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Upgrade your beach gear with sand-free, soft, and quick-dry towel options.
Photo:Real Simple
Beach towels come in a variety of materials and textures, fromthick cotton optionsto lightweightmicrofiber towels.
The towel wicks away moisture from the skin and dries quickly.
The short cotton loops are intended to resist snagging, while the flatweave edges prevent unraveling.
PHOTO: Lands' End
On top of all this, its below the median price of all the beach towels we tested.
Its large size made it a bit inconvenient to carry.
The fabric absorbed water and air dried quicklyabout 10 to 15 minutesbefore it was ready to be used again.
PHOTO: Real Simple
The cotton and polyester blend gave it a plush texture that we appreciated.
Overall, we thought it was comparable to a towel youd get poolside at a resort.
Even after several washes, the quality still held strong.
We did notice a few loose strings, but it didnt shrink, and any dirt cleaned out easily.
Additionally, we love its fun, vibrant colors and its light and airy texture.
It doesnt provide much cushion on rocky beaches.
Its made with a very thin microfiber fabric that quickly wicks away moisture and dirt.
It didnt hold on to much sand, and it washed like a dream.
It takes a bit of time to air dry.
We used it at the beach in Florida, and the sand rolled right off the microfiber fabric.
And most importantly, it quickly absorbs water from the skin.
The towel is a little thin, and the pattern is only visible on one side.
After one wash and one dry cycle, we didnt notice any shrinkage, loose threading, or bleeding.
It takes up substantial room in a beach bag.
This towel is as vibrant and colorful as it is soft to the touch.
Sand fell off the fabric with ease, and it washed without any damage or loose threading.
This towel also comes with theOeko-Tex certification, meaning its been tested for harmful chemicals.
Just keep in mind that its thickness causes it to take up more room in a beach bag.
PHOTO: Walmart
Its not particularly cozy or warm.
It has a smooth, moisture-wicking fabric that is quick to dry, especially while out in the sunshine.
Plus, its texture helps to repel sand and other debris.
PHOTO: Real Simple
And bonus: Its available in six different vibrant patterns, all of which are reversible.
(Better Homes & Gardensis owned byReal Simplesparent company, Dotdash Meredith.)
It’s not as wide as other options.
According to Young, towels are often treated with a softening finish that is completely water-soluble.
Though its not sand-repellent, this towel shakes out most sand with ease.
But we love the retro, 70s-inspired design, which is available in four different colorways.
It retains some moisture while on the ground.
Like all Turkish towels, its lightweight and quick to dry once hung up.
It comes in five different earth tones, including Rust and Deep Pewter.
Because its not absorbent, its not the best for drying off.
At $80, its one of the more expensive towels on this list.
This towel was so soft and plush that it felt like drying offwith a blanket.
PHOTO: Amazon
In fact, its one of the softest beach towels weve ever used.
Plus, its bigger than your standard beach towel and it comes with a UPF +50 rating.
Prior to use, we washed each towel according to the manufacturers instructions.
Real Simple / Andrea Tenborg
Finally, we scored the value of each towel based on its retail price relative to its performance.
Cotton:Because of its absorbency and plushness, cotton is considered the gold standard for beach towels.
But the tradeoff here is that theyll be less absorbent than a towel made with 100 percent cotton.
PHOTO: Amazon
Thats what makes Turkish towels thinner and lighter than your standard cotton towel.
Microfiber (Polyester):Theleast conventional of the bunch, microfiber beach towels are becoming increasingly popular.
(Towels marketed as sand-free are often made of microfiber.)
Real Simple / Megan Hartig
Theyre made from synthetic materials, typically a blend of polyamide and polyester.
Polyester tends to have a faster drying time than cotton, says Young.
Weight
It’s important to remember that beach towels are not bath towels.
PHOTO: Amazon
For a beach towel, it’s best to look for something in the middle.
The weight of a towel is measured in grams per square meter (GSM).
The higher the GSM, the heavier the towel.
PHOTO: Real Simple
If you prefer a more luxurious and fluffy beach towel, look for one with a higher GSM.
Size
A standard-size beach towel is typically around 31 by 63 inches.
Our favorite oversized beach towel, theOcoopa Microfiber Beach Towel, measures an impressive 57 by 80 inches.
Just keep in mind that a bigger towel means more material to store and transport.
We appreciated how the colors stayed bright and the material didnt lose its softness with washes.
Its ability to dry out within 15 to 20 minutes was also a plus.
While we wouldnt describe it as scratchy, the back side wasnt as soft as the printed side.
For starters, beach towels are generally much longer than bath towels.
They are also exposed to more elements so they should be more resilient and not pull easily.
For those reasons, we do not recommend bringing your bath towel to the pool or beach.
How do you wash beach towels?
Once they’re clean, beach towels can either be hung to dry or tumble dried on low.
As always, refer to the tag for the manufacturer’s specific instructions.
To keep the colors from fading, rinse your towels after going to the pool to remove chlorine residue.
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