Yoga Towels in Bali: What to Look For and Where to Buy
Published by Yoga Republik · Canggu, Bali
Bali's yoga scene is one of the most active in the world — Canggu and Ubud alone have more studios per square kilometre than most cities, and the calendar runs from early morning Mysore practice through late evening Yin. If you're practising here for more than a few days, especially in any heated or dynamic class format, a yoga towel is worth having.
What you find in Bali varies a lot in quality. This guide covers what to look for and where to buy one worth keeping.
Why Bali Specifically
Bali's climate is the main factor. Even without a heated room, the ambient temperature and humidity during the dry season (May–October) make a meaningful difference to how much you sweat in a physical practice. Outdoor shalas — open-sided practice spaces, which most Canggu studios use — are beautiful but not climate-controlled. By the time you're 20 minutes into a Vinyasa flow in an outdoor shala at 10am, you need grip support.
In the wet season (November–April), the humidity increases further. Hot yoga classes, which run year-round across Canggu, add another layer: studios like Radiantly Alive, The Practice, and others maintain heated rooms where sweat levels make a skidless towel effectively mandatory.
If you're doing studio classes, a yoga towel also keeps you off shared mat surfaces — a basic hygiene consideration when studio mats see multiple practitioners per day.
What to Look For
Full mat coverage. The towel should cover your entire mat — standard is 183 x 66 cm. A full-size towel gives you consistent surface under your hands and feet throughout the practice, without needing to reposition.
Microfiber construction. Microfiber (typically 80% polyester, 20% polyamide) absorbs sweat rapidly, dries fast, and — crucially — grips better as it gets wetter. A standard cotton or synthetic towel becomes slippery when wet; microfiber does the opposite.
Silicone grip underside. The underside is what stops the towel from sliding on your mat. Silicone nubs across the full base hold the towel in position under load and lateral movement — the kind of force you apply in wide-legged poses, lunges, and side planks. A towel without a proper grip backing will shift mid-practice.
Lightweight and packable. You're probably practising across multiple studios or carrying your towel to and from class. A mat towel should fold to roughly the size of a folded t-shirt and add minimal weight to your bag.
Washable. It needs to be washed regularly. Cold machine wash and air dry is the standard care — avoid fabric softener, which reduces absorbency, and high-heat drying, which degrades the silicone backing over time.
What You'll Find in Bali
Market and surf shops sell generic fitness towels that look similar to yoga-specific towels. Price is low; quality is inconsistent. Many use a flat rubber backing instead of silicone nubs, which grips less effectively. Material is often standard polyester rather than high-density microfiber, so wet performance is poor.
Studio gift shops sometimes stock towels from the same brands whose mats they use (Manduka, Jade). These are reliably well-made but priced at international retail.
Dedicated yoga equipment stores like Yoga Republik carry house-brand towels at Bali pricing — better quality than market alternatives, without the international markup.
The YR Skidless Mat Towel — Rp 800,000
The YR Skidless Mat Towel is designed for Bali conditions: hot yoga, Vinyasa, and high-humidity practice where grip is the primary issue.
Size: 183 x 66 cm — covers a standard yoga mat fully.
Surface: High-density microfiber (80% polyester, 20% polyamide). Fast-absorbing, quick-drying, gets stickier as it wets out. Soft enough to be comfortable in restorative poses, structured enough to hold position under dynamic movement.
Underside: 100% silicone with grip nubs. Holds the towel firmly on the mat regardless of how much movement or pressure is applied from above.
Colourways: Gray, Blue, Light Pink, Purple, Green.
Care: Cold machine wash, no fabric softener, air dry.
Shop the YR Skidless Mat Towel →
Can You Fly Home With It?
Yes. A mat towel folds to compact size and weighs under 500g — it fits easily in carry-on luggage and won't trigger any security issues. If you've been renting studio mats or getting by without one and regret it, it's also one of the more practical souvenirs from a Bali yoga trip.
Where to Find Us
Yoga Republik Jl. Batu Mejan No. 2-88, Canggu Open daily 9am–9pm
Close to Batu Bolong Beach and the main studio strip in Canggu. We stock yoga mats, props, activewear, and equipment — come in if you want to see the towel in person before buying.
Online: yogarepublik.com/products/yr-skidless-mat-towel Ships internationally to Australia, Europe, and the UAE.