Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Health & Fitness
  3. Best Ofs

The Best Yoga Gear for Getting Into Shape

By
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There’s a lot of yoga gear out there and it’s not just about yoga mats, but what’s on offer is most certainly not all created equal. Subpar yoga gear falls apart, slips when you need it to grip, and sometimes it looks just plain trashy—and no one wants to look trashy while in downward dog pose. Quite the opposite. You want the best yoga gear, and we’re here to share the latest and greatest.

Man doing yoga on a yoga mat.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Each and every item included in this roundup has been tested first-hand. No cribbing from Amazon reviews here. The products below have been through a multitude of stretching sessions by this reviewer, and you can count on their quality.

Enough fanfare—on to the best yoga gear for 2022.

Best Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat: Manduka EKO Yoga Mat

Manduka EKO Yoga Mat being unrolled.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

First of all, this is a great yoga mat in general. It’s got all the grip, comfort, and durability that you could want. What’s really unique about this mat, however, is that it’s made out of biodegradable, non-Amazon-harvested rubber, making it a healthy choice both for your yoga practice and the planet.

Buy at Amazon Buy at Walmart

Best Aligning Yoga Mat: Pharamond Life Pro Yoga Mat with Asanaalign

purple pharamond life yoga mat
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This yoga mat not only has great grip and a soft, pleasantly cushioned surface, but its surface features crosshatched markings that help with aligning your pose. It’s also super durable and will last a lifetime.

Best Colored Yoga Mat: Lululemon Take Form Yoga Mat

Half-rolled Lululemon Take Form Yoga Mat.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There’s something extra relaxing about using yoga gear that is pleasing to the eye. These yoga mats from Lululemon are available in pleasantly unique colors and patterns. At the same time, they deliver outstanding quality in terms of comfort and grip.

Buy at Lululemon

Best Yoga Wheel: Reehut Yoga Wheel

Gray and blue green Reehut Yoga Wheel.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are a lot of yoga wheels out there, but few are as all-around perfect as this one from Reehut. It’s super strong, capable of holding up to 330 pounds, and its foam padding won’t slip and injure you when you’re deep in your backbend. This is a lifesaver for anyone dealing with chronic back pain.

Buy at Amazon

Best Yoga Blocks: Decathlon Domyos Foam Yoga Block

Decathlon Domyos Foam Yoga Block on a white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The fact of the matter is that most foam yoga blocks are pretty similar. So why is this one the best? Its rounded edges and soft surfaces feel great, and it’s way more affordable than most others which are—for all practical purposes—almost identical.

Buy at Decathlon

Best Cork Yoga Blocks: Manduka Cork Yoga Block

Manduka Cork Yoga Block on a white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you prefer your yoga blocks in cork—which delivers a pleasant surface and outstanding grip on the floor—this block from Manduka is great. Not only does it feel exactly like you want a cork block to feel, but it’s super durable and will last through years of yoga practice.

Buy at Amazon

Best Yoga Shirt for Everyday Wear: Manduka Refined Tee

Manduka Refined Tee worn by a model.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This is a comfortable, light shirt that is perfect for stretching in warm weather, but it’s also fitted more like a typical t-shirt, making it great for wearing around in general. It’s the kind of shirt you can wear to and from your yoga class without having to change.

Buy at REI

Best Yoga Shirt for Hot Yoga: Lululemon Drysense Training Short Sleeve

Lululemon Drysense Training Short Sleeve worn by a black model.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re going to be practicing yoga in hot weather—like in a hot yoga class, for the most obvious example—this new shirt from Lululemon is ideal. Its tech fabric wicks away moisture and it has a built-in hook on the outside of the collar so that you can hang it to dry without ruining the elastic. It also looks great.

Buy at Lululemon

Best Yoga Shorts: Puma Cloudspun 8” Training Shorts

Puma Cloudspun 8” Training Shorts on a white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Not only do these shorts fit absolutely perfectly, but they’re uber, hypersoft—perhaps the softest shorts ever. They feel great, is what I’m saying. They’re also versatile enough to wear for weightlifting or running, or even just around the house. Some real grade-A, excellent shorts.

Buy at Puma

Best Yoga Pants: American Giant Classic Sweatpant

American Giant Classic Sweatpant paired with a white shirt.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While these weren’t specifically made for yoga, they are some truly outstanding sweatpants that you will love to stretch in. There’s something really comfortable about the way they’re weighted, and they’re extremely soft and fit great.

Buy at American Giant

Nick Hilden
Nick Hilden
Former Contributor
Nick Hilden is a lifestyle and culture writer whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Afar, the Daily Beast, Popular Science, Men’s Health, Thrillist, Scientific American, Salon, Fodor’s, Vice, Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, and more. He’s usually on some random adventure in some random corner of the world. Send all editorial inquiries HERE. Read Full Bio
Topics
Health & Fitness
Tired of shaky workouts? Meet the MERACH UltraWalk W60 Plus – a walking pad built to last
Animal, Canine, Dog

Finding time to exercise is hard enough. The last thing you need is fitness equipment that feels unstable, sounds like it’s about to fall apart, or struggles to keep up with your pace. Yet that’s exactly what many budget walking pads deliver. Lightweight frames, noisy motors, and limited performance often turn what should be an enjoyable workout into a frustrating experience.

The MERACH UltraWalk W60 Plus aims to change that. Instead of simply offering another compact walking pad, MERACH has built a treadmill-grade under-desk fitness machine designed for long-term reliability, stability, and everyday convenience. Whether you’re walking while working, squeezing in a quick cardio session, or looking to stay active without leaving home, the W60 Plus is engineered to make movement feel effortless.

Read more
Health & Fitness
From wheelchair to walking: The power of mindset, movement, and never giving up
Steph Zee Christmas Secret Music Video Steph Green

I never expected I’d have to learn how to walk again. That journey took me from writing for doctors and magazines to spending thousands of hours researching health and autoimmune disease. When we have excellent health, many of us don’t give it much thought until those sneaky symptoms start to show, and one day it all comes crashing down. Now, our health becomes one of the most important priorities. When we feel good, we can be more productive and chase our dreams. When our health declines and we don’t feel so good, one of our biggest dreams is just to feel better. 

I became a health writer 12 years ago, shortly after graduating with my creative writing degree and getting a diagnosis of the autoimmune bone condition, ankylosing spondylitis. In an effort to improve my health, stay mobile, and help prevent my bones from calcifying and fusing, I spent thousands of hours studying everything from nutrition and naturopathy to conventional medicine and holistic healing. I heard this somewhere, so I can’t take credit, but I like to say I went to “save my ass university”, because pain and illness are some of the biggest motivators.

Read more
Health & Fitness
I tried Magic Mind for a month and here is what happened to my productivity
Furniture, Business Card, Paper

I am proudly an all-brown beverage man. I say it often: I am coffee in the morning, bourbon in the evening, and Pepsi/Coke in between. I know what you’re thinking: What about water? Well, all of those are mostly water. And who wants to drink the same thing they bathe in? That sounds gross. All jokes aside, the coffee addiction is real, and I am not alone. Who thinks they can truly conquer a day without a hard shot of caffeine? I would get it in an IV if it were feasible to do on the subway instead of a cup to go. But that doesn’t have to be the only way you develop your productivity. Instead, you can look to the more natural and healthy methods to maintain and increase your effectiveness. I got my hands on some Magic Mind recently, one of the many different products that claim to elevate brain health, increase mental performance, and, of course, replace the coffee without losing the energy boost. But does it work?

The scientific hoolah

Read more