Camp Towel Recomendations

SnoViking

Adventurer
Hey Folks, Looking for some insight and advice: Camp Towels

Right now, I have four dedicated towels (picked up at Target) for the family (4). These we cheap, and work great, but don't pack very small or dry very fast. I started looking into some different options for something that packs smaller, dries faster, and isn't $$$$$.

I checked out the local REI and saw the MultiTowel XL. After I picked my jaw up off the ground and came to from sticker shock I decided to start looking around.

I'm looking for something in the approximate size of 48"x24"+/-. I'm not a huge fan of the "shamee" towels as I feel "slimy" when I dry off with them. I would prefer a multi-synthetic or maybe a micro-fiber.

I saw the Wise Owl Outfitters towels on Amazon which got good reviews and they are on my short list as they're priced a bit better than the REI towels. I checked the local Target and didn't see what I was looking for.

Does anyone have any go-to towels that work well, hold up, and I wouldn't have to mortgage my house for?
 

Airmapper

Inactive Member
You are going about it backwards. This is Expedition Portal man. You don't look for fast drying towels, you install a clothes dryer on the vehicle, a solar powered one, made with titanium...get with the program!

Give me a hair drier, a 5 gallon bucket, and a cordless drill and we will see what happens.....


Just having fun with that. Be interested to see what is suggested, I need all manner of camp towels, as I currently use what is no longer fit for use in the house, but not quite made it to the trash can yet......
 

dfinn

Adventurer
I checked out the local REI and saw the MultiTowel XL. After I picked my jaw up off the ground and came to from sticker shock I decided to start looking around.

If that gives you sticker shock you must go into full on epileptic fits when you look at gear for upgrading your rig. ;)

That's the towel I use. It's a towel, it does its job and dries quickly. I've had it for a few years now and taken it on lots of adventures.
 

Stumpalump

Expedition Leader
I use recycled bath towels from the house that are cut in thirds. It's really all you need. All cotton towels because a camp shower or spong bath does not get you as squeaky clean as you make like. A good scrub down with a dry towel seems to finish the job the best. Hand or kitchen towels don't seem the same thickness and is why I cut down a bulky bath towel. Synthetic just don't grab and scrub Your skin dry. The best soap is fragrance free dish washing liquid. It cuts the grime and grease in one pass. It rinses fast and if some is left on you the cotton towel takes it right off. It sure is nice not dying for a shower or dreading taking one. When it's cold I do my head first and separate with a hand shower then jump in the warm van to sponge bath the rest. Forget first thing in the morning or at night. Mid warmest part of the day is hard to plan around but later you will be glad you did.
 

grogie

Like to Camp
You are going about it backwards. This is Expedition Portal man. You don't look for fast drying towels, you install a clothes dryer on the vehicle, a solar powered one, made with titanium...get with the program!

Give me a hair drier, a 5 gallon bucket, and a cordless drill and we will see what happens.....

LOL! Thanks for the laugh. Maybe my trailer does needs a combo washer/dryer?! :)

Anyway, the micro-fiber towels work well simply that they dry fast, and worth the money IMHO.
 

SnoViking

Adventurer
If that gives you sticker shock you must go into full on epileptic fits when you look at gear for upgrading your rig. ;)

Nah... Most of my rig upgrades are based on need and function so the value is there in the end use. :Mechanic:

I just wasn't expecting to see the $35 price tag for a glorified shamee. It may be a really good towel.... but it's still a towel. Maybe it's made with fresh tears from the Egyptian princess whose fields furnished the cotton which they then transmogrifered into high-loft polyester.... *boink!*

I was expecting it to be around $18... That's the "value" price I put to it.
 

Robert Bills

Explorer
No "expo" towels for me - I have some inexpensive khaki colored towels from WalMart that I use for camping. They don't show dirt and cost so little that it doesn't bother me if they get ruined or have to be employed as shop rags.
 

SGNellett

Adventurer
I have a few slightly ratty old towels I picked up at Goodwill that I take on Boy Scout camping trips, when they get nasty, I just throw them away and get a few more. I also keep a couple in my trunk of my DD in case of spills or leaks due to rain...
 

SnoViking

Adventurer
So after way too much time reading (and rereading) descriptions and reviews on amazon I ordered up two sets of these Microfiber towels.

719s543Fg-L._SL1500_.jpg


At $13 a pair they're a steal (1 big and 1 small). They got good reviews and seem to be the size/weight I'm looking for. We'll be using them this weekend during a quick blitz-trip and I'll report back.
 
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Honu

lost on the mainland
sea to sumit tek towel

we tried almost every other towel and love these the most with 4 of us the pack size reduction is huge :)

but I reckon towels are a personal thing bout the feel etc..

some reason I did not like others is the way they would drag on the skin or on beard stubble
also dry time and total absorbency of the others compared to the thicker tek was way short IMHO :)

again we loved these and think they are the best from trying a ton of them but think one should buy a few of each then decide ;)
 

Hilldweller

SE Expedition Society
Costco has microfiber towels by the pack or by the pallet.
We bring a couple of them and a couple of old bath towels. Everybody has a couple of old bath towels, the ones that bleach got on and your wife won't let it be and makes you get good ones 'cause God forbid somebody wanders into your bathroom and sees a towel with bleach splotches on it....

I'm pretty sure that Towelie was microfiber.
towelie.jpg
 

plh

Explorer
So after way too much time reading (and rereading) descriptions and reviews on amazon I ordered up two sets of these Microfiber towels.


At $13 a pair they're a steal. They got good reviews and seem to be the size/weight I'm looking for. We'll be using them this weekend during a quick blitz-trip and I'll report back.

Great recommendation, Thanks, bought a couple pairs
 

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