UKC

I've had a cheap mountain warehouse travel towel for many years which has been a constant companion whilst hitchhiking through the galaxy and wandering around the mountains. However, its never really been any use - it seems to repel water instead of absorbing it. I've tolerated this because of apathy and a vague feeling that all travel towels are probably sh*t.

However, someone told me the other day that their towel actually dries them when they get out of the shower. Can it be true? Does anyone have any recommendations for a good one? Now I'm sliding into middle age I think I can probably treat myself.

What type of mountain warehouse travel towel? The ones that are actually towel-like rather than an absorbent pad are quite good for the money (but a bit bulky).

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/-micro-towelling-travel-towel-giant-p1333...

Otherwise the lifeventure ones with a towelling finish work well. I've had one of these for 10 years

https://www.lifeventure.com/products/microfibre-travel-towel

All travel towels are not equal. I have a decathlon one that's ok, not as nice as a proper towel but does the job. I also have an apparently identical one I got from Lidl that like yours isn't remotely absorbent.

I also have a tiny 30cmx30cm one that's incredible. Not sure of the brand, but I've managed to dry off after a shower using it, it feels the same as the other two but you can wring it out like a shammy cloth and keep using it.

These are ok, bearings a little faffy.

https://www.blacks.co.uk/activities/travel/travel-accessories/towels/br:ord...

My favourite is an old 99p Store 'Pet Towel'; a tufted microfibre towel, not one of those smooth things that, as you say, just move water about*. If you want to go really small, just use a flannel; wipe, wring & repeat. Or use a tufted microfibe cleaning cloth.

* you might also try washing it a few times.

I find my hotels usually supply good quality towels.

I've got this one and the next size up - found them to be brilliant, especially for the money:

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/clip-towel-small-40x40cm-p13334.aspx/teal...

We’ve got four of the bloody things and I’ve long been resigned to the idea that travel towels are useless, so I shall be following this thread with interest. 

I've also been through a few different travel towels, and the best by far (imho) are ones that have a terry towelling surface -- best at absorbing and good at drying.

Like this: https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/heber-peak-pignoliahe-terry-lite-microfiber-to...

Two micro fibre cleaning clothes from a DIY shop stitched together. Long enough to towel dry, small and light to carry around. And dries quickly.

I know just the thing: https://www.ukhillwalking.com/gear/camping/accessories/two_minute_review_se...

This is interesting, one of the things I do not enjoy about backpacking is the lightweight towels, and someone somewhere mentioned to me about using a dog towel. Slightly heavier than a “proper” travel towel, but often cheaper.

The sillicone collapsable bowl I use is a dog one, IIRC it was a third the price of the human one the same size, 5 feet away in the same shop.

you've not washed it with fabric conditioner? That even stops cotton towels absorbing water.

I have 3 different brands of travel towels, Summit, Trekmates, even one where the care label and branding has fallen off, all work absolutely fine.

Echoing basemetal's suggestion - I've got a thin linen towel that is both compact and dries me well - it's just that it's not very quick to dry itself, after.  In terms of microfibre towels, I've had a couple of cheap ones from Decathlon which have worked just fine.

Different grade of silicone, probably - the dog one doesn't need to be human food grade.

if yo are after lightweight that works - Sea to Summit Airlite:

https://seatosummit.co.uk/products/airlite-towel?srsltid=AfmBOoq0Jk804Qq_mS...

Back packing I use the medium sized and it if just big enough for a post hike shower. If weight isnt so much of an issue the large or XL

Another vote for this. I have a large towel and it's not much bigger than a golf ball. Much better at absorbing water than my last towel. Very quick to dry also.

This is from the thread following Dan's review: https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/gear/two_minute_review_sea_to_summit_a...

I've got a S2S travel towel from years and years ago - pretty good and comfy, works well and easy to wash/quick to dry. But over the maybe last 6 years for bikepacking and backpacking I've gone over to using one of the cheap Decathlon ones that it seems 90 percent of Europe's population own from experience on holidays. My big Decathlon one - "bath sheet" size maybe? Really big anyway - packs down to the same size as the S2S one, and the medium sized Decathlon one - probably the same dimensions as the one reviewed here is lighter and smaller than the more fluffy S2S one. 

But as these S2S ones aren't very expensive I can see myself being tempted to get one and go even lighter! 

So get down to Decathlon when you can and get one of theirs: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/accessories/towels/f-brand_nabaiji 

LOL. That sounds like marketing nonsense to me. 

Shamwow. Shamwow. SHAMWOW. SHAM. WOW.

I honestly can't implore you enough. Relegate the microfiber towels to your cleaning cupboard. 

A 30cm square of Shamwow will do a short-haired man. 

It will absorb all the water off you like a sponge. 

It's not going to cover all your short hairs at once though is it!   How much of your dignity can it cover?

Those travel towels are never big enough to get around you anyway. 

That's why I said get the big Decathlon one if you want lots of coverage! - although I can actually get the medium sized one around my waist kilt-style, so that's enough to use walking to the showers on a campsite or similar and they back down really small - maybe coke can size?

I have a really old Life Venture Trek Towel. It does the trick but doesn't seem to start soaking up water until it's slightly damp. And then it doesn't take long for it to gets too wet. I try to brush most of the water off me with my hands before getting out of the shower.

I have a Turkish bath towel which is basically incredibly thin cotton, thinner than a tea towel. It's normal towel size but packs down at least as small as a travel towel. It dries in no time and is really effective 

I lost my old lifeventure once during a house move recently but that was brilliant. 

I've replaced it with an Alpkit Osmo which seems to do the trick!

- https://alpkit.com/products/osmo-microfibre-travel-towel?srsltid=AfmBOoq9i9...
 

I have a few towels -

S2S ultralight ones, which are great if you might need a towel but don't want to carry one. Excellent for hands, face etc but for a full shower not so sure. They dry really really quickly though.

An old MSR one which seems to be like this https://www.backpackinglight.com.au/products/packtowl-packtowl-original

I used it frequently for about 6 months when running to work. Dries you off very well if you just place it on your body rather than towelling. A bit slow to dry out afterwards. The material is not fluffy and soft as feels fibrous. Selling it well here....

Thanks for all the tips. I might buy a couple of different ones and let you know what I find out.

In fact a sponge is what I often take.....as with the other towel types there are a vast range from the DIY ones with tiny pores (useless) to really good ones usually with large pores, including some for mopping floors. The big advantage is that wringing leaves them virtually dry and ready to go again. I do also use the basic microfibre travel tiles (agree the pile finish work best) which generally work well. Whatever is used it's worth first wiping as much water as possible off by hand. If feet are sandy/dirty they can be dried with the ankle part of socks.