How To Choose The Best Beach Towel 

Materials and Performance

High-quality materials are perhaps the most important thing when selecting a beach towel. It needs to strike a balance between comfort, good absorbency, and quick drying. With this in mind, two materials stand out – cotton and microfiber.

Cotton: These towels can be very luxurious and gentle, especially if the fabric is higher-weight. When used on the beach, a cotton towel is very absorbent and comfortable, but dries a bit slower and requires more space to pack.

Microfiber: In terms of structure, this material is actually a blend of several synthetics (polyester and polyamide most notably). While microfiber towels beach dry faster and are more convenient to pack, they are slightly less absorbent and feel rougher.

Beach Towel Size and Shape

Compared to a standard towel, a beach towel is usually much larger. On average, it measures 60 x 30 inches, giving you plenty of space (but not quite for the whole body). For this reason, we’ve also featured a few extra-large models on our list (over 70 inches in length), for those of you who are taller or simply want more comfort.

Thickness (Material Weight)

When it comes to towel thickness, we would advise that you choose a moderately-thick product that is comfy but isn’t too bulky. Towel thickness is shown through Grams per Square Meter (GSM), where a larger number means a heavier fabric. Most lightweight beach towels weigh between 350 and 450GSM, offering both comfort and decent drying time. 

Absorbency and Drying Efficiency

The absorbing power depends on both the material and the fabric weaving. For example, a material with closed upright loops (like terrycloth) will be very efficient at absorbing moisture. At the same time, it should also dry off relatively fast. While having a high-absorbing and quick-drying towel would be ideal, most models are usually better at one or the other.

Eye-Catching Style

Even though design shouldn’t be at the top of the list when choosing, all of us put great importance on how the towel looks. Besides just the looks, the color impacts the towel’s performance to a degree (a black color can get very hot, while a white towel can become yellow in the sun).

Cleaning and Maintenance

The ease of cleaning and maintenance depends on materials, dyeing, and construction. With that said, all the best pool towels on our list are perfectly safe to throw in a washer. As for drying, many manufacturers even recommend that you put the towel in a dryer (so it remains fluffy and soft).

Balance between Price and Quality

With just a little effort while searching, you’ll see that the best travel beach towels don’t have to cost an arm and leg. For instance, you can find fantastic towels for as much as $25. And, if you choose to with a family pack of 2 or even 4 towels, you’ll come across even better deals.