When was the last time you bought a beach towel? Old towels can be a breeding ground for bacteria, and after a while, absorbency might not be as great as the day you bought them. Even if yours have withstood the test of time, it can be a good idea to restock this beach necessity.
If you search for a beach towel online, however, the number of options that pop up can be overwhelming. Besides sizes and colors, there’s an array of fabrics to choose from. So to help you decide on the type that’s right for you, it may help to understand how efficient different materials can be.
Cotton can be an ideal choice because of its versatility and how well it can absorb water. The natural fiber can be used to produce a variety of towel types, which can be distinguished by how they’re woven.
Ring-spinning is the process in which cotton fibers are converted into yarn. Before that, cotton may be “combed” which is an extra step that weeds out dirt and weaker, shorter fibers. There’s also a process known as “carding” that further removes shorter fibers and aligns the rest so that they’re more parallel and smoother. From there, the ring-spun yarn will be lustrous and stronger, which will, in turn, result in a more durable and longer-lasting towel, says Preeti Arya, assistant professor of textile development and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Each of these steps will impact the overall price of a towel, and the more processing the fibers go through, the more expensive the end result will be.
Towels made of long-staple cotton (not the metal staples you’ll find at the office, but fibers of fabric) have long cotton fibers. The longer and finer these staples are, the plusher a towel will feel.
Katie Elks, director of design and product development at Brooklinen, recommends towels with long-staple cotton and single-ply yarns, which consist of a single strand of twisted yarn. Both create a strong, smooth towel while avoiding tears in the weave. This also makes it more durable wash after wash. “Cotton is best in terms of fabric,” says Elks, “It absorbs well, dries quickly, and is super soft.”
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If you’re looking for convenience, in particular, microfiber towels are often touted as being “sand-free” and tend to be thinner and less bulky than traditional terry cloth towels. Made from synthetics—typically a polyester-based blend—they’re known for their quick-dry qualities. That said, they might not feel all that comforting and can produce a clingy static effect.
“Microfiber towels are primarily used for kitchen, outdoor and industrial use, and not recommended for longer contact with skin,” says Kristy Staver, senior sourcing manager for home and accessories at Lands’ End.
And there’s a big difference between materials that can absorb moisture and ones that wick it away. With wicking fabric, there will be a lingering feeling of wetness. Similar to activewear, which is designed to wick away moisture, polyester towels don’t actually absorb water.
Human skin tends to hold on to moisture unlike material surfaces such as flooring or glass, which repel it, says, Arya. So if the absorbent power of the towel material is not strong enough (which could be the case of polyesters and other synthetics) it becomes difficult to remove excess water from the skin.
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How a towel is woven is just as important as the material a towel is made of. There’s a zig-zag weave, where the one half of the twill weave goes in one direction and the other side is reversed. Then there’s broken twill, which happens when twill is reversed and broken at every two threads to make fabric stronger, and a waffle weave, also known as honeycomb, which has a series of recessed and raised squares that form a gridlike pattern.
The term “terry” indicates a type of weave that consists of extra-long uncut loops of cotton. So technically, the type of fiber used with a terry towel can differ, Arya says. Terry loops give the towel a plush feel and can vary by pile height (which indicates how tall these strands are) and density (measured by how close together the loops are). The higher the pile and the denser the loops, the more absorbent and thick a towel will be. Beyond that, there are varying types of terry towels. For example, a French terry towel is two-sided, with one surface that’s smooth and flat and the other side having a high pile.
Not all terry towels are made from cotton (some contain polyester) but the best beach towels are. That, in turn, makes them comfortable and lightweight options that are also very absorbent.
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This trendy style is thin and lightweight yet surprisingly absorbent, making it a prime contender vs. cotton for a beach towel. Made from a flatweave of long cotton fibers for a thinner form, Turkish towels, also known as Fouta or peshtemal towels, are a great alternative to bulkier options that employ a bigger loop weave.
For example, Lands’ End’s Turkish towels are made from a single-ply yarn, which results in a lighter feel and a short pile for optimal performance. That said, these days it’s common to find hybrid versions of the classic Turkish towel, with a terry cloth backing for a smooth touch and increased absorbency.
The polyester component adds durability, making the towels more resistant to shrinkage and general wear and tear. However, it’s important to note that adding polyester does reduce the overall softness and absorbency compared to 100% cotton towels.
How Important Is Thread Count?
Thread count tends to carry weight when it comes to bedsheets, but for towels, it really depends on what you’re looking for in terms of style and durability. A towel’s GSM, or grams per square meter, is a measure of its density and weight, which also tends to indicate how absorbent it will be.
If you want to ensure absorbency and thickness, 600 GSM is ideal, Elks says, while a 400 GSM towel will have a quicker drying time with a more delicate look. “As long as the materials are high quality, you really can’t go wrong with either option in this range,” she says. In short, the lower the GSM, the lighter the towel will be and vice versa.
Buying the Right Towels | Consumer Reports
FAQ
Are 100% polyester towels absorbent?
What is the best material for bath towels?
What are the benefits of polyester towels?
What are the disadvantages of polyester?
Is polyester a good bath towel?
Leave polyester bath towels to cheap motels. Polyester isn’t absorbent or soft, but it dries fast, so, it’s OK for kitchen, gym or guest bath towels (if you don’t want the company to stay very long). Also called Pima cotton, this material makes a high-quality bath towel. Pima cotton has long fibers that make a soft, durable and absorbent towel.
Are cotton towels better than polyester?
Unfortunately cotton towels can wear more quickly than polyester towels. They are also heavier when wet, usually with a longer drying time. Polyester: Even though they are listed as polyester, most towels are made from microfiber due to its high absorbency.
What kind of towels do you use for cleaning?
Because they’re so durable, microfiber towels are often used for cleaning. Supima cotton or Pima cotton: These bath towels are ultra soft, plush, and highly absorbent. The downside is that they take longer to dry. Egyptian cotton: These high-end towels are very plush, soft, and highly absorbent.