Whether you’re going camping or hiking, quick-dry towels should be part of your gear essentials. It’s not always easy to find the right one for your needs. So, to save you the guesswork, we’ve put together a list of the best camping towels you can buy.
Best Quick-Dry Towels for Camping and Hiking
Lava Linens Classic Everything Towel
If you’re looking for a well-made and highly absorbent camp towel from an amazing company, the Lava Linens Classic Everything Towel is for you. From the humid hiking trails of Samaria Gorge in Greece to the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean—this camp towel will surely exceed your expectations.
The Lava Linens Classic Everything Towel is made of long and tightly woven flax fibers, which can absorb moisture a lot faster than cotton. The fibers are also anti-static, so you don’t bring with you dirt and sand when you pack your towel.
Weighing at 17 ounces, it’s as light as a loaf of bread. Not only that, it can roll to the size of a 32-ounce water bottle.
OlimpiaFit Quick Dry Towel
The OlimpiaFit Quick Dry Towel comes in a set of three multi-purpose towels, each in different sizes: 50”x30”, 30”x15”, and 15”x15”. Use them in any way you want: to wipe off your sweat during a workout or to keep your body dry after swimming or showering.
Each towel is made from 100% odor-resistant microfiber. This material makes these towels much better than cotton when it comes to capturing bacteria. It’s also quick-drying and highly absorbent. In fact, the OlimpiaFit Quick Dry Towel can absorb four times its own weight.
Packing the OlimpiaFit Quick Dry Towel is not a problem. All the towels in the set are small enough to fit into any types of bags.
Note: Each set includes a mesh bag with a hanging loop.
Nomadix National Parks Collection Towel
Everybody loves a company that are doing good for the planet. Nomadix happens to be one of them. Their National Parks Collection camp towels are made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials, which help prevent used plastics from ending up in our landfills and oceans.
Washing clothes is already a challenge because of color bleeding. Fortunately, Nomadix doesn’t use dyes. They always print their designs to maintain the vibrancy of their towels and prevent color bleeding.
It does take a short while to dry, but that’s because it’s so absorbent. It might even absorb all the water off your wet dog.
Matador NanoDry Packable Shower Towel
If a 17-ounce camp towel isn’t light enough for you, get the Matador NanoDry Packable Shower Towel. It weighs only 5.6 ounces with an overall dimension of 52 x 24 inches (132 x 60 centimeters).
To separate it from the other items and for easy transport, it comes with a compact and shock-absorbent silicone case with an aluminum carabiner. But if you don’t want to pack it wet, you can use its front-release buckle to hang it dry.
Made from nanofiber material, the Matador NanoDry Packable Shower Towel is more than capable of absorbing almost thrice its own weight in water. Although the specialized nanofiber material absorbs a lot of water, its drying time is still faster than most traditional towels.
4Monster Camping Towels
Although the 4Monster Camping Towels is made from thin fabric, it’s still surprisingly absorbent. But what’s even better is it dries off fast, so you can pack it up or use it again in a short time. It comes with a lightweight EVA case, which makes it highly portable.
It’s not just absorbent and quick drying, but it’s also soft and dyed using natural colors. This makes it an ideal option for people who sweat a lot or have a sensitive skin.
Who wants a stinky towel? No one! That’s why the people of 4Monster made sure their camping towels use a special microfiber material that doesn’t smell after every use.
REI Co-op Multi Towel Lite
If you compare it with other cotton bath towels, the REI Co-op Multi Towel Lite definitely has more to offer. For one, it takes up little room in your bag and is lightweight (depending on the size you choose).
The REI Co-op Multi Towel Lite is made with bluesign®-approved fabric (85% polyester/15% nylon microfiber). This means it’s certified safe for you and the environment.
Its soft and textured surface allows it to absorb as much as eight times its weight in water. To help you dry it faster, it’s equipped with a quick-attach loop for easy hanging and drying.
Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Travel Towel
Wise Owl Outfitters has always been known for making good products. The Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Travel Towel is no exception. It’s made from fast-drying microfiber material with an interlocking stitching for increased durability.
One of the best things about this travel towel is it’s insanely absorbent. It also has a hanging loop that allows you to conveniently hang it anywhere for drying.
If you always go on outdoor adventures, you’ll love the fact that this travel towel is light and packs down really small. It also comes with its own carrying bag, so you don’t have to worry about getting your other stuff dirty and wet.
Each set includes two items: one full-size towel and one wash cloth. You have four colors to choose from: marine blue, orange, purple, and royal blue.
Rainleaf Microfiber Towel
Going on a two-week outdoor adventure would be more enjoyable if you bring with you the Rainleaf Microfiber Towel. It’s capable of absorbing five times more moisture and water than its weight, yet it still dries fast. And best of all, it doesn’t smell bad quickly.
The Rainleaf Microfiber Towel is made from skin-friendly microfiber (85% polyester and 15% polyamide). Both polyester and polyamide absorb moisture, but they don’t hold on to it. This makes it possible for the Rainleaf Microfiber Towel to effectively keep sweat and water away from your body.
It has a hanging loop, making it easy for you to hang it dry anywhere. Once it’s dry and you’re ready to go, it easily fits into a breathable mesh bag.
The Rainleaf Microfiber Towel is available in six sizes and ten vivid colors: Army Green, Blue, Brick Red, Gray, Green, Marine Blue, Mint Color, Navy Blue, Orange, and Purple.
PackTowl Luxe Towel
If your primary goal is to buy a camping towel that dries quickly, the PackTowl Luxe Towel might just be what you’re looking for. The company claims it dries almost 30% quicker than most comparable cotton towels.
PackTowl used a microfiber terry cloth that can soak up and hold moisture five times the towel’s weight. In addition, the Luxe Towel is treated with the Polygiene OdorCrunch technology to stop the growth of odor-causing bacteria on its surface. So, it stays fresh longer and requires less washing.
Like most camping towels in its category, the PackTowl Luxe Towel has an integrated loop to easily hang it dry anywhere. It also comes with a zippered pouch for compact packing.
Sea to Summit Drylite Towel
If you’re impressed with the performance of Sea to Summit products, you’ll likely be impressed with their Drylite Towel, too. It’s the perfect option for travelling and all types of outdoor activities, from camping to hiking to boating.
Whether it’s a 5-mile hike or a 50-mile hike, one thing’s for sure—you’ll need a towel that’s light and easy to pack. The Sea to Summit Drylite Towel fits the requirement. It’s only 2.5 ounces and packs to 4.25 x 4 inches. And a breathable mesh-faced pouch is included for easy storage.
3 Qualities of a Good Camping Towel
There are three important qualities that you should look for when shopping for camping towels:
Dries Fast
Since efficient and quick dry-time is the primary goal, a cotton towel isn’t ideal. Look for camping towels that are made from breathable fabrics, such as microfiber. Camping towels made from thinner and ligher fabrics will usually dry faster. Also, look for camping towels with a low GSM (grams per square meter).
Highly Absorbent
Well, what would be the point of buying camping towels if they don’t do a great job of absorbing sweat and water? Aside from its absorbency rating, make sure you also check other features that could help a camping towel absorb more moisture, such as the weave and density of the fabric.
The best camping towels, such as the Rainleaf Microfiber Towel, are usually made from microfiber. Microfiber is a synthetic fiber that’s composed of polyester and polyamides (like nylon).
Easy to Store and Lightweight
The heaviest camping towel in this list is probably the Lava Linens Classic Everything Towel, which weighs around 17 ounces. Compared to traditional cotton towels, it’s still significantly lightweight.
Before making up your mind about a camping towel, think of your primary goal and purpose. If you’re going on a hike for miles on end, you’ll definitely want the lightest and most absorbent camping towels on the market. Take the Sea to Summit Drylite Towel and Matador NanoDry Packable Shower Towel as good examples.
