Northbound Movement Co. Review: Yoga Blocks, Bolsters and Straps Compared

Yoga props are the unsung heroes of a home practice. A good block turns an impossible reach into a comfortable one; a proper bolster makes restorative poses genuinely restful; a strap opens up tight hamstrings without a fight. They are also easy to buy badly. Foam blocks crumble and slide, bolsters flatten into pancakes and straps buckle at the wrong moment.

Northbound Movement Co. is a specialist prop store that runs on a simple idea: if you do it properly, people will thank you. We bought a range of its products and put them through eight weeks of daily practice, alongside inexpensive alternatives, to see whether it is right.

What Northbound sells#

The line-up covers cork and foam blocks, bolsters in three shapes, cotton and nylon straps, wool blankets, eye pillows and a small selection of mats. Prices range from $16 for a strap to $84 for a full-size round bolster. There are also studio bundles: ten blocks, ten straps and five bolsters for under $600, with a 15 percent volume discount.

What stands out is the education. Each product page contains a short section titled "Use it for", with the poses it supports and a one-line tip. The store also publishes a free prop guide that pairs body type and level with recommended kit.

How we tested#

I ordered a pair of cork blocks ($38), a rectangular bolster ($64), two cotton straps ($16 each) and a wool blanket ($52). For eight weeks I used them daily, in flow classes and restorative sessions, and compared them with foam blocks, a cheap bolster and a nylon strap from a big-box retailer.

Cork blocks: the standout#

The cork blocks are the reason to shop here. They are dense, slightly heavy at about 600 g each, and they stay put on hardwood and on a yoga mat. Compared with foam, they don't squash under a hand or slide away in a wide-legged forward fold. After eight weeks, edges showed only a faint rounding, and the surface felt as good as new.

At $38 a pair, they cost roughly twice as much as decent foam blocks, but they will last years longer. If you buy one thing from Northbound, buy these.

The bolster#

The buckwheat-and-cotton bolster is remarkably supportive. Buckwheat hulls, like those used in meditation cushions, mould to the body and hold their shape, so a supported child's pose or reclined bound angle feels stable for ten minutes and more. The cover unzips, so you can remove fill for a softer, lower shape. It weighs a hefty 5 kg, which makes it awkward to transport, though studio users will appreciate it.

The cheap foam bolster we tested alongside it lost its shape after three weeks. At $64, the Northbound version is not cheap but comfortably outperforms it.

Straps and blankets: less convincing#

Straps are where the store's enthusiasm falters. The cotton straps are perfectly serviceable, with a metal D-ring and good stitching, but at $16 they are twice the price of similar straps at competing yoga stores. The wool blanket is nicely woven but thin for $52, and a folded travel blanket does the same job for half.

Service, shipping and returns#

Support answered my pre-sale question, about whether the bolster is suitable for a smaller person with a low back, within four hours. The reply came from a yoga teacher, not a script, and included a diagram of the poses and a recommendation for a slimmer version.

Orders under $50 pay $7 shipping; larger orders ship free. Delivery took three business days for the blocks and five for the bolster. The returns window is 30 days for unused products, with the customer paying the return postage unless there is a fault. Fair, if not generous.

Price and value#

Cork blocks and the bolster deliver real value over cheap alternatives. Straps and blankets do not. If your budget is tight, build your kit in this order: cork blocks, then the bolster, and pick up a strap somewhere else.

Who should buy, and who should skip#

Buy from Northbound if you practise regularly, want props that last, and like clear guidance about which ones you need.

Skip it if you are new and unsure, in which case a pair of foam blocks and a belt will get you through the first months, or you need a cheaper strap.

The verdict#

Northbound Movement Co. earns 4.2 out of 5. It is at its best when it is helping you choose the right props and at its weakest when it prices ordinary accessories like premium goods. The blocks and the bolster are worth the money.

Disclosure: we bought all products ourselves. Some links on this site are affiliate links. See our review policy.