Backpacking is the outdoor recreational activity of carrying gear on your back. It would help if you were very careful to select all the necessary and essential items for your journey. You need to think carefully about the space available in your backpack and the amount of weight you are carrying.
Backpacking tower is an essential item that makes your backpacking adventures more enjoyable. A backpacking towel is an item you can take to dry down after hiking in wet conditions, take a wash, or wipe away your sweat after covering challenging areas.
I have chosen and reviewed the eight best backpacking towels. But before that, it is essential to have some know-how about their most critical features so that you can select the best one according to your personal needs.
Material:
This is one of the essential aspects you should consider before buying the best backpacking towel for your next journey. The weight, drying time, and packed size of the towel mainly depend on the material with which the towel is manufactured. Generally, the backpacking towels are made of polyester, synthetic, and nylon microfibers to provide compressibility, lightweight property, and fast-drying. The fabric consists of modified polyester and nylon fibers, which trap the water in the small pocket-like structure between them. Because of this, water can be squeezed out after its use, and the towel will dry very quickly.
Durability:
Durability is one the most crucial consideration to be taken into account before buying a backpacking towel. It should be durable and provide long term performance. Besides its quick-drying feature, the towel should have to meet some other standard criteria. These include strength to ensure its durability, absorbency and security from the stitching and coloring methods. The towel you are investing in should not become color fade after every few days. This will make all your investment in vain. Before buying, please ensure that the towel you will purchase had been tested in a laboratory and referred to as a secure product.
Price:
Price is the most crucial consideration. Everyone wants to buy a low priced item. Best backpacking towels come in a wide variety of price tags. From low to high price range, the features offered may also vary. You should invest in such a towel, which provides the best features in a budget-friendly price range. For this, you should have to investigate properly.
Dimensions:
Backpacking towels are available in different sizes. Which size to select depends on your personal need and requirements, but keep in mind that large towels are more massive, bulkier, and dry slower than small towels. I recommend a relatively small towel (18×36 in. or smaller) to make your journey more comfortable and easy for backpacking adventures. The less dimensional and compact is the towel, the more it is convenient to transport from one place to another.
Weight:
Light in weight gears allows you to move faster and easier. Heavyweight towels are difficult to carry and move. You should select and invest in the towel, which is light in weight and easy to carry. Generally, the backpacking towels are lightweight in value, but some are ultra-light that is an excellent option for backpacking.
Antimicrobial Treatments:
Some backpacking towels offer antimicrobial treatments such as Polygene. Antimicrobial treatments prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria, and thus such towels stay fresh for longer. However, note that antimicrobial treatments eventually get washed out. There is no such thing as a permanent or ever remaining antimicrobial treatment.
1. PackTowl UltraLite Quick Dry Microfiber Towel for Backpacking
PackTowl UltraLite Quick Dry Microfiber Towel is one of the best backpacking towels available on the market. The UltraLite quick-drying towel is excellent for backpackers, travelers, or any minimalist who wants to pack a towel and go for the adventurous journey. It comes with the absorbent microfiber fabric soaks up 4 times its weight in water, which can be wrung out easily.
PackTowl UltraLite Quick Dry Microfiber Towel is available in four different sizes and three colors. The thin fabric is used to create a towel and not take up very much space when packed. Moreover, a small bag with a loop is included with the purchase. The loop allows users to attach the towel to the outside of a backpack if there is not enough space inside your bag or the towel needs a little extra time to dry.
PackTowl UltraLite Quick Dry Microfiber Towel is manufactured of lightweight material. Making it an excellent choice for those looking to hike or backpack and do not want to be impeded by a heavy towel weighing them down. It is also machine washable, which makes it a better choice for you. Wring it, reuse it and get on with your backpacking adventure.
PROS:
- Water absorbent
- Storage pouch with a loop
- Lightweight
- Can be packed into a compact space
- Dries quickly
CONS:
- Some customers complain about the feel of the fabric.
2. Sea to Summit Pocket Towel
Sea to Summit Pocket Towel is one of the best backpacking towels of our review list. It is best for those who love hiking, mountaineering, backpacking, camping, cycling and traveling. The Pocket Towel is the most lightweight, compact, and quick-drying towel. Sea to Summit Pocket Towel is constructed of synthetic material.
Sea to Summit Pocket Towel absorbs three times its weight in water, compact, which packs down super small and comes in a soft, zippered EVA case. Ideal for longer adventures where quick drying and small packed size are vital essentials.
Sea to Summit Pocket Towel offers a perfect range of activities from freshening up at an airport to drying off at the beach. It is small, convenient, and versatile. These quick-dry towels are an ideal choice for backpackers. These absorbent towels do a great job of getting you dry. With the help of Pocket Towel, you can get dry, or clean up a spill. Whatever you need this perfect towel for, the Pocket Towels are up for the task.
PROS:
- Light in weight
- Compact
- Absorbs three times its weight in water
- Offers quick drying
CONS:
- Colors may fade
- No antimicrobial or antibacterial treatment
- No odor control treatment
3. PackTowl Nano Towel
The PackTowl Nano is one of the best and lightest backpacking towels available on the market. This compact and versatile towel is absorbent, as it sucks up to two times its weight in water. It wrings out to dry 90% faster than cotton towels.
PackTowl Nano Towel offers backpackers and hikers to use the carabiner or attached hanging loop to clip the PackTowl Nano Towel in a spot convenient way for wiping sweat or sunglasses. It can be used in many ways. PackTowl has included a handy mesh bag storage pouch.
PackTowl Nano Towel comes with a smooth finished edge without stitch bindings. It is machine washable, and compact in size, which comes in various attractive, nature-inspired patterns and colors. The compact size of the PackTowl Nano makes it an ideal choice for backpacking lovers. It is manufactured of super quick-drying microfiber material.
PackTowl Nano Towel has a drawback that it comes without any odor control or antimicrobial treatment. Still, it wrings out so entirely that hikers and backpackers probably will not have much of a problem as long as the towel is dry before storing it in the storage case.
PROS:
- Ultra-light
- Small in size
- Offers quick drying
- Hanging loop & carry case included
- Machine washable
CONS:
- No odor control
4. No antimicrobial or antibacterial treatment
PackTowl Personal Quick Dry Microfiber Towel for Camping
The PackTowl Personal Quick Dry Microfiber Towel is one of the best-selling quick-drying towels on the market. It offers numerous features like ultra-versatile, absorbent, and super fast-drying performance. Making it great for any activity, including water sports, fitness, traveling, and camping.
The PackTowl Personal Quick Dry Microfiber Towel is available in several colors—and in sets of two. It is made of super absorbent microfiber fabric that soaks up four times its weight in water and wrings out easily. The Personal Towel dries nearly 70 percent faster and is much more compact than comparable cotton towels.
The PackTowl Personal Quick Dry Microfiber Towel is made with polygene odor control, which keeps it fresh, even during prolonged use. It comes in various sizes; the body towel measures 25 x 54 inches and weighs 6.4 ounces, making it portable and ideal for hikers and backpackers.
The PackTowl Personal Quick Dry Microfiber offers additional features: the attached hang loop and the included zippered mesh carry bag. You can clean it up without much effort after the backpacking trip is over. It is also machine washable.
PROS:
- Available in different sizes.
- Hang loop & mesh carry bag included in the package.
- Machine washable
- Super absorbent microfiber construction
- Offers fast drying
- Polygene odor control
CONS:
- No antimicrobial or antibacterial treatment
5. Rainleaf Microfiber Towel
Rainleaf Microfiber Towel is another best choice on our review list. It is constructed of 200g microfiber, which consists of 85% Polyester and 15% polyamide. They will keep your towel fresh, and it will provide a soft suede-like feel on your skin and face. Due to the microfiber character, this towel offers fast drying and absorbent features.
Rainleaf Microfiber Towel comes in various sizes and colors, which allows you to select it as per your needs and requirements. While dry fast, this microfiber towel can absorb water well, as much as five times its weight. It will dry you and your hair quickly. It is ultra-compact and light in matter.
Rainleaf Microfiber Towel comes with an attached hanging loop, and also comes with a mesh bag for transporting. It wrings out easily, which provides you comfort in buying it. The manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty, which is an outstanding feature. One of the drawbacks which it comes with is it does not have any odor control or antimicrobial treatment.
PROS:
- Ultra-compact
- Light in weight
- Comes in various sizes & colors
- Super absorbent feature
- Hanging loop and carry case included
- Lifetime warrantyCONS:
- No odor control treatment
- It is not ultra-light
- No antimicrobial or antibacterial treatment
6. Sea to Summit Pocket Towel
Sea to Summit Pocket Towel is one of the best backpacking towels available on the market. It is best for those who love hiking, mountaineering, backpacking, camping, cycling and traveling. The Pocket Towel is the most lightweight, compact, and quick-drying towel. Sea to Summit Pocket Towel is manufactured of microfiber material, having ultra-fine microfiber fabric type.
Sea to Summit Pocket Towel offers the best features, including extremely packable, convenient, and highly absorbent travel towels. The size is extra-large, which measures 30 inches x 60 inches. This extra-large size is applicable for beach use too. It is compact, which packs down super small and comes in a soft, zippered EVA case. Ideal for longer adventures where quick drying and extremely packable are vital essentials.
Sea to Summit Pocket Towel offers a perfect range of activities from freshening up at an airport to drying off at the beach. It is small, convenient, and versatile. These quick-dry towels are an ideal choice for backpackers. These absorbent towels do a great job of getting you dry. With the help of Pocket Towel, you can get dry, or clean up a spill. Whatever you need this perfect towel for, the Pocket Towels are up for the task.
PROS:
- Light in weight
- Compact
- Offers quick drying
CONS:
- No antimicrobial or antibacterial treatment
- No odor control treatment
7. Sea to Summit Drylite Towel
Sea to Summit Drylite Towel is constructed of 70% polyester and 30% nylon microfiber. This Drylite towel is made out of an ultra-suede finish that makes it one of the best softest backpacking towels on our review list. It’s lightweight and compact enough to go along on any backpacking trip, even with ultra-light packers.
Sea to Summit Drylite Towel is relatively absorbent and has a snap loop attached for easy hanging. It also offers a machine-washable feature. The most significant advantage of the Sea to Summit Drylite towel is its silver antimicrobial treatment. This treatment keeps out bacterial germs and works as a form of odor control. This feature makes this towel different from many other towels available on the market.
PROS:
- Light in weight
- Compact design
- Ultra-suede finish
- Mesh bag carry case
- Antimicrobial & antibacterial treatment/odor control
CONS:
- Colors may fade
8. Youphoria Outdoors Microfiber Travel Towel
Youphoria Outdoors Microfiber Travel Towel is an all-purpose travel towel. This tower offers a variety of features. The manufacturer has designed this towel with great innovation and intelligence and focuses on all critical areas, including absorbency, construction, quick-drying ability, and softness. Addressing these areas or domains provides you more comfort and makes your journey more enjoyable.
Youphoria Outdoors Microfiber Travel Towel is constructed of a microfiber that provides a soft touch to your skin. It is super absorbent and offers a quick-drying feature too. The manufacturer claims that this towel dries a whopping ten times fast than regular cotton towels or terrycloth towels. It has also been through an antimicrobial treatment that prevents unwanted bacteria and also offers odor control.
Youphoria Outdoors Microfiber Travel holds up to five times its weight in water and wrings out easily. The mesh carry bag makes it packable, and the quick-snap hanging loop makes it easy to hang it out to dry almost anywhere. Sand, debris, and lint are all easy to brush off this towel. The manufacturer also backs this towel up with its customer service promise, which is not precisely a warranty or lifetime guarantee but still offers some consumer confidence. They are perfect for indoor and outdoor activities.
PROS:
- It is super absorbent.
- Provides suede-like softness
- Offers fast-drying
- Antimicrobial and antibacterial treatment
- Hanging loop and carry case also included
- Customer care service provided
CONS:
- It is not ultra-light
These are the eight best backpacking towels available on the market, according to my research. You can choose any one amongst them to take it with you on your next trip. But if you ask my favorite, then it would be Youphoria Outdoors Microfiber Travel Towel. It offers various useful features.
It provides fast-drying, is water absorbent, provides suede-like softness, customer service provided, comes with a hanging loop and carry case, and antimicrobial and antibacterial treatment. All these options make it a perfect choice for your next journey.