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This towel has been a rock star both at the pool and at the beach. After three months of use, we found that this towel actually became softer and more absorbent as we used it. For a fair price, we think it’s a no-brainer for such an attractive, functional, and packable towel. It’s large enough to lay out on the sand or cover a beach chair, but it can still easily fold up to fit in a beach bag.

The weight of a towel is measured in grams per square meter (GSM). We continued to use and wash the towel for a two week period, noting any signs of wear along the way. Prior to use, we washed each towel according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Microfiber towels are extremely absorbent, lightweight, and fast-drying, and they can fold up into a fraction of their original size, making them some of the best beach towels for travel. The most commonly used materials in beach towels are cotton and microfiber, both of which are highly absorbent, though this is where their similarities end. Pottery Barn’s Turkish beach towels are 100 percent cotton and soft and smooth to the touch (the brand recommends cold-washing and tumble-drying). mothers day gift for beach towels can vary widely depending on factors such as brand, material, size, design, and overall quality. Perfect to bring on a trip or to a music festival, this beach towel is made of a polyester/nylon blend that (unlike most microfiber beach towels) has short loops to be softer and more absorbent.

We love the design of this Anthropologie Out to Sea beach towel. The School Uniform Rugby Stripe beach towel from Lands’ End is our top customizable beach towel. We were surprised with how absorbent this towel was given its thinness, but it proved more than sufficient in drying us off completely after a dip in the water.

It dried very quickly in the sun and was easy to pack because no sand got caught in the fibers. There was no shrinkage or loose threads after laundering, making this a durable towel, too. Thanks to its microfiber construction, it also dried quickly and easily. If you’re looking for a gift for your favorite teacher, this NovForth towel is an ideal summer travel accessory. Bamboo fabric is popular for its softness and sustainability, which is why many people love bamboo sheets. That’s why it’s important to ask yourself a couple key questions before you choose.

However, the thickness of this towel is similar to that of a kitchen towel. It’s also made with a convenient built-in hook, so you can hang it up to dry back at your hotel. We can’t get enough of the reversible design and the wide selection of fun prints, though you may not find this towel appealing if you’re more of a minimalist. We enjoyed the fact that it dries quickly and didn’t feel wet and clingy when we decided to lounge on it after a swim. With a length of 71 inches, it’s perfect for two people to spread out comfortably next to each other. We also loved that the sand slid off effortlessly each time we shook it out.

Made of 100% cotton, this slightly oversized towel is built to withstand beach and pool wear without fading. Made from microfiber material, the towels are quick to dry and feature a corner loop for convenient hanging. You can choose from eight colorful prints that the whole family will love, and there’s a standard-sized beach towel available in over 25 prints as well. Because the material is on the thinner side, it won’t feel as plush as a cotton terrycloth towel, but it is ultra-lightweight and easy to roll into its included carrying pouch for easy packing. In our evaluations, 100% cotton terrycloth towels felt soft and soaked up plenty of water to help you dry off quickly. We noticed some loose threads on the edges after use, so these towels are best suited for someone who only uses a beach towel a few times a year.

They are lightweight, compact, and often come with sand-resistant features, making them great for beach trips. This one goes without saying, but when looking for a travel towel, it’s best to find a lightweight towel that packs down very small. Beach towels are made with a variety of materials in a variety of styles, some of which are better suited for some activities than others.

It ended up being convenient to transport once we got to our beachside resort, but we’d caution that it’s probably better suited for checked luggage or local use. We packed this for a beach vacation to Miami, and it took up quite a lot of space in our carry-on. After multiple washes, it’s held up well with no signs of fading or unraveling. The hidden gem of this towel is the discreet hanging loop that makes it easy to throw on a hook—this is a signature touch from the brand that I’ve come to love. Though the towel has the absorbency of a classic bath towel, I loved that it dried quickly after my friend hung it over the railing of the boardwalk.

While not as oversized as some of the other towels on this list, it’s still larger than your standard beach towel at 68 inches long. On top of all this, it’s below the median price of all the beach towels we tested. Cozy Earth’s beach towels are made of a cotton and bamboo blend, making them soft and smooth to the touch. 100% Cotton beach towels are the tried and true classic beach towels, which have the paradoxical benefit of being both high absorbing and fast drying. On average, most beach towels weigh around a pound, or 16oz, but some lightweight options come as light as 7oz – no heavier than a deck of cards.