Microfibre and Travel Towels

OUTDOORS · GLOBAL

Microfibre and Travel Towels

How they differ from cotton, sizing, drying and odour, and where each suits

Microfibre towels solve a specific problem — weight and drying time — and they feel nothing like a bath towel, which is the usual complaint.

How they work

Very fine synthetic fibres with an enormous surface area wick water rather than absorbing it into the fibre as cotton does. They hold less water in total and release it far faster, which is why they dry in minutes.

Suede-finish microfibre absorbs more and feels less pleasant; waffle and terry microfibre feel closer to a towel and pack slightly larger.

Sizing

A small towel is for drying hands and faces. For a full-size body towel look for around 130 by 80 centimetres, since anything smaller becomes an exercise in wringing it out.

Two smaller towels frequently work better than one large one for travel.

Odour

The main weakness. Synthetic fibres hold body oils, which feed the bacteria that cause smell, and a damp towel stuffed in a bag makes it worse quickly.

Dry it fully before packing, wash without fabric softener, which clogs the fibres and destroys absorbency, and give it an occasional soak in diluted white vinegar.

Where each suits

Microfibre for travel, camping, swimming, the gym and anywhere drying space is limited. Cotton for home, where nothing matches it for comfort.

Turkish cotton peshtemal towels sit between — thin, quick drying, comfortable and packable.

At the pool and the beach

Sand shakes off microfibre far more easily than off cotton terry, which is most of why beach towels have moved this way. A large lightweight towel doubles as something to sit on.

Rinse salt and chlorine out rather than letting them dry in, since both degrade fabric over a season.

For pets and cars

Microfibre is excellent for drying dogs and cars, and towels used for those should never go back in the household wash.

Gym and travel

A small towel for the gym and a full-size one for travel covers most needs, and a mesh bag lets a damp towel dry rather than sitting sealed in a rucksack.

Wash after every use, since a towel used twice is where odour becomes permanent.

Buying

Check the stated dimensions rather than the size name, since small, medium and large mean nothing between brands. A carry pouch that the towel actually fits back into is worth more than it sounds.

Two mid-size towels frequently beat one large one for a family trip, since they dry faster.

Care

Wash separately from cotton, which sheds lint that clogs microfibre, and air dry rather than tumble drying on heat.

WHERE TO BUY

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