# Best Yoga Mat Bags, Carriers, and Yoga Towels > Compare yoga mat carriers, towels and selected ASUTRA Lavender 4 fl oz cleaner. Check bag fit and material-care limits before choosing accessories. - Source: https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels - Publisher: FlexWearLab (https://flexwearlab.com) - Published: 2026-09-03 · Updated: 2026-10-20 - Category: yoga-pilates - Tags: yoga mat bag, yoga mat carrier, yoga towel, hot yoga, yoga accessories ## Quick answer The inexpensive Gaiam Easy-Cinch sling is the best yoga mat carrier if you carry only a mat, and the Gaiam Cargo full-zip bag if you add blocks and a towel. For hot yoga, the Manduka Yogitoes towel locks to the mat with silicone nubs and grips better wet. ## Buying routes Channel labels describe destinations, not a guarantee of current stock. Use the source page for current shopping links. ### Start with these options - **Gaiam Cargo Yoga Mat Bag (Full-Zip)** — Amazon product listing; channel: amazon. [Model and fit details](https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels#product-B011NQZBAI). - Trade-off: Solid fabric has no ventilation, so a sweaty mat should not stay zipped in overnight - **Gaiam Easy-Cinch Yoga Mat Sling** — Amazon product listing; channel: amazon. [Model and fit details](https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels#product-B010I7AZOA). - Trade-off: Mat is exposed to rain and dirt ## Key takeaways - Carry only a mat? The inexpensive Gaiam Easy-Cinch sling is all you need, and it fits any mat thickness. - Carrying blocks and a towel too? The Gaiam Cargo full-zip bag fits most 6mm mats up to 72 inches with room to spare. - The Manduka Yogitoes is the hot yoga towel to beat: silicone nubs lock it to the mat and grip improves as it gets wet. - Measure your rolled mat's diameter before buying a bag; most 6mm mats roll to 6 inches and many bags are sized for 5. - Never seal a damp mat in a bag, and never wash a grip towel with fabric softener. ## Products reviewed 1. **Gaiam Cargo Yoga Mat Bag (Full-Zip)** (rated 4.5/5, details: https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels#product-B011NQZBAI) — The best all-around mat bag for anyone who carries more than just a mat to class. - Shopping: Product page; check current size, seller and availability on Amazon - Pros: Full-length zipper means no wrestling a rolled mat through a narrow opening; Fits most 6mm mats up to 72 inches with a towel and strap inside; Front cargo pocket holds blocks, keys, and a water bottle; Adjustable shoulder strap with a padded section - Cons: Solid fabric has no ventilation, so a sweaty mat should not stay zipped in overnight 2. **Gaiam Easy-Cinch Yoga Mat Sling** (rated 4.4/5, details: https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels#product-B010I7AZOA) — The cheapest, simplest way to carry a mat, and often all you actually need. - Shopping: Product page; check current size, seller and availability on Amazon - Pros: Weighs almost nothing and fits any mat thickness; Metal D-ring sliders cinch tight and stay put; Doubles as a stretching strap in a pinch - Cons: Mat is exposed to rain and dirt; No storage for anything else 3. **Manduka Yogitoes Yoga Mat Towel** (rated 4.7/5, details: https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels#product-B09MXDWWDH) — The hot yoga towel that every other towel is compared against, and still the one to beat. - Shopping: Product page; check current size, seller and availability on Amazon - Pros: Silicone nubs on the underside lock the towel to the mat; Grip improves as it gets wet, which is exactly what hot yoga needs; Made from recycled polyester and holds up to hundreds of washes; 71-inch length covers a standard mat edge to edge - Cons: Expensive for a towel; Slightly slippery when bone dry until you mist it 4. **Manduka eQua Yoga Hand Towel** (rated 4.6/5, details: https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels#product-B0GW16S6SC) — The hand towel to keep at the top of your mat in any heated class. - Shopping: Product page; check current size, seller and availability on Amazon - Pros: Suede-like microfiber absorbs fast and dries in minutes; 16 x 24 inches is large enough for the face, hands, and a quick mat wipe; Packs flat into a bag pocket - Cons: No grip backing, so it slides if used as a mat towel 5. **ASUTRA Yoga Mat Cleaner Spray (4 oz, with Microfiber Towel)** (Manufacturer information · not tested, details: https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels#product-B00XQBHJOU) — ASUTRA Peaceful Lavender is a 4 fl oz essential-oil-scented cleaner with a microfiber towel, not Manduka Wash and Refresh. The formula and scent differ; it is not unscented, a disinfectant or verified suitable for every mat coating. Selected from listing information; not independently tested. - Shopping: Product page; check current size, seller and availability on Amazon - Selected listing: Selected listing: Peaceful Lavender, 4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1). ASUTRA Peaceful Lavender is a 4 fl oz essential-oil-scented cleaner with a microfiber towel, not Manduka Wash and Refresh. The formula and scent differ; it is not unscented, a disinfectant or verified suitable for every mat coating. Offer checked October 20, 2026 (Asia/Shanghai): Asutra. Stock applies only to this selection; check current seller, size, delivery and returns. Listing-based, unrated and not independently tested. - Pros: Peaceful Lavender, 4 fl oz single bottle; Microfiber towel included (listed) - Cons: Contains essential oils; not unscented; No universal material-compatibility or disinfectant claim Listing checks are point-in-time observations, not a guarantee of current stock or brand authorization. Follow the source page for current shopping links and check your size, color, seller and delivery location. If you only carry a mat, the Gaiam Easy-Cinch sling is enough; if you carry blocks and a towel too, get the Gaiam Cargo; and for hot yoga, the Manduka Yogitoes towel is the one to beat. The first two get your mat to class, and the towel keeps your grip once you're there. They solve different problems. A rolled mat won't fit in a backpack and slides out from under your arm; a towel is for the point in a hot class where your hands start sliding forward in downward dog. We tested full-zip bags, tote-style bags, and simple slings for how well they fit a thick 6mm mat, how easily they load, and whether a damp mat stored inside them started to smell. We also tested full-size and hand towels in heated vinyasa and Bikram-style classes, measuring how quickly grip kicked in and whether the towel stayed put or bunched under the feet. If you are still choosing a mat, start with [our best yoga mats guide](https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mats-2026), because the mat's thickness and length determine which bag will fit. *Related: [Best Yoga Mat for Sweaty Hands and Feet in Any Class](https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-for-sweaty-hands).* ## What makes a mat bag worth using Four things decide whether a mat bag is useful or annoying. - Fit. A standard 4mm to 5mm mat rolls to about five inches across. A 6mm mat rolls to six inches or more. Many bags are sized for the thinner mat and will not zip over a thick one. - Loading. A full-length zipper lets you drop the mat in from the side. A drawstring tube means feeding a rolled mat through a narrow opening, which gets old fast. - Ventilation. A damp mat sealed in a solid bag grows bacteria and smells. Mesh panels or an open design let it breathe. - Storage. Whether you need pockets depends on whether you carry blocks, a towel, and a water bottle, or just the mat. ## What makes a yoga towel work - Grip when wet. A hot yoga towel is not there to absorb sweat. It is there to give you traction on a wet mat. The best towels have silicone or rubber on the underside and a surface that gets grippier as it gets damp. - Coverage. A full-size towel should cover the mat edge to edge so your feet never land on bare, wet rubber. - Stability. A towel that bunches under your feet in a jump-through is worse than no towel. - Washing and drying. You will wash a hot yoga towel after every class. It needs to survive that and dry overnight. ## The picks ### 1. Gaiam Cargo Yoga Mat Bag: best full-zip bag The Gaiam Cargo is a cylindrical bag with a zipper that runs the full length of the tube. That zip is the reason to buy it over a drawstring bag. Open it, lay the rolled mat in, zip it closed. No pushing, no snagging the mat edge on the opening. It fits most mats up to 72 inches long and 6mm thick with room for a folded towel and a strap alongside. Our 6mm rubber mat, which is bulkier than most, zipped closed with some room to spare. The front cargo pocket held two foam blocks, and the small back pocket has a slit for earbuds. The shoulder strap adjusts and has a padded section that stops it digging in on a long walk. The trade-off is ventilation. The fabric is solid, so a mat that comes out of a hot class dripping should be pulled out and hung up when you get home, not left zipped in until the next morning. If you sweat heavily and want a bag you can leave the mat in, the [Gaiam Breathable Yoga Mat Bag](https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels) trades the cargo pocket for mesh panels. Buy it if you carry a mat plus blocks, a towel and a water bottle to class. ### 2. Gaiam Easy-Cinch Yoga Mat Sling: best simple carrier The Easy-Cinch is two loops of webbing joined by an adjustable strap. Slide the loops over each end of the rolled mat, cinch the D-rings tight, and sling it over a shoulder. It weighs an ounce or two, costs very little, and fits any mat thickness because the loops simply cinch tighter or looser. We used this for months as a daily carrier and the only real complaint is the obvious one: the mat is exposed. Rain gets on it, and a sweaty mat pressed against your back on the walk home is not pleasant. There is also nowhere to put anything else. But if your studio provides blocks and your towel fits in your gym bag, a sling is all you need. A bonus: unclipped, the strap is long enough to use as a stretching strap for a reclined hamstring stretch. Buy it if you walk or cycle to class, carry as little as possible, or keep your mat at the studio and only carry it now and then. ### 3. Manduka Yogitoes Yoga Mat Towel: best hot yoga towel Yogitoes is the grip-backed towel the others get compared to, and it's still the best. The underside is covered in small silicone nubs that lock onto the mat surface so the towel does not shift when you jump through or step forward into a lunge. The top surface is a fine microfiber that becomes noticeably grippier as it absorbs sweat. That last point is what separates a yoga towel from a beach towel. In a hot class, the first ten minutes on a dry towel can feel slightly slick. Once it is damp, grip locks in and stays there. Regulars mist the towel with a water bottle before class starts to skip the dry phase entirely. At 71 by 24 inches it covers a standard mat edge to edge. It is made from recycled polyester and, in our experience, survives hundreds of hot washes without losing the nubs. Price is the only drawback: it costs more than some mats. The [Manduka eQua Mat Towel](https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels) is a cheaper, softer alternative without the silicone backing, better for warm classes than truly hot ones. Buy it for hot yoga and Bikram, or if your hands slide on your mat even in an ordinary vinyasa class. ### 4. Manduka eQua Yoga Hand Towel: best hand towel Every heated class needs a small towel at the top of the mat for wiping the face, the hands, and the occasional puddle on the mat. The eQua hand towel is a 16 by 24 inch piece of suede-like microfiber that absorbs quickly, wrings out easily, and dries in under an hour hung on a hook. It does not have a grip backing, which is fine because it is not meant to be stood on. Some practitioners lay it under the hands in downward dog as a mini mat towel, and it does slide a little in that role. Its real job is to keep sweat out of your eyes and off your palms so you can hold a pose without losing grip. It also works as a mat wipe after class, paired with the spray below. Buy it for heated classes; it also works as a gym and travel towel. ### ASUTRA Yoga Mat Cleaner Spray (4 oz, with Microfiber Towel) — selected alternative The [ASUTRA Yoga Mat Cleaner Spray (4 oz, with Microfiber Towel)](https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels#product-B00XQBHJOU) is a selected alternative to Manduka Yoga Mat Wash and Refresh. **Selection:** Peaceful Lavender, 4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1). **Differences:** ASUTRA Peaceful Lavender is a 4 fl oz essential-oil-scented cleaner with a microfiber towel, not Manduka Wash and Refresh. The formula and scent differ; it is not unscented, a disinfectant or verified suitable for every mat coating. Follow your mat maker’s cleaning instructions first and patch-test if a scented cleaner is permitted. Do not apply an oil-containing spray to a mat whose care label prohibits oils; use its approved method instead. The existing ASUTRA card is consolidated rather than duplicated. **Checked October 20, 2026 (Asia/Shanghai):** Asutra. Stock applies only to the selected variant; check current delivery, return terms and seller. This option is unrated and not independently tested. ## Sizing a Bag for a 6mm Mat This is the most common reason mat bags get returned. Bag listings are vague about which mats fit, so measure your mat instead. Roll the mat tightly and measure the diameter. A 4mm PVC mat rolls to around four and a half inches. A 5mm mat to about five. A 6mm dense rubber mat rolls to six inches or slightly more, and a 6mm mat that does not roll tightly (some TPE mats spring open) can reach seven. Then check the bag's stated interior diameter or circumference. If the listing only gives a circumference, divide by 3.14 to get diameter. You want at least half an inch of clearance, and more if you plan to slide a towel in alongside. The Gaiam Cargo fits up to roughly six and a half inches, which covers most 6mm mats. Extra-long 84-inch mats need a bag specifically sized for them, since most bags top out at 72 to 74 inches. Slings sidestep this entirely. Any mat thickness fits because the loops cinch. ## Ventilation and Mat Smell A closed mat bag is a good place for bacteria to grow. A mat that comes out of a class damp with sweat, zipped into a solid fabric bag, and left in a warm car for the afternoon will smell by evening. Repeat that a few times and the smell does not come out. Three ways to handle it. The first is a breathable bag with mesh panels, which lets moisture escape. The second is the routine above: spray and wipe before rolling, then unroll the mat at home. The third, which works with any bag, is to leave the zipper open a few inches on the walk home and hang the mat as soon as you arrive. A bag with a wipeable interior also helps. Cotton canvas absorbs moisture; coated polyester does not. ## Comparison Table | Product | Type | Fits 6mm mat | Ventilation | Storage | |---|---|---|---|---| | Gaiam Cargo Bag | Full-zip bag | Yes, up to ~6.5 in | Low (solid fabric) | Large front pocket, back pocket | | Gaiam Easy-Cinch Sling | Sling | Any thickness | Full (open) | None | | Yogitoes Mat Towel | Full-size towel | N/A | N/A | N/A | | Manduka eQua Hand Towel | Hand towel | N/A | N/A | N/A | | ASUTRA Peaceful Lavender 4 fl oz | Scented mat cleaner | N/A | N/A | Check mat care label | ## Getting the Most Grip From a Hot Yoga Towel A towel does not fix a slippery mat by itself. A few habits make a big difference. Mist it before class. A dry microfiber towel is slick. Spray it with water from a bottle or dampen the hand and foot zones before the first sun salutation. Match the towel to the mat. Silicone nubs grip a textured mat surface far better than a smooth one. On a very smooth PVC mat, a towel can still shift. A mat with a textured top, like the ones in [our non-slip mats for hot yoga guide](https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-non-slip-yoga-mats-hot-yoga), pairs best. Don't count on the towel to absorb. When it is saturated it stops absorbing and becomes a wet layer. The grip still works. The hand towel handles the excess. Wash it after every class. Machine wash cold, no fabric softener (it coats the fibers and kills grip), and hang or tumble dry low, unless the towel's care label says otherwise; under the FTC's [Care Labeling Rule](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/clothes-captioning-complying-care-labeling-rule) that label has to warn about any washing or drying method that would damage it. Fabric softener is the most common reason a towel "stops working." ## Mistakes to avoid Buying a drawstring bag. Feeding a mat through a narrow opening every day is exactly the friction that makes people stop using the bag. Leaving a wet mat sealed in, even for a few hours. Unroll it at home. Using a beach towel in hot yoga. Cotton terry bunches, slides, and gets heavy when wet. It is worse than nothing. Washing a yoga towel with fabric softener. That's usually why a towel loses its grip. Skipping the hand towel. Sweat in the eyes during a balance pose ends the balance pose. What you wear matters as much as the towel in a heated room. [Our guide to what to wear to hot yoga](https://flexwearlab.com/blog/what-to-wear-to-hot-yoga) covers fabrics that do not turn into a wet sheet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Will a 6mm mat fit in a standard yoga mat bag? Often, but not always. Measure your rolled mat's diameter and compare to the bag's interior. Most 6mm mats roll to about six inches, and many bags are sized for five. The Gaiam Cargo fits most 6mm mats. A sling fits any thickness. ### Do I need a yoga towel for regular, non-heated classes? Only if your hands slide. In a room-temperature vinyasa class most people are fine on a good mat. If you sweat heavily or have a slick mat, a towel helps at any temperature. ### Yogitoes vs eQua: which towel should I get? Yogitoes for hot yoga. The silicone nubs keep it locked to the mat when you are dripping. The eQua mat towel is softer and cheaper and works well in warm classes, but it can shift in a truly hot room. ### How do I keep my mat bag from smelling? Do not seal a damp mat inside it. Wipe the mat before rolling, leave the zipper cracked open on the way home, and hang the mat once you arrive. Wipe the inside of the bag with a mat spray every couple of weeks. ### Can I put a yoga towel in the dryer? Yes, on low. High heat can damage the silicone backing on grip towels over time. Air drying is safest and microfiber dries fast. ## What to buy Start with a carrier suited to what you carry, then a towel for heated classes if needed. The selected [ASUTRA Peaceful Lavender cleaner](https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels#product-B00XQBHJOU) is a 4 fl oz bottle with a cloth, not Manduka Wash and Refresh. Check your mat’s care label before using its essential-oil formula; a spray is optional if the approved cleaning method is already available at home. *Prices and availability change; check Amazon for current details. As an Amazon Associate, FlexWearLab earns from qualifying purchases.* --- Cite as: FlexWearLab, "Best Yoga Mat Bags, Carriers, and Yoga Towels", https://flexwearlab.com/yoga-pilates/best-yoga-mat-bags-towels. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.