Need a towel for travel? Not sure which one to choose? Read on. We’ve listed everything you need to consider when searching for the best towel for travel.

We believe the most important consideration when looking for the best towel for travel is how fast it will dry. You do not want to be traveling with a damp towel. Quick dry towels come in many different types such as Turkish bath towels, microfiber bath towels, linen and other types of fast drying towels.

In this article we’ll guide you through the best quick dry towels for travel by discussing the different types of towels available, important things to consider and reviews of the best travel towels in our travel towel reviews below.

Compare the best quick dry towels for travel

Why do I need a travel towel?

If you’re reading this guide then you must be considering purchasing a travel towel, but why? Many hotels and hostels will already have towels available, so why do you need one?

A travel towel is advantageous for several reasons. Many people choose to travel with their own towel for comfort and hygiene purposes. Other people require a towel for use at the beach, gym, or while hiking making them an essential part of their packing list. Some hostels may also charge an additional cost for using their towels.

It also gives you some flexibility while traveling. If you want to go camping or to the beach then it’s comforting to know that you’ll always be prepared.

There are some things you should consider when looking for travel towels which will be listed below.

How to pick the best travel towel

Type

The majority of travel towels are made of microfiber as it’s super lightweight and fast drying, but there are loads of other materials to choose from. We’ll discuss the various types of travel towels below.

Microfibre

By far the majority of the best travel towels are made of microfiber. This is a synthetic material which basically wipes the water off your skin rather than aborning it, although some are made to be super absorbent. This can feel quite different from a regular towel but they’re generally very soft.

They have the advantage of being super lightweight making them easy to travel with. The other reason they’re so great is because they are the best drying towel. This is really because they hardly get wet. They do a better job of splashing water off you than absorbing it from you.

The best microfiber towel for travel isn’t much smaller than a regular sized towel, but you can also read a review for a much larger microfiber beach towel below.

Turkish Cotton

After microfiber the most popular travel towels are Turkish cotton towels. So what is a Turkish travel towel?

Turkish towels are made of a very thin cotton which makes them both super comfortable and super absorbent. They are among the best absorbent towels you’ll find.

Because they are so thin, they also take up less space. In addition to their super absorbency, they’re comfortable enough to use as a blanket or scarf while you travel as well. These are the only cotton travel towel we recommend.

Although they’re not the best quick dry towels for backpacking, they are great for use on the beach and as a replacement for a regular towel while traveling.

Linen

Another type of travel towel are linen travel towels.

Linen has the advantage of being both naturally antibacterial and highly absorbent. They are a thin and fast drying towel for travel, but they’re not the most soft of comfortable to use. They can also be a bit more expensive than other travel towels.

Bamboo

A bamboo travel towel is another naturally antibacterial, sustainable option. They’re a lot softer than linen with a fabric more similar to cotton but with the antibacterial quality. It can be hard to find good quality compact towels for traveling made of bamboo.

Size

There are loads of different sizes of travel towels and unlike standard towels, there is little standardization which makes them difficult to categorize into small, medium and large.

The most important thing to remember is your travel towel needs to be useable, otherwise what’s the point? If it’s too small it simply wont be of any use. This is the case with many travel towels which save space but are difficult to wrap around your body – especially if you’re of a larger frame.

The largest travel towels are over 70 inches across which should be plenty big enough for most people. It’s also possible to find an extra large microfibre travel towel that is still lightweight. You can also find an extra large travel towel in other materials such as Turkish cotton.

On the smaller end, towels tend to be around 20 inches across.

If you’re using the towel as your main towel for your entire trip, it may be best to go with a larger size.

Cleaning

Like a normal towel, you’ll still need to clean your travel towel. Linen and bamboo are both naturally antibacterial making them a popular choice for those that have limited time, but they’re still require a wash eventually.

Use

Is the towel for the beach, camping, backpacking or simply bathing? Different towels will suit some purposes better than others.

The best backpacking towel reviews below also apply to camping, and I’d recommend a microfiber towel for this purpose. A hiking towel needs to be accessible, so a hook for hanging the towel on your backpack is essential.

Obviously the best travel beach towel needs to be bigger and for this purpose both Turkish cotton and microfiber towels are suitable, depending on their size.

Reviews of the Best Travel Towels 2018

We’ve reviewed the best travel towels on the market below. Whether you’re looking for the best microfiber travel towel or a fast drying travel towel, you’ll find it in our travel towel reviews below. You can also refer to the comparison chart above for more information.

Swan Comfort 100% Cotton Pestemal Turkish Bath Towel Review

A super comfortable towel, the Swan Comfort Pestemal Turkish Bath Towel is among the best Turkish towels for travel.

As they are made of 100% Turkish cotton, the towel is not only one of the the best quick dry bath towels, but also one of the most comfortable. What we love about this towel is the variety. There is a huge array of colors to choose from, and at a larger 39″ x 70″, size wise they are among the best Turkish cotton towels. When you see if for yourself you’ll realize that they’re actually very big.

The towel is comfortable enough that it can be used for a variety of purposes, so in addition to a towel, it is a blanket, scarf and sarong. Plus it’s super compact, lightweight and easy to travel with. A standout of our Turkish towels review.

Click for the current price, more information and reviews.

 

Youphoria Sport Microfiber Travel Towel Review

Who makes the best microfiber towels? Well, one of the most popular microfiber travel towels is by Youphoria.

Unlike many microfiber towels, this one is significantly softer making it a pleasure to use while traveling. It is very lightweight and dries super fast and the best towel for backpacking with an included carry bag. This means if the towel is still wet everything else in your backpack will stay dry.

The smaller sized towel is smaller than a regular towel and takes up limited space which may mean it’s not suitable as a bathing towel, but it does come in 3 different sizes as well as a range of colors with a different trim.

Also making this the best lightweight travel towel for backpacking is a hook which allows you to hang it from your backpack making it the best hiking towel within reach.

Click for the current price, more information and reviews.

 

Shandali Microfiber Light Weight Yoga Travel Towel Review

The Shandali microfiber travel towel is a very large yet lightweight towel, and deserves a microfiber towel review of it’s own.

The towel comes in both a small and medium size, with the medium size making a great beach towel. It is among the best lightweight beach towels for travel.

The towel can be squeezed tight and will fit nicely into a corner of your bag, and the microfiber does a great job of absorbing water. It’s also surprisingly lightweight, even at the larger size.

The Shandali travel towel also has a hanging loop to dry faster. This travel microfiber towel is perfect and for many will make the best travel towel for backpacking, as well as the best camping towel.

Click for the current price, more information and reviews.

 

Microfiber Travel Towel with FREE Hand Towel Review

If you’re looking through for a quick dry towels review, this is the one to look at. This microfiber towel set is great value – in addition to a large 60″ x 30″ towel, you’ll receive a smaller 8″ x 8″ towel which is perfect for the gym and hiking, making it a great compact travel towel.

The large towel is lightweight and super quick to dry and also includes a hanging loop so that it dries faster. They’re also super soft and although they’re not highly absorbent, they do a great job of wiping water off the body.

This is probably the best option for a backpacker as it can be slipped to the outside of your bag, taking up no space at all.

There is also a mesh bag included to keep everything together. A great option for travel

Click for the current price, more information and reviews.

 

Green Foster Product Natural Soft Linen Flax Bath Towel Review

If you’re looking for a travel bath towel that is super absorbent, take a look at the Green Foster bath towel. This is a great alternative to a normal sized cotton towel and perfect for extended travel.

A bit smaller and thinner than a regular bath towel, the towel is super absorbent and smooth on the skin.  but great for travel. It would fit easily into a day pack due to being so thin.

The fabric is just right for a fast drying travel towel making this towel the best lightweight travel towel made of bamboo.

Click for the current price, more information and reviews.

 

Secret Sea Collection %100 Quality Bamboo Linen Review

The only bamboo towel you should consider traveling with is the Secret Sea Collection towel. Weighing only 420 grams, the towel is super lightweight, drys fast and is fashionable enough to be multipurpose.

This towel is free of harsh chemicals and as it is made of 100% bamboo, it is a better option for the environment.

The towel comes in comes in 2 different colors, both of which are pretty neutral. It can also be used as a shawl presenting a great option for the beach.

Click for the current price, more information and reviews.

 

Relefree Microfiber Towel Set 2 Pack Absorbent Quick Drying Antibacterial Review

The final of the best lightweight towels for travelling is the Relefree Microfibre Towel set. This is a great set of antibacterial microfibre towels for travel. They come in a bag making them easy to pack and perfect for backpackers with limited space.

There is one larger towel which is 60 inches x 30 inches with one smaller face towel. A clip is also included for hanging to make drying them easy, and it has the benefit of being one of the best fast drying towels.

These towels stood out in our microfiber bath towels reviews as they are very affordable for a 2 pack. They also come in a range of bright colors making them perfect for the beach.

It’s comforting to know that if the towel is still damp, you can put it in the bag to protect your other belongings making this a great microfiber towel for travel.

Click for the current price, more information and reviews.

What’s your top pick from the best travel towels?

Looking for a family camping tent? Read a guide to the best family camping tents here. You can also read our guide to the best sleeping bag liner, best packing cubes and other buying guides here.

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