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We Found the 8 Best Gym Towels To Make Your Sweaty Workouts More Enjoyable
Our top picks are moisture-wicking and quick-drying to get you through any workout
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Amanda Berkey is a NASM-certified personal trainer. She has written about fitness and wellness for a multitude of publications, including Business Insider, and more.
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Michelle Parente, CYT, is a New York City-based yoga sculpt instructor and lifestyle journalist specializing in health, wellness, and fitness content. As a commerce writer, it's Michelle's mission to provide researched and reliable product recommendations.
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Kristin McGee is a certified personal trainer and currently teaches yoga and meditation for Peloton. She is also certified in Pilates by the National Association of Sports Medicine.
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Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist who has covered technology, finance, sports, and lifestyle.
Verywell Fit / Alexander Huang
When you’re sweating through a tough workout, the best gym towels can keep you feeling clean, fresh, and focused. A gym bag essential, gym towels also serve as a safety precaution, helping to absorb slippery sweat from your body and exercise equipment for safe handling. Fleur Powell, fitness coach at Nordic Lifting, stresses the importance of absorbency when choosing towels—opt for ones that strike the right balance, being sufficiently absorbent without being overly thick or heavy, which could lead to discomfort and bacteria buildup.
To find the best gym towels on the market, we first consulted experts to learn more about the benefits and key features to look for when shopping. Then, we researched dozens of highly rated options from trusted brands. To narrow down our search, we considered each towel's materials, size, care instructions, and additional features.
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Machine washable
Quick-drying
Comes with storage pouch
Colors may bleed
Key Specs
Material: Polyester, nylon | Sizes: 10” x 14”, 16.5” x 36”, 25” x 54”, or 36” x 59” | Care: Machine wash
Why We Love It
PackTowl’s Personal Towel is our top pick because it has an antimicrobial treatment to prevent odors from building up. We also love that it comes with a convenient storage pouch. It’s thin and lightweight and comes in various colors and sizes: Choose from a face, hand, body, or beach towel.
Absorbency is key when it comes to finding the right gym towel, and this one can hold up to four times its weight in water. Whether hiking the trails or toweling off after a tough workout, this durable towel can do it all. Sore arms following a lifting session? No worries—it’s easy to wring out your towel in seconds.
Potential Flaws
- While this towel is machine washable for easy care, some users have noted that the dye can bleed. Consider washing your towel before using it to prevent any bleeding.
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Verywell Fit / Alexander Huang
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Verywell Fit / Alexander Huang
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Verywell Fit / Alexander Huang
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Lightweight
Absorbent
Soft material
May fray over time
Key Specs
Material: Cotton | Sizes: 16” x 27” | Care: Machine wash separately
Why We Love It
Looking for a simple stack of towels you can keep on hand whenever you’re ready to hit the gym? We recommend Utopia's While Salon Towels. Keep a in your gym bag to get out the door fast—since you get 24 towels in one pack, you’ll never have to worry about not having a clean towel ready when you want to squeeze your workout in. And you will also have enough to keep a couple by your treadmill desk if you happen to break into a sweat.
While this set is more expensive than other single towels on our list, the price works out to under $2 a towel. Made of 100% cotton, these towels are lightweight and absorbent. And we like that they’re soft yet strong enough to wipe down sweaty gym machines easily.
Potential Flaws
- Some users note that the towel's edges may fray over time. But considering the cost-effective pack, we think this minor inconvenience is outweighed by its affordability.
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Multiple ways to use
Magnetic closures
Wide range of colors
Only lasts for two hours
May be less absorbent compared to other options
Key Specs
Material: Fabric, magnets, non-toxic cubes | Sizes: Not listed | Care: Machine wash
Why We Love It
Cool Links' Instant Cooling Towels help you stay comfortable in hot weather and heated classes. Whether you prefer to wet them or fill them with pre-frozen cubes, you’ll get around two hours of cooling relief. Even as the cubes melt, you won’t have to worry about condensation damaging your workout.
We like that the cubes won’t weigh you down–even a frozen towel weighs just 1 pound. Magnets hold the cubes in while you sweat, while an additional magnetic tab keeps the towel comfortably around your neck and shoulders.
Potential Flaws
- The cooling effect only lasts two hours, though that should be enough time to get you through a workout.
- While these towels aren’t meant to absorb sweat, they are moisture-wicking.
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Wide range of colors and patterns
Soft fabric with good grip
Quick-drying
Colors may bleed
Key Specs
Why We Love It
From a brand known for its high-quality leggings, lululemon’s The Towel is our pick for a quick-drying gym towel that can take you from your yoga class to the shower. We love that it has the absorbency of a cotton towel while still providing the softness and grip expected from a tech fabric. (For even more grip during hot yoga classes, you can lightly spray the top side of The Towel with water.)
While it’s large enough to cover your entire yoga mat, it also rolls up into a small, lightweight bundle that can easily fit in your gym bag. Caring for The Towel is simple—it’s ready to toss back in your bag after a quick wash.
Potential Flaws
- Some users noticed that the colors can bleed onto yoga mats, especially with the darker patterns.
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Verywell Fit / Alexander Huang
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Verywell Fit / Alexander Huang
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Good grip
Can be used dry or wet
Made with sustainable materials
Silicone grips may be uncomfortable for some
Key Specs
Material: Recycled polyester, polyester, nylon | Sizes: Standard yoga mat (68” x 24” or 71” x 24”) or long yoga mat (79” x 24”) | Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low or hang dry
Why We Love It
We recommend Manduka’s YogiToes Yoga Mat Towel for a yoga towel that can take heat during hot yoga classes. It’s available in several modern colors and patterns and comes in two large sizes. Silicone grips anchor the towel firmly to your mat so that you can ease into Pigeon pose without worrying about slipping and sliding.
We also like that you can layer this towel on top of your yoga mat dry or spray it with water for an even better grip. Rest assured that your hands and feet will stay put, no matter how tough your class gets.
Potential Flaws
- While the grips help prevent sweaty skin from slipping, some users note that they can feel uncomfortable under their palms
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Wide range of colors
Soft material
Convenient size
Long drying time
May fade in wash
Key Specs
Material: Cotton | Sizes: 20” x 30” | Care: Machine wash warm or cool, line dry or tumble dry low
Why We Love It
Ready to add some luxury to your next workout? Brooklinen's Super Plush Hand Towels are the best ultra-plush cotton gym towels on the market. They’re large enough to drape over the treadmill when you still have many miles left but small enough to easily tuck into your gym bag next to your favorite sneakers.
Since these towels come in packs of two, you can toss one in the wash after each gym session and still have a second ready to go.
Potential Flaws
- Some gym goers say these towels can take a long time to dry, so you may want to up the drying time for each cycle.
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Absorbent
Quick-drying
Comes with travel case and carabiner
Carrying case is heavy
Key Specs
Material: Polyester | Sizes: 52” x 24” | Care: Machine wash
Why We Love It
For a full-size towel that you can easily bring with you on the trail or to the gym, we recommend Matador’s Nanodry Towel. This quick-drying towel makes it easy to dry off after your shower and get moving. It’s absorbent but lightweight, so you won’t be hauling around a wet towel all day.
The Nanodry also comes with a travel case and a carabiner. And we like that the towel has a front-release buckle, so you can hang it up wherever you are.
Potential Flaws
- Some users note that the carrying case can feel heavy, so you may want to fold it up and tuck it into your bag instead.
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Anti-odor
Quick-drying
Budget-friendly
May be too thin for some
Key Specs
Material: Microfiber | Sizes: 44” x 16.5” | Care: Machine wash
Why We Love It
Desired Body’s Fitness Gym Towels are our best microfiber pick—and they come in a set of two. They’re compact and ideal for carrying around the gym, whether you’re looking for something to wipe down machines or to keep you cool and dry. Gymgoers love the way these towels remain odor-free, even after multiple uses.
We like the loop on each towel, which makes it easy to hang them to dry after each wash. And at a bargain price for two, they’re also budget-friendly.
Potential Flaws
- Some users say that these towels are thinner compared to others, but this thinness actually aids in their quick-drying capability.
What to Look For When Shopping For Gym Towels
- Materials: The type of material that’s best for you will depend on how you plan to use your gym towel. Cotton is a popular choice because it's absorbent and can be easily thrown in the washing machine, says Samantha Zhou, health and mental wellbeing manager at Freedom Dividend. Microfiber is a better fit for activities like hot yoga, where you’re depending on your towel to provide some grip. Gym towels made with materials like polyester and nylon tend to be more durable and will likely hold up to repeated use and washes.
- Size: If you're looking for a towel to simply absorb sweat while you're working out, you may need a smaller towel. Conversely, if you need a towel to use after the shower at the gym or to layer on top of your yoga mat, opt for a larger size. Or, grab a towel that’s available in multiple sizes so you can choose the right one depending on your plans for the day.
- Care: It is key to follow the manufacturer’s care instructions for your gym towel. A simple machine wash is enough for many towels, but others require hand washing. Drying instructions may also vary, and you may need to dry your towels separately from the rest of your laundry.
- Additional Features: You may want to look for a carrying hook or case, which can be helpful in getting your towel to and from the gym. Many yogis also enjoy hot yoga towels with grips that can be used wet or dry to enhance their practice. And an included loop for easy hanging can help absorbent towels dry even more quickly.
How We Selected the Gym Towels
To find the best gym towels, we first asked experts which features every quality gym towel should have. Then, we researched dozens of towels from the most trusted, popular brands. To narrow down our research, we considered each product's materials, size, care instructions, and additional features.
Our Experts
We consulted experts throughout our research and reporting stages of this story. Both experts helped us understand the benefits of using gym towels and what key features (including materials, size, and more) to look for when shopping for one. While we select products to recommend independently, we use our experts to guide our selections.
- Samantha Zhou, health and mental wellbeing manager at Freedom Dividend
- Fleur Powell, fitness coach at Nordic Lifting
Why Trust Verywell Fit
Amanda Berkey is a NASM-certified personal trainer, former group exercise instructor, and health coach. She has been working as a freelance health and fitness writer for seven years. She has also written for The Personal Trainer Development Center and Fitness Together.
Additional Reporting by Michelle Parente
As an experienced health and wellness writer, Michelle Parente is passionate about making great product recommendations. She specializes in health and fitness, understanding the importance of making informed and reliable recommendations.
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