How to Fold a Travel Towel and Pack Light Like a Pro

If you’ve ever rolled up your towel only to have it unravel in your bag or take up way more space than it should, this one’s for you.

When you're travelling — especially if you’re living out of a backpack or carry-on — how you pack matters. And one of the most underrated space-saving hacks? Learning how to fold your travel towel properly. Seriously.

It might sound silly, but a messy towel can take up valuable room, get everything else damp, or just feel bulky and annoying to carry around. And if you’re using the right towel (a quick dry towel that’s compact and made for travel), folding it well makes it even more useful.

Here’s how I fold mine, what I’ve learned after visiting 100+ countries with one always in my bag, and why my sand free beach towel with pocket has become one of the first things I pack.

First Up: Let’s Talk Towels

If you're still travelling with a heavy, fluffy cotton towel or a thin, plasticky microfibre one that doesn't dry anything — stop. Those towels either never dry, stay damp and smelly, or don’t actually absorb water properly.

After way too many bad towel experiences, I designed my own — and I now only travel with my Nomadique travel towel. Why?

• It’s a quick dry towel that actually dries between uses, even in humid climates
  
  

• It’s a sand free beach towel, so I’m not shaking out half the beach in my hostel room
  
  

• It has a hidden zip pocket for my key, card, or phone when I go for a swim
  
  

• It folds up to the size of a water bottle and weighs next to nothing
  
  

• It doesn’t stink (even after beach + shower + back-to-back use days)
  
  

Basically, if you have a towel like that, it’s worth folding it right — because you’ll be pulling it in and out of your bag every single day.

The Fold I Swear By

There are a few ways to do it, but this is my go-to method. It’s kind of like a tight wrap or roll that holds its shape and fits in the smallest corner of your pack.

🌀 The Travel Towel Roll:

1. Lay it flat
   Spread your towel out on a clean, dry surface. If you’re in a rush, even your bed or the floor works.
   
   

2. Fold in thirds lengthwise
   Bring one long side into the centre, then the other side over it. You should end up with a long, skinny strip.
   
   

3. Fold the top down a little bit
   This is optional — but I fold down a little flap at the top to give it a straight edge and make the final roll neater.
   
   

4. Roll tightly from the bottom up
   Start at the end opposite the folded flap. Roll firmly all the way up, pressing down as you go.
   
   

5. Use the elastic or pocket to secure it
   If you’ve got one of my beach towels with pocket, you can tuck the end of the roll into the pocket to keep it secure. Otherwise, use a small elastic band or packing cube to keep it tight.
   
   

Boom. You’ve just folded your travel towel in a way that takes up barely any space and won’t unroll inside your bag.

Why Folding Properly Actually Matters

You might think this is overkill, but when you’re travelling for weeks (or months), little packing habits like this make a big difference.

A tightly folded travel towel:

• Won’t take over your whole day bag
  
  

• Keeps the wet bits separate from your clothes
  
  

• Saves time when you’re packing up in a rush
  
  

• Dries quicker when it’s not crumpled in a ball
  
  

• Feels way more put-together (and less chaotic)
  
  

Plus, it fits easily in packing cubes, stuff sacks, tote bags, and even clipped to the outside of a backpack without looking like a soggy mess.

Bonus: How I Pack It in My Bag

If I know I’ll be using my towel a lot — beach days, hostels, or daily showers — I usually keep it:

• Rolled and tucked into the top of my day bag for easy access
  
  

• Or clipped with a carabiner to the outside of my pack to dry while I walk
  
  

If it’s wet, I’ll roll it into a dry bag or ziplock to keep the rest of my stuff dry. I’ve also tucked damp swimmers inside it when I didn’t have time to change before heading to a train or flight.

Quick Hack: Use It to Pack Other Stuff

Another reason I love my travel towel? It’s kind of like a packing helper. You can:

• Wrap your towel around breakables (like a bottle of wine or a camera lens)
  
  

• Use it to pad your laptop or Kindle in a pinch
  
  

• Line your bag with it if you’ve got wet shoes or sandy clothes
  
  

• Roll small items inside it to save space
  
  

It’s not just about folding it neatly — it’s about using your gear smart.

Final Thoughts: Fold Small, Pack Smart

There’s something so satisfying about having a bag that feels tidy, light, and ready for anything. And when your towel folds up neatly instead of flopping around or leaking onto everything? That’s the kind of small win that makes travel smoother.

Whether you're chasing waterfalls, heading out for a spontaneous beach day, or just moving between hostels — a neatly folded, sand free beach towel can be the MVP of your pack.

And if you’re looking for the best one? My travel towel with pocket is designed for days just like these.