Updated: May 1
The Manduka Align Yoga Strap is our top choice in the current market.
By PRANA EDITORS | Last updated: April 30, 2024
Seeking high-quality straps to work on balance and alignment?
We round up the 7 best ones to consider for your practice
Our top picks feature Gaiam, Manduka, Hugger Mugger & more
Also, check out Prana Sutra's guide to the best yoga blankets
In this article: Top Picks | Product Reviews | Buying Advice | FAQ | How We Test
Starting a yoga practice presents many challenges, particularly for those with limited flexibility, strength, or balance. Even research confirms that overstretching and incorrect techniques are the leading causes of yoga-related injuries. This raises a critical question: How can yoga beginners tackle challenging poses without risking exertion and injury?
"Props like straps, knee pad cushions, and blocks add a layer of support and safety to your practice," says Hatha Yoga instructor Jenna Dowell. "A good yoga strap extends your reach, helps maintain alignment, and ensures safe transitions between poses," she explains.
While you could use makeshift alternatives such as towels or neckties, they are neither reliable nor versatile. Luckily, high-quality yoga straps are affordable, ranging from $5 to $20, making them a worthwhile investment for safer asana practice. To help you identify the perfect one, we have rounded up seven of the finest yoga straps for stretching after examining dozens of them. We'll also provide valuable advice on how to go about selecting the best yoga strap for your unique needs.
The Manduka Align Yoga Strap is one of the finest yoga straps for most people, thanks to its grippy texture, eco-friendly materials, and proprietary buckles. Since it's available in 8 and 10-feet lengths, it shouldn't be too difficult to find the best size for your body type, skill level, and practice style.
For beginners, nomads, and frugal yogis, we recommend the fray-resistant Gaiam Yoga Strap and best-selling Tumaz Yoga Strap. Both offer superb quality at a pocket-friendly price point, although their synthetic material blend might not appeal to eco-conscious consumers.
Lastly, YDL's Mandala Yoga Strap is an excellent choice for those willing to invest in premium materials, brand pedigree, and visual appeal. This 8-foot strap is crafted from organic cotton, equipped with rust-proof stainless steel D-rings, and features no-fade prints created by non-toxic inks.
Here are the best yoga straps to improve alignment, form, and flexibility in your yoga practice:
Best overall: Manduka Align Cotton Yoga Strap ($20) at Amazon
Best for beginners: Gaiam Yoga Strap ($14) at Amazon
Best value: Prosourcefit Cotton Yoga Strap ($7) at Amazon
Best reviews: Tumaz Yoga Strap for Stretching ($9) at Amazon
Best for pros: Hugger Mugger Quick Release Yoga Strap ($19) at Amazon
Best for stretching: Trideer Lettered Yoga ($10) Strap at Amazon
Best printed: YDL Mandala Yoga Strap ($18) at Amazon
In this section, we review our top picks, highlighting their best features and potential drawbacks.
"A top-rated yoga strap featuring premium materials and a BKS Iyengar design."
Material: Cotton | Size: 8, 10-foot | Width: 1.75 inches | Colors: 3
This enduring best-seller by Manduka boasts a BKS Iyengar-inspired design. ICYMI, Iyengar Yoga is a branch of Hatha Yoga that emphasizes the use of props to achieve proper form and make asana accessible to everyone. Consequently, this strap is a quarter-inch wider than the standard size and features a proprietary locking mechanism. Moreover, it’s made with non-toxic dyes and comes in color options of Gray, Purple, or Navy, with 8-foot and 10-foot variations.
Why we recommend it:
The Manduka yoga strap is a sturdy cotton belt with a dense weave and a zinc alloy buckle for length adjustment. Its webbed cotton material is natural, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic, providing a soft feel and top-notch grip even when moist with sweat. The strap's 1.75-inch width results in ease of use even with limited hand strength, and the interlocking buckle allows for swift, hassle-free adjustments. All things considered, Manduka's strap strikes the best balance between build quality, materials, and features, making it our top pick for the best yoga strap you can buy today.
"This budget-friendly yoga strap is likely the best choice for prudent beginners."
Material: Polyester Blend | Size: 6, 8, 10-foot | Width: 1.5 inches | Colors: 3
Gaiam products have a stellar reputation in the yoga community and have been featured in many of our 'best of' roundups, including the best travel yoga mats. In this instance, we've chosen their fray-resistant polyester blend yoga strap, featuring standard dimensions and rust-proof D-rings. It's a proven Amazon bestseller for various fitness routines, available in multiple color options and size variations to ensure you find the perfect fit for your needs.
Why we recommend it:
This budget-friendly yoga strap is a cost-effective tool to work on your alignment, deepen stretches, and add support and safety to your daily yoga practice. The strap's non-slip surface is easy to grip, and the cinch-style buckles allow you to adjust length on the fly. The polyester blend is cost-effective, easier to maintain, and less prone to long-term wear, although it lacks cotton's soft feel and eco-friendly appeal. Moreover, cotton straps have the best wet grip, making them the ideal choice for sweaty yoga styles.
"On a tight budget? This is likely the best yoga straps to buy on the cheap."
Material: Cotton | Size: 8-foot | Width: 1.5 inches | Colors: 6
For those unwilling to spend in double digits, ProsourceFit offers a wallet-friendly yoga strap featuring a cotton belt and metal buckles. It's 1.5 inches wide and 8 feet long, with no other sizes on offer. But these dimensions are pretty standard and should be suitable for anyone who isn't freakishly tall.
Why we recommend it:
Ideal for beginners, this Prosourcefit yoga strap is an economical tool to deepen stretches and maintain proper alignment. It features a cotton belt with a strong weave and ample tensile strength for hot and regular classes. The belt's webbed material provides excellent grip while posing, and the D-ring buckles allow you to adjust the strap to a desirable length. While this is certainly not the finest yoga strap on the market, it's probably the best deal at this price point.
"With 10k+ glowing reviews, this bestselling yoga strap is a safe bet for most."
Material: Synthetic Blend | Size: 6, 8, 10-foot | Width: 1.5 inches | Colors: 5
The Tumaz Yoga Strap, boasting the best reviews, is a budget-friendly choice for yogis of all ages and abilities. Made from a synthetic blend, it's offered in all three size options with standard length and width. Its affordability and extensive range of color choices truly set it apart from the competition. Moreover, the strap's tight-knit design and 60% extra thickness result in an impressive weight capacity of 2379 lbs - equivalent to a literal ton.
Why we recommend it:
With its top-notch construction, best-in-class weight handling capacity, and a full refund option within 60 days, it’s evident why this best-selling yoga strap has garnered so much praise. Its impressive performance at a modest price leaves little to fault, other than reiterating that synthetic blends are more slippery and not as eco-friendly as cotton alternatives. However, Tumaz sweetens the deal further with a free holding band, positioning it as the best yoga strap for those seeking the best bang for their buck!
"This 10-foot strap is the best choice for tall, plus-size, and inflexible yogis."
Material: Cotton | Size: 10-foot | Width: 1.5 inches | Colors: 3
Hugger Mugger has an impressive lineup of yoga straps, featuring various colors, size options, and locking mechanisms. Their traditional design is just as good as the Manduka strap featured above, but for the sake of versatility, we chose to feature their cotton strap with a quick-release buckle. It's currently available in three colors (Black, Gray, and Navy) and can support up to 500 pounds of weight.
Why we recommend it:
Made with natural cotton, the robust yoga strap is a compelling option for asana enthusiasts, particularly those of taller stature. Many straps require threading D-rings for length adjustments, which can disrupt the flow of your practice. On the other hand, this strap's quick-release buckle is perfect for on-the-fly adjustments and transitioning between poses swiftly. The superior tensile strength and generous length also make it one of the best yoga straps for couples or partner yoga.
"One of the best yoga straps with lettered loops to monitor your progress."
Material: Polyester Blend | Size: 8-foot | Width: 1.5 inches | Colors: 2
Multi-loop or lettered straps are well known in the Pilates and sports community for their usefulness in warm-ups or post-workout stretches. They have now established a strong foothold in yoga for unassisted stretches, greater control, and versatile uses. Among the many options on the market, the Trideer stretching strap stands out due to its woven nylon construction and 12 different non-elastic loops for a wide variety of uses in home fitness routines.
Why we recommend it:
This lettered stretching strap is the best choice for those who want to work on gradually increasing their range of motion, balance, and flexibility. It features 12 loops to get into every imaginable tangle, with sturdy construction and high-quality stitching to withstand daily use. While nylon is easy to grip, it doesn't have the greatest skin feel and can get slightly slippery with sweat. However, you'll have to contend with it, as these types of stretching straps aren't available in any other material.
"The best yoga strap for hedonists and a splurge for yogis committed to their practice."
Material: Premium Cotton | Size: 8-foot | Width: 1.5-inches | Colors: 5 (Printed)
Yoga Design Lab strap strikes the best balance between aesthetics, features, and functionality. Made from super-soft organic cotton, this 8-foot yoga strap offers a slip-resistant surface, eye-catching prints, and wide stainless steel D-rings to alter the length as needed. While it comes at a premium price, it’s a well-regarded, eco-conscious product print that’s built to last for many years.
Why we recommend it:
Beyond its luxurious materials and visual appeal, the YDL yoga strap is an excellent all-around prop for both home and gym workouts. It is sturdy, easy to grip, portable, and capable of withstanding a good amount of weight. The vibrant prints add a pop of color to your practice and come with a no-fade promise, ensuring the designs endure sweaty palms and repeated washing. Plus, the strap's 8-foot length caters to beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.
Despite being versatile accessories, straps for yoga are an undervalued resource. From opening stiff shoulders after a day at the computer or deepening restorative holds to speed up recovery, a yoga strap provides much-needed assistance in enhancing flexibility, alignment, and stability. Here are the key considerations when selecting the best yoga strap for your needs:
The best yoga straps are generally made of either cotton, polyester blends, or nylon.
Cotton yoga straps are soft, comfortable, and have excellent dry/wet grip. They are least likely to cause ‘rope burn’ and are the best choice for eco-conscious yogis.
Polyester blends are a budget-friendly cotton alternative with exceptional tensile strength and unique features like fray- and moisture resistance. They are durable, easy to clean/maintain, and offer a good dry grip, although cotton straps have a significantly better wet grip.
Nylon yoga straps are famed for their tensile strength, easy maintenance, long-lasting durability, and affordability. However, they are less breathable and eco-friendly than cotton and can feel slippery when moist or wet.
Typically, a yoga strap is available in three size options: 6, 8, or 10 feet. For beginners, it's generally recommended to start with a 6- or 8-foot yoga strap for stretching, reserving the use of longer straps for more advanced asanas or partner poses.
A 6-foot yoga strap is suitable for smaller or average-sized yogis.
An 8-foot yoga strap is ideal for tall (5'10" and above) or inflexible practitioners who need the extra length to facilitate wide stretches.
A 10-foot strap has a spare length that can be used for creating loops or attempting challenging stretches that utilize your full wingspan. It's also the best choice for taller yogis, plus-size individuals, and those who practice 'couples yoga' or partner poses.
Straps for yoga should be equipped with high-quality closure mechanisms, as they play a crucial role in the strap's overall performance and durability. Most yoga straps feature one of the following:
Quick Release Buckle
Metal D-Ring
No Buckle
Easy Release Cinch Buckle
Metal D-rings are the most popular and quick-release buckles are the least common. It's best to choose a type that enables quick, easy adjustments and is made from rust-proof materials to ensure longevity.
A yoga stretching strap is one of the most versatile props you can own. It's used in Yin or Restorative Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Pilates, and physical therapy, among other things. A strap can especially benefit beginners who lack flexibility, range of motion, and suppleness. You can use it to stretch tight hamstrings, prevent the back from rounding, open the shoulders, and safely attempt poses like Boat Pose or Bow Pose.
This video demonstrates the 10 best ways to use a yoga strap in your daily practice:
To summarize, here are a few top reasons to invest in a high-quality yoga strap:
A yoga strap promotes proper form and healthy alignment.
It increases mobility and flexibility.
Yoga straps deepen stretches to address tight areas.
They prevent or reduce the chances of injury.
The yoga straps in this product guide were evaluated on the following criteria:
Build: The yogastrapsyoga straps in this list are built to a high standard, featuring grippy, skin-friendly materials, durable stitching, and standard width and length measurements.
Durability: We’ve paid special attention to durability and reliability, as stretching straps are intended for frequent use and often support your entire body weight.
Features: This selection includes straps with a variety of closures, including D-ring, cinch buckle, and loops, ensuring you can find the best fit for your practice style and stature.
Reputation: Our picks are from reputable yoga equipment brands, with each product boasting hundreds, if not thousands, of positive customer reviews.
Cost-Value Ratio: The straps in this list deliver outstanding value relative to their price.
We review our top picks periodically, ensuring our recommendations are relevant.
Start with our guide to the best yoga blocks.
Find inspiration and answers in the best spiritual books.
Stay cozy this winter with the best yoga blankets.
Check out our pick of the best yoga gifts of 2024.