It’s now time to bid farewell to your wet and stinking towels.
If your towels remain wet even after you have dried or if the towels emit an unpleasant smell, then, a quick-dry towels could be your solution. Regardless of the shorter cotton loops, flat waffle weave construction, or even lighter microfiber pile fabric, quick dry towels are crafted in such a way that they dry up very fast in order not to make a mess of the bathroom.
Most of these specialized towels are very absorbent – undoubtedly more so than the majority of the conventional general purpose towels – and it is surprising that most of the leading brands remain soft to the touch. It is also important to note that making sure that your towel dries as quickly as possible is not a luxury but a necessity especially concerning bacteria or smell formation.
We considered all types of towels, be it bath towels, beach towels, or kitchen towels, assessing its washability, absorbency, shrinkage, fabric strength, color fastness and its capacity to dry in the shortest time possible. We also deal with consumer testers who use the towels at home and give rankings for comfort, softness as well as their experience when washing them.
Here are more than 70 towels that we have tested and here are top tested towels from our tests, analysts’ choice or best selling designs with a lot of customer feedback from real users.
Best Turkish Towels | Best Beach Towels on Amazon | Best Bath Towels on Amazon
Our top picks:
1
Best Overall Quick-Dry Towels
Everplush Diamond Jacquard 6 Piece Bath Towel Set
PROS
- Benefits of both cotton and microfiber
- Testers loved the plush look and feel
CONS
- Showed some signs of wear with laundering
Material: Cotton, polyamide and polyester blend | Pieces: 2 bath towels, 2 hand towels and 2 washcloths | Dimensions: 30″ x 56″ bath towels, 16″ x 30″ hand towels and 13″ x 13″ washcloths
Ranking 1st for both its absorbency and drying time, this towel emerged victorious among dozens of styles in our latest bath towel showdown. While most towels are great at one or the other the major beauty of this item is that it is designed with inner microfiber and outer cotton fibers – truly the best of both worlds. The towels were also sufficiently durable during our tests, with the fabric not shrinking even with frequent washing, though it did experience some wear that manifested as pilling and fuzz after washing.
Reviewers of the Everplush towel said that the fabric used was very comfortable and one of them said, I like the softness of the towel. It was a good size, not too large, and it dried even quicker than my Turkish towel. Even though it was soft and plush, it was not heavy in any way. A Textiles Lab analyst said, These are perfect for my guest bathroom because they are simple to wash, dry quickly and are very soft.
2
Best Value Quick-Dry Towels
Amazon Basics 100% Cotton Quick-Dry Bath Towel
PROS
- Soft and cozy feel
- Lightweight design
CONS
- Not as absorbent as other towels
Material: 100% Cotton | Pieces: 2 bath towels | Dimensions: 30″ x 54″
These are available on Amazon for as low as $10 each or less, and it has over 35000 five-star reviews. In our tests, those two thin towels were very appealing for their softness, and one of the testers noted that the towels felt rather warm and more luxurious than the price might suggest. The towels are not very thick which is why some participants wished they had more thickness while others preferred the light texture of the towels.
Our at-home testing received positive reviews concerning the absorbency of the towels. Amazon reviewers like the towels just as much, with a special focus on their rapid drying capabilities. One said, “These towels are so great!! Not only do these towels dry super quickly, these towels are also incredibly soft and gentle on my skin. We believe that the towels are worth it at such a cheap price.
3
Best Waffle Quick-Dry Towels
Gilden Tree Waffle Towels Quick Dry
PROS
- Oversized
- Online reviewers say they’re absorbent
- Brand says the grow softer after laundering
CONS
- Some reviewers noticed shrinkage and linting
Material: 100% Pure Cotton | Pieces: 2 bath towels | Dimensions: 62″ x 32″
At a fantastic price and eligible for free Prime shipping, these oversized cotton towels in a two-pack from Gilden Tree Waffle Towels are beloved by Amazon customers. As for the absorbency of these waffle towels, online reviewers were pleased, as they claim that it is as good as other terrycloth towels that they have used.
One of the reviewers said that these towels are ‘‘sucky,’ ‘‘as in, they ‘‘suck up moisture like a vacuum!’’ Many reviewers agree with the brand’s assertion that the towels get even fluffier and absorbent after being washed. Some commented that the towel has an ‘awesome texture even after the first wash’. A few mentioned that the towels shrink slightly in the dryer and there is initial shedding of fibers.
4
Best For Travel Quick-Dry Towel
Rainleaf Microfiber Towel Perfect Travel & Gym
PROS
- Six sizes to choose from
- Carrying case included
- Versatile design works for camping, travel and more
CONS
- Reviewers say the stitching unravels with use
Material: Microfiber | Pieces: 1 bath towel | Dimensions: 40″ x 72″
This compact towel has received its place on Amazon by becoming one its most popular with over 19,000 five-star reviews. Experts and ordinary people note that it is suitable for casual usage during camping, hiking, backpacking, and even world voyages. It is even called the ‘’perfect travel towel’’, due to the capacity to pack small and dry fast because of the polyester blend microfibers that pull off moisture.
As with any other microfiber towels, people say that this one is not very absorbent and there are some complaints regarding edge stitching coming undone. This will not be the most ideal if you are in need of one of those extremely durable yet extremely soft towels, but it is an excellent choice for traveling. It comes in sixteen stunning colours and six sizes ranging from XS to XXL so you can choose the one that suits you.
5
Best Organic Quick-Dry Towels
Texere 100% Organic Cotton Jacquard Quick-Dry Towels
PROS
- Super soft feel
- Absorbent material
- 650 GSM 100% Certified Organic Cotton
CONS
- Not quite as quick-drying as some other picks
Material: 100% Organic Cotton | Pieces: 6 towels | Dimensions: 30″ x 56″
If you love the glamour and glitz even in the bathroom then maybe you need to take a look at Texere’s Organic Cotton Jacquard Towels. These aren’t just towels; they’re a lifestyle. The feel of the towel is extremely soft, some of the testers claiming it to be ‘so fluffy’, ‘the perfect towel.’ According to one of the testers, the towel remained soft even after several uses and washes.
Personally, such towels are absorbent, dry quickly, and are made to great standard and quality. The blue-green color? Absolutely stunning. They’re undoubtedly some of the softest towels that I’ve ever been blessed with the opportunity to use.
6
Best Plush Quick-Dry Towels
Homexcel Bath Towel Set, 2 Pack
PROS
- Top-tested brand
- Online reviewers say they’re thin yet absorbent
CONS
- May not dry as quickly as some lighter weight picks
Material: Microfiber | Pieces: 2 bath towels | Dimensions: 54″ x 27″
Homexcel microfiber ultra soft highly absorbent bath towel,lightweight and quick drying towels for body,sport,yoga,spa,fitness. Hundreds of online reviewers say that these Ultralight towels are the best ones as it is both incredibly thin and highly absorbent at the same time. A glowing five-star review stated, “This towel is a must-have: Light but not flimsy, thick but not dense, large enough… but not that overbearing towel that is too much.
The towels are not as heavy as most of the ones we use, so these will dry faster than some other traditional towels, but they are slightly thicker than a couple of our options and are made from Turkish cotton fibers that are absorbent. Online reviewers are happy with the dry time overall, stating they “air dry super quick; One reviewer even commented, “This towel set is fantastic – it’s lightweight, doesn’t take up much storage space, and dries incredibly fast.
7
Best For The Beach Towel
Dock & Bay Microfiber Beach Towel
PROS
- Sand-resistant for easy cleaning
- Carrying case included for travel
- Available in over 30 prints and patterns
CONS
- Material is thinner than others.
Material: Polyester and polyamide blend | Pieces: 1 beach towel | Dimensions: 78″ x 35″
This sand-friendly beach towel by Dock & Bay comes in four sizes including an extra large beach blanket and more than 30 colors and graphics. We like the lightweight fabric which is synthetic polyester and polyamide microfiber that is “sand-resistant. ” It has a specific weave that will allow sand to sit on top of the fabric and easily brushed off.
It is quicker in drying than a typical cotton beach towel and is more resilient, though it comes as a little less thick than some consider best. Finally, when it is time to fold, you can just roll it into the convenient carrying pocket that the towel comes with. For instance, this tester made her comment as, “I like to carry this towel with me on some summer holidays just in case, I may need to have a picnic somewhere.”
8
Best For Hair Quick-Dry Towels
Hicober Microfiber Hair Towel, 3 Pack
PROS
- Incredible value
- Soft microfiber material
- Three pieces included
CONS
- May not work as well for thick or longer hair.
Material: Microfiber | Pieces: 3 hair towels | Dimensions: 26″ x 10″
A microfiber hair towel can make your hair’s drying process faster and reduce damage. The fibers used in microfiber cloth are finer than standard cotton fibers and therefore, a hairstylist opined, they don’t pull hair as much and are fundamental on hair. She prefers microfiber materials during her own hair drying because this prevents hair breakage and frizz.
Hicober’s towels cost $16 for three-pack packs, meaning that each hair wrap costs less than $6, which is a great bargain. This specific hair towel is available in a tapered look attached with elastic at the back that goes over a button present in the upper part of the wrap, which makes the hair look systematically twisted. Being less absorbent compared to the normal cotton it does not take long to dry out once you remove it. This sort of towel is known to be particularly good for the people with limp or curly hair; however, it is unlikely to be sufficient for people with large hair or long hairdos.
Some tips for choosing the best quick-dry towels on the market
The best Quick-dry towels is the type of towels that are quite different from the ordinary bath towel with other features that enhance its drying rate. Here are some key aspects to keep in mind during your shopping experience:
✔️ Fabric construction: Most towels are made of terrycloth fabric which is a woven fabric that has small yarn loops on the surface to make the fabric thicker and enhance the capability of the fabric to trap water. That means that it is very effective in absorbing water and is also capable of giving one a dry look.
Nonetheless, there are towels that are made of quick-drying woven microfiber fabrics that are not always looped. Occasionally, the microfibers are brushed to give the surface an appearance similar to suede, while at other times, the microfiber pile is short and plain. In any case, microfiber fabrics will not absorb as much water as terrycloth but will dry more quickly.
✔️ Fiber content: Most brands will indicate the fiber content on the label that is normally found on garments. Almost all quick-dry towels are produced from synthetic yarns including polyester, nylon or polyamide fabrics, which have higher durability compared to the natural fabrics. Besides, because of their hydrophobic nature, they are not very absorbent and therefore do not take long to dry.
While natural fibers such as cotton are usually more absorbent, are generally better at absorbing moisture and are well-loved for their softer, plush touch compared to synthetic fibers. Because they are very absorbent, it might take longer for them to dry but this is not always so particularly when they have been blended with synthetic fiber. By combining these elements, you can enjoy the benefits of both worlds- a highly absorbent, soft, and fast-drying material.
✔️ Fabric weight: The weight of fabric is expressed in terms of grams per square meter (GSM). A high end super absorbent towel is going to be thicker and have a high GSM value, in fact it could be 600 or more. While a complete size quick dry towel is more likely to be of lighter weight with a GSM of around or below 300.
Can Quick-Dry Towels Be Put Into the Dryer?
Yes, most of the quick-dry towels can be placed in the dryer after they have been washed. However, it is important to make sure one follows the manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean the product properly. The cotton towels are perfectly good to be washed in the washing machine; the ones that are made with synthetic fibers probably should only be tumble dried on low heat.
What’s the reason for my towels not drying in the dryer?
In theory, these types of towels should be able to dry properly in the dryer but if you realize that your towels do not dry as expected, then it might be a problem of the dryer or a difference in the preferred method of washing recommended by the manufacturer. Towels are one of the most challenging laundry items to dry and if the dryer’s vent is blocked or the appliance is not working optimally, your towels will still be wet.
If you have not had your dryer vents cleaned in a while or if you think there is a problem with your dryer vent, then you might want to call a professional to check this out and do this maintenance. If that does not help, you may want to consider having your dryer repaired or cleaning it thoroughly.
