packing-travel towel

I've had good luck using a purpose made microfiber travel towel from REI but really any microfiber travel towel would be about the same. Expect to pay $10-20.

D

16,

i just got my microfiber from REI too. Nothing full size, but more about the size of a hand towel.

As far as bleeding goes, i would soak, rinse and wash several times just to make sure. I know the one i bought from REI bled.

happy trails.

If you are going to use the towel for swimming you probably would be well served by an extra large size. That size is not such more heavy than a standard or large size. The reason I'm suggesting the extra large is because we have one, cut in half, that we always take on journeys. Each of us had a half, folded in half, on top of our clothing in a packed bag. The inside cinch straps go over it and help stop wrinkles that may be caused by the cinch straps. The half towels serve their original purpose sometimes and we use them to help dry sink washed laundry.

For drying yourself off, you don't really need a big towel, but for lying on sand or plastic chairs, the bigger towels are more comfortable, and still quite light. They will also reach all the way around most people. Rick sells the Micronet brand towels, which do dry quickly.

"For drying yourself off, you don't really need a big towel". Doesn't that depend on the body size of the person using the towel? The amount of body surface to be dried depends on the size of the person.

I have a large and XL travel towel from Eagle Creek that I really like. I have some from REI too, but they 'bled' as to where the ones from Eagle Creek did not . . . they are very compact & come in a mesh carrier.

barbara,

I always pack along a medium sized microfibre travel towel, and find that it's a good thing to have along. It packs very small and is very light, so not difficult to find room for it in the pack. I stay in Hostels at times so having a towel is essential.

REI carries several brands: the "original" PackTowl, their own Multi-Towel and Multi-Towel Lite, and two more. We have several kinds for camping and prefer the REI Multi-Towel which has a trees cloth texture so is more absorbent. They are very light but do not pack quite as small as the smooth ones.

I pack an REI travel towel. Works great.

The microfiber towels can absorb a lot of water. Since they're thin, it's also easy to wring out the excess water and continue the process of drying yourself. Think of those Olympic divers on TV who use the smallest version. The larger sizes are either for comfort or to preserve your modesty.

I cannot remember the brand, but I purchased mine at MEC in Canada, similar to REI. At home, I use it everyday to dry my hair, it takes a lot of water out. On holidays, in addition to the home use, I wring my sink washed clothes. It is unbelievable how much water can be removed with a very thin towel, and will continue to soak us water even when it is wet. Will dry overnight. I usually sink wash in the evening and the towel is almost dry in the am, dry enough to pack in a baggie. Mine is a very thin microfiber and big enough to wrap around my head like a turban.

I never travel without a Rick towel. I take the smaller one, unless I know for sure I need a big one. The fabric dries quickly, it's great for hand laundry, and I like the snap loop. Very thin to pack.