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7 Best Yoga Towels of 2023 (For All Styles and Budgets)
Hot Yoga twists are no match for the grippy and stylish Manduka Yogitoes Yoga Towel.
By PS EDITORS | Reviewed by GEERT MEIJER
Last Update: January 02, 2023
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Sweat feels great but slipping due to sweaty hands does not
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A yoga towel can be the extra layer of grip and hygiene your practice needs
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We compiled the best yoga towels for Hot Yoga, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and more
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Also, check out our post on the best yoga blocks (for all styles and budgets)
What's Covered:
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Shandali Hot Yoga Towel
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Lotuscrafts Hot Yoga Towel
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Lutava Flow Yoga Towel
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Yoga Design Lab Yoga Towel
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Gaiam Yoga Towel
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Jade Yoga Towel
How to Choose the Best Yoga Towel
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What's a yoga towel for?
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Can I use a bath towel for yoga?
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Do you need to spritz a hot yoga towel?
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What is the best yoga towel for hot yoga?
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Are yoga towels machine washable?
Yoga can be as easygoing or challenging as you want. But sweat is inevitable if you practice Hot Yoga or spice up flows with a yoga wheel. Sadly, sweat puddles and causes slipping while posing, especially if you use a closed-cell yoga mat. There are three ways to deal with a sweaty practice: a) lay a yoga towel over your mat to improve grip and absorb sweat, b) invest in cork yoga mats because they are grippy when wet, or c) forsake asanas and chill in Easy Pose forever.
Tempting as the 3rd option sounds, a high-quality yoga towel is the best solution.
Best Yoga Towel: Quick Answer
We recommend the Manduka Yogitoes Yoga Towel based on it's first-rate performance in fast, fluid Hot Yoga and Vinyasa flows. The Shandali Hot Yoga Towel is economical but high on value and suitable for all styles of yoga. Lastly, the printed Yoga Design Lab Yoga Towel is excellent for Bikram or Beach Yoga.
"A yoga towel is essential for sweaty yogis or fast-paced flows," says Geert Meijer, an Iyengar yoga instructor. "But it's equally handy to cushion tender joints or use as a makeshift stretching strap or travel yoga mat. It's also a hygienic barrier between you and potentially harmful germs if you use gym/studio mats," he adds.
Whatever your reasons for buying, there's an abundance of yoga-specific towels on the market, and they are not all equal. So, we rounded up the best of the best based on five attributes - materials, absorbency, grip, reviews, and price. We've taken considerations for all yoga styles and price points, and included buying advice + an FAQ that'll come in handy when you shop towels for yoga.
So, here are the seven best yoga towels you can buy online in 2023.
Best Yoga Towels of 2023
1. BEST OVERALL: Manduka Yogitoes Yoga Towel ($60) at Amazon
2. BEST BUDGET: Shandali Hot Yoga Towel ($20) at Amazon
3. BEST FOR HOT YOGA: Lotuscrafts Hot Yoga Towel ($30) at Amazon
4. BEST FOR SWEATY HANDS: Lutava Yoga Towel ($39) at Amazon
5. BEST FOR BEACH YOGA: Yoga Design Lab Towel ($52) on Amazon
7. BEST FOR ASHTANGA: Gaiam Active Dry Yoga Towel ($25) at Amazon
7. BEST FOR TRAVEL: Jade Microfiber Yoga Towel ($45) at Amazon
1. Best Overall: Manduka Yogitoes Yoga Towel With Silicone Grips
"The best yoga towel in terms of performance, grip, and color options. "
The internet-famous Manduka yoga towel is a big hit among our brethren. It's a USA-made microfiber towel for yoga, available in three sizes (68", 71" and 79") with a standard 24-inch width. It's impressive on all fronts, particularly the patented 'skidless' technology. Simply put, the towel features tiny silicone nubs that confidently grab your yoga mat while posing. Lastly, the towel is partly made of recycled plastic bottles and dyed with non-toxic, heavy-metal free dyes. So, it's a (relatively) eco-friendly and skin-friendly choice.
What we like
It's easy to see why this Manduka yoga towel is a community favorite. It's soft, supportive, easy to clean, and lightweight enough to travel with or enjoy beach yoga on a sunny day. The material is highly absorbent and quick-drying, ensuring optimal grip when things get sweaty. It sticks to the mat, lies flat, and doesn't bunch easily - important if you want to transition through poses confidently. It's pricey, but we reckon it will endure sweaty practice and frequent washing, so you won't need a replacement anytime soon. Moreover, it's sold in a range of colors/prints to find the best fit for your vibe.
Reasons to Buy
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Top quality materials
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Absorbent and quick-drying
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Exceptional grip
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Spotted in all ‘best of’ lists.
Reasons to Skip
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Pricey
2. Best Budget: Shandali Hot Yoga Towel
"The best yoga towel for beginners and budget-conscious yogis."
Key Features:
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Style: Yoga Mat Towel
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Size: 72” x 24”
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Material: Microfiber
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Grip: Silicone web
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Weight: 0.7 lbs.
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Colors: 5
Not keen to get spendy over a yoga towel? You can keep the billing under $20 without sacrificing performance traits with the Shandali Hot Yoga Towel. This mat towel is made of eco-friendly microfiber with a silicone web bottom for a secure grip. It has a suede-like skin-feel and can be machine washed for easy cleaning. The webbed version is only available in a deep gray color, but the line of smaller-sized (68") 'GoSweat' towels work well for all mat-based fitness routines.
What we like:
The Shadali Hot Yoga Towel’s is non-slip, sweat-wicking, and super absorbent. It's texture and webbed surface is one of the best designs to endures fluid flows without slacking, slipping, or bunching. The dry grip is excellent and gets even better when wet, so it's a shoo-in for Hot yoga practice. It's slightly thinner than the standard fare, so don't expect much cushioning. But with thousands of glowing reviews, it's a yoga towel you can order with buyer confidence.
Reasons to Buy
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Soft and absorbent fabric
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Webbed bottom for grip
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Amazon bestseller
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Affordable price point
Reasons to Skip
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Not very thick
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Colors may fade over time
3. Best for Hot Yoga: Lotuscrafts Yoga Towel
"The best hot yoga towel for fast, fluid, and sweaty routines."
The Lotuscrafts Hot Yoga Towel is made out of a blend of polyester and polyamide, resulting in a fabric with excellent moisture-wicking and quick-drying abilities. It can be used a lightweight yoga mat, a towel for sweaty sessions, or a hygienic overlay for shared mats. However, this towel best serves hot yoga rigors thanks to a grippy surface and a non-slip silicone coating on the underside. It has excellent traction when dry and optimal grip if you spritz it before a class.
What we like:
Lotuscrafts never fails to impress with their quality and attention to detail, and this hot yoga towel is no exception. Expect a non-slip yoga towel with maximum hold that’s easy to pack and wash frequently. The silicone coating has excellent adhesion, making sure the towel doesn’t slide or bunch during challenging flows. Overall, it strikes the best balance between grip and softness, making it easy to see why it's a top-rated hot yoga towel on both sides of the pond.
Reasons to Buy
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Excellent absorbency and grip
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Ideal for Vinyasa or Hot Yoga
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2k glowing customer reviews.
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Easy on the pocket
Reasons to Skip
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No prints/patterns
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Colors weather with washing
RELATED: 10 Best Yoga Blocks of 2023 (All Styles, Budgets, and Materials)
4. Best For Sweaty Hands: Lutava Flow Yoga Towel
"The best yoga towel for hygiene, easy cleaning, and moderate-paced flows."
The Lutava Yoga Towel is made of polyester and nylon with a 68-inch length. It boasts an antibacterial surface that kills 99% of contaminants and inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria. For those reasons, we picked it as the best yoga towel for sweaty hands or hygiene-concious yogis. The towel has anti-slip dots for superior grip and is available in shades of Taupe and Slate.
What we like
While it may not be a bestseller, there's much to like about this yoga towel. Firstly, it's hard-wearing, waterproof, and has a velvety feel. The antibacterial surface soaks sweat fast, dries quickly, and is easy to clean/maintain - essential qualities if you need a yoga towel to lay over shared studio mats. The anti-slip dots result in an optimal hold, and the reinforced corners prevent bunching while posing.
Reasons to Buy:
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Antimicrobial surface
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Ultra-soft and non slip
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Quick-drying
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Universal size
Reasons to Skip:
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Not the best for Hot Yoga
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Only two colors
5. Best For Ashtanga: Gaiam Active Dry Yoga Towel
"The best yoga towel to prevent bunching during the fluid Vinyasa flows."
The Gaiam Yoga Towel is designed to absorb sweat, dry quickly, and resist odors and harmful bacteria. Moreover, it’s made of hypoallergenic microfiber, making it the best choice for yogis with sensitive skin. Unlike a classic mat towel, this one has stay-put pockets in each corner to prevent fraying or bunching. The yoga towel is available in five weathered shades and can be thrown in the wash for cleaning.
What we like:
This is arguably the best yoga towel for those who absolutely detest bunching - a common issue with entry-level yoga towels. The ‘stay-put’ corners are four pockets that fit a yoga mat’s corners to keep the mat towel from fraying or sliding. Once in place, it grabs the mat with confidence, letting you pose without seconding guessing yourself. But that’s not all, the absorbent material and affordable price make it an excellent choice for all styles and budgets.
Reasons to Buy
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Top-rated yoga towel mat
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Hypoallergenic and soft
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Stay-put corner pockets
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Wallet-friendly price point
Reasons to Skip
- Can skid slightly when dry
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Too thin for a 'travel mat'
6. Best for Beach Yoga: Yoga Design Lab Eco-Printed Hot Yoga Towel
"Plush, premium, and printed - the best yoga towel for a vibrant practice."
The YDL Yoga Towel is an eco-friendly pick made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles and printed with non-toxic, water-based inks. It is available in vibrant patterns and comes with a no-fade guarantee. The non-slip yoga towel boasts a suede-like surface that's highly absorbent and moisture-wicking. It prevents sweat puddles or slipping due to sweaty hands and dries within minutes. The towel is ultra-soft, easy to pack, and can be machine washed as frequently as needed.
What we like:
This is one of the best all-purpose yoga towels to roll over your mat. The colors are soft, the prints are gorgeous, and it folds up compactly, taking up minimal space in a gym bag. For Hot Yoga, the towel has non-slip grips and can be spritzed for maximum hold until you sweat. Moreover, the non-fade print endures repeated washing, making it a durable pick. YDL also offers a 10% discount if you order two or more, which is a great deal because yoga towels are generally bought in pairs.
Reasons to Buy:
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Best eco-friendly yoga towel
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Very soft and absorbent
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Best prints and patterns
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Non-toxic, no-fade inks
Reasons to Skip:
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Better grip when damp
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No plain, solid colors
7. Best For Travel: Jade Yoga Towel
"The best yoga towel if you want something light, absorbent, and easy to pack."
The Jade Yoga Towel is made of highly absorbent polyester fabric that prevents sweat from puddling. It can be placed over your mat to create a stable underlay and prevent skidding or slipping, which are the most common causes of injuries. Moreover, it is softer and lighter than most of the competition, making it ideal for traveling with or packing in a gym bag. The towel is available in 5 colors, with matching hand towels sold separately.
What we like:
This is an excellent multi-use yoga towel for sweaty hands or to use as an added layer for hygiene. It has a fluffy, velvety texture with the best skin-feel among its ilk, so it's a shoo-in for more resotrative routines. The yoga mat towel is capable of absorbing six times its weight in water. Imaginably, sweaty hands are no match for that. But we only recommend it for slow/moderate flows or outdoors practice. There are better towels for Hot Yoga at this price point with regards to grip.
Reasons to Buy:
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USA-made yoga mat towel
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Ultra-soft and absorbent
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1k+ glowing reviews
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Easy to pack and lightweight
Reasons to Skip:
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Needs spritzing for best grip
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Not the best towel for Hot Yoga
Best Yoga Towel of 2023: Verdict
It's easy to tout the Yogitoes Manduka Yoga Towel as the best yoga towel on the market. It's absorbent, quick-drying, and features anti-skid dots that keep the towel in place, no matter what. It look pretty stylish, too.
Frugal yogis and beginners can audition the Shandali Hot Yoga Towel - and affordable towel for yoga that doesn't skimp on performance. It's backed by excellent reviews and built for Vinyasa, Ashtanga, or Hot Yoga rigors.
The Yoga Design Lab Premium Hot Yoga Towel offers the best prints to vibe up your space and practice. This grippy and absorbent towel is excellent for Beach Yoga, sweaty hands, and everything in between.
How to Pick the Best Yoga Towel
Towels on the market vary in size, weight, material, designs (prints), and thickness. Your needs (read: style of yoga) and budget are crucial factors to consider, following aesthetic preferences and availability. Either way, here are some handy tips to keep to pick the best yoga towel for your practice.
Material
The best yoga towel material is anything that's absorbent, lightweight, and non-slip. Most yoga towels are made from blends of polyester, nylon, and/or cotton.
Microfiber yoga towels are easy to maintain and last long, but they aren't an eco-friendly choice and may shed fibers initially. Organic or eco-friendly yoga towels are made of bamboo or cotton threads, but they aren’t as absorbent and can be heavy and bulky when wet. There is another emerging trend of recycled yoga towels made from plastic bottles, which is the best middle ground to consider.
Takeaway: Choose microfiber towels that are eco-friendly and skin-safe.
Yoga Towel Size
The size of yoga towels, along with the thickness, affects the weight, portability, and functionality. The best size for yoga towels is hooked to your space allowance. Most people prefer a mat-sized towel. Larger towels demand more floor space and compact yoga towels are good for studios or outdoor workouts. For travel, you’ll want something that folds small and easy.
Takeaway: A standard yoga mat is 68"-72" (L). Stick to this range for the best results.
Non Slip Surface
The best grip is non-negotiable aspect of a yoga towel. It’s ensures a safe practice while sweating or moving enthusiastically. All yoga towels have great traction, which gets better when you spritz your hands or the towel at the start of class. However, look for ‘anti-skid’ or ‘no-slip’ tags if you want the best hot yoga towel. It shold have inserts on the bottom that keep the mat towel firmly in place. Stay-put corners are also a top-rated feature among customer reviews.
Takeaway: Look for non-slip features like silicone coating, dots, or webbing.
Quick-drying
A yoga towel is layered on top of a yoga mat to improve grip when things get sweaty. So, a good yoga towel should be highly absorbent to reduce the risk of slipping while posing. Microfiber is the best yoga towel material because it's super absorbent and dries quickly. Cotton yoga towels can absorb sweat but do not dry quickly. Secondly, you may need to buy two towels if you practice daily. You'll need a spare towel when the first one is in the laundry.
Takeaway: Pick a sweat-absorbent microfiber yoga towel that dries quickly.
Yoga Towel Thickness
Thickness is a secondary pursuit while shopping for a towel. Generally, a mat provides all the support your joints need. However, a yoga towel can provide extra cushion when paired with a thin yoga mat. Additionally, you can lay a thick mat towel over a standard mat if you have tender joints or fold it and place it under the elbows or knees to use as a yoga knee mat.
Takeaway: The best thickness for a yoga towel depends on your cushioning needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a yoga towel for?
A 'yoga towel' is made of non-abrasive, absorbent, and quick-drying material. Because it's the size and width of a standard yoga mat, you can spread a towel cross-ways over a yoga mat to soak up sweat and prevent slipping or sliding. Moreover, all yoga towels have a grippy base that adheres to the yoga mat and keeps the towel in place while posing, thus improving grip.
Can I use a regular (normal) towel for yoga?
You can use a regular towel for cushioning the joints during yoga or as a layer between you and your mat. But a bath towel may slide as it lacks grip on the surface and bottom. Yoga-specific towels have some form of non slip dots, coating or webbing on the underside to prevent skidding and slippage.
Do you need to spritz a hot yoga towel?
Most towels for yoga are moisture-activated, meaning they have a better grip when wet. Many Hot yoga practitioners are known to spritz their hands or towels at the start of the class to prevent slipping during tricky poses.
What is the best yoga towel for hot yoga?
We recommend the Manduka Yogitoes and Lotuscrafts Towel for hot yoga. Broadly speaking, pick any moisture/sweat activated non slip yoga towel with a grippy base. Moisture activated towels have optimal grip when damp, so can get better results if you spritz them at the start of a class.
Are yoga towels machine washable?
Your can throw yoga towels in the wash after a workout. With most yoga towels, it’s best to machine wash them in cold water and tumble or hang dry. The dos and don’ts vary among products, so check the care instructions for the best results.
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