What Makes the Best Travel Towel (And What to Avoid)

You don’t realise how important a towel is until you’ve packed the wrong one.

Maybe it’s one of those cheap microfibre ones that feels like drying off with cling film. Or maybe it’s a massive "sand-free" towel that’s so bulky it needs its own seat on the bus.

When you're travelling — whether it's beach days in Europe or tropical adventures in Southeast Asia — a towel is one of the most-used items in your pack. But not all travel towels are created equal.

After visiting 100+ countries, trust me: I’ve tested all the types. So here’s what to avoid, what to look for, and what actually makes the best travel towel — especially if you're after something that dries fast, saves space, and doesn’t stink after one use.

Why Your Towel Choice Matters More Than You Think

People love to talk about what clothes to pack, what shoes to bring, or how many pairs of socks you really need. But towels get overlooked — until you’re stuck trying to dry off with a crunchy hostel towel or a cloth that repels water more than it absorbs.

And when you’re travelling light, you can’t afford to waste space on something that doesn’t actually work.

A great travel towel should:

• Dry you off fast
  
  

• Dry itself even faster
  
  

• Roll up compact
  
  

• Smell fresh (even when used every day)
  
  

• Be light enough to carry everywhere
  
  

• Actually feel nice on your skin
  
  

So, let’s break down the good, the bad, and the truly annoying.

The Worst Offenders: What NOT to Pack

🚫 1. Cheap Microfibre Towels

They seem like a great deal — lightweight, small, and easy to find. But here’s what nobody tells you:

• They barely absorb water
  
  

• They feel weirdly slippery and sticky at the same time
  
  

• They start smelling fast
  
  

• They’re thin and flimsy, so they bunch up and don’t dry properly
  
  

• You always end up wishing you’d packed something better
  
  

These are the towels you regret by day two. They never quite dry your skin properly, and because they stay damp for so long, they end up smelling musty even in hot weather.

I've bought a few on the road out of desperation — and I’ve never taken one on purpose since.

🚫 2. Bulky “Sand-Free” Towels That Aren’t Travel-Friendly

Some sand-free towels are marketed for travel, but when they arrive, they’re… huge. Like, don’t-fit-in-your-day-bag huge.

They might do a good job at the beach, but:

• They take up loads of space
  
  

• They’re heavier than you expect
  
  

• They don’t dry quickly enough
  
  

• They’re overkill for a quick swim or hostel shower
  
  

I once carried one of these in a tote on a hot day around Lisbon — I may as well have had a brick in my bag.

So What Makes the Best Travel Towel?

Let’s keep it simple. You want something that:

1. Dries quickly
   
   

2. Absorbs water well
   
   

3. Folds up small
   
   

4. Feels soft and comfy
   
   

5. Looks good (you’ll be using it all the time — it might as well be cute)
   
   

6. Stays fresh between washes
   
   

7. Doesn’t bring the whole beach home with it
   

Why I Designed My Own Travel Towel

After way too many towel fails, I made the towel I wish existed when I first started travelling.

Here’s what I wanted — and what I built into the Nomadique travel towel:

✅ Quick Drying Fabric

I needed a quick dry towel that wouldn’t stay damp in humid climates. This one dries within hours — even when I’ve used it for the beach, then a shower, then hung it on a hostel bunk.

✅ Actually Absorbent

Unlike cheap microfibre towels that just smear water around, this one actually dries you off. Think soft, buttery fabric that’s lightweight but still does the job properly.

✅ Sand-Free but Not Bulky

This towel is a true sand free beach towel — but it folds down way smaller than the typical heavy sand-free ones. It’s made for travel, so you can chuck it in your tote or clip it to your backpack without dragging your whole bag down.

✅ A Hidden Pocket (Game-Changer)

This is my favourite feature — the beach towel with pocket. I use it to stash my room key, bank card, or even a lip balm when I head to the beach or hostel shower. No more carrying a bag or stressing about leaving valuables behind.

I’ve even had people borrow it when they didn’t want to bring a bag down to the beach. It’s the kind of feature you don’t realise you need — until you use it once and never look back.

✅ Stylish & Compact

It folds up smaller than a T-shirt and weighs next to nothing. And unlike most travel towels (which honestly look like gym mats), this one actually looks cute. Because why not?

What Other Travellers Say

I’m not the only one who’s been burnt by bad towels. Here’s what I hear all the time:

“I thought I was saving space with my old one — until I realised it didn’t dry anything.”
“Your towel actually feels nice on my skin, not like plastic.”
“I’ve used it as a towel, a blanket, a scarf, and a yoga mat — worth every gram in my bag.”

If you're travelling across Europe or Southeast Asia — hopping beaches, hostels, and everything in between — this towel does it all.

A Few Bonus Features That Matter on the Road

• Hangs easily — Comes with a built-in loop, so you can hang it on bunk beds, trees, railings, whatever.
  
  

• Washes well — You can chuck it in any laundry cycle, and it comes out looking new.
  
  

• Feels luxurious — Soft enough to lay on for hours.
  
  

• Multi-use — I’ve used mine as a blanket on planes, as a seat on dusty hikes, even wrapped around my shoulders at sunset.
  

Final Thoughts: Get a Towel That Travels Like You Do

You don’t need three towels when you’re travelling. You just need one that works — in the shower, on the beach, at the lake, in the park, or in the middle of nowhere after a sweaty bus ride.

So skip the crunchy microfibre. Leave the bulky “sand-free” ones for the car campers. And get yourself a towel that’s actually made for movement — light, absorbent, fast-drying, good-looking, and smart.

The best travel towel is one you can use every day without thinking about it — because it just works.