We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Travel Products Travel Accessories The Most Packable and Absorbent Travel Towels of 2024 For everything from hot spring trips to campground showers, you’ll never be sorry you packed a travel towel. By Maggie Slepian Maggie Slepian Maggie Slepian is a full-time writer in the outdoor world with a decade of gear-testing experience Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 5, 2023 In This Article Expand In This Article Our Top Picks ReviewsTips for Buying Frequently Asked Questions Why Trust T+L Photo: Travel + Leisure / Alli Waataja A travel towel might seem like an unnecessary addition to your travel kit. After all, you have plenty of towels at home, and how often will you use a travel-specific towel? The answer: more than you think. Consider gym outings, beach days, backpacking excursions, extended road trips, frontcountry camping trips, and hostel stays. Need we say more? A travel towel is a fast-drying, absorbent accessory that takes up a fraction of the space as your at-home beach or bath towel. These are durable and made to get dirty on the road, and can be used multiple times between washes. Travel towels come in a range of sizes, from face towels to large beach towels, and are often antimicrobial, which means they won’t get stinky between washes. Do keep in mind that the absorbency, quick-drying, and packability of these towels means they’re less fluffy than your home towels. They’re usually polyester instead of cotton, but most are still super soft to the touch. Our Top Picks Best Overall: PackTowl Personal Towel at Amazon ($35) Jump to Review Best Budget: Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Towel at Amazon ($16) Jump to Review Most Absorbent: Flow Swim Chamois at Amazon ($16) Jump to Review Best Ultralight: Sea to Summit Airlite Towel at Seatosummit.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best for the Beach: PackTowl Luxe Towel at Amazon ($53) Jump to Review Most Versatile: REI Co-op Multi Towel Lite at REI ($18) Jump to Review Best Prints: Nomadix Original Towel at REI ($28) Jump to Review Softest Feel: Sea to Summit Drylite Towel at Amazon ($27) Jump to Review Best Overall PackTowl Personal Towel PHOTO: Amazon $35 at Amazon $16 at REI View on Packtowl.com Why We Love It An antibacterial treatment helps prevent odors on this ultra-absorbent towel. What to Consider It doesn’t come with a storage bag. This durable, fast-drying towel is incredibly absorbent, making it our top choice for travel, camping, and beach days. Sand and debris doesn’t cling to the fibers, so it’s easy to shake out after a day outside. The antibacterial treatment helps prevent odor buildup, and we were able to use this for a week straight during a road trip without any offensive smells. It comes in four sizes, from a washcloth-sized face towel to a generous 36 x 59-inch beach towel, and the standard “body size” towel is comparable to an at-home bath towel in size and absorbency. The only knock against this towel is that it used to come with a carry pouch, but doesn’t anymore. However, it rolls up small to fit in your pack or beach bag, and you can always use a spare mesh bag to transport it. We listed the price and dimensions for the body (large) option. The Details: 25 x 54 inches | 80 percent polyester, 20 percent nylon | 6.4 ounces | Machine washable Best Budget Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Towel PHOTO: Amazon $16 at Amazon Why We Love It It’s packable into its own carry case. What to Consider It’s not as odor-resistant as others on this list. Compact, packable, and with a brushed-suede feeling finish, this microfiber towel is a great option for travelers and campers looking for an affordable travel towel. It has a hanging loop for drying (we clip it to the outside of our pack while hiking), and it resists dirt and sand buildup better than cotton towels. This towel isn’t treated with any antimicrobial components though, so unless you fully dry it between uses and wash it regularly, it will start to smell. You can buy this in a medium, large, or extra large, and some options come in a set with a washcloth-size as well. We listed the price and dimensions for the large option. The Details: 24 x 48 inches | 80 percent polyester, 20 percent nylon | 5.3 ounces | Machine washable Most Absorbent Flow Swim Chamois PHOTO: Amazon $13 at Amazon View on Flowswimgear.com Why We Love It It dries instantly after being wrung out. What to Consider There’s no full-size option. These (almost) magical towels have long been a swimmer and triathlete's secret — when it comes to absorbency and rapid drying, nothing beats the humble swim chamois. Ultralight and ultra-absorbent, the swim chamois is used to quickly wick away water, and can be wrung out to near-instant dryness. The classic chamois is small (13 x 17 inches), but it does come in a larger 26 x 17-inch option. Most people use a standard chamois by drying one part of their body, wringing it out, then drying another part. You can also use these to dry off raincoats, pack covers, and other wet gear. The chamois packs into its own tube to help keep the material from getting stiff (just make sure it’s fully dry before sealing the tube), and it stayed fresh for the entire season we used it for swim workouts. We listed the price and dimensions for the standard size. The Details: 13 x 17 inches | PVA | 3.2 ounces | Machine or hand wash, avoid dryer The Ultimate Camping Packing List Best Ultralight Sea to Summit Airlite Towel PHOTO: Amazon View on Seatosummit.com View on Moosejaw.com Why We Love It It’s half the weight and packed size of other travel towels. What to Consider Less material means it won’t absorb as much water as bulkier towels. At 2.4 ounces, the Airlite makes taking a full-size towel backpacking not even seem like a luxury. This is the lightest offering from Sea to Summit, absorbing more than three times its own weight in water and drying fully in just a few hours in the sun. Sea to Summit cleverly designed their storage pouch to snap onto the towel, creating a hanging loop for easier drying. This compact towel rolls up into a palm-size pouch so small you have to be careful not to lose it in your pack. We listed the price and dimensions for the large size. The Details: 48 x 24 inches | 85 percent polyester, 15 percent nylon | 2.4 ounces | Machine washable Best for the Beach PackTowl Luxe Towel PHOTO: Amazon $53 at Amazon $37 at REI $35 at backcountry.com Why We Love It It has a Polygiene antimicrobial treatment for maximum odor resistance. What to Consider At 16 ounces, this is a heavier towel. Our beach choice had to be large, soft, and shake off sand and debris easily … and this towel hits all the notes. The looped terry construction feels comparable to a standard beach towel while allowing it to roll to half the size of a cotton one, saving space in your beach bag. It absorbs five times its weight in water, and dries quicker than standard towels while avoiding that mildew smell thanks to the Polygiene antimicrobial treatment. We listed the price and dimensions for the beach size. The Details: 36 x 59 inches | 85 percent polyester, 15 percent nylon | 16 ounces | Machine washable Most Versatile REI Co-op Multi Towel Lite PHOTO: REI Co-op $18 at REI Why We Love It The ribbed construction helps clean off stubborn sweat and grime. What to Consider Color options are extremely limited. Light enough to stash in your pack for backpacking, durable enough for extended frontcountry camping trips, and absorbent enough for a hot springs trip, this reasonably priced towel comes in three sizes, weighs just 6.5 ounces for the large, and sheds dirt with ease. We keep the 2.3-ounce medium version of this towel stashed in our vehicle to wipe off post-run sweat and grime, and a large version in our car camping bin. It comes with a convenient mesh carry pouch and resists odor buildup as long as you let it dry completely before packing it away. We listed the price and dimensions for the large size. The Details: 50 x 25 inches | 85 percent polyester, 15 percent nylon | 6.5 ounces | Machine washable The Best Beach Accessories and Gear For Your Next Summer Getaway Best Prints Nomadix Original Towel PHOTO: REI $28 at REI View on Nomadix.co Why We Love It This 72-inch towel offers plenty of coverage. What to Consider It’s not as soft as others on this list. Would you like to dry off with a '90s-sitcom patterned towel? What about a leaf motif that looks like it belongs in the White Lotus theme song? Nomadix has you covered (literally) with their wide variety of fun and fantastical prints, all on a sizeable travel towel that stands up to season after season of use. This is one of the more rugged towels on the list, with an abrasion-resistant fabric that might not feel as soft as others, but can be used on all sorts of outdoor adventures. At 72 inches long, their original size is also bigger than other large towels on this list, giving you more coverage at pools and hot springs. We listed the price and dimensions for the original (large) size. The Details: 72 x 30 inches | Polyester, nylon | 19 ounces | Machine washable Softest Feel Sea to Summit Drylite Towel PHOTO: Amazon $27 at Amazon $20 at L.L.Bean View on Seatosummit.com Why We Love It The material has a buttery-soft, suede-like feel. What to Consider The large size is a few inches smaller than comparable towels. Available in five sizes, from a 2.5-ounce hand towel to a 67-inch long full-body towel, this super soft travel towel won’t feel rough against your face, and the dish-towel size won’t scratch non-stick camp cookware. The hanging loop is easy to attach to drying lines or a pack for drying in the sun, and it’s machine washable to help keep it fresh. This towel is not treated to be antimicrobial, so it’s extra important to make sure it’s dry before packing it away. As with most ultra-absorbent towels, we recommend avoiding fabric softener when washing it as it can reduce the absorbent properties of the material. We listed the price and dimensions for the large size. The Details: 47 x 24 inches | 80 percent polyester, 20 percent nylon | 2.2 ounces | Machine washable Tips for Buying a Travel Towel Look for convenient features like hanging loops and carry bags As with any purchase, bonuses like hanging loops and convenient carrying pouches add value and ease-of-use to travel towels. Carrying bags for travel towels often have secure snap or zippered closures, and most feature a breathable mesh side to keep the towel dry and avoid funky odor buildup. Hanging loops snap shut and can be used to securely hang the towel from a pack loop or clothesline for drying on the road or trail. Consider antimicrobial and odor-resistant properties Antimicrobial treatments help reduce the spread of bacteria buildup and can keep mold and other microbes from developing, reducing the spread from material to skin. Antimicrobial fibers include ultrafine silver strands woven into the fabric, or a chemical treatment applied during the manufacturing process. Antimicrobial treatments are good to consider when shopping for a travel towel, as these are often used multiple times between washes, and it can be harder to fully dry them out. While all the towels we listed dry fast and resist odor buildup to some degree, a towel with antimicrobial or odor-resistant treatment stays fresh longer, and you have more wiggle room if you have to pack it before it’s 100 percent dry. Know your absorbency needs Most towels on this list absorb three to five times their weight in water, proportional to the size you choose. We listed the price and dimensions for the large option in our top picks, but most towels come in a variety of sizes, from hand towels to large beach towels. Pick the one you think will be the most useful. Will you mostly be wiping sweat from your face and drying your hands? A smaller towel will suffice. Plan on taking this to the hot springs or pool or using it at hostels? Opt for a full-body size. Frequently Asked Questions How big should a travel towel be? Most travel towels come in a range of sizes. A face towel (or washcloth size) is around 14 x 10 inches, a hand towel is slightly larger at around 30 x 15 inches, body towels will be at least 45 x 25, and a beach-sized travel towel comes in around 60 x 40 inches. These are smaller than standard towels, but travel towels have a higher absorbency rate and are made to pack down for convenient travel, whether you’re carrying it in a pack or a suitcase. The size you choose depends on what you’ll be using it for, but these are so portable and convenient that sizing up isn’t a bad idea. How long will it take a travel towel to dry? Travel towels made with a blend of polyester and nylon take less than half the time to dry as cotton towels. In the sun, most travel towels on this list can go from saturated to dry in less than 90 minutes after being gently wrung out. Some of them dry even faster. Indoors, travel towels will fully dry in about six hours. How should I wash a travel towel? Unless otherwise specified, most travel towels are machine washable on a gentle cycle with standard detergent. With the exception of the Swim Chamois, all travel towels we listed can be dried on a gentle cycle in the dryer. However, they dry so quickly on their own you can also just hang them up. Avoid fabric softeners or other fabric treatments, as it can negatively impact the absorbency. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Maggie Slepian is a Montana-based writer and editor with a decade of professional gear-testing experience in the outdoor world. She is an avid backpacker, bikepacker, skier, and camping fiend, heading out backpacking and frontcountry camping in all seasons. Maggie also travels throughout the year, and has written extensively about her packing gear and apparel strategies. We Tested 9 Travel Hair Dryers — Here Are the Ones Worth Buying Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week. Edited by Lydia Price Lydia Price Lydia Price is a senior commerce editor at Travel + Leisure, where she writes and edits reviews about outdoor products. She also shares her top product recommendations in short-form videos across T+L's social platforms. learn more