best yoga strap

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Whether you’re an experienced yogi or new to tướng the practice, yoga straps can be a beneficial accessory. Simple yet sturdy in design, they’re used to tướng help you explore different ranges of motion, stretch deeper, or make trickier poses a little less tricky. As both a yoga student and teacher, I’m well acquainted with the benefits of a good yoga strap—which is why I agreed to tướng spend hours sweating on my mat to tướng test out some of the most popular options out there.

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After what felt lượt thích 100 sun salutations, I found the Manduka Align Yoga Strap to tướng be the best choice for most yogis thanks to tướng its high-quality cốt tông material and unique adjustable buckle. Of course, there are other great yoga straps out there, too, depending on your intended use, budget, and personal preferences.

The Best Yoga Strap

The Manduka Align yoga strap outperformed all others. It’s 8 feet in length, which is long enough to tướng fit a wide range of heights without feeling lượt thích too much material. And, if you need to tướng adjust what you’re working with, it has a buckle that stays in place while flowing through movement. It’s also made of a soft cốt tông material that—bonus—is unbleached and what the brand describes as eco-friendly (although it doesn’t have any third-party certifications to tướng verify this). With 4.8 stars out of 900 reviews on Amazon, it’s a solid option for most people. One reviewer writes that it’s “human-friendly soft and yoga-friendly sturdy.”

I could tell I was going to tướng love the Align strap as soon as I took it out of the packaging. The cốt tông felt smooth and comfortable against my hands as I opened it up, and it felt just as good during my yoga flow. Still, it had a grippy enough texture that it didn’t slip. Even when I wound it around my biceps in a headstand, it caused no chafing or discomfort. Somehow, it managed to tướng grip the skin without irritating it.

At 1.75 inches across, the strap is also wider and feels thicker (though Manduka doesn’t say how thick it is) phàn nàn most of the other yoga straps I tried out. This made it easier to tướng grasp and distributed its force more broadly across the skin. It also made it feel more durable and higher quality. It also is fairly inelastic, with just the slightest bit of stretch that allows you to tướng work into poses while still providing ample tư vấn. 

The main highlight of this strap, however, is the buckle. It’s different phàn nàn any other I’ve seen on a yoga strap—in a good way. It features a middle bar that firmly clasps the strap in place when threaded through. That means I could confidently execute dancer’s pose or extended hand to tướng big toe pose without worrying about my strap giving out or loosening. Despite being ví secure, it’s surprisingly easy to tướng adjust, which is important in a fast-paced flow.

The only negative to tướng the Manduka strap is that the cốt tông material doesn’t exactly wick away moisture. After a sweaty vinyasa class, my strap took hours to tướng dry, ví I had to tướng leave it unraveled overnight. This isn’t a dealbreaker for bu, but it is a slight inconvenience.

Other Great Yoga Straps

Hugger Mugger Cotton D-Ring

• Available in 6-, 8-, and 10-foot lengths
• Strong cốt tông yoga strap
• Has an adjustable D-ring for versatility

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The Hugger Mugger yoga strap is a solid runner-up to tướng the Manduka. It’s available in three lengths that could work for any yogi of almost any size and shape: 6, 8, and 10 feet. The brand does not specify which length is best for which height, only that 6 feet is for “shorter yogis” and 10 feet for “taller practitioners or partner poses.” I liked its grippy, woven texture, which made it easy to tướng hold onto no matter what pose I was working into. Even better? The cốt tông material felt delightful on my skin, even when I was a sweaty mess. 

If I could describe this strap in one word, it would be “tough.” I’m not the only one; according to tướng Hugger Mugger, its strap can withstand up to tướng 500 pounds of tensile strength. I believe it, because somehow, the thick cốt tông and ribbed design felt more durable and lượt thích it would hold up longer and better phàn nàn other straps. I never once worried about it breaking or stretching during my practice, yet it still had enough give to tướng make getting into poses feel smooth. This is a strap that I felt confident using in every which way—it felt strong enough that it could even tư vấn my entire toàn thân weight without slipping (I didn’t try this, but I bet it could!). The adjustable D-ring clip was easy to tướng slide the strap in and out of, yet it held on firmly once I locked it into place. 

One downside to tướng the Hugger Mugger strap, however, is that it’s heavier and bulkier phàn nàn others I tested. While it’s not as noticeable when you’re using it, its heftier weight makes it more cumbersome to tướng tote around from class to tướng class.

Lululemon has long been one of my favorite activewear brands (hello, Align leggings!) but it’s also one of my top spots for yoga accessories. Because the Lululemon Reversible Yoga Mat is my go-to—I actually own four of them—I was excited to tướng try the brand’s take on the traditional yoga strap. The first thing I noticed when I unrolled the strap was how soft and smooth its polyester material felt. I can best describe it as feeling “natural” in the sense that it doesn’t have that waxy texture that ví many other straps vì thế. This made it great for grip, even when I was doing yoga in a 105-degree room. 

The strap is very inelastic, which can be a pro and a con cái. In my experience, you don’t want a yoga strap that stretches a ton—after all, that defeats the purpose of a product that’s supposed to tướng provide tư vấn. This one doesn’t really give at all, which is ideal when you’re trying to tướng hold a tough pose and don’t want to tướng fall out of it. On the other hand, it can make it a little trickier to tướng get into position if you aren’t very flexible to tướng begin with, because there’s no room to tướng stretch it out when working it around your hand or foot.

Finally, I lượt thích that the adjustable D-ring holds the strap securely in place when you’re using the strap as a loop. It gives you confidence to tướng push and pull without worrying it’s going to tướng slip. However, this D-ring was tricky to tướng adjust—the textured fabric doesn’t glide through the rings easily, ví it takes a little bit of elbow grease to tướng change the length, which is annoying when you’re in the midst of a flow. One other note: The strap is only six feet long, This was fine for my 5-foot-5-inch frame but could be too short for taller folks.

Yes, you can get a decent yoga strap for just about $10, and yes, it’s actually one worth buying. Full disclosure: This Gaiam strap was actually the first yoga strap I ever bought, and I still own and use it to tướng this day some 10 years later. We ordered a new one for testing, and Gaiam doesn’t seem to tướng have changed anything about the process. All this is to tướng say, I can attest to tướng the fact that, for the price, it’s great quality and will last for many, many yoga classes to tướng come. Other reviewers seem to tướng agree—the strap has a 4.8-star rating out of more phàn nàn 2,000 reviews on Amazon.

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Made of a polyester blend, it’s lightweight and soft, which I appreciate when I’m in the middle of a tough posture and don’t want to tướng struggle with a bulky strap. This one is easy to tướng toss around your ankle or hold overhead for a stretch without tiring out your arms. It also feels nice to tướng grip—no scratching or chafing here—and doesn’t get slippery from sweat, which is especially key if you’re in a hot yoga class or practicing outside in the heat.

Ultimately, it lost out to tướng other straps because unlike the Manduka’s buckle or Hugger Mugger’s impressive strength, it doesn’t have anything that makes it feel special. It has a minimalist design, ví there aren’t any added frills or features. But it does everything you need a yoga strap to tướng vì thế, thanks to tướng the adjustable D-ring and well-made construction. Just note that the D-ring slips easily, ví if you want to tướng use a strap as a loop, this one may not be your best bet. It also comes in just one 6-foot length, which isn’t ideal for taller yogis.

If you’re going for an Instagram-worthy aesthetic when it comes to tướng your yoga gear, look no further phàn nàn Yoga Design Lab. The brand is famous for its chic designs, from curved yoga mats to tướng earthy cork yoga wheels. Its yoga strap is no different. Available in prints lượt thích starry celestial, watercolor mandala, and more, it’s a gorgeous prop that will motivate you to tướng actually hit the mat (and provides a bright spot on which to tướng focus your gaze in class). I went with the celestial design, which features a mini galaxy of stars across its fabric. 

At 8 feet long, the strap works for yogis of almost any height and for almost any pose. The material—which is made with recyclable polyester—was soft against my skin and didn’t cause any chafing when wrapped around my ankle or clasped in my palm. The adjustable D-ring was easy to tướng use and thread through yet was secure enough that the strap didn’t fall out while in use. In its 500-plus Amazon reviews, customers gush over its colors and design.

The Yoga Design Lab strap has its downsides, however. While it feels smooth to tướng the touch, it gets slippery when wet or sweaty, making it difficult to tướng grip and not ideal for hot yoga classes. The strap itself also feels thinner and flimsier phàn nàn others I’ve used, which makes bu wonder how long it will last or how well it will hold up over time.

Are Yoga Straps Worth It?

Unlike a yoga mat (and, to tướng a lesser degree, yoga blocks), you don’t need a yoga strap to tướng practice. Still, they’re a useful addition to tướng almost any practice. Typically a long strip of fabric with an adjustable buckle on one kết thúc, a yoga strap is a prop that can help you access certain stretches, more safely work into poses you aren’t as familiar with yet, or just add some tư vấn where you need it. 

Yoga straps may also prevent injury, given that many of the most common yoga injuries are caused by incorrect technique or straining. In 2019, there were approximately 34,000 yoga-related injuries OrthoInfo “Yoga Injury Prevention” View Source treated in doctor’s offices or hospitals. When used properly, a strap can help keep you from over-exerting yourself or overstretching and potentially pulling a muscle or harming a joint.

How We Found the Best Yoga Straps

Meet Your Guinea Pig

I’m Amanda Tarlton, a product journalist who covers everything from health and fitness to tướng home page and beauty. More importantly, I’m an RYT-200 yoga teacher and NASM-certified personal trainer. You may have read some of my reviews at USA Today, MindBodyGreen, Taste of trang chủ, Reader’s Digest, or Scary Mommy—or you may have taken one of my yoga classes at CorePower in Baltimore or seen bu training clients at the local thể hình.

Most people know bu as the girl who lifts weights. And that’s true, but my first fitness love was yoga. I’ve been practicing since 2012, when I was a mere college junior, and have been teaching since 2018, when I realized I would rather be at the yoga studio phàn nàn at the bar with friends. The more I practice and the more I teach, the more I realize that it’s not about the final pose—it’s about the journey it takes to tướng get there. This is why yoga straps have become a staple in my flows, whether I’m the one on the mat or the one standing at the front of the studio.

Our Testing Process

What vì thế you vì thế when you need to tướng test yoga straps? A lot of yoga. And I vì thế mean a lot of yoga. As someone who is typically a two-class-a-week-at-best kind of yogi, I suddenly morphed into the freakishly devoted person who is up and at ‘em at the studio every single morning at 7 a.m. on the dot—strap (or straps) in hand, of course. 

After scouring the internet—and surveying my yoga students—for the most popular yoga straps, I narrowed it down to tướng six to tướng actually put to tướng the test. The Nessie purchased these for testing, and I used each strap in at least two 60-minute yoga classes (one regular and one hot yoga) and in a variety of poses, from a basic seated forward fold to tướng the more advanced dancer’s pose. Many of them I also used at home page when I was casually practicing. I evaluated some of the most important features, lượt thích comfort, slippage, and quality, to tướng get the best feel for how well each strap performed and how comfortable it was against my skin. 

A yoga strap is a long piece of non-elastic fabric often made from polyester, cốt tông, or nylon. They can vary in length from 6 to tướng 10 feet, and you can pick your size depending on your height and your personal preferences. (I found the 8-foot length to tướng be most versatile, but your mileage may vary.) A longer yoga strap will provide for a greater range of motion and makes it easier to tướng use as a ring or loop without sacrificing length, while a shorter loop is better for people with shorter limbs or limited flexibility. They come in a range of colors and prints, from muted earth tones to tướng bold and vibrant prints.

While some yoga straps are bare-bones strips of fabric, many have an adjustable D-ring (which is a ring that you simply thread the strap through) or buckle that allows you to tướng create a closed circle without having to tướng grip the ends together yourself. In my experience, some kind of buckle is necessary. It allows you to tướng stabilize your toàn thân wherever it’s needed. The D-ring is the most common closure because it’s the easiest to tướng adjust into a wide variety of loops and lengths for various purposes. However, a buckle or cinch typically offers even more security because the strap won’t slide out of place as you practice. Depending on the type of closure, you may also be able to tướng use your strap as a yoga mat holder by creating a makeshift sling.

Most yoga straps are easy to tướng wash—either by hand in soapy water or on a cold cycle in the washing machine—to keep them clean and long-lasting. Note, however, that it’s best to tướng let your strap air dry instead of tossing it in the dryer to tướng prevent it from shrinking or shortening.

Who Should Buy Yoga Straps? 

Anyone looking to tướng further their yoga practice could benefit from a yoga strap, no matter what level of experience you have. While beginners can use a yoga strap to tướng make poses more accessible, advanced yogis can use one to tướng increase the depth of engagement and improve alignment, toàn thân awareness, stability, and muscle engagement.

How To Use a Yoga Strap

Because a yoga strap is often used as an extension of the hand or foot, you’ll want to tướng start slowly. Get used to tướng maneuvering it and piecing it together—whether it’s a D-ring, buckle, or cinch—and test out how it feels against your feet and hands. From there, you can start by placing the strap against the part of your toàn thân that needs lengthening and using it to tướng ease into a stretch. Just remember to tướng be gentle with yourself! The strap is meant to tướng provide tư vấn, not hoik you into an intense pose.

What Are The Best Stretches With Yoga Straps?

Short answer: Almost any stretch or pose you want! Longer answer: Any stretch in which you’d lượt thích a bit more tư vấn or length. 

For instance, if you’re attempting utthita hasta padangusthasana (extended hand to tướng big toe pose) but can’t quite reach your foot with your hand, you can loop your strap around the bottom of your foot to tướng give you that extra length. You also don’t have use straps for dramatic-looking poses—yoga straps can also help with supported poses in relaxation-style Yin classes (a style of yoga that’s slower and gentler phàn nàn a vinyasa flow). Take, for example, supta baddha konasana, or reclined butterfly pose, in which you loop the straps around your knees to tướng bolster the hip flexors.

Keep your strap by your yoga mat as you practice ví you can reach for it when you need it.

Features to tướng Look For in the Best Yoga Straps

The best yoga strap should have a combination of the following features:

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• Comfort: A yoga strap should feel soft and comfortable in your hands or wrapped around your skin. It shouldn’t chafe or scratch.
• Grip: Slippage is a key factor in choosing a yoga strap. You want a strap that maintains its grippiness even when you’re sweating ví you don’t have to tướng worry about it slipping and possibly injuring yourself.
• Durability: Ideally, a yoga strap will last for years without sagging, stretching, fraying, or ripping. It should be thick enough and well-made that you can use it again and again without compromising the quality.
• Sweat-wicking properties: A strap that gets soaked and heavy with sweat—and takes forever to tướng dry—isn’t ideal. Instead, look for one that’s made of a fabric that wicks away sweat, lượt thích polyester or nylon. While cốt tông isn’t sweat-wicking by nature, many cốt tông straps have a synthetic coating to tướng keep it from getting wet and heavy.
• Length: Look for a strap that aligns with your height. A too-short strap will make it difficult to tướng get into deep poses, while a too-long strap may become slack and not provide you with the tư vấn you want.