The 8 Best Camping Towels You Can Buy

Even if you don’t plan on showering during your weekend adventure in the woods, you shouldn’t leave your towel at home. Aside from wiping up the occasional spill and mopping up sweat after a long hike, a good microcloth towel can also be there for you if you decide to take the spontaneous dip in the lake. We’re not suggesting that you lug your everyday bath towels from home or even — eek! — your beach towels on your next camping or backpacking trip. Why would you? There are plenty of fantastic camp towels that won’t just aid you on your camping excursion but just might supplant what you’re using for showers at home as well.

Microcloth towels are made for packing light, drying quickly, and have the ability to hold upwards of 3 times their own weight in water (if made well). However, people are resistant to change, even when the solution is right there in front of them. This guide will make a good case for microfiber. And once you discover the wonders of packable camping towels, you’ll want them even when you’re taking a shower at home. That said, not all microfiber is made the same.

Microcloth Vs. Cotton

The Turkish people are most likely responsible for the advent of the cotton towel back in the 17th century. In that time, we haven’t just seen them as the best option but the only option. However, recently, microcloth has stepped into the light as a viable alternative. For one, they’re better for travel since they pack down much smaller than bulky cotton towels. Likewise, they’re more absorbent, quicker to dry, and their synthetic makeup ensures that they don’t retain odors like cotton, which is made from organic material.

On the other hand, cotton does actually have a couple of benefits. Aside from being softer and more comfortable, it also washes easier. Microfiber can be trickier in the washing machine and even leave behind little fibers in the water, which aren’t great for the environment. However, the pros of microfiber cloth outweigh the cons when it comes to packing a backpack, duffel bag, or suitcase for your next camping trip.

What to Look For in a Camping Towel

Absorption: The main function of any towel is to dry you off. This means that its absorption rate is paramount. While most towels should do just fine soaking up water, not all of them perform as well when it comes to wiping off sand, dirt, or other outdoor particles.

Dryness: If you just toweled off after a dip in the lake or a shower, you may need to pack up your towel rather quickly before heading to your next destination or using it again. How quickly a towel dries is also quite important, which is why microfiber is a great material to use.

Packability: When it comes to camping, the more compact, the better. Towels, just like anything you’ll be lugging along, should only take up as much space as absolutely necessary. Most towels come in several size options, so make sure you don’t get something that’s too big, otherwise you’ll have to find space for it.

Sea to Summit DryLite

Best Budget Towel: If you’re planning a trip to the outdoors, it’s quite possible you’ll be trying to save some money in the process. If so, check out Sea to Summit’s DryLite, which also happens to be one of the most packable camping towels out there, with five size options that range from small (32”) to XXL (67”). Made from nylon microfiber, the DryLite also wrings out better than most of its contemporaries, making it one of the best choices for those who are okay with foregoing higher-end towels in favor of function and compactness.

Rainleaf Microfiber Towel

Best for Size Options: Holding five times its weight with water, Rainleaf’s Microfiber Towel can wring out just as efficiently. Made from soft microfiber, this towel has a solid odor defense and can pack down better than most other options in this guide. However, where the Rainleaf really shines is its versatility, available in six size options and eleven colors (colored with 100% natural plant dye), with the 72” XXL version coming equipped with a zip pocket. It also has a buttoned loop for hanging and comes with a reusable bag for travel.

Everplush Biospired Lightweight Footprint Pack Towel

Best Small Towel: Unlike some of its contemporaries, Biospired’s Lightweight Footprint Pack Towel is made for the itinerant traveler. Stored in a fully-netted Air-Flow pouch (with backpack clip) to help it dry on the go if you’re in a pinch, this camp towel is made from a microsuede material for hyper-evaporation and -absorption. It also comes equipped with a snap loop for hang-drying outside of the net as well. Available in five size options and either blue or caramel colorways, the cloth can also be easily machine-washed thanks to its antimicrobial construction.

PackTowl Luxe

Best Overall: PackTowl is not just one of the best microfiber towel brands because of its unbelievably fair prices, but for how much quality it gives you for those prices. Built with Polygeine odor defense, the Luxe acts like a top-of-the-line option for a fraction of the cost, with looped terry knit microfiber fabric for cotton-like comfort, while drying 30% faster than cotton and holding up to five times its own weight with water. Ranging from face towels to beach towels, the Luxe comes in four size options and six attractive colorways.

REI Co-op Multi Towel Lite

Runner-Up: Whether mopping up sweat during a long hike or drying off after a dip in the lake, you can go wrong with the REI Co-op Multi Towel Lite on your next camping trip. Constructed from a bluesign-approved combination of 85% polyester and 15% nylon microfiber, it not only packs down so that you barely notice it inside your backpack but can hold up to eight times its weight with water. Available in three sizes and in either gray or dark blue, this camp towel can also wring out to be almost completely dry in a matter of seconds.

Matador NanoDry Packable Shower Towel

Best for Backpacking: When it comes to packability, Matador’s highly-acclaimed NanoDry Packable Shower Towel gets the job done better than most. Made from super-lightweight hydrophilic nanofiber fabric that can absorb up to 2.3 times its own weight with water, this towel dries faster than nearly any of its contemporaries and has incredible odor defense for those times when you have to pack it away when it’s still a little damp. At 52” by 24” in total size, this large towel packs down into a silicone carrying case that’s just 5.2” in height, with an anodized aluminum carabiner for easy travel.

Rumpl Everywhere Towel Joshua Tree

Most Stylish: Rumpl is already well-known for making some of the best indoor and outdoor blankets on the planet. Now, its know-how is applied seamlessly to packable towels. An update on the forerunner, the Shammy, the Everywhere Towel is even more absorbent, quick-drying, and packable than before. Made from a polyester microsuede fabric and finished with an antimicrobial coat for longer use, the camp towel is easier to wash compared to most of its competitors. And just like its beautiful range of blankets, the Everywhere Towel gets some fantastic graphic designs as well.

Lava Linens Classic Travel Towel

Best Upgrade: Microfiber towels can be used even for the most luxurious glamping trips as well. Case in point: Lava Linens’ Classic Travel Towel. While it might be heavier and not immediately as soft as other picks, this towel dries super quickly and gets softer with age. Debris-resistant, stain-resistant, antistatic, hypoallergenic, and naturally antimicrobial, it’s uniquely made with French flax linen and rolls up to be as small as a 32oz water bottle. The Classic Travel Towel is a bit pricier than other options out there, but you’re definitely getting what you pay for.

The Best Camping Blankets

Ok, so you’ve got yourself the perfect packable towel, but what about a durable, lightweight blanket for your next outdoor adventure? We’ve got you taken care of with our guide to the best camping blankets on the market.