Yoga Towel
Choosing a Yoga Towel
Yoga towels can look quite similar in the photographs, but the size, material and underside may differ from one design to another.
Some are made to lie across most of a yoga mat. Others are smaller and better suited to keeping beside you during a class. Check the measurements on the individual product page rather than judging the size from the main photograph.
It is also worth looking through the side and close-up pictures. These may show the texture of the fabric, the stitching around the edge and whether the towel has a plain or patterned finish.
Grip Dots and Backing
Some yoga towels have silicone dots or a textured layer underneath. Others have no separate backing at all.
If this feature matters to you, check the underside in the photographs and read the details for that particular towel. Do not assume that every product in the collection has the same type of grip.
The size of the dots and the amount of backing can vary as well. One towel may have small dots spread across the underside, while another may use larger sections of textured material.
Full Mat Towels and Smaller Towels
A full-size yoga towel is intended to cover most or all of a mat, although the exact fit will depend on the measurements of both products.
Smaller towels take up less room in a bag and can be kept nearby during a class. They may be useful when you do not need to cover the whole mat.
Material and Feel
The material is not the same across every towel in the collection.
One may feel smooth and light, while another has a thicker or more textured finish. Printed designs can feel different from plain ones too, depending on how the surface has been made.
Look at the fabric information on each product page. This is more reliable than assuming all yoga towels are made from nylon, polyester, recycled material or any other particular fabric.
Where absorbency is important to you, check whether it is mentioned for the individual towel. It should not be assumed that every design will absorb the same amount or behave in the same way when damp.
Colours and Patterns
Yoga towels are available in plain colours as well as printed designs.
The position of a printed pattern may vary slightly when each towel is cut from a larger piece of fabric. This is normal with many printed products.
A patterned towel can be useful when you want something easy to recognise at a class, while plain colours are simple to match with different mats and bags.
Check the Towel Against Your Mat
“Full-size” can be a bit misleading because yoga mats do not all have the same measurements.
Before ordering, measure the mat you already use and compare it with the size of the towel. A towel may cover one mat from end to end but leave a small gap on another. It might also be slightly wider and hang over the sides.
Checking for Wear
Regular washing will eventually show on most towels.
Start with the edges. Loose stitching, fraying and pulled threads often appear there first. Then look across the main fabric for thin patches or areas that no longer sit properly.
For towels with grip dots or textured backing, turn them over occasionally. You may notice that a few dots have started to flatten, crack or lift away from the material.
One loose thread does not always mean the towel is finished. Avoid pulling it, though, as that can open more of the stitching.
Choosing Between Plain and Printed Towels
This is mostly a matter of taste.
Plain towels are simple and easy to use with different coloured mats. A printed towel gives you more choice and may be easier to recognise when several people have their things together in a studio.
Look at both the full photograph and the close-ups. The full view shows how the design is spread across the towel, while the smaller images may show details in the print that are harder to see at first.
Remember that colours can appear slightly different on another screen or under ordinary room lighting. Printed placement may also vary a little from one towel to another.