10 Best Travel Towels In 2022: Quick Drying & Lightweight

We would prefer a quick-drying, packable travel towel instead of a thick, thirsty bath towel when we are camping or traveling. For adventures where you won’t have a towel set out for you every morning and for trips where you’ll be staying in Airbnb rentals, hostels, or with family and friends, a travel towel is ideal. It can be uncomfortable to not have access to a means of drying off, but how do you decide which one to use? In this article, we list the 10 best travel towels. Please keep reading and pick the one you prefer.

What Size Travel Towel Would Be Ideal?

Typical towel lengths fall between 20 and 70 inches. You must decide which towel size is ideal for your requirements because it’s ideal to have a towel that won’t take up much room in your luggage. The best choice may be a larger towel if you intend to spend time at the beach and will need to dry off.

Best Travel Towels

Best Overall: Packtowl Personal Towel

The PackTowl Personal towel consistently surprised us with its ability to withstand the elements while earning high marks in almost every performance category. It has an antibacterial treatment to help prevent odor, the “body” size (25 by 54 inches) is large enough to wrap around most folks, and it feels soft against the skin.

The best towel we tested for absorbing water and deterring dirt is made of a fabric that isn’t prone to tearing. Even better, beach sand stayed on the towel’s surface and was simple to shake off, keeping the towel clean even after numerous uses.

It packs down to a small size in a zippered breathable pouch, making it convenient for travel or camping. It dried quicker than the majority of the towels we tested.

Best Budget: Rainleaf Microfiber Towel

Almost all of the more expensive models’ designs are virtually identical to those of the Rainleaf Microfiber Towel, which performed equally well in our field tests. The only drawbacks are that it has lighter-feeling fabric and that its large size is smaller than the majority of other large towels we tested.

Although it took a little longer to dry and didn’t handle our day at the beach as well, its comfort and portability are otherwise comparable. Additionally, it passed our smell test with a perfect score because it has an antibacterial coating, which is uncommon among inexpensive (or even some expensive) towels.

It’s a good choice if you’re the type of person who goes camping occasionally and needs something affordable that performs admirably because it costs just a small portion of what our top pick costs.

Best Turkish: Nature Is Gift Turkish Cotton Towel

Nature Is Gift’s Turkish Cotton Towel takes inspiration from the peshtemals, or traditional towels used in Turkish hammams, and is made of premium fabric with extra-long fibers that become softer and more absorbent after each wash. It is made of 100% natural Turkish cotton. It is significantly more compact and dries faster than terry cloth towels. This travel towel takes up very little space in your luggage when it is folded flat, which is another benefit when you’re on the go.

This large towel, which measures 39 x 71 inches, offers plenty of coverage whether you use it as a cover-up while walking from your bedroom to a public restroom or as a changing screen at the beach. A variety of hues are available, including grass, lilac, aqua, and rich gray. Statement-making stripes and hand-knotted tassels line the shorter edges of every color. This item can be used as a picnic blanket, scarf, or sarong, or thrown in your living room at home when it’s not being used as a towel.

Best Multipurpose: Snappy Towels Waffle Weave Microfiber Towel

The Snappy Towels Waffle Weave Microfiber Towel has the same benefits as other microfiber towels on the market, including quick drying, absorption, compactness, and lightweight.

However, none of the others are as functional as this one, which has clever snaps all along its edges. As a sarong or changing cover, you can use them to cinch the travel towel around your waist. As a cape or poncho that provides shade, you can also fasten it around your shoulders.

The towel provides privacy for breastfeeding mothers and can be used as a stroller cover if you’re traveling with small children. At the end of the day, you can fasten the towel over a deck railing to dry. You can even connect the snaps to turn the towel into a tote bag for carrying items to and from the beach.

If you purchase additional towels, you can join them with a snap to make a sizable beach blanket for your loved ones. The sand-free travel towel is available in green or orange, and other sizes are also available online. It measures 54 x 27 inches.

Best Eco-friendly: Nomadix Yoga Travel Towel

The Nomadix Yoga Travel Towel is perfect for eco-friendly and sustainable travelers. It is entirely constructed of recycled components, including fibers taken from post-consumer plastic bottles. The travel towel is more than just a novelty item; it also functions well.

It weighs only one pound and, thanks to its anti-microbial qualities, dries quickly and keeps food fresh. Additionally, it is non-slip, making it perfect for wellness retreats and yoga camps.

The towel’s multipurpose nature is in line with the brand’s “own less, do more” ethos, whereby customers purchase one quality, long-lasting product that fulfills several functions. Your Nomadix towel can be used for travel, yoga, camping, beach outings, and exercise in the gym.

The two-sided towel is additionally offered in a selection of fashionable, travel-themed prints. The Yosemite towel, which depicts El Capitan, is a favorite.

Best Set: Olimpiafit 3-size Towels

With the OlimpiaFit set, you get three towels of different sizes for less than you would pay for most towels purchased separately. The three 100% microfiber travel towels are 50 x 30 inches (large), 30 x 15 inches (medium), and 15 x 15 inches (small), making them ideal for multi-purpose use whether you’re going to the beach, a campground, or the gym.

The lightweight, compact towels can pack four times smaller than terrycloth towels, and they are all anti-microbial, incredibly absorbent, hypoallergenic, and quick-drying. The compact set includes mesh carrying bags for each towel in addition to a hanging loop.

Best For Backpacking: Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Towel

The brand’s camping towel is perfect to bring on your next backpacking trip or adventure, and it is made by outdoor industry experts Wise Owl Outfitters. You can hang the towel on a tree or tent with ease thanks to its snap loop.

The lightweight travel towel is made of a unique microfiber mixture that makes it incredibly soft when compared to other microfiber towels. A washcloth and mesh carry bag are included, and it is also extra absorbent and quick drying.

With two sizes available, the large size (24 x 48 inches) also includes a 12 x 12-inch towel, and the extra-large size (30 x 60 inches) also includes a 12 x 24-inch towel. And even better: Wise Owl Outfitters is a U.S. company run by a family.-based brand and makes all of its products in its head office in Tennessee.

Best Linen: Goodlinens Lightweight Linen Travel Towel

Goodlinens’ travel towel is a good size at 36 x 56 inches, so you can use it to wrap up after a dip in the ocean or while having a picnic. It folds down small enough to fit in a backpack despite its size.

The towel is made entirely of linen, is simple to clean, and even softens with use. The pattern has a natural or beige color, and the single blue stripe adds a playful element while also helping to set your towel apart from everyone else’s.

Best Lightweight: Relefree Microfiber Travel Towel

You will receive a complimentary smaller hand towel from Relefree in addition to a high-quality, quick-drying beach towel. Your free towel measures 24″ x 15″ and is ideal for cleaning your face whether you’re at the gym or in your hostel.

The larger towel is easily one of the greatest light beach towels for travel because it measures 60″ x 30″, but still packs down and weighs only 10 ounces (including the bag and smaller towel). The towels come in a variety of vivid colors in addition to having a hanging clip. With the packed mesh bag only measuring 10″ x 8″, when packing for a trip, the Relefree Microfiber Travel Towel is fantastic.

Best Popular: Dock & Bay Microfiber Beach Towel

These towels are sure to catch your attention. Dock & Bay, who were previously featured on the British television program Dragons’ Den, are revolutionizing the market by developing the best microfiber towel for travel.

These brightly striped towels not only come in large (63″ x 31″) and extra large (78″ x 35″), but you can also get a circular towel (with a 75-inch diameter) that’s perfect for having a picnic in the most beautiful parks in the USA, stopping to watch the stars while taking a road trip through Croatia, and everything in between.

Despite weighing between 1.8 and 1.9 pounds, these large towels make excellent quick-dry camping towels if you love large towels. The Dock & Bay Microfiber Beach Towel will ensure that you stand out wherever you are by being small, sand-free, and colorful.

What To Look For In A Good Travel Towel?

As you’re shopping, keep in mind that just because a product says it’s the “best travel towel” doesn’t mean it’s actually the truth. We’re going to debunk the myths and prepare you to purchase your new favorite travel item. To determine what’s best for you, there are several things you need to consider:

Absorbency

This is crucial because, even if it’s cute if it doesn’t actually accomplish its purpose, you’ve wasted your money. Verify that the material will in fact help you dry off.

Anti-microbial

You want to be certain that it won’t be accumulating bacteria, developing mold, or emitting an unpleasant odor while it’s in your backpack, carry-on, or vehicle because it might be there for a while.

Comfortable

You might use this towel quite frequently, depending on your travel preferences. It’s crucial that it dries you off, but it’s also vital that you enjoy how it feels on your skin.

Features

• Loop: When you don’t have access to a conventional towel rack, the drying loop will assist in drying the towel more quickly.
• Carrying Case: There are several advantages to having a carrying case. It can be difficult to keep towels folded neatly while your bag bounces around, but a carrying case should keep your towel neatly rolled or folded. These bags typically have mesh interiors, so even if your towel is still wet when you need to leave, you can put them in your bag without worrying that it will get wet the rest of the contents. The towel can be folded flat in some carrying cases while being rolled up in others. Just keep in mind that when choosing your preferred travel towel the shape can be very important to some people or not at all.

Material

There are many different materials available. The kind of material you use can affect how much it weighs, how useful it is, and how quickly it dries. Here are some of the main materials used to make the best travel towels:

• Bamboo: Bamboo towels are sustainable, bacterial-resistant, and eco-friendly. Despite not being as compact as some people would like, these towels are softer than linen towels and dry quickly.
• Linen: The advantages of linen towels include their antibacterial properties, superior odor protection, and high absorption rates. Cons include the fact that linen towels are typically more expensive than other travel towels and that some people don’t like the way they feel against their skin.
• Microfiber: The fact that they are breathable, strong, and lightweight makes them some of the best quick-dry towels for travel. Some of them are very absorbent, while others aren’t, but their main purpose is to wipe the water off of your skin rather than absorb it as a typical cotton towel would. Although microfiber towels are frequently very soft, some people don’t like how it feels against their skin. If you’re unsure about microfiber, you can test it out and return it if you’re not a fan because many of these towels come with a risk-free guarantee. However, since microfiber towels are the most widely used travel towels, we’re confident that once you get one, you’ll agree wholeheartedly.
• Turkish Cotton: These typically rank behind microfiber travel towels in terms of popularity. These towels are appealing because of their extraordinary comfort. They are incredibly absorbent due to the thin cotton and take up less room in your bag. Cotton-based towels take a little longer to dry than synthetic towels, so they’re not the best for backpacking or camping. But because they can also be used as a scarf or blanket, these are great if you’ll mostly be using your towel occasionally.

Reason For Use

Which size towel is best will depend on why you’re using it. A smaller size towel is best for you if you pack minimally and are only taking your backpack with the necessities like some clothes, a water bottle, and your backpacking tent. If you enjoy the water and are searching for some light beach towels, you should probably look for bigger towels that allow you to lounge on them and effectively dry you off.

Size / Packability

There are many different sizes available for travel towels. The ideal towel won’t take up much room in your carry-on luggage or travel bag, but the size of the towel you actually need will depend on what you’ll be using it for. Towels usually range from around 24″ x 12″ to 78″ x 35″, but can come in an endless variety of sizes.

If it’s too big, it might crowd out other necessary travel items like your ultralight laptop or your travel blow dryer, but if it’s too small, it might not be very useful. As you shop, keep in mind that the size and material will affect how easily they can be packed.

Weight

Depending on what you’ll use it for, this item also varies in importance. Get one that is as light as possible if you plan to go trekking for a few weeks. Weight doesn’t matter as much if you’re driving to the beach.