now appear as 6mm mats. The Pumice mat, for example, once listed as an “Ascend Yoga Mat Pumice Mat,” now redirects to a Pumice Yoga Mat page that lists 24 x 72 inches and 6mm of PER.

For most people, 1mm is a small difference, but it matters at the margins:

• 5mm is lighter to carry and gives a little more ground feel for standing balance poses.
• 6mm adds cushioning for knees, hips and elbows in kneeling and floor work.

The simple rule is to check the thickness on the specific listing before you order, rather than assuming every mat called Ascend is the same. If the listing does not state a thickness, ask the seller.

What Is PER, and Is It Really Eco-Friendly?

PER stands for “polymer environmental resin,” and the name gives no clue to what it is made of. Independent testing suggests it is a form of PVC, the same vinyl used in many conventional yoga mats.

In 2019, the Ecology Center’s Healthy Stuff Lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan tested 11 yoga mats using infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence. As reported by ClickOnDetroit, mats labelled as PER were found to be made of PVC. The main plasticizer found was DOTP, a substitute for phthalates that is generally regarded as a safer option, although research gaps remain. Gillian Miller, the lab’s senior staff scientist, said the name “tells us nothing about its composition.”

That testing did not include Yune Yoga mats specifically, so it does not prove what the Ascend mat contains. It does mean the “eco-friendly PER” label on any mat, including this one, should be read with care. What the label does reliably tell you is that the mat is sold as phthalate-free, which is a real difference from older PVC mats that used phthalate plasticizers.

A common mistake is to treat “PER,” “non-toxic” and “eco-friendly” as the same claim. They are not:

• Phthalate-free is a specific claim about plasticizers, and it is the most meaningful one on the label.
• Latex-free matters if you have a latex allergy, and PER mats generally avoid natural rubber.
• Eco-friendly is a marketing term. A PVC-based mat is not biodegradable, and PVC raises concerns during manufacture and disposal regardless of additives.

If a fully rubber-free and PVC-free mat matters to you, look at mats made from natural rubber (if you have no latex allergy), cork or TPE instead, and compare their own material disclosures.

How Grippy and Durable Is the Ascend Mat?

The manufacturer and retailer claims for grip and durability are general rather than measured. The listing describes a “NON-SLIP” textured top and bottom and “anti-tear” material that can be folded “in whatever manner you want.” Yune Yoga’s current 6mm product page says grip improves “as you sweat,” which suggests it is aimed at hot and power yoga as well as slower styles.

None of those claims cites a test standard, so treat them as descriptions rather than ratings. Two published details give more useful clues:

• The surface is printed with UV-cured inks. Printed mats can show wear on the busiest areas of the print, such as where hands and feet land in downward dog, over time. Yune’s current page describes its prints as fade-resistant.
• Care instructions rule out soaking. Yune’s current guidance is to wipe the mat after each session, let it air dry completely before rolling it up, keep it out of direct sunlight, and avoid machine washing or soaking.

If you practise hot yoga, a towel on top is a sensible addition for any printed mat. Our guide to infrared workouts and hot classes covers what to expect in heated rooms.

What Should You Check Before Buying?

Yune Yoga sells through its own website and through third-party marketplaces, and the experience differs. A few checks avoid most problems.

• Who is the seller? The Walmart Hemlock listing was sold and shipped by a third-party marketplace seller, not by Yune Yoga or Walmart, at $99.87 in October 2026. That is a high price for a 5mm PER mat, so compare it with the brand’s own site before paying.
• Is it really Yune Yoga? The same Walmart page showed a sponsored “Ascend Yoga Mat with Alignment Marks,” a 6mm mat at $24.99 that is a different product. Check that the brand field says Yune Yoga.
• What thickness? As covered above, 5mm and 6mm versions both exist.
• What are the return terms? With no written warranty on the listing, the return window is your main protection. The Walmart listing offered free 30-day returns.

Say you find the Hemlock print you like on a marketplace at close to $100 and on Yune’s site for less as a 6mm mat. Unless you specifically want the lighter 5mm version, the brand’s own listing usually gives you the newer specification, clearer support and a single seller to deal with.

Who Is the Yune Yoga Ascend Mat Best For?

On its published specifications, the Ascend suits people who want a light, printed mat for home or studio practice and care about the design as much as the material. At 2.5 pounds, the 5mm version is also easy to carry to classes.

It is a weaker fit if you need firm proof of material claims, if you want a PVC-free mat, or if you mainly do long kneeling holds where extra cushioning helps. For gentle at-home sessions, such as the routines in our guide to nervous system regulation exercises at home, either thickness works. If you are planning a full routine, building a daily emotional fitness routine pairs well with a short yoga practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How thick is the Yune Yoga Ascend yoga mat?

Retailer listings for Ascend mats state 5mm. Yune Yoga’s own website now lists the same designs at 6mm without the Ascend name. Check the thickness on the specific listing before ordering.

What size is the Yune Yoga Ascend mat?

It is listed at 24 x 72 inches, which is a standard yoga mat size. At 72 inches long, very tall people may find their head or feet go past the end in lying poses.

Is the Yune Yoga Ascend mat non-toxic?

It is sold as PER and free of phthalates and latex. Independent testing by the Ecology Center in 2019 found that mats labelled PER were made of PVC with a non-phthalate plasticizer. That testing did not include Yune Yoga, but it means “PER” should be read as a phthalate-free vinyl rather than a natural material.

Is it true that PER mats are biodegradable?

No evidence supports that for PVC-based PER mats. The Ecology Center found PER mats were made of vinyl, which does not biodegrade. Treat “eco-friendly” on a PER mat as a marketing term.

How do you clean a Yune Yoga mat?

Wipe it with a damp cloth or mild soap after each session, let it air dry completely before rolling it, and store it away from direct sunlight. Yune Yoga advises against machine washing or soaking the mat.

Does the Ascend mat come with a warranty?

The Walmart listing states it has no written warranty. Rely on the seller’s return policy, and buy from Yune Yoga directly if you want the brand’s own support.

Final Thoughts

The Yune Yoga Ascend yoga mat is a 24 x 72-inch printed PER mat, listed at 5mm and 2.5 pounds by retailers, with newer 6mm versions of the same designs on Yune Yoga’s own site. Its strengths on paper are the designs, the light weight and the phthalate-free claim.

Go in knowing that PER is a vinyl-based material rather than a natural one, that there is no written warranty, and that marketplace prices can be far higher than the brand’s own. Check the thickness, the seller and the return window, and you will know exactly which version you are getting.