How to Choose the Right Gym Towel for Your Training

Most people buy a gym towel the same way they buy a phone charger. They grab whatever looks fine, assume all towels are roughly the same, and don't think about it again until it's too small for the bench, too big for the bag, or sitting in a pile with every other plain black towel in the change room.

The right gym towel actually depends on how you train, and getting it wrong is more annoying than it sounds. A towel that works perfectly for a weight session is a clumsy choice for Pilates. A compact towel that fits beautifully in a studio bag doesn't cover a full bench press. The good news is that once you know what to look for, the decision is straightforward.

Why material matters before anything else

Before you think about size or features, material is the decision that affects everything else: how the towel feels mid-session, how quickly it dries between uses, how it holds up through hundreds of washes, and whether it develops the kind of persistent smell that washing alone won't fix.

Microfibre is the right material for a gym towel, and the reason comes down to how the fibres are constructed. A high-quality microfibre blend of polyester and polyamide has a fibre structure so fine that it absorbs moisture quickly and releases it just as fast during drying. That combination means it can be used, washed and ready again well before your next session, which matters when you're training five or six times a week. Cotton absorbs well but holds onto moisture far longer, which gives bacteria more time to grow between washes and is why cotton gym towels tend to develop a smell that sets into the fibres faster and proves harder to shift over time.

All Cheeky Winx gym towels are microfibre, machine washable and double-sided, with one side for equipment and one side for you. The difference between the options in the range comes down to size and features.

The hooded gym towel: for bench training, weights and anyone who hates carrying extra

At 140 x 60 cm the hooded gym towel is the largest option in the range and the one designed specifically for bench-based training. The hood hooks over the headrest of a gym bench and anchors the towel in place across the full surface, which means it stays put through an entire set rather than gradually sliding onto the floor at the worst possible moment.

The zip pocket in the hood holds your key, gym card, AirPods and bank card, which makes it the right choice for anyone training at a 24-hour gym or anywhere with open cubby storage rather than proper lockers. Everything you need is on the bench with you rather than sitting unattended across the room.

Beyond the gym, the same hood that fits a bench headrest fits a car headrest, which means the towel goes from your session straight to the car seat without you needing to carry anything extra. It also fits most standard desk chairs, making it useful for heading straight from an early morning session to the office.

The hooded gym towel suits: weight training, bench press, machine-based training, anyone who trains without reliable locker access, and anyone who wants one product that covers the gym, the car and beyond.

Browse the hooded gym towel collection.

The regular gym towel (90 x 50 cm): for Pilates, cardio and group fitness

The 90 x 50 cm towel is the most compact option in the range and the one that fits best into the bag of someone who trains in a studio environment. It's sized to sit flat across a Reformer carriage as a hygiene barrier when lying down, which is one of the most common uses in Pilates that people don't realise until they're already in their first class and watching everyone else do it.

For cardio-based training like cycling, HIIT, boxing and group fitness classes, bench coverage isn't the priority. What matters is having something within easy reach to wipe your face and hands between rounds or intervals, and a compact towel does that job better than a larger one that gets in the way when you're moving. In a boxing class you're not putting your towel on a bench between sets, you're grabbing it off the floor or a hook between rounds. In a spin class it lives on the handlebars. In a HIIT class it moves with you station to station. The 90 x 50 cm size is the one that actually suits that kind of session without feeling like excess baggage.

Most Pilates studios either require or strongly recommend that members bring their own towel, and the 90 x 50 cm size fits neatly into a studio bag alongside grip socks and a water bottle without adding any real bulk.

The regular towel suits: Reformer Pilates, mat Pilates, cycle classes, spin, HIIT, boxing, group fitness, cardio and anyone who wants a compact option that moves with them through the session.

Browse the gym towel collection.

The large gym towel (120 x 60 cm): for bench training without the hood

The 120 x 60 cm towel covers a full gym bench comfortably without the hooded design. It's the right choice for someone who does bench-based weight training but prefers a flat towel over a hooded one, either because they find the hood unnecessary or because they already have a separate solution for the car seat and gym locker situation.

It has all the same properties as the rest of the range: double-sided, microfibre, quick-drying and machine washable. The difference is purely in the design, and for some people a straightforward flat towel that covers the bench and nothing else is exactly what they're after.

The large towel suits: bench press, weight training, machine-based training and anyone who wants full bench coverage without the hooded design.

Browse the gym towel collection.

If you do more than one type of training

Many people train across multiple formats throughout the week, and one towel doesn't always cover every session as well as two would. Someone who lifts three days a week and does Pilates or cardio on the other two is better served by the hooded towel for weights and the 90 x 50 cm for the studio. Both are compact enough to sit in the same bag if you're moving between sessions, and because they're microfibre they're dry and ready to go again quickly after washing.

Finding a design you'll actually want to bring

A gym towel you genuinely like the look of is one you'll remember to pack. Cheeky Winx towels come in a range of designs from bold patterns and seasonal prints through to cleaner, more minimal options, so whether you want something that matches your kit, makes you smile at 5am, or just looks better than a bleached bath towel, there's something in the range. If you want to make it even more personal, personalisation is available across the range with your name or initials embroidered in pink, blue, black or white. Browse the personalised towel collection to see all the options.

Frequently asked questions

What size gym towel do I need for a standard gym bench?

For a full bench press setup, you want something at least 120 cm long to cover from the headrest to the base of the seat. The Cheeky Winx 120 x 60 cm and 140 x 60 cm hooded towel both cover a standard bench comfortably. The 90 x 50 cm is better suited to Pilates, cardio and classes where bench coverage isn't the priority.

Do I need a hooded gym towel or is a regular one fine?

It depends on how you train. If you do bench work, the hood keeps the towel in place across the full surface throughout your set, which a regular towel won't do as reliably. If you do Pilates, cardio or classes, the hood isn't necessary and the compact 90 x 50 cm option is the better fit.

What is the zip pocket on a gym towel for?

The zip pocket in the Cheeky Winx hooded gym towel is in the hood and holds your key, gym access card, AirPods, bank card and small essentials. It's particularly useful at gyms with open storage rather than proper lockers, because your valuables stay on the bench with you throughout the session rather than sitting unattended.

Is microfibre better than cotton for a gym towel?

For gym use, yes. Microfibre dries significantly faster than cotton, which reduces the time bacteria have to grow between sessions. It's also lighter, more compact and holds up better through frequent machine washing.

Can I use my gym towel for Pilates?

Yes, and it's worth bringing one to every session. Most studios expect members to use their own towel, both for wiping down and for placing across the Reformer carriage as a barrier when lying down. The 90 x 50 cm size is the most practical option for this use, as it's compact enough for a studio bag and sized correctly for the carriage.

How often should I wash my gym towel?

As a general rule, washing your gym towel every one to two sessions keeps it fresh and hygienic. Microfibre is more resistant to odour than cotton because it dries faster and gives bacteria less time to grow between uses, so it doesn't need to be washed after every single session the way a cotton towel does. When you do wash it, a cold machine wash and a hang to dry is all it needs.

If you're not sure which option is right for you, the training style breakdown above is the quickest way to narrow it down. Browse the full Cheeky Winx gym towel range and find the one that fits how you actually train.