Must Have Gear for Hot Yoga: Mats, Towels, Clothes and Accessories

One of the questions I get asked most frequently is about the best gear for hot yoga so today is all about my must have gear for hot yoga. I’m talking everything from mats to leggings to sports bras to hydration mixes and more!

MUST-HAVE GEAR FOR HOT YOGA

Having the right gear for your hot yoga practice is important. When you are properly equipped for a sweaty, hot practice then you are more focused and comfortable on your mat. I’ll never forget some of my early hot yoga classes as I tried different brands of shorts, leggings, mats, towels, etc. I was a bit of a hot mess on my mat…pun intended! I’m going to take some of that guesswork out of it for you guys to ensure that you have just what you need on your mat for a hot class.

Here are the things I highly recommend.

THE BEST HOT YOGA MAT 

I am Manduka Pro for life. I got their basic black pro mat almost seven years ago and my mat is literally still as good as new. They actually come with a lifetime guarantee. My mat has withstood thousands of practices (and its fair share of tears). What I love about the Manduka Pro mat is that it’s thick and supportive and once I lay it out on the floor, it doesn’t move, shift or wrinkle. It’s also think it has a great amount of grip to it and I can often get away with not using a mat towel on top of it (see the next section for more details on that).

The only consideration is that this mat is a little heavy so if you walk or bike to yoga, that may be a deterrent. And while I have the basic black mat, they now offer the Pro in so many awesome colors.

If you’re looking to lighten up a bit, go with the Manduka Pro Lite. It’s a super lightweight version of the Pro but not as thick or wide. I keep one of these in Florida to practice on when I visit my parents. It’s great for taking your mat on the go and also comes in a variety of colors and with a lifetime guarantee.

THE BEST HOT YOGA TOWEL

We sell SO MANY Yogitoes Non-Slip Mat Towels at the studio. And for good reason. The idea behind mat towels is that you place them over your mat for classes where you are super sweaty and find your hands and feet slipping on your mat. The Yogitoes utilize silicone nubs to grip your mat and keep your towel in place.

Tip: your Yogitoes has to be a little damp or sweaty to feel grippy. You will slide on it if the mat is dry and your palms/feet are dry. Either spray the hand/feet areas with water (you’ll find spray bottles in most hot yoga studios) or wait until you start sweating to lay your Yogitoes out on your mat.

Coming in at $60, Yogitoes are a bit of an investment. If you’re looking for something cheaper, check out Manduka’s Equa mat towels. They’re similar to Yogitoes but don’t have the silicone grips. Personally, I like them just as much as Yogitoes and they’re $20 cheaper.

THE BEST HOT YOGA LEGGINGS

My go-to practice uniform these days is patterned leggings and a sports bra. I love, love, love Liquido leggings. They are so lightweight and comfortable for practice but they aren’t see through! Also, they dry super quickly.

I also love DonaJo leggings. They come in at a slightly lower price point than Liquido but I would say the quality, fit, feel and function is similar.

And if basic black or solid colors are more your thing, you can’t beat a pair of Hi-Rise Wunder Under Crops or Align Pants (pictured here) from lululemon. The Align Tank is wonderful too!

THE BEST HOT YOGA SPORTS BRA

I am a lululemon Free To Be Wild addict and I own too many these bras in various styles and colors than I care to admit. You’ll almost always find me wearing this bra. (Check out my yoga flows on my Power Yoga Flow account for proof!) Note, I like to size up in this bra (I wear a 6) and it’s ideal for A-B cups.

If you’re in need of more support I recommend the Energy Bra. It’s great for B-D cups.

THE BEST HOT YOGA TOPS

If you’re looking for something fitted that you don’t have to wear a sports bra underneath,  the lululemon Ebb to Street Tank is a great choice. You can’t beat the comfort with the seamless construction. I prefer fitted tanks for yoga that aren’t going to be flying up in my face in down dog or inversions.

The Align Tank is a new favorite. It’s almost like a hybrid sports bra and tank with it’s cropped fit. So comfy!

MUST-HAVE HOT YOGA ACCESSORIES AND EXTRAS

These Yogitoes headbands are so basic but they work! They stay in place and you can get a 12 pack for just $35. They come in a lot of different colors and I think I own no fewer than 20, haha.

When it comes to hot yoga, hydration is essential for both feeling good during your practice and after. Oftentimes it’s helpful to add an electrolyte replacement to your water for a little something extra. I’ve been using Ultima Replinisher for many years now. It’s vegan, gluten-free and has no sugar, carbs, calories or caffeine. It’s made with plant-based colors and real fruit flavors. They sweeten with stevia leaf (this is pretty much one of the only times I do stevia and it’s not overpowering). They also never add artificial flavors or sweeteners.

Need a bag? I’ve had my Lululemon duffle for over 10 years! They are geniuses at making bags and I swear they think of everything. It includes yoga mat straps that can be put away when you don’t need them, a special compartment for sweaty clothes, a heat resistant compartment for things like your hair straightener, a media pocket and more.

I think that wraps up my top recommendations. I hope you find this helpful and if you’re looking for even more yoga suggestions, check out this post where I break down five of my favorite yoga mats and discuss the positives and drawbacks of each.

QUESTIONS

Tell me about your favorite hot yoga gear!

Are you a headband wearer? I feel like people either are or are not. If so, which do you like? 

Favorite yoga mat? 

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