When you hear yoga, you envision someone stretching that is calm is relaxed. You wouldn’t be wrong, but don’t let this fool you. Yoga is an intense workout and will make you break a sweat.
Not only will you be covered in sweat, but the yoga mat you have been sweating on all class will be drenched! This is where the need for a yoga towel comes into play. The entire point of a yoga mat helps you maintain grip while holding your poses, but if you are slipping from sweat, you will only injure yourself and throw off your focus.
The purpose of a yoga towel is to lay on top of your mat and help you maintain your grip during intense yoga sessions or even hot yoga. This way, you don’t have to adjust your grip due to slipping, etc., frequently. With the help of a yoga towel, you can stay focused and maintain your zen.
Can I Use A Regular Towel?
No, you want to avoid using a regular. The reason being is a traditional towel, although absorbent, will slide around. You won’t have the grip a yoga towel gives you. Yoga towels also often come with a slip-resistant backing to help the towel in place.
What Should You Consider When Buying a Yoga Towel?
Before diving into our recommended yoga towels, it’s essential to know what you should be looking for.
Material
Material is going to be the most crucial aspect to consider when you are purchasing a yoga towel. Typically, yoga towels will be made out of microfiber due to how soft the material is and how durable it is. Your best bet is always to go with a microfiber towel.
Price
The price will be the main deciding factor for most people regarding any purchase, so it is no different when it comes to a yoga towel. You don’t want to overspend on a yoga towel, especially if you are relatively new to yoga. Your best bet would be to buy a towel that fits within your budget. You can always splurge on a higher-quality towel once you feel you are more committed to yoga.
Durability
You want the yoga towel you purchase to be able to hold up to a lot of wear and tear. They aren’t the most expensive things in the world, but they also aren’t exactly cheap, so you must purchase one that will last you a decent amount of time. If you’re a beginner, you don’t have to worry about having the most substantial towel on the market, but you may consider splurging a bit if you’re more experienced.
Size
It’s crucial to purchase a yoga towel that is appropriately sized for your yoga mat. Oversized towels may cause slipping for the user, so it’s essential to know your mat’s size before purchasing a towel.
Absorbency
How much can this towel absorb? The entire point of a yoga towel is to absorb the amount of sweat you are putting out. For example, if you don’t sweat that much during yoga, you probably don’t need to buy a super thick yoga towel. However, if you find that your yoga sessions are much more intense than the average practitioner, then perhaps it would be best for you to purchase one that is a bit thicker, so it can absorb a bit more sweat.
Now that you understand a few key aspects to look for when you purchase a yoga towel, we will discuss what we believe are some of the best yoga towels available on the market today.
Yoga-Mate Perfect Yoga Towel
If you are in the market for one of the best overall yoga towels on the market, then the Yoga-Mate Perfect Yoga Towel is the right place for you to start. The towel has everything any yoga user may need. First and foremost, this towel is affordable at a price point of twelve-twenty dollars. A perfectly acceptable price point we feel for the new yoga practitioner.
The Yoga-Mate Perfect Yoga Towel also comes in a wide variety of colors, so everyone has an option! The towel features high-quality stitching, so you won’t have to worry about durability being an issue with this towel. The towel also is a durable microfiber that is also very absorbent. It’s hard to beat the quality at this price point. This towel will also be compatible with most yoga mats because it is the size of the traditional yoga mat, 68×24 inches.
The real benefit of this towel comes from the excellent functionality during yoga class. This towel can handle everything from a traditional beginner’s class to the most advanced hot yoga classes. The wetter this towel becomes, the better your grip will be.
Overall, this towel would be incredible for any experience level of any yoga practitioner.
Youphoria Hot Yoga Towel
If you primarily find yourself in hot yoga classes, then the Youphoria Hot Yoga Towel is the choice for you. Like many yoga towels designed for hot yoga, the Youphoria hot yoga towel comes grippier the wetter it becomes. Nothing is worse than being in a yoga class and finding yourself slipping and having to readjust your grip. It kills the flow and will diminish a lot of the positive benefits of attending the class in the first place.
Another significant aspect of this towel is how durable it is for how lightweight it is. When you think super absorbent, you may be thinking something a little on the bulky side. Nope, the Youphoria hot yoga towel is so compact you can fold up into any size bag. Super convenient for any yogi on the go or small enough to keep in the trunk of your car. Speaking of convenience, this towel is not only super absorbent but also quick drying! That means you won’t be lugging around a disgusting wet yoga towel with you.
All in all, this yoga towel hits it out of the park for anyone looking for an excellent towel for their hot yoga sessions.
The Manduka YogiToes Skidless Towel
The Maduka YogiToes Skidless towel that claims, as the title would suggest, to be skidless. Well, they deliver on this claim with flying colors. This towel works because dozens of tiny little silicone bumps underneath the towel give the user an added grip. You won’t ever have to worry about the towel sliding out from underneath you.
CHECK THE PRICE NOW!Of course, this towel also features many traditional yoga towel features, such as becoming more grippy when wet. The towel also has an interesting production background. It is produced with recycled materials and takes about 60% less energy to produce than the average yoga towel. So, if you are environmentally conscious, this may be an excellent buy for you.
Touching back on the silicone grips we mentioned earlier. Although they are fantastic for holding you in place, they may also be a bit uncomfortable. You may possibly find yourself feeling the bumps under your hands as you press intensely to hold a pose. This isn’t an experience all users have, but it is something to consider.
Overall, if you are looking for a heavy-duty non-slip towel, this is a great choice. You should, however, consider the silicone underlining may feel a bit uncomfortable on your hands and knees.
Gaiam Thirsty Yoga Towel
If you find yourself drenched in sweat during your yoga routines, then the Gaiam Thirsty Yoga Towel might be a reliable option for you.
CHECK THE PRICE NOW!What makes this towel such an excellent pick for pretty who find themselves sweating heavily during a yoga workout is the superabsorbent microfiber material the towel is made out of. The towel is also made with a polyester and nylon blend making it super soft on your hands. You won’t feel like you are pressing down on one of those scratchy superabsorbent towels.
The Gaiam Thirsty Yoga Towel also comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors, so it is a towel that will fit any user’s needs.
Shandali GoSweat Hot Yoga Towel
If you find yourself doing more advanced yoga poses, then you may want to consider picking up the Shandali GoSweat Hot Yoga Towel. The GoSweat is capable of making your foundation sweat-free to help reduce any slipping and sliding during your workouts.
CHECK THE PRICE NOW!First, the Shandalai GoSweat is incredibly absorbent. This yoga towel will have zero issues wicking away any moisture from the mat, all while helping you maintain the grip on your poses and stances. No more slips on the mat during hot yoga for you! The towel is also made out of microfiber, so it will provide you the grip you need during your sessions and feel fabulous on your hands, feet, and knees, which will keep you both comfortable and zen.
In our opinion, the Shandali GoSweat is an excellent pick for the hot yoga enthusiast.
Manduka eQua
Manduka is a well-known name in the yoga industry. The company has been around since 1997 and has been a power player in the space ever since. The eQua is an excellent towel for anyone in the market for a high-quality, long-lasting yoga towel.
CHECK THE PRICE NOW!The eQua is perfect for anyone who finds themselves traveling to yoga class due to the compact size. Manduka’s eQua yoga towel is incredibly soft, thick, and dries incredibly fast.
This towel comes in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and also a hand towel.
Once again, Manduka lives up to the level of quality and design they are known for. This towel is an absolute must-have for any yoga enthusiast.
Shandali StickyFiber Yoga Towel
Shandali recently released their StickyFiber Yoga Towel. This yoga towel was designed with a web grip on the bottom. The idea behind the web grip is to provide the user with an incredible stickiness level than the traditional yoga towel.
CHECK THE PRICE NOW!The traditional yoga towel will give you more grip as the towel becomes wetter. However, the Stickyfiber will be grippy right out the gate. This means you can start hitting the stances hard immediately.
This towel is for the most advanced level user or anyone looking to have a high traction level in their sessions. If you find yourself slamming through power poses or transitioning quickly from pose to pose, then perhaps you should consider the StickyFiber.
Closing Thoughts
So, what type of yoga towel should you choose? Well, it should be decided on the kind of yoga you find yourself doing. Some towels on the market are sufficient for the traditional yoga class, while other towels are more specifically designed to handle hot yoga. Regardless of which towel you purchase, remember you can always reference this guide for suggestions or tips.
Namaste!