No journey to the seashore is full with out the right seashore towel. Whether or not your favourite seashore spot is by the ocean, lake, or river, one of the best seashore towel offers an area to relax, calm down, and, in fact, provide help to dry off.
Today, seashore towels are available in quite a lot of completely different supplies that present various ranges of absorbency, sand resistance, heat, packability, and luxury. We even have choices for various sizes and designs for private use, teams, or the ever-important clothes change. One of the best seashore towel is one that’s each practical throughout all of your out of doors adventures and may also be an announcement piece that exhibits off your character — be it whimsical, rugged, or something in between.
With so many choices to select from, discovering the best seashore towel on your wants generally is a problem. To assist, we gathered a various choice of 10 seashore towels for testing and comparability. Author and seashore gear knowledgeable Jackie Connor has spent the previous 20 years utilizing seashore towels of all types throughout her surf and out of doors adventures. From serving as that further layer of surfboard padding for journey to her first line of protection in opposition to post-surf chills and towel modifications, she is aware of a high quality seashore towel is an important a part of anybody’s seashore adventures.
From chilly surf classes within the Pacific Ocean to sunnier, hotter days on southern California seashores, these towels have been examined for absorption, heat, sand resistance, and sturdiness. Whether or not you’re looking for a snug and heat cotton towel, a packable and light-weight microfiber possibility, or one thing to lounge on along with your sweetheart or household, we’ve bought suggestions for you.
Our favourite seashore towels are listed beneath. To see all of the fashions we examined at a look, check out our comparability chart. Should you’d prefer to study extra about seashore towels, our shopping for recommendation has all the knowledge you could make an knowledgeable buy determination, and now we have solutions to frequent questions in our FAQ part.
Editor’s Word: We up to date our seashore towel information on July 16, 2024, after testing and including the Sand Cloud Turkish Seashore Towel and the Slowtide Turkish Towel to our choice.
The Greatest Seashore Towels of 2024
Greatest Total Seashore Towel
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Materials
Natural cotton -
Dimensions
36″ x 64″ -
Weight
1.6 lbs.
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Suits in most surf backpacks or seashore baggage -
Repels sand comparatively effectively -
The twin-sided characteristic retains you heat and dry -
Giant dimension
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Colour examined blends in with the sand making it tougher to see from distant -
Is slightly heavier when moist -
Takes a number of shakes and swipes to dislodge sand
Greatest Funds Seashore Towel
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Materials
100% Cotton -
Dimensions
34″ x 63″ -
Weight
1.2 lbs.
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Funds-friendly -
Broad number of colours and designs -
Simply packs down -
Nice for water fans on the go -
Heat and plush for the value
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Wears after appreciable utilization -
Retains sand at a median price -
Air dries slowly
Greatest Turkish Seashore Towel
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Materials
100% Natural Turkish cotton -
Dimensions
37″ x 67″ -
Weight
0.8 lbs.
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Light-weight -
Small packed dimension -
Fast-drying -
Smooth -
So many designs to select from
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Laborious to decide on a design -
Skinny – would not present a lot cushion or heat
Greatest Transportable Seashore Towel
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Materials
Polyester microsuede (95% polyester, 5% spandex) -
Dimensions
29.5″ x 72″ -
Weight
0.8 lbs.
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Repels sand very effectively when dry -
Light-weight when dry and moist -
Extremely absorbent -
Cool colours and designs
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Sand sticks when moist -
Takes some time to strive if it is tremendous moist
Greatest Sand-Resistant Seashore Towel
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Materials
Recycled microfiber -
Dimensions
35″ x 71″ -
Weight
0.5 lbs.
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Packs down -
Absorbent -
Repels sand -
Doesn’t tackle a scent -
Shiny colours make it simple to see from afar -
Tons of sample choices
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Not plush for heat -
Sand ultimately sticks to towel after whether it is soaked
Greatest Outsized Seashore Towel
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Materials
100% Turkish Natural Cotton -
Dimensions
90″ x 90″ -
Weight
1.3 lbs.
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Lighter weight and stretchy -
Repels sand comparatively effectively -
Very comfortable to the contact -
Nice for group actions -
Numerous sample choices -
Can double as a blanket within the residence
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Costly -
Air dry solely – can’t be added to the dryer -
Not excellent for drying off after a rinse -
Bigger dimension in the end picks up extra sand
Greatest Multi-Function Seashore Towel
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Materials
90% Recycled polyester, nylon -
Dimensions
Flat: 60″ x 80″, Worn: 30″ x 40″ -
Weight
2.8 lbs.
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Multi-purpose performance -
Tremendous absorbent -
Fast drying -
One poncho towel equals 66 plastic bottles
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Not very plush -
Restricted heat
Better of the Relaxation
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Materials
100% sustainably sourced cotton – Oeko-Tex 100 & Leads licensed -
Dimensions
38″ x 73″ -
Weight
0.8 lbs.
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Light-weight -
Small packed dimension -
Dries shortly -
Resists sand very effectively -
Numerous timeless kinds – some funky ones, too
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Skinny – not very plush or heat -
Not very absorbent when new
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Materials
100% sustainably sourced cotton -
Dimensions
30″ x 60″ -
Weight
1 lb.
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Extremely comfortable and plush -
Heat -
Handy drying loop -
Slowtide merchandise are sustainably and ethically sourced
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Heavy when moist -
Troublesome to dislodge sand -
Not the quickest drying
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Materials
100% cotton -
Dimensions
62″ x 70″ -
Weight
3 lbs.
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Carrying strap -
Extraordinarily comfortable and plush -
Distinctive boho designs -
Customized embroidery supplied by Pendleton
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Heaviest towel examined -
Cumbersome -
Brings residence extra sand -
Requires further consideration when packing up
Seashore Towel Comparability Chart
How We Examined Seashore Towels
For our seashore towel purchaser’s information, we recruited seashore gear knowledgeable Jackie Connor to check and overview the entire fashions included right here. With over 20 years spent refining her surf abilities, Jackie has turn out to be a self-proclaimed seashore towel connoisseur. For Jackie, seashore towels are an extremely vital go-to for heat, drying off, and, like most surfers, a covert altering accent. In her unending seek for the right seashore towel, she has tried all the things from customary cotton terry towels, bought interested by microsuede’s seashore usability, and have become a extra refined procurer of all issues Turkish cotton and enjoyable boho designs.
Every towel was examined throughout her typical Southern California springtime surf adventures on solo missions and when hanging on the seashore with buddies. This concerned stuffing every towel right into a backpack or a seashore bag alongside a wetsuit and different seashore gear and strolling roughly 1,000 toes to 1 mile to and from an area Southern California seashore. She assessed the towels primarily based on weight, materials, sand resistance, drying time, heat, and packability. Elements like vacation spot distance performed a task, as did air and water temperatures, with the added caveat that springtime presents a few of the chilliest waters at her native surf breaks.
Purchaser’s Information: Methods to Select a Seashore Towel
For such a seemingly easy product, there are a lot of elements to think about when selecting one of the best seashore towel. One of many major issues to consider is how you’ll use it and what efficiency traits are vital to you. Is it only for private use, or do you want one thing bigger for 2 or extra individuals to lie on? Is it merely for drying off, or do you want it to offer slightly heat at occasions as effectively? How far do you could carry it, and the way will you transport it to your seashore spot? The solutions to those questions ought to provide help to slim down your search to seek out the right seashore towel on your wants.
Materials
One of many major differentiators of contemporary seashore towels is the fabric used of their development. Cotton remains to be the first materials utilized in most towels, however we’ve bought each the extra conventional looped, terry cotton and likewise Turkish cotton to select from. Polyester has additionally turn out to be well-liked and is used to create microfiber and microsuede towels with completely different efficiency traits.
Cotton
For towels of all types, cotton remains to be the first materials used. Today, nevertheless, we will select between the extra conventional looped, terry cotton, or Turkish cotton seashore towels.
Looped, terry cotton — much like what most bathtub towels are fabricated from — is plush and comfortable in opposition to the pores and skin, extremely absorbent, and the loft of the loops offers a bit extra heat and cushion than thinner supplies. The small cotton loops are extra vulnerable to capturing sand within the fibers, however many trendy towels have a velour aspect — the loops are sheared off on one aspect — that’s extra sand resistant.
This two-sided strategy provides customers one aspect to place down on the sand and a plusher, extra absorbent aspect to dry off with. The first drawbacks to such a seashore towel are that they’re sometimes a bit bulkier, they get heavy when moist, take longer to dry, and have a tendency to lure a bit extra sand than different supplies.
Turkish cotton towels are highly regarded as effectively. Created from lengthy Turkish cotton fibers, these sometimes characteristic a thinner, woven development. They nonetheless boast nice softness and absorbency, though they aren’t fairly as plush or heat as looped cotton described above. That stated, they normally pack down a lot smaller and the woven development doesn’t present fairly as many locations for sand to cling to. Provided that they’re a bit thinner, Turkish towels additionally are inclined to dry out barely sooner than their looped cotton counterparts.
Polyester and Microfiber
Polyester is used to make towels which can be sometimes known as microfiber or microsuede. These small fibers are extra densely woven and smoother in comparison with cotton towels, however they’re extremely absorbent and dry in a short time. The denser weave of the fabric additionally provides sand fewer locations to cling onto, and plenty of microfiber towels even declare to be “sand-free.” Microfiber towels are very skinny and light-weight, that means they pack down very small and are simply moveable. The first drawbacks to microfiber towels are that they don’t really feel fairly as comfortable or plush in opposition to the pores and skin and supply little heat, comparatively talking.
Measurement
Seashore towels are typically bigger than customary bathtub towels, with most measuring within the neighborhood of roughly 30 inches large by 60 inches lengthy, give or take a number of inches. The bigger dimension of seashore towels offers extra protection of the sand or floor the place you place them down, making it potential for many adults to lie comfortably with the towel between most of their physique and the seashore. The dimensions of most seashore towels additionally makes it simpler to wrap round extra of your physique once you get out of the water or when you could change, too.
Should you’re looking for a bigger towel that’s appropriate for 2 or extra individuals to take a seat on on the seashore, there are many choices. Giant towels just like the Pendleton Towel for Two or the Sand Cloud Social gathering Blanket are nice examples of outsized towels that may simply match two adults mendacity down or a number of individuals sitting on them. Whereas their large dimension makes them rather less helpful for drying off and comically massive for a single individual, they’re excellent in the suitable conditions. Keep in mind that the bigger a towel is, the heavier and bulkier it turns into.
Packability
Relying on how far your stroll is to the seashore or how your transport your seashore gear, a towel’s packability could or will not be an vital consideration. Most seashore towels are simple sufficient to hold nearly anyplace, but when you could maximize area in your backpack or seashore bag to hold all the things you want for a major distance, a smaller and lighter towel could also be the most suitable choice.
The fabric used performs a major function in a towel’s packability. Conventional cotton terry towels are bulkier and heavier than different choices, a tradeoff for his or her plushness, heat, and absorbency. Moreover, cotton terry towels get heavy when moist and dry extra slowly than different supplies.
Turkish cotton towels are typically a bit thinner, and, subsequently, fold or roll right into a smaller packed dimension. This makes them simpler to stuff right into a pack or bag alongside your different seashore requirements. The discount in bulk and weight makes them an excellent possibility for carrying lengthy distances or packing into your baggage for journey.
Microfiber towels are the lightest and most packable of all. These towels sometimes fold down smaller than any cotton choices. Microfiber towels are nice when space for storing is at a premium, or you could pack your seashore gear a good distance. The tradeoff is that they aren’t fairly as plush or heat.
The dimensions of your towel additionally performs a major function in its packability. For instance, the bigger Pendleton Towel for Two is difficult to slot in a backpack and weighs 3 kilos. It’s simple sufficient to hold in a seashore wagon and it comes with a nylon strap with a deal with that makes it fairly cheap to hold for brief distances.
Absorbency
Except for offering a spot to take a seat or lie down and wrapping your self up in them, one of many major functions of seashore towels is drying your self off once you get out of the water. Because of this, most seashore towels, whether or not comprised of cotton or microfiber, are extremely absorbent. No matter materials, all high quality seashore towels will get you dry shortly and simply. The largest variations between supplies are the texture in opposition to the pores and skin and the way lengthy it takes them to dry as soon as moist.
Cotton is the commonest materials utilized in seashore towels as a result of it’s extremely absorbent. The comfortable loops of cotton terry not solely really feel comfy in opposition to the physique, however they absorb moisture readily. Given the thickness of the fabric, it offers extra heat and cushion, however tends to take longer to dry out. Since they keep moist for longer, this could make sand follow them greater than it already does, making subsequent dry-offs much less nice.
Turkish towels are a bit thinner, however they nonetheless soak up water simply whereas offering a bit extra heat and cushion than thinner microfiber choices. Turkish towels additionally are inclined to dry a bit extra shortly than looped cotton choices, however not fairly as quick as microfiber.
Contemplating how skinny and light-weight microfiber towels are, they’re impressively absorbent. Along with absorbing moisture readily, microfiber is the quickest to dry by a major margin.
Sand Resistance
Whereas most of us go to the seashore to take pleasure in a while within the sand, we desire to depart as a lot of it as potential on the seashore. Sadly, sand has a method of sticking to simply about all the things it touches, towels included, working its method into your seashore bag, backpack, automobile, and even your own home. Whereas getting sandy on the seashore is inevitable, many trendy seashore towels goal to be sand-resistant, with some even claiming to be sand-free or sand-proof. The fabric is the largest issue at play in a towel’s sand resistance.
For these in the hunt for essentially the most sand-resistant towel, microfiber is the most suitable choice. The superfine weave of the polyester fibers doesn’t present the nooks and crannies for sand to lodge itself into like cotton does. Some sand could follow microfiber towels when moist, however a fast shake will normally dislodge it simply. And, given how shortly microfiber seashore towels dry out, this challenge is usually very short-lived.
Cotton, notably the looped terry selection, is extra vulnerable to clinging to sand than microfiber. The loops in terry cotton present plenty of locations for sand to get trapped and conceal. Thankfully, manufacturers like Patagonia and Slowtide make two-sided towels with a extra sand-resistant velour aspect — the loops have been shaved down so it’s smoother — and a plusher looped aspect. Nonetheless, cotton stays moist for longer, and sand clings to moist cotton, however you possibly can normally shake or brush most of it off. Even then, you’ll be bringing a bit extra sand residence with you than with microfiber.
Turkish cotton towels fall roughly in between the microfiber and terry cotton choices when it comes to sand resistance. The longer, flat woven fibers don’t present as many locations for sand to stay to in comparison with looped cotton, however greater than the smoother and thinner microfiber choices.
Heat
Heat is one other vital consideration for a lot of seashore towel customers, relying on the ocean and air temperatures the place you go to the seashore. Any towel will present a layer of safety from the breeze, however if you happen to’re getting out of chilly water and want your towel to dry you off and supply slightly heat, then thicker, plusher towels just like the Patagonia Natural Cotton Towel and Slowtide Wonderland are one of the best wager. The loops of cotton in terry towels present slightly loft and further thickness that helps insulate the physique a bit higher than thinner Turkish or microfiber choices. Moreover, that thickness may even present slightly extra cushion in opposition to the bottom for extra comfy lounging.
FAQ
One of the best materials for a seashore towel actually comes down to private choice and the particular efficiency traits you need out of your towel. Cotton, and notably looped cotton, absorbs water readily, feels nice in opposition to the pores and skin, offers heat by way of loft, and is comfy to lie down on as a result of it’s sometimes thicker than different choices. The tradeoffs are that looped cotton holds onto extra sand, dries extra slowly, and is a bit bulkier when packed.
Turkish cotton towels use an extended, flat weave and are usually thinner and extra packable than its looped cotton counterparts. They nonetheless have the absorbency and on-skin consolation of cotton however with a slight discount in plushness and heat. That stated, they don’t maintain onto fairly as a lot sand, they usually dry slightly extra shortly, too.
Microfiber is gaining popularity on the planet of seashore towels. This skinny, finely woven polyester materials ends in skinny, light-weight, and extremely packable seashore towels that take up much less room in your seashore bag or backpack. They’re sometimes pretty comfortable to the contact, however they lack the plushness, heat, and supreme absorbency of looped terry cotton. Nonetheless, they soak up water fairly effectively and dry extra shortly than different choices. The sleek cloth additionally resists sand higher than cotton — you possibly can normally simply shake it proper off if it sticks in any respect.
Seashore towels are made with sand in thoughts, and plenty of declare to be sand-resistant and even sand-proof. Realistically, any towel will choose up slightly little bit of sand on the seashore, particularly whether it is moist, however some resist holding onto sand a lot better than others. Towels comprised of polyester supplies like microfiber and microsuede are essentially the most sand-resistant in our expertise. Whereas they’re typically thinner, the tremendous finely woven materials is smoother and doesn’t present sand with as many locations to cling onto. And, even when sand does follow your microfiber towel, a fast shake or brush of the hand will dislodge most of it.
Cotton, whether or not looped terry material or Turkish, tends to select up a bit extra sand than microfiber. The cotton fibers aren’t woven as tightly as microfiber, and subsequently, sand has extra locations to cover and cling onto. That is notably true of looped terry cotton, the place sand can cling to the fluffy loops of cotton. The thinner, woven nature of Turkish towels will nonetheless choose up sand, however it’s typically a bit simpler to dislodge from the fibers. Nonetheless, even cotton towels made particularly for seashore use choose up much less sand than a fluffier bathtub towel, for instance. And lots of looped cotton seashore towels actually have a smoother, velour aspect that’s extra immune to holding onto sand.
Sure, in fact, you should utilize any towel you select on the seashore. Typically talking, nevertheless, we desire to make use of beach-specific towels on the seashore for quite a lot of causes. First, seashore towels are sometimes a bit bigger than bathtub towels. This provides you extra space to take a seat or lay down and offers a bit extra physique protection once you need to wrap up for drying or altering out of your moist bathing go well with.
Second, bathtub towels are sometimes made with loftier looped terry cotton on each side for max physique drying consolation and absorption. Most trendy seashore towels, even these comprised of looped terry cotton, normally have shorter loops and/or a velour aspect that’s extra immune to sand. The bigger loops of the terry cotton on bathtub towels will probably be extra vulnerable to selecting up and holding onto sand, which you will find yourself rubbing throughout your self whereas drying off. Moreover, bathtub towels will probably take longer to dry than towels made to be used on the seashore.
Bathtub towels additionally are usually thicker and, subsequently, bulkier and heavier than seashore towels. This makes them much less packable. Bathtub towels additionally are usually monotone and usually considerably uninteresting of their look. Seashore towels typically are available in brighter colours and enjoyable designs that will let you specific your model and could also be simpler to identify on a crowded seashore.
We place our seashore towels on the sand and use them to dry water (salt water, contemporary water, or pool water) off of our our bodies, so they have an inclination to get soiled pretty shortly. Retaining your towels clear may also help lengthen their lifespan, hold them feeling comfortable, and forestall bacterial buildup and odor. Many towel manufacturers additionally suggest washing your towel earlier than the primary use.
Earlier than washing, the very first thing you need to do is take away as a lot sand as potential from the towel. Give it an excellent, arduous shake to attempt to dislodge as a lot sand from the fibers. In case your towel remains to be moist, enable it to dry utterly after which shake it off once more — sand sticks extra to damp supplies. Eradicating as a lot sand as potential earlier than washing will probably be higher on your machine.
In case your towel has care directions, it’s greatest to observe them. Many towels could have a small tag that specifies what water temperature to make use of and whether or not or not it may be dried in a machine. If it doesn’t, these directions can typically be discovered on the producer’s web site.
Test for stains. In case your towel has stains from sunscreen, lotion, grime, or anything, it’s greatest to pre-treat them so they are going to hopefully disappear when it goes by way of the wash.
Whereas the care directions for some towels could differ, most specify that they need to be washed with chilly water and gentle detergent with related colours. Since towels are absorbent, they are often very heavy when they’re moist. It’s greatest to clean them in smaller masses to stop having an excessive amount of weight in your machine throughout the spin cycles. It’s typically suggested to keep away from utilizing cloth softener as it could scale back a towel’s absorbency.
It is very important be aware that the majority microfiber towel manufacturers suggest not washing microfiber with different different gadgets comprised of completely different supplies.
Whereas many seashore towels might be tumbled dry in a dryer on a low setting, the popular methodology is normally to hold them to dry. Should you desire to make use of the dryer, you should definitely verify the towel’s care directions to verify it’s okay. All the time guarantee your towel has dried utterly earlier than storing it to stop mildew, micro organism, and odors.
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