10 Best Yoga Bolsters in 2022 | Top Picks + Reviews
Level up your practice with a Hugger Mugger or Lotuscrafts Yoga Bolster.
By PS Editors | Reviewed by Hannah | Last Updated on September 02, 2022.
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Looking for pestorative props to level up your practice?
We've got the best bolster pillows from around the internet.
Round and Rectangular bolsters with a variety of fabrics and fillings.
Also, check out the ten best yoga blocks of 2022.
A bolster is a relatively new addition to a growing list of yoga equipment. Most yogis use these props for deep stretching and relaxation. But we think they make equally lovely seats for long sessions in meditative asanas like Hero Pose or Vajrasana. Being here, we presume you yearn for a restful yoga sesh, too. Research [1] indicates yoga props are the best tools to encourage repose. Plus, a bolster can help with injury prevention, a legit concern in any form of physical activity.
“A yoga bolster can assist in challenging poses, restorative stretches, or relaxation,” says Hannah, Yin Yoga expert. "A bolster under the knees with a weighted lavender eye pillow and a high-quality yoga blanket make Savasana more refreshing than the best nap ever," she gushes.
Still, there are countless yoga bolsters in the online. Finding the right one at the best price can prove to a challenge. Bearing that in mind, we spoke to yoga instructors and influencers to narrow down the attributes of a be-all bolster and create a comprehensive buyer guide.
Here are the best yoga bolsters you can buy online in 2022, according to our research.
What are the Best Yoga Bolsters in 2022
Best Overall: Hugger Mugger Standard Yoga Bolster at Amazon | Read Review
Best Value: Gayo Rectangular Yoga Bolster at Amazon | Read Review
Best Multi-Use: Lotuscrafts Yin Yoga Bolster at Amazon | Read Review
Best Reviews: Ajna Eco Suede Yoga Bolster at Amazon | Read Review
Best Cotton: YogaAccesories Round Yoga Bolster at Amazon | Read Review
Best Round: Sol Living Cylindrical Yoga Bolster at Amazon | Read Review
Best Lightweight: Manduka Enlight™ Yoga Bolster at Amazon | Read Review
Most Versatile: Bean Products Yoga Bolster at Amazon | Read Review
Best Bolster Set: Ajna Wellness Yoga Practice Set at Amazon | Read Review
1. Best Overall: Hugger Mugger Standard Yoga Bolster
Premium materials and exceptional build quality - our top pick for the committed yogi.
The Hugger Mugger Yoga Bolster features foam + cotton felt filling and removable polyester cover with a concealed zipper and built-in carry handles on both sides. The standard-size bolster is medium-firm and the case can be machine washed. Although pricey, the prop delivers bang for your buck if you value quality.
Key Specs and Features:
Case: 100% Cotton, Removable, Machine Washable
Filling: Foam core + cotton felt (80%)
Weighs 5.0 lbs
Colors: 15+
What we think:
Hugger Mugger’s bolster pillow is supportive, durable, and extremely well-crafted. The surfaces are flat and the edges are uniform, and the upholstery-grade fabrics will endure many wash cycles. But, imaginably, the superior quality comes with an uptick in price.
It's hard to nitpick when a yoga bolster does a remarkable job at making awkward poses enjoyable. The core of the bolster is firm and the surface is equally soft. It doesn’t feel lumpy, as bolsters with cotton filling tend to, and holds its shape very well no matter how you use it.
2. Best Value: Gayo Rectangular Yoga Bolster
This highly-rated yoga bolster is a cost-effective way to up-level your practice.
The Gayo Yoga bolster is made in India and features cotton filling with a breathable moisture-wicking pillow case. It's a compact, travel-friendly pillow with eye-catching prints and generous add-ons for the price. You can remove the cover for easy washing. The best part is you can use the extra cover that comes with it in the meanwhile. The bolster is available in two prints and sizes – standard-size (25” x 10.5” x 6.5”) and medium (18” x 11” x 6.5”).
Key Specs and Features:
Cover: 100% Cotton, Washable, Removable
Filling: Cotton batting
Weight: 2.45 lbs
Colors: 2 (Prints)
What we think:
This Gayo prop is the perfect meditation seat or yoga bolster for pregnancy. It is firm and supportive in heart openers or restorative stretches to relieve tension. The rectangular bolster is equally adept in long holds like Child’s Pose or Legs Against the Wall.
The 100% cotton cover is well-stitched, soft, and capable of withstanding several wash cycles. The matching gray cotton travel bag is an excellent add-on if you want to carry your prop to the studio. While it’s a stellar restorative prop and an equally thoughtful gift for yoga lovers.
Related: The Best Yoga Kits for Beginners (For all Styles and Budgets)
3. Best Multi-Use: Lotuscrafts Rectangular Yoga Bolster
Eco-friendly and gorgeous-looking – one of the best bolsters for restorative yoga.
The Lotuscrafts rectangular yoga bolster features an organic cotton cover and an inner case with kapok-wool filling. The cover is a snug fit and sports a drawstring closure as opposed to the standard concealed zipper. But the real charm is in the hard-to-spot details - eco-friendly coloring (non-toxic dyes), fair-practice labor, an elegant appeal, and an ultra-soft feel.
Key Specs and Features:
Organic Cotton case,
Kapok-wool filling
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Colors: 6
What we think:
This is a multi-use yoga bolster bar none. As our first run-in with kapok filling, it left us impressed with how firm but lightweight it is. It’s well-received in the community and available in two sizes and six colors. The color, Bordeaux in our case, was exactly as advertised.
From backward bends to supporting your backside, everything about this bolster is commendable. It feels particularly great in reclined yoga poses after a long day of "computer hunch." What more can you ask for? A discount, perhaps.
4. Best Reviews: Ajna Eco Suede Yoga Bolster
A yoga bolster that is equally great for pranayama, meditation, and an afternoon nap.
Ajna Wellbeing aspires to tread lightly on the Earth while maintaining exceptional quality. Their Yoga Bolster is no different. It’s a non-toxic bolster stuffed with mixed-density recycled foam and topped with a faux (vegan) suede cover. An embossed carry handle allows you to lug it around, and the suede cover can be removed for easy cleaning. These beautiful yoga bolsters are available in five crystalline shades and arrive in thoughtful, eco-friendly packaging.
Key Specs and Features:
Cover: Eco Suede
Filling: Recycled Foam
Weight: 4.8 lbs
Colors: 5
What we think:
Designed for back support and rest, it’s among the best yoga bolsters for relaxation and meditation. Kudos to Ajna Living for cleverly addressing three common complaints: odor, portability, and maintenance. Their bolster is elegant and smells like a peach right out of the box.
It can be put to great use for restorative poses coupled with top-rated yoga blocks. It’s clearly been made by yogis for yogis, with attention to detail and top-notch materials. Plus, it’s one of the highest-rated yoga props in this category on Amazon and other online platforms.
5. Best Cotton: YogaAccesories Round Yoga Bolster
A top-rated round yoga bolster that is eco-friendly, inexpensive, and substantial.
We habitually scout the online market to test popular choices based on customer reviews. That led us to this top-rated round yoga bolster, filled with cotton batting and available in 11 colors. The cover is zippered, removable, and machine-washable. An additional internal zipper allows you to add or remove the filler to alter the bolster’s firmness and height. It costs less than half of name-brand bolsters and is smothered with great customer reviews.
Key Specs and Features:
Cover: 100% cotton
Filling: Cotton batting
Weight: 6 lbs
Colors: 11
What we think:
Our bolster was the blue embroidered version. A few of them have a mandala pattern and others have 2 carry handles – one on each side. Put through the paces, this round bolster feels supportive and buoyant. It’s fairly fluffy due to biodegradable cotton filler.
Our experience echoes other reviews – it’s a fantastic yoga bolster for the price. However, it’s hefty (6 lbs) and a few inches larger than the competition, not something you would want to travel with. But the bolster pillow works great for relaxation, restorative poses, and Yin Yoga.
6. Best Lean: Hugger Mugger Pranayama Yoga Bolster
A uniquely-shaped prop, best used as a second yoga bolster in your collection.
Handcrafted in America, the Hugger Mugger pranayama bolsters are a “specialized prop” – designed for opening the chest and elevating the hips. Made from upholstery-grade fabric, the Hugger Mugger Pranayama Bolster features a 100% cotton and polyester cover. The carrying handle is sturdy enough to lug it to picnics or yoga classes. We prefer earthy shades, but the bolster is available in nine colors and five patterns.
Key Specs and Highlights:
Finish: 100% Cotton
Filler: Cotton
Weight: 2.7 lbs
Colors: 14
What we think:
We explore openers and yoga poses like Reclined Bound Angle Pose, Supta Vajrasana, and Supported Fish Pose. We also used it to elevate the hips in Pranayama and under the knees in Savasana rest. Whether to open up the pecs, lie outstretched, or sit motionlessly in contemplation, Hugger Mugger offers one of the best yoga bolsters for pranayama.
The bolster retains shape without pushing back against the body. It won’t sag after a long meditation session. The high-quality fabric, stitching, low weight, and uniform firmness are its best features. That said, it has niche uses, so it’s best used as a second yoga pillow.
Related: The 5 Best Books to Learn Pranayama
7. Best Round: Sol Living Cylindrical Yoga Bolster
A best selling round yoga bolster with reassuring customer reviews.
Cylindrical or round yoga bolsters conform to your body differently, making them desirable for certain styles of yoga. Among the curvy contenders, Sol Living’s upholstered bolster comes across as an impressive choice. It's reasonably priced considering the smooth-textured, premium cover, and 100% biodegradable organic cotton filling.
Key Specs and Features:
Cover: Premium Cotton
Filling: Cotton
Weight: 4.85 lbs
Colors: 8
What we think:
The Sol Living Bolster does a stellar job of stacking your back, relieving joint stress, and elevating body parts in reclined or supine poses. It's perfectly poised to adorn the day bed once you are done with your yoga session. All in all, it's an eco-friendly, high-quality bolster.
Construction-wise, the bolster is firm, robust, and built to withstand everyday use. The upholstery conceals a zipper to remove the cover to spot clean or machine-wash it. The bolster is firm and easy on the skin. The size and density make it versatile for a regular-sized person. That said, we found it to be more useful for pelvic floor yoga than as a meditation seat. YMMV.
8. Best Lightweight: Manduka Enlight Yoga Bolster
Manduka is famed for crafting top-rated yoga props. This bolster is no different.
Manduka Enlight is available as a rectangular or round yoga bolster stuffed with recycled fiber and topped with a fluffy and moisture-absorbent microfiber cover. The cover has subtle faux suede branding on the carry handle and a concealed zipper.
Key Specs and Features:
Micro-Fiber cover (faux suede)
Recycled Fiber filling
Weight: 2.3 lbs
Colors: 4
What we think:
The Manduka Enlight is one of the best medium-firm classic yoga bolsters for support and relaxation. It’s medium-firm, compact, and durable. At 2.3lbs, it doesn't get more lightweight than this. Plus, the cover fabric is easy to wash and feels great against the skin.
Manduka doesn't divulge the exact details about the foam layers or materials. Note that this is not a full-sized rectangular yoga bolster. It may be right for you if you want a) a lightweight, portable, and/or a travel yoga bolster and b) a plush seat for meditation or pranayama.
9. Most Versatile: Bean Products Yoga Bolsters
A top-rated yoga bolster that spoils you for choice in more ways than one.
Bean Products offers a high-toned, eco-friendly yoga bolster, available in multiple shapes and colors. You can also choose between cotton, hemp, and vinyl covers, resulting in a ton of choices for all styles and budgets. The bolster comprises a foam core wrapped in four layers of cotton and a removable exterior cover with concealed zipper and built-in carry handle.
Key Specs and Features:
Cotton, Hemp, or Vinyl case
Foam Core w/ Cotton wrap filling
Weighs 2.45 lbs
Colors: Multiple
What we think:
A few minutes on top of this studio-grade yoga bolster was enough to add it to our favorites. It is supportive, comfortable, and retains shape well. Factor in the low weight and the reinforced carry handle, and it's the pick of the litter in terms of portability.
On the mat, the bolster is firm enough to support your body and soft enough to work as an underlay. It feels great in supine poses, hip-elevation, and gently supporting the neck or knees during relaxation. A few variants are pricey due to the sustainably sourced, eco-friendly materials. There are several pocket-friendly yoga bolsters to pick for those on a tight budget, too.
10. Best Bolster Set: Ajna Wellness Yoga Practice Set
A mat, bolster, and cushion set if you need the basic equipment to start yoga.
Frankly, there aren't too many of these "sets" to research and verify. We covered one anyway for the sake of variety. In this ultra-niche segment, Ajna Wellness seemingly offers the best yoga bolster set in terms of sustainability, performance, and price.
Key Specs and Features:
A yoga bolster with an eco-suede cover and recycled foam filler.
An organic Jute + PER Reversible Yoga Mat with a Carry Strap
A round Zafu meditation pillow with a velvet cover and buckwheat filler.
What we think:
We have reviewed the Ajna Bolster by itself in the section above, so won't review each of the three products. We will say that all three items are worthy of dominating their individual categories. So, if you want the whole shebang, this one has all the hallmarks of excellence.
Related: The 10 Best Meditation Cushions of 2022 | Top Seats and Pillows for Yoga
Buyer Guide: How to Choose the Best Yoga Bolster
Our top picks range from affordable to premium and specialty yoga bolsters, each with a unique design and use for specific styles of yoga. We put together this brief buying guide to help you narrow down the choices as per your needs.
Shape
A yoga bolster can greatly vary in size and shape. Deviations and oddities notwithstanding, it is generally available in three shapes – round, rectangular, and elongated.
A rectangular bolster is the standard type. It's firm, versatile and stable, favored in all styles of yoga.
A cylindrical or round bolster is firm and less precipitous. The best use for it is under the knees to relax in Corpse Pose or lengthwise for stretches, folds, and openers.
A lean bolster are used to promote better lung function. They are used lengthwise or crosswise in passive poses or as a seat for yoga breathing and meditation.
Filling
A bolster for yoga is typically filled with cotton batting, synthetic fibers/foam, buckwheat, or kapok. The filling determines how a bolster responds to pressure, how well it holds shape, and how you need to care for it. Here are the key characteristics of the most common fillings:
Buckwheat is the heaviest but also the most malleable – it adjusts to your shape.
The behavior of synthetic fibers depends on the materials and number of layers.
Cotton and Kapok yoga bolsters are firm and hold their shape well.
Kapok is a natural plant fiber from the Kapok tree. It is gaining popularity as a yoga bolster filler because it is buoyant, moisture-resistant, and easy to dry. Plus, it weighs one-eighth as much as cotton. Our Best Multi-Use bolster pick (Lotuscrafts) features kapok filling.
Cases or Covers
Covers or pillowcases set the vibe as they are available in a wide range of colors and textures. They are typically made from canvas, cotton, microfiber, or polyester. Most bolster covers have a built-in carry handle and the brand logo etched into them. Generally speaking, there are two types of yoga bolster covers - covers with a concealed zipper or a drawstring cover.
Concealed zippers are less intrusive, but they come off in the long run, especially in entry-level products. We recommend high-quality covers with natural materials and reinforced stitching. They cost more but are sturdy, kind to your skin, and last longer.
Adjustability
Most, if not all, bolsters are adjustable, which means you can add or remove filling to adjust the height and give of the prop. The product may ship with extra filler or it can be an add-on purchase. Regardless of the filler used, even the best yoga bolsters settle over time. Therefore, you may also need to replace it or add more filler as the bolster pillow ages. Cotton bolsters sink the quickest, followed by foam/synthetic fibers, and kapok and buckwheat.
Care and Maintenance
Sweat, oils, and dirt or grime eventually leave the mark on yoga props. No one wants an icky, unhygienic, and smelly bolster, we think. We recommend regularly spot cleaning your bolster when necessary. Let your eyes and nose be the judge on this one.
All bolsters come with removable pillowcases – zippered or drawstring – that are machine washable. Generally, you use mild detergent, cold water, and a gentle cycle. Some products are hand-wash only. Double-check the product label for care instructions before you proceed.
FAQ
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Why Trust Us?
Hannah, a certified yogi and mother of three, holds expertise in rejuvenating stretches and Yin Yoga. She loves restorative props and explores meaningful ways to incorporate them into daily flows. Through independent inquiry and testing, Hannah helped us round up the best yoga bolsters based on materials, durability, pricing, and reliable reviews from verified buyers.