We Tested 19 Yoga Towels—These 9 Provide Anti-Slip Grip and Soft Support

We Also Tested

Out of the 19 yoga towels we tested, only nine made the cut for our final list of recommendations. While there were some positive features that we liked about these yoga towels, they ultimately didn’t meet our expectations:

• Alo’s Grounded No-Slip Towel has a good grip when wet but not so much when dry, especially the logo area at the top of the mat. We also noticed that the material and texture are not as comfortable as those of other towels we tested. 
• b, halfmoon’s gripster towel felt durable and comfortable, but it didn't provide a strong grip and felt slippery during yoga class. We were also disappointed by the lack of water absorption it provided, especially because it falls on the higher end price-wise compared to other yoga towels.
• IUGA’s Non Slip Yoga Towel absorbed moisture quickly, but this made it feel cold and damp. The yoga towel also bunched up easily causing discomfort and distraction. 

What to Look for in a Yoga Towel 

• Moisture-Wicking and Quick-Drying Material: Yoga towels are most often used for hot yoga or yoga classes that are more physically challenging and cause you to sweat. Because sweat and moisture can lead to slipperiness, yoga towels are used for mopping up sweat and preventing potential slips and tweaks that can lead to injury. Look for a towel that is absorbent and quick-drying and made from fabrics such as polyester, nylon, polyamide, or microfiber.
• Non-Slip Surface: A non-slip surface is essential if you practice yoga on your yoga towel. Devon Young, E-RYT 500, a yoga teacher and trainer at Black Swan Yoga in Dallas, recommends looking for a yoga towel with grip on the bottom to prevent slips and a soft texture on the top to avoid skin irritation.
• Size: The size you need depends on your yoga class type and space allowance. A larger towel is beneficial for classes that include movements that take up a lot of floor space and that have a lot of room available to you. However, a more compact towel might be necessary if the class space is tight. You also want to consider the size when thinking about transporting it. A lightweight or shorter towel, like a travel towel, may be easier to pack and carry.
• Easy Care and Maintenance: Before washing your yoga towel, make sure to air-dry it to decrease the sweat smell, says Young. Follow the instructions on your particular yoga towel's label. Or, play it safe by handwashing your towel, especially if it’s a mat-towel hybrid that might degrade in the washing machine. Use a mild detergent and avoid bleach, heat drying, or ironing. 

How We Tested the Yoga Towels

To find the best yoga towels, we tested 19 top options in our Lab and in the real world. We tested each option during multiple yoga flows at different intensities. When testing yoga towels, we evaluate each option based on the following key criteria: 

• Absorbency: To determine a yoga towel's absorbency, we pay attention to how well the towel absorbs sweat during a yoga session. We also note any pooling of moisture on the towel’s surface—when moisture is present, we look for an even distribution across the towel. We favor towels that don’t hold on to sweat during heated yoga sessions and compare any differences in absorbency among the towels we test.
• Grip: While practicing multiple sun salutation A series, we note whether the yoga towel causes us to slip or bunches and moves under our feet. We also consider whether the towel adds confidence to our practice by maintaining stability and grip. We note whether it improves our grip during intense and dynamic yoga poses.
• Design: When evaluating the towel’s design, we consider its size, coverage, and ease of use. We note whether the towel covers our entire yoga mat and whether it’s versatile enough to accommodate various yoga mat sizes and shapes.
• Durability: Durability is an important feature of a yoga towel. When assessing durability, we look at the quality of the yoga towel and note whether or not we think it’ll last through multiple uses and washes. We also look for any signs of wear and tear and note if the yoga towel maintains its structure after being washed. We want to see if there is any discoloration or stretching or if the towel holds onto any odor even after being washed.
• Comfort: Overall comfort can determine whether or not you want to reuse a yoga towel. From the first down dog to the last, we want our skin to feel comfortable and not irritated. We consider the overall texture of the material and how it feels against our skin. We also note whether the material feels breathable, allowing for comfortable airflow during the practice.
• Value: We don't check each yoga towel’s price until the end of the testing period to assign a value score. From there, we consider whether it’s priced fairly based on its performance and whether we would purchase it at its current price point.

Our Experts

We consulted two yoga instructors to help us determine what key features to look for in a good-quality yoga towel. Kenza Lo provided input on the testing methodology and helped us understand the primary purpose and benefits of using a yoga towel. Devon Young, on the other hand, helped us understand what specific features to look for and consider in a yoga towel based on different types of yoga styles and personal needs. Although we select our products on our own, these experts provided invaluable insight: 

• Kenza Lo, RYT, Corepower yoga instructor based in New York City 
• Devon Young, E-RYT 500, a yoga teacher and trainer at Black Swan Yoga in Dallas

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you use a yoga towel?

A smaller, hand-sized yoga towel can be used to wipe away sweat and moisture from your body, feet, and hands. A larger yoga towel can be placed over your mat to absorb moisture and prevent slipping. Some yoga towels are mat hybrids that offer a grippy bottom. In this case, you can use the mat towel as you would a regular yoga mat. However you use it, it's an essential yoga accessory every yogi should have.

What’s the difference between a yoga mat and a yoga towel?

A yoga mat is a cushioned, grippy surface on which to practice yoga. It provides a clean and safe space for your hands, feet, and body to touch. A yoga towel’s fabric is similar to that of a regular towel, but it’s grippier and made of a different material meant to absorb sweat and add additional cushioning when placed on top of a yoga mat. Yoga towels absorb moisture to prevent you from slipping and getting injured.

Why Trust Verywell Fit

Stephanie Mendez, RDN, RYT, CPT, is a registered dietitian, RYT-500 yoga instructor, and NASM-certified personal trainer. With 15+ years of experience as a yoga practitioner, Stephanie has spent hundreds of hours on her yoga mat, taking various types of yoga classes and training. From powerful vinyasa flows to long holds in hot yoga classes, Stephanie knows how to find the right yoga towel to help support various needs. 

Additional reporting contributed by Rachel Morris

Rachel Morris is a freelance health and wellness writer and content consultant. She’s also a former editor of Dr. Oz The Good Life magazine, Woman's Day, and Weight Watchers, and she has six years of experience in the health and wellness journalism world.