One of the greatest things about yoga is that you don’t need that much equipment. In fact, you could quite easily jump out of bed and practice yoga in your PJs.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t certain things we want to use to make classes more enjoyable. Amongst the things we usually want are a water bottle, yoga mat, yoga attire, and a yoga pillow.
Another thing that comes in extremely useful is a yoga towel. Super helpful, a high-quality yoga towel is versatile in the way it can be used.
You could use your towel as a mat substitute, to cushion you when you have a cramp, or to simply wipe away your sweat during a sweaty hot yoga session.
Whilst this all sounds great, finding the best yoga towel can be tough. With so many fantastic options to choose from, picking out the best ones can become overwhelming.
To make it easier for you, we’ve done the research and compiled a list of the best yoga towels. In this article, we’ll take you through each option.
EDITORS CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK
We’ll kick our list off with the yoga towel that is arguably the very best towel on the market. If you’re on the lookout for a comfortable, reliable, high-quality yoga towel, this could well be the best option for you.
This towel is so highly thought of that most yoga instructors recommend it. While this is down to many reasons, most instructors love it for its neat nub design.
On the underside of the towel, you’ll find that it's lined with silicone nubs.
These nubs are a great addition as they prevent the towel from sliding or bunching when you use it as a mat. As you can imagine, this comes in handy when taking part in classes.
Available in a range of styles, this yoga towel also looks pretty great. Most of the designs are simple, yet effective. You’re sure to find one you love.
In terms of what the towel is made out of, Yogitoes Manduka claims to make the towel out of more than 8 recycled plastic water bottles.
If this is true, the towel is also one of the most sustainable towels on the market.
Pros:
- Recommended by the experts - Many yoga instructors recommend this towel.
- Versatile - Easily use this towel as a mat too.
- Soft - Wiping your face with this towel feels comfortable.
Cons:
- Lack of availability - Unfortunately, only two styles of this towel are currently available on Amazon.
Also available at: Manduka.com
EDITORS CHOICE
If you’d prefer to buy an affordable towel set that does it all, make sure you take a look at the IUGA non-slip extra thick hot yoga towel + hand towel set.
With your order, you’ll receive a large, soft yoga towel that can also be used as a mat and a small hand towel, perfect for wiping sweat.
This is the perfect combination of products for those hot yoga sessions that get very hot, very quickly.
Featuring a thicker microfiber fabric, you don’t need to worry about your towel bunching or slipping. Better still, this material provides you with extra comfort.
One of the neat features we love with this towel set is the small pockets it comes with. These corner pockets help you attach the towel to your mat for a more comfortable session. This also prevents movement.
When we used both towels, we found that the fabric effortlessly absorbed our sweat with no problems.
Machine washable and available in one size fits all, the IUGA towel is also super lightweight despite being 30% thicker than other towels.
Pros:
- Towel and mat included - This towel comes with a mat.
- Super thick - This adds more comfort.
- Affordable - The IUGA towel represents great value for money.
Cons:
- No silicone grips - Grips would be a nice addition.
BEST VALUE
Next up, we have this excellent non-slip hot yoga towel from Shandali. If you’re looking for a simple option that can be used to wipe away sweat, as an alternative to a yoga mat or alongside your mat, this option is ideal.
Easily the best thing about this towel is how versatile it is. You can simply use the towel to keep your face dry, use it as a mat, or use it to add extra comfort to the mat you already use.
A lot of people that use the towel prefer to leave their mat at home to save space when traveling. This is convenient if you plan on using the towel on vacation.
Using the towel as a mat helps you practice your posture without having to worry about slipping, helping you focus on more important things.
The fabric used to produce the towel is soft, comfortable, and very easy to wash. Simply throw your towel in the washing machine at a low temperature, and with colored items.
You can buy this towel in six different colors.
Pros:
- A great alternative - Leave your mat at home.
- Colorful - You’ll love the vibrancy of this towel.
- Affordable - The Shandali towel is well priced.
Cons:
- No grips - This towel doesn’t come with any grips.
Also available at: Shandali.com
RUNNER UP
The next yoga towel on our list is probably the most colorful yoga towel on the market. You’ll certainly struggle to find one brighter.
The 2-in-1 mat + towel from Yoga Design Lab is a hybrid towel, that as you have probably already guessed is both a mat and towel.
This is a great option for those that want to save space and carry less. Rather than carry a towel and a mat, simply carry this one product.
When reviewed, this hybrid towel stood up strong, providing impressive performance across the board. It is comfortable, high-quality, moves very little, and easily wipes away sweat when necessary.
This along with the towel's stunning design leaves us wondering what else we could possibly ask for.
Built into the top of the towel is a microfiber layer. This provides extra comfort and thickness so that the towel performs well as a mat.
Helping you keep your yoga bag free of clutter, the towel is also machine washable. On top of everything else, there are 9 different styles to choose from.
Pros:
- 2-in-1 - The Yoga Design Lab towel is both a mat and towel.
- Carry strap included - Easily carry your towel.
- Variety of styles - You have 9 styles to choose from.
Cons:
- Long drying times - This towel takes a while to dry.
Also available at: Yogadesignlab.com
RUNNER UP
The final towel on our list is the Manduka eQua yoga hand towel. This could be the best option on our list for you if you’re looking for a simple towel you can take to your yoga classes.
Sometimes, simple is better, and this Manduka towel does simple brilliantly. Compact, soft, machine washable, and designed with yoga in mind, you can’t really go wrong with this towel.
It can be used to wipe away sweat, wash your hands, or as a cushion when lying down on your mat.
In all honesty, this is all we really need from a yoga towel. Having a mat function built-in is just an added bonus.
The only downside to using this towel is that you will have to carry your towel and mat at the same time. Having said that, this towel will probably fit in your bag.
Made from microfiber, the towel has a suede-like feel. When we tested it, we were pleased with its absorbent qualities, durability, and the overall experience it provides.
Overall, this towel offers everything you need at an affordable price. What else could we ask for?
Pros:
- Simple - Keep things easy with the Manduka eQua towel.
- Compact - Pack the towel in your bag.
- Soft - This towel feels great.
Cons:
- Can’t be used as a mat - Unfortunately, you will need to take this towel and a yoga mat to your classes.
Also available at: Manduka.com
Best Yoga Towel Buying Guide
Before making a purchase, there are a number of important things that you need to think about. All of these things will impact how happy you are with the decision you make when your towel arrives.
If you make the wrong decision, you could be left with a yoga towel that doesn’t suit you or simply doesn’t live up to your expectations.
To help you avoid this frustrating situation, we’ve put together a buyer’s guide. In our buyer’s guide, you will find all the most important factors you need to take into account in order to make the best decision possible.
Take everything we say on board to avoid any buyer’s regret.
Function
One of the first things you need to think about when looking for a yoga towel is its functionality. Usually, yoga towels have more than one function. Of course, their primary function is to help you dry off, but they can also be used as a cushion or yoga mat.
Therefore, you need to think carefully about what you want. If you only need a hand towel to wipe the sweat away during your hot yoga session, you can look for a simple hand towel.
However, if you want to be able to use a towel to cushion yourself or as a mat, you’ll have to look for one that offers more functionality.
Personally, we recommend looking for a towel that can double up as a mat as this offers more convenience.
Size
After thinking about functionality, you should probably start thinking about how big or small your towel needs to be. How big your yoga towel needs to be will relate directly to how you plan on using it.
For example, if you only want to wipe your sweat, you don’t need a large towel. Instead, you can buy a small hand towel.
This will take up less space in your yoga bag. On the other hand, if you want a yoga towel that can be used as a towel or yoga mat, you’re going to have to look for something bigger.
After all, the towel will have to be a similar size to a standard yoga mat.
When it comes to picking a larger yoga towel, you’ll be pleased to hear that most towels come in one size fits all. This will make it a lot easier for you to pick out the towel you need.
Grip Features
If you decide to buy a yoga towel that doubles up as a yoga mat, you need to make sure it offers enough grip. Without a sufficient amount of grip, your towel will bunch up and slip as you take part in your class.
Not only is this extremely frustrating but it could potentially lead to injury too. With that in mind, you need to consider how much grip the towel you want to buy offers.
More often than not, yoga towels will be made out of a fabric that offers better grip. However, we recommend looking for one that offers specific grip features.
An example of a reliable grip feature is silicone nubs. Towels with silicone nubs dotted across their underside are much more reliable, offering better grip than any other type of towel.
These nubs will effectively stop the towel from slipping or bunching, so keep your eyes peeled.
Moisture-Wicking
Most of the time, yoga towels are used to wipe away sweat and moisture during more intense types of yoga such as hot yoga. This type of yoga is renowned for getting people to sweat.
Therefore, it’s super important to have a towel that will successfully absorb any sweat.
Your yoga towel has to be able to absorb sweat to keep you feeling comfortable and to prevent any slipperiness. If it doesn’t, you could be left sweating profusely.
The sweat could even cause you to slip and hurt yourself. Bearing this in mind, you need to find a towel that offers high-quality absorption. Your towel should also be quick-drying.
Generally speaking, towels that offer this the best are made from microfiber, nylon, polyester, or polyamide.
Budget
Finally, you also need to consider the budget you have to spend on a yoga towel. When we talk about budget, we mean a couple of things. For starters, you need to think about how much you’re willing to spend.
Yoga towels vary in price with some costing $20 and others $80. Therefore, you have to make sure you can afford the towel you’re buying.
Secondly, you should make sure that the towel you plan on buying is worth the money. Just because you can afford an $80 towel doesn’t necessarily mean you should buy one. Depending on what you need the towel for, you could quite easily buy a $20 towel.
For example, if you only need to dry yourself with a towel, you can spend less. You might only have to spend more on a towel if you want one that offers more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Wash A Yoga Towel?
A huge benefit of yoga towels is how easy they are to clean. More often than not, yoga towels are machine washable. That means you can wash your towel by simply throwing it into a washing machine.
However, make sure you always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
What Kind of Towel Is Best For A Hot Yoga Class?
Generally speaking, you can use most yoga towels for a hot yoga class. Having said that, if you’re looking for the very best, we recommend looking for one made out of microfiber, as they offer better absorption.
Are Yoga Towels Worth It?
Yes, yoga towels are definitely worth it. Versatile, compact, and soft, yoga towels can be used to wipe away sweat, cushion your body, and as a convenient substitute yoga mat.
Thanks to the elimination of sweat, a high-quality yoga towel can also reduce the risk of injuries caused by slipping.
Final Thoughts
That concludes our article looking at the best yoga towels currently found on the market. As you can see from our list, there is a wide range of excellent options to choose from. This is why it can be quite difficult to find the best towel.
While not a necessity, a yoga towel is something most people like to take to their classes. The versatility they offer makes each class much more enjoyable.
Whether you want to use it to dry your face, cushion your body, or as a substitute mat, a yoga towel has something to offer you.
The towels on our list all vary in terms of style and functionality. However, they all make yoga a more enjoyable experience.
Using the buyer’s guide we put together for you, all you have to do now is narrow down our list until you find the towel that suits your needs and requirements best.
Good luck!
The positive effect yoga had on me was indescribable. Every aspect of my life improved, from social to mental, physical to emotional.
I want my website to help more people get into the world of yoga and teach them how to be present for themselves - even if that’s just for a few minutes a day.
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