Cork Pros
Quality cork provides a little extra grip when it gets wet – this can be great for extra balance and to reduce slipping during hot yoga, or if your hands tend to sweat during a class. Stains are easy to clean with a mix of vinegar, water, and a touch of essential oil, and sunlight also helps in reducing any marks on the cork’s surface. These blocks are also heavier than foam, which can be a good or bad thing, but in general adds some heft and stability to the block placement.
Cork is significantly more eco-friendly than foam, and can be recycled or broken down when the blocks are no longer in use.
Cork Cons
There’s not a lot of quality control with cork blocks, and the cork can be mixed with foam and not listed in the materials. Check for 100% cork, solid cork, and information about where the cork is from to ensure that you’re getting a good product. Lower-quality blocks can chip, scratch, and mold quickly, while still being double the cost of standard foam.