Best Yoga Towel

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
Heathyoga
Test Winner: Heathyoga
Amazon Link
Yoga is a great way to not only exercise your body but your mind as well. The word ‘yoga’ can be interpreted in different ways. It could mean ‘to join’ or ‘concentrate’. It can help you to grow spiritually, emotionally and physically, mastering body and mind. Modern yoga exercises focus on strength, flexibility, and breathing. There are various styles to choose from and every type has its own strengths. The kind of Yoga you choose will depend on your strength and endurance level. It’s important to have the right items with you when you’re practicing this. This includes the best yoga towel to help you ease through the exercise as comfortably as possible.

Standout Picks

Manduka
This towel is made of microfiber material that absorbs sweat easily. For heavy workouts, this towel keeps the Yoga mat dry throughout. It uses recycled material making it environmentally-friendly.
Heathyoga
This towel is made of microfiber material for fast absorption of sweat. It has a dual-grip feature that adheres to the mat so it won’t slip easily. The grip-grid structure and corner pocket hooks help keep the mat in place for support.
Amazon Link
$21.99
Anandamuni
This yoga towel is made of microfiber material to easily absorb sweat during intense Yoga poses or Hot Yoga. It doesn’t retain odor or sweat. The towel can be machine-washed after use.
Amazon Link
Pseudois
This yoga towel is made of microfiber material for fast sweat absorption and added grip on the mat. It can be machine-washed after use.
Amazon Link
IUGA Non Slip
This towel is made of premium microfiber for quick absorption of sweat. It also dries quickly to keep your mat from odor, germs and sticky sweat during the exercise. The towel is 30% thicker compared to standard yoga towels with textured weaves for added support.
Amazon Link
$22.99
Yoga Mate
This towel is available in beautifully unique colors that will allow you to express your personal style. It easily dries sweat, especially from Hot Yoga. It can be machine washed after use. The microfiber material keeps you from slippage as you do your routines.
Amazon Link
Youphoria
This yoga towel is a non-slip, especially during intense practice. It grips better when wet to keep you balanced as exercise intensifies. You can choose from 10 different colors. Absorbs moisture easily especially during Hot Yoga practices.
Amazon Link
$16.95
Yoga Design Lab
This is a non-slippage towel intended to be used with your Yoga mat. Unlike microfiber towel, this is soft to touch and lightweight. It works best if towels are dampened for added grip. It reduces imbalances when doing advanced Yoga poses.
Amazon Link
Nanga Yoga
This colorful towel will keep your mat clean and dry. The material can absorb 7X weight in water so you can focus more balancing and do poses. This yoga cloth easily dries and can be packed up immediately after use. Machine-wash as needed.
Amazon Link
Shandali
This 100% microfiber towel is a great affordable option. You can use this on top of your mat, or on its own at the park or the beach. Heck, why not order two and use one as a cushion for your hips or knees in difficult positions? However, if this mat featured a grippy bottom, it would have been much higher on this list. Nonetheless, it is still impressive.
Amazon Link
$8.50

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Materials

With Yoga, you will need all the comfort you can get as you do routines. This is particularly true for regular towels and yoga towels.

Though some Yoga practitioners use regular towels, it will vary per individual. However, if you happen to sweat a lot, a yoga towel will work best for you. Hot Yoga will build up a sweat in your body, causing it to pool to your mat. The best yoga towel is often made of microfiber material. It absorbs sweat fast compared with a regular towel. Ashtanga, Bikram, and Vinyasa are intense routines where a yoga towel will be of great help.

Here are a couple of other reasons why you need the best yoga towel for your workout:

-It absorbs sweat faster than regular towels
-It dries faster
-It’s lighter and easier to store
-It doesn’t require much space if you have a tiny bag
-They usually take the shape of a standard Yoga mat sizing than regular towels
-It doesn’t usually bunch up when you do poses. Regular towels may give you a hard time balancing when you’re doing advanced routines

Most of these yoga towels use microfiber. You usually see this used for cleaning cars, countertops or as a household item. Some yoga towels are made of premium microfiber that leans more on keeping it firmly on the mat while you move about. Microfiber types are commonly thin to keep it lightweight. Comfort is an important factor in choosing the items you use during the workout. With this towel, Yogis will not have a hard time bringing this with their mat whenever and wherever.

The price range for these special types of towels will vary. Some may have added features on them for extra grip. It is up to you to find the one that will fit best without breaking your budget.

Support

Microfiber towels often provide better support compared to non-microfiber ones. It has many functions that Yogis will benefit from.

One of the functions of a yoga towel is to absorb perspiration. A microfiber towel is made of synthetic material with a high absorption capacity. Other towels are made from fabrics with patterns on them to increase the surface area and allow more absorption.

You may find most yoga towels are made of microfiber since it also adds grip in doing poses. It serves as a dual purpose. However, the cloth may be a little uncomfortable on the skin. However, there are some suede microfiber types to remedy this. With suede type, it is soft on the skin and more comfortable to use.

Thin yoga towels are good enough for protection and support. With a quality Yoga mat, it lets off some pressure from your joints. But it is also thick enough for a good foundation. With a yoga towel, it keeps the mat from sweat which causes slipping. In doing poses, you need a dry surface but flexible enough to let you do poses. Microfiber towels balance comfort with support. It is firm enough to hold poses but soft enough to absorb sweat. It is also thinner thus makes it easy to carry around.

We also took a look at the grip of the yoga mat as well. This is a common feature that Yogis would often look in the best yoga towel. The purpose is to help the user hold poses and balance. And with just a Yoga mat, this can be tricky.

The yoga towel keeps the surface of the mat from being slippery. Poses that require extreme balancing will need a firm surface to hold to. Purchasing a quality yoga towel keep your area stable and safe to work on.

The towel should keep our hands and feet from slipping especially in doing advanced poses. Woven towels may be a superior choice for doing Yoga. Microfiber towels still have the tendency to slip but can be remedied if dampened. Woven types are more expensive than microfiber. Many are opting for microfiber types because it’s more cost-efficient. If you also sweat easily, choosing a microfiber one will work better for you. For dry hands and feet, squirt a small amount of water on the towel to keep you from slipping.

The best yoga towels have anti-slip snubs underneath. This will work well for those who don’t sweat as much during the activity. A further grip is added if it has corner hooks to keep it in place on top of the mat. This way, you don’t have to keep adjusting the cloth especially in doing poses like Peacock.

The stability of your towel also gives you peace. You can concentrate more if you have an anti-slip towel compared to regular towels. Ordinary towels tend to bunch up because they can’t hold on to the mat.

Ease of Use

The best yoga towels often endure and are easy to clean. Some microfiber towels dry easily, a good feature needed for Hot Yoga.

Most yoga towel manufacturers have instructions along with the product. For most, machine-washing works well. Using hot water or fabric conditioner damages the grip feature of the product. Most of these towels may also require air drying to keep the quality of the product. For towels with silicon snubs, it is best to avoid any heating to maintain grip and elongate usage. Microfiber towels may be a better choice for most. It is portable, easy to clean and dries easily unlike regular towels.

Style

Some towels come in various designs. So if you want to add some personality to your purchase, a more elaborate design might work best for you.

Stitching is also another factor. It is best to purchase towels with a durable hemline so it doesn’t come undone after some use.

Yoga towels usually come in two sizes: 24”X72” and 26”X72”. For standard-sized mats, the 24”X72” sizing may fit while the 26”X72” should fit bigger mats. There are various sizing to these Yoga mats so it’s important to measure first your own before purchasing any yoga towel. Some towels are intentionally larger so you can tuck excess cloth underneath the mat. But for some Yogis, this can be an inconvenience and would prefer a towel that fits the mat exactly.

Top 10 Picks

1. Manduka

Where to buy
Manduka
Amazon Link

This towel is made of microfiber material that absorbs sweat easily. For heavy workouts, this towel keeps the Yoga mat dry throughout. It uses recycled material making it environmentally-friendly.

Read more

Materials
75% recycled wool, 25% recycled synthetic fibers (microfiber); thin

Support
The top of this mat provides you with a non-slip surface. As for the bottom grip, it holds without dampening due to the silicon nubs underneath.

Ease of Use
Machine washable

Style
This towel fits larger Yoga mats at 80” x 25” sizing. It’s non-slip so you won’t have to worry about sliding in doing your poses. Depending on which retailer you choose to support, the color options are different. On Moosejaw, there are 18 different colors and designs to choose from.

2. Heathyoga

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$21.99
Heathyoga
Amazon Link

This towel is made of microfiber material for fast absorption of sweat. It has a dual-grip feature that adheres to the mat so it won’t slip easily. The grip-grid structure and corner pocket hooks help keep the mat in place for support.

Read more

Materials
80% Polyester, 20% Nylon (microfiber); thin

Support
This towel is non-slip and easily holds on to the mat with or without dampening the cloth with its non-slip silicone bottom and pocket corner hooks for extra grip.

Ease of Use
Machine washable

Style
This towel comes in 72” x 26” size in five different colors. Or in gray, you can choose a 68” x 24” towel.

Amazon Link
$21.99

3. Anandamuni

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Anandamuni
Amazon Link

This yoga towel is made of microfiber material to easily absorb sweat during intense Yoga poses or Hot Yoga. It doesn’t retain odor or sweat. The towel can be machine-washed after use.

Read more

Materials
80% Polyester, 20% Nylon (microfiber); thin

Support
This mat is non-slip with corner pockets. As for the grip, it will require some dampening for a good grip.

Ease of Use
Machine washable

Style
It fits most Yoga mats measuring 28” x 72” in size. This towel is available in a gray color with a sky-blue trim.

Amazon Link

4. Pseudois

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Pseudois
Amazon Link

This yoga towel is made of microfiber material for fast sweat absorption and added grip on the mat. It can be machine-washed after use.

Read more

Materials
80% Polyester, 20% Nylon (microfiber); thin

Support
This mat is non-slip and may not require dampening for the towel to hold on to the mat. There are PVC dots embedded under the towel for added grip.

Ease of Use
Machine washable

Style
It comes in 3 colors, blue, purple, and lake blue. It measures 24” x 72”.

Amazon Link

5. IUGA Non Slip

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$22.99
IUGA Non Slip
Amazon Link

This towel is made of premium microfiber for quick absorption of sweat. It also dries quickly to keep your mat from odor, germs and sticky sweat during the exercise. The towel is 30% thicker compared to standard yoga towels with textured weaves for added support.

Read more

Materials
80% Polyester, 20% Nylon (microfiber); thick

Support
This towel is non-slip. For a bottom grip, it needs to be wet to grip on the yoga mat.

Ease of Use
Machine washable

Style
This towel measures 72” x 26” with four monochrome colors to choose from. Or in gray, the towel measures 68” x 24”.

Amazon Link
$22.99

6. Yoga Mate

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Yoga Mate
Amazon Link

This towel is available in beautifully unique colors that will allow you to express your personal style. It easily dries sweat, especially from Hot Yoga. It can be machine washed after use. The microfiber material keeps you from slippage as you do your routines.

Read more

Materials
80% Polyester, 20% Nylon (microfiber); thin

Support
This towel is non-slip and will stick to the mat with or without dampening the towel.

Ease of Use
Machine washable

Style
This towel comes in 9 unique shades with two sizes: mat and towel. The towel size measures at 68” x 24”.

Amazon Link

7. Youphoria

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$16.95
Youphoria
Amazon Link

This yoga towel is a non-slip, especially during intense practice. It grips better when wet to keep you balanced as exercise intensifies. You can choose from 10 different colors. Absorbs moisture easily especially during Hot Yoga practices.

Read more

Materials
80% Polyester, 20% Nylon (microfiber); thin

Support
This towel is non-slip and needs to be wet to grip on the yoga mat.

Maintenance
Machine washable

Style
It comes in 24” x 72” size. It’s lightweight and will not require a special bag for storage. It is available in ten different colors with accenting trim colors.

Amazon Link
$16.95

8. Yoga Design Lab

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Yoga Design Lab
Amazon Link

This is a non-slippage towel intended to be used with your Yoga mat. Unlike microfiber towel, this is soft to touch and lightweight. It works best if towels are dampened for added grip. It reduces imbalances when doing advanced Yoga poses.

Read more

Materials
Brushed cotton with synthetic seam stitching (suede microfiber); thin

Support
This towel is non-slip and needs to be wet to grip on the Yoga mat.

Ease of Use
Machine washable

Style
All towels come in 72” x 24” sizing and are available in 20 exciting colors and designs.

Amazon Link

9. Nanga Yoga

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Nanga Yoga
Amazon Link

This colorful towel will keep your mat clean and dry. The material can absorb 7X weight in water so you can focus more balancing and do poses. This yoga cloth easily dries and can be packed up immediately after use. Machine-wash as needed.

Read more

Materials
Terry cloth microfiber; thin

Support
This mat is non-slip and needs to be wet to grip on the yoga mat.

Ease of Use
Machine washable

Style
This lightweight towel is 24” x 72”. It is available in nine different designs.

Amazon Link

10. Shandali

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$8.50
Shandali
Amazon Link

This 100% microfiber towel is a great affordable option. You can use this on top of your mat, or on its own at the park or the beach. Heck, why not order two and use one as a cushion for your hips or knees in difficult positions? However, if this mat featured a grippy bottom, it would have been much higher on this list. Nonetheless, it is still impressive.

Read more

Materials
This towel is made from 100% microfiber. It is lightweight, strong, and incredibly portable. This material doesn’t wrinkle, so it is very easy to throw in your backpack or gym bag without even worrying about folding it.

Support
Like many others, this towel is also non-slip. The material acts as a sponge for sweat and absorbs it very quickly and also dries quickly to keep you up and steady without slipping. Unfortunately, there is no grip on the bottom of the mat to keep the towel in place. It has been said that it doesn’t slip on a mat, but using it alone on a tile or wood floor would look something like Bambi walking on ice.

Ease of Use
It really doesn’t get any easier than this. Toss this towel anywhere and it won’t wrinkle. It is also naturally anti-microbial and odor-resistant. When you are ready to wash it, simply throw it in the machine. When it comes out after the spin cycle, it will almost be dry already.

Style
You can order this towel as a hand towel or in a larger size of 26.5” x 72”. It is available in seven solid soothing colors.

Amazon Link
$8.50

Sources

  1. Rachel Morris, The 7 Best Yoga Towels of 2019, Fitness Blog
  2. Caroline Stewart, The Best Yoga Towels For Hot Yoga and More, Buying Guide