Are Magnetic Gym Towels Worth It?
A magnetic gym towel gives your towel somewhere to go between sets. Bench, cable machine, rack, back to the bench. Instead of ending up on the floor, it hangs off the steel frame next to you, within reach.
It sounds like a small thing. Over a whole session, it adds up.
What a magnetic gym towel actually does
It's a towel with a magnet strap. When you get up between sets, you clip the towel onto a steel rack, frame or cable stack. It hangs there, out of the way, until you need it again.
The hood and the magnet do two different jobs. The hood hooks over the bench top or headrest and holds the towel in place while you're on the bench. The magnet takes over between exercises.
In practice it goes like this. Hook the hood over the bench and do your set. When you get up, clip the strap to the nearest steel upright and walk to the next station. Come back, unclip it, hook it over again. No towel on the floor, and no towel draped over a handle where it slides off.
Hooded vs magnetic vs regular gym towel
This is the comparison from our towel page, unchanged.
| Feature | Built for the bench | Regular gym towel | Bath towel from home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covers the whole bench (140cm) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Stays put mid-set, no sliding | Yes | No | No |
| Hooks over seated machines too | Yes | No | No |
| Off the floor between sets (magnet option) | Yes | No | No |
| Zip pocket for phone and keys | Yes | No | No |
| Dries in 2 to 3 hours | Yes | Varies | No |
Regular gym towel
Light and simple. Easy to throw in a bag. But it has nothing holding it to the bench, so it slides around while you train and tends to end up on the floor. Mine slipped off the bench every set, which is how this whole thing started.
Hooded towel
The hood hooks over the bench top or headrest, so the bench holds the towel in place. At 140 x 55cm it covers the length of the bench, which gives you a barrier between you and shared equipment. If sliding is your main problem, we've written a full guide on how to stop your gym towel sliding off the bench.
Hooded towel with magnet
Everything the hooded towel does, plus a place for it between sets. The strap is built in, so there's nothing to attach, adjust or lose. It comes with the upgrade.
What does the magnet stick to?
It grips magnetic steel, which covers most racks, frames and cable stacks. It won't hold on aluminium, plastic or some stainless steel. No steel within reach? Loop the strap over a rail.
In most gyms, that's the equipment you're standing next to between sets anyway: the squat rack, the cable machine, the frame of a seated machine.
Why the magnet makes a difference
The first benefit is the obvious one. Your towel stays off the floor. It hangs on the frame, within reach, so when you sit back down you can hook it straight back over the bench.
The second is your phone and keys. They sit in the zip pocket, and the pocket goes wherever the towel goes. Clip the towel to the cable machine or the rack and your things are right there at arm's height, not on the ground next to your feet.
The third is less bending down. No reaching under a bench for a towel that slid off. No picking your phone up off the floor between sets. It's one less interruption every time you change stations.
And because the strap is built into the towel, it's always there. There's no separate clip or hook to remember.
Is the upgrade worth $10?
The magnet adds $10 per towel, so the towel is $65 with it. For that you get a towel that covers the bench while you're on it and hangs within reach when you're not. You choose the Magnet option on the hooded gym towel page.
It's covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee, which applies even if you've used the towel. Your refund is paid once the towel is returned to us.
Fabric matters too
Our towel is 300gsm microfibre terry loops, which soak up sweat rather than letting it sit on top. If you want to know why that matters, read microfibre vs cotton gym towels.
Care is simple. Machine wash it like a normal towel. If it has the magnet strap, put it in a wash bag first. It air-dries in about 2 to 3 hours.
FAQ
What does the magnet stick to?
Magnetic steel, such as racks, frames and cable machines. The section above has the details. If there's no steel nearby, loop the strap over a rail.
Can I buy it without the magnet?
Yes. We sell the towel with or without the magnet strap.
Does it have a pocket?
Yes, a zip pocket for your phone and keys. With the magnet, the pocket hangs on the frame with the towel, so your things stay within reach.
What if it's not for me?
You're covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee.
Clip it, hook it, train
The hood keeps it on the bench. The magnet keeps it, and your phone and keys, within reach between exercises. You can see the full towel range in all our gym towels.
Shop the Hooded Gym Towel with Magnet
Shipping within Australia is $9, or free over $100 or with a 3-pack. We also ship to selected countries, with costs shown at checkout.