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10 best men’s yoga kit so you can perfect every pose 

Whether you prefer long, short, baggy or fitted, we’ve got you covered

David Phelan
Tuesday 11 February 2020 10:00 GMT
The advantages of dedicated yoga gear is that it is perfectly suited to keeping you warm when you’re still, while wicking away sweat in those livelier moments
The advantages of dedicated yoga gear is that it is perfectly suited to keeping you warm when you’re still, while wicking away sweat in those livelier moments (iStock/ The Independent)
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Whether you’re about to dip your first toe in the water when it comes to yoga, or you know your baby dragonfly from your bird of paradise, it’s important to feel comfortable while you practise yoga.

First, decide your style: do you want to cover your entire legs (which can be more comfortable in postures like crow, where your legs can chafe your upper arms if skin is against skin) or choose shorts that keep you cooler?

Same for upper-body clothing where you can choose from short-sleeve T-shirts, long-sleeve, singlets and more. Some items of yoga clothing are fine for wearing at other times, too, like slightly baggier sweatpants, for instance, which are comfortable enough to wear at other times.

Of course, you can wear a regular T-shirt and shorts to your practice (nobody will judge you, that’s part of the point of yoga) but the advantages of dedicated yoga gear is that it is perfectly suited to keeping you warm when you’re still, while wicking away sweat in those livelier moments.

Choosing a mat is also important and we’ve picked a couple of outstanding models that support without being trampoline-like, and are light and portable enough that you won’t mind carrying them home.

We’ve tested the yoga gear here for comfort first-and-foremost, but also quality of construction and elegance of design.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

1
Warrior Addict eco-warrior sweatpants blue

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These sweatpants do everything you want in yoga pants: they stretch effortlessly when you need them to, are lightweight and comfortable, and they stay cool even when your movements are pacey. The material, Tencel, is also anti-bacterial. Tencel is made from wood pulp and there is even an eco story: Warrior Addict makes them from up-cycled sample fabric – most companies don’t use all their sample fabric. The blue is dark and discreet-looking. Also available in grey cotton for lower-intensity yoga. Both pairs are currently reduced from the regular £70 price.

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2
Liforme yoga mat

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Not every gym supplies great mats for you to try and do your best work on – so taking your own is a great solution. The Liforme is outstanding: lightweight so it’s easily carried when you’re done, resilient enough to lie flat each time you lay it down on the floor and perfectly grippy, so your toes don’t start sliding backwards as you perfect your downward dog. Even better, it has extremely useful markings which can help you to stay symmetrical. In fact, it goes even further, with helpful diagonal lines to ensure your foot is perfectly angled for the warrior one pose, for instance. The thickness, 4.2mm, yields a great balance between support and suppleness. Choose from grey, green, blue, purple earth or pink.

  1.  £100 from Liforme
Prices may vary
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3
Alo yoga unity 2 in 1 short

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These shorts have a great feel to them, with internal tight shorts (actually, there’s still room to stretch and they don’t feel overly tight) and a top layer that’s a good length. The layers are in contrasting colours, for instance oxblood out and dark grey mark inner. There are three zip pockets, one on each side and one on the rear which Alo describes as invisible. When they’re closed they really do disappear. All are capacious, enough to take your gym card, phone and so on until you’re ready to start your practice.

  1.  £74 from Alo
Prices may vary
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4
Nike dri-fit yoga trousers

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The feel of these trousers is soft and pleasant to the touch. The waistband and tapered legs are tight enough to hold in place perfectly but not at all constricting. The top half is loose, to provide maximum flexibility and has neat details such as the way the drawstring has a flat cord which lies flat so as not to interrupt your movements in appropriate poses.

  1.  £54 from Nike
Prices may vary
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5
Bamboo balance shorts

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Bamboo clothing is made of bamboo fabric which is warm but breathable and soft to the touch. These shorts are supportive but not too tight, and the material stays dry, wicking away moisture efficiently, no matter how arduous your vinyasas become. Bamboo is also very good at UV protection, should you happen to be practising in the sun. These shorts are available in four fetching colours, including a lovely marine green.

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6
Lululemon in mind pant

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The shiny in mind pant is cool to the touch and stretches brilliantly, leaving you ready for anything your class leader throws at you. Although they’re stretchy, they’re not super-tight, making them comfortable rather than form-fitting. They sit on the waist and the tapered leg and tight fit above the ankle helps with the versatility. The material is breathable and wicks away sweat fast.

  1.  £88 from Lululemon
Prices may vary
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7
Yogi Bare paws extreme grip yoga mat

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Yogi Bare makes a fantastic range of yoga accessories, from mats to stretch straps, blocks to wheels. The mats include several which are longer and wider than most other mats. For those of us not quite that tall, the regular version, 180cm long, is fine. It’s beautifully made and well-priced, with a pleasing design and enough thickness (4mm) to be enough supportive for your knees and other bony touch points. The grip is outstanding. It doesn’t have the comprehensive markings found on the Liforme, but there are enough to help, not to mention that cute paw logo in the middle.

  1.  £56 from Yogi Bare
Prices may vary
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8
Uniqlo Men airism crew neck T-shirt

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This T-shirt, though not specifically designed for yoga wear, is a tremendous budget option. It is a comfy fit (a helpful guide on the website can tell you which size you want) and very soft to the touch. But the reason it’s so good for yoga is largely because it is outstanding for wicking away sweat very quickly so the T-shirt stays comfortably dry as you practise.

  1.  £9 from Uniqlo
Prices may vary
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9
Alo yoga triumph sweatpant

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These fleecy pants are tremendously comfortable, with plenty of room in the crotch and with slim but not over-tight sections on the calves and ankles. They are thicker than many pants so some wearers may find they warm up when you’re speeding through the vinyasas, but they still don’t feel too hot. Five colours include dark variations and the oxblood finish found on the Unity shorts above, though those are shiny and these pants are matte.

  1.  £74 from Alo Yoga
Prices may vary
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10
Warrior Addict inversion tank

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You know the feeling, you’re worried that your top – which has already been threatening to slide away from your midriff to your ears during downward dog – is going to leave your tum fully exposed, or your eyes blinded even, if you manage to get somewhere with the shoulder stand you’ve been working on. Not with this one though, which has a discreetly elasticated waistband that stays in place even when you’re completely inverted. It feels soft and cool, and the extra security is definitely welcome.

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11
Lululemon in mind short

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These shorts are very stretchy and responsive, and stay in place at the waist thanks to a wide band that’s grippy and secure. There are pockets, though having anything in them while you’re practising seems counter-productive. The fit of the shorts on the leg is loose without being over-baggy. Like some other garments here, it’s great at dispersing sweat to keep you cool and the shorts dry. Lululemon also makes an excellent reversible yoga mat that’s solid and non-slip, by the way.

  1.  £65 from Lululemon
Prices may vary
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12
Sports Philosophy OYM x SP black hybrid leggings

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This two-in-one garment is excellent. The shorts are big enough to allow complete freedom and the inner leggings are very stretchy and nicely tight. They cover your legs almost completely, enough to offer protection for poses where scraping skin against skin can be painful. The material protects against sweatiness by drying quickly and wicking away moisture. There’s reflective detailing on the back of the calves: handy if you’re practising in low light.

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The verdict: Men's yoga kit

To be your best at yoga, the right clothing and equipment really helps, enough to make you feel supported and free, ready for the keenest stretch and most precise pose. The Warrior Addict eco-warrior sweatpants are the standout in a range, all designed for men, that is well worth a look, while the Alo Yoga unity 2 in 1 shorts are cool and responsive. Bamboo Balance shorts are similarly enjoyable to wear. Namaste.

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