Why we love it: The 74- by 26-inch towel is equal parts grippy on the bottom and plush on the top, making it a go-to for any mat work. One hot yoga shopper raves: "It stays in place for all 26 postures even when soaking wet." Plus, it's machine washable (on cold) for easy cleaning. I know what you're thinking: "Can I just use my T-shirt?" And because I had the same question, I asked a dermatologist. Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, says it's not that bad in terms of skin health, but it's also not that effective. "Usually these fabrics aren't absorbent, so you're transferring sweat from one location to another," she says. And that's where gym towels come in. If you don't sweat much, there's no need for a towel, Dr. Gohara says, but for everyone else, "gym towels are great for those who feel as though sweat is accumulating on their skin." If sweat sits on your skin for an extended period of time or dries there, it can clog pores, leading to leading to acne and preventing your skin-care routine from properly penetrating your skin. A good rule of thumb is that if sweat drips off your skin, consider a towel, Dr. Gohara says.

Under Armour Project Rock Towel 2-Pack Gym Sports Sweat Under Armour Project Rock Towel 2-Pack Gym Sports Sweat

If regular gym towels leave your sensitive skin scratched and bothered, Love Sweat Fitness founder and certified personal trainer Katie Dunlop has found a solution: "I tried tons of different gym towels from the most expensive to the cheapest, and so far this is one of my favorites for the quality and price. It's soft, so it doesn't scratch my sensitive face, but also actually absorbs."You can use a gym towel to wipe sweat from your face or clean machines when you’re using them. You can also place a yoga towel over your mat before class, as it can absorb sweat and allow you to get a better grip with your hands and feet (this can be especially helpful during hot yoga). 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, as it is absorbent and can be easily thrown in the washing machine,” Zhou says. 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.

Under Armour Sports Quick Dry Sports Gym Tube Towel - 110cm x

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. However, some users note that they are very thin compared to other towels. Following the manufacturer’s care instructions for your gym towel is key. 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. To find the best gym towels, we first asked experts Samantha Zhou, health and mental wellbeing manager at Freedom Dividend, and Fleur Powell, fitness coach at Nordic Lifting, which features every quality gym towel should have. After each use, you can use the embroidered eyelet on the corner of each towel to hang it up if you cannot throw it in the wash right away. However, some users note that the fabric clings to itself, even after a few washes. 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 you can ease into Pigeon pose without worrying about slipping and sliding. However, some users note that the grips can feel uncomfortable under their palms.

Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. Dr. Gohara is all about no-frills cotton towels, which are super absorbent. The towel measures 30 by 16 inches, so there's plenty of surface area to dab your skin dry throughout your workout. (Dr. Gohara recommends patting skin dry and never scrubbing aggressively, which can irritate the skin.) Why we love it: The fact that it's GOTS-certified and claims to be free of toxic chemicals is a huge win. "Many towels are made of synthetic materials and chemicals that can break down into tiny particles that you can inhale and ingest (if they become dust-like particles and are on your fingertips)," Gushée says. Plus, reviewers rave about their incredible softness. The Waffl Towel is easy to toss into your gym bag, as its thin design takes up less space. The waffle pattern isn’t just functional: It’s stylish, too, and comes in a range of bright colors. But the large, embroidered logo may be unpleasant to some. Why we love it: Biking, HIIT, yoga, swimming — no amount of sweat is a match for this super absorbent towel. Form Fitness owner Morit Somers loves the microfiber fabric for it's super soft feel.

gym bags 2022: Duffel, backpack, barrel bags and more Best gym bags 2022: Duffel, backpack, barrel bags and more

As for which towel? You can use the communal ones provided at your gym (they should be fine as long as they're soft and not irritating to your skin), but Dr. Gohara prefers to bring her own from home because then "you know where it's been." Not to mention, there are a ton of cute gym towels out there that you'll be excited to add to your gym bag. Why we love it: Even if you're not sold on the charcoal claims, this towel is undoubtedly soft and absorbent. I've personally had a Facesoft towel for about three years, and I'm impressed with how much sweat it absorbs and how it stays smell-free after so many uses and washes. Gym towels are a must-have in your gym bag. When you’re sweating during a tough workout, a high-quality towel can keep you feeling clean and fresh, so you stay focused. They’re a safety essential, too—use them to absorb sweat and avoid slippery exercise machines. Growing up is realizing exactly how you like your coffee, the importance of proper recovery after a workout, and the self-awareness to BYO gym towel if you're a human sprinkler, like myself.

Why we love it: They come in tons of sizes, so you can choose depending on whether you want a small towel just to wipe up sweat or one to use for drying off from a swim or post-workout shower. There's also a strap with a snap, so you can attach these to a railing or fence to dry, or even onto your tank top strap or a belt loop. They're also machine washable and OK to put in the dryer. Gym towels are designed to fight bacteria and come in a wider range of sizes than bath towels. You may be able to use a gym towel as a bath towel after showering at the gym. But gym towels typically weigh less and dry faster, unlike a standard towel.

Under Armour Sports Quick Dry Sports Gym Towel - 100cm x 30cm

We 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.Did you know that many microfibers are made out of plastics that are harmful to the oceans? When the owners of Facesoft found that out, they started on a mission to introduce a better sweat towel to the market. Their towels are made of 87 percent "aqua-cotton" and 13 percent infused charcoal rayon. The brand says the charcoal will "will pull toxins and impurities from your skin" and re-activates naturally when exposed to heat from the dryer.