When it comes to shopping for beach towels, there are several factors to consider to ensure you make the right material choice. 

Each element contributes significantly to improving your beach experience, from fabric kinds to towel weight, resistance to sand, and colour. 

Best Beach towel fabrics

Choosing the best fabric for beach towels depends on your priorities and beach habits. 

Here's a breakdown of popular options to help you pick your perfect beach companion:

Cotton: The Classic Choice

Cotton towels are classics, and for good reason. Cotton is a durable fabric that will stand up to repeated use, and it's also absorbent. This means it will help you keep your skin dry when you're out of the water. 

Cotton Beach Towel Benefits: A Sunny Outlook

Cotton beach towels bring a classic yet versatile touch to your seaside relaxation. 

Here's why they might be your perfect beach buddy:

Superior absorbency:

From post-swim drying to mopping up spills, cotton's thirsty loops soak up water like a champ.

Soft and comfortable:

Snuggle up on a cloud of comfort! Cotton provides a gentle and familiar feel against your skin.

Durable and long-lasting:

With proper care, your cotton towel can become a beach companion for years to come.

Budget-friendly:

Cotton often offers a more affordable option compared to some other beach towel materials.

Variety of styles and colours:

Find the perfect match for your personality with a wide range of styles, patterns, and colours available.

Breathable in hot weather:

Unlike synthetic materials, cotton allows your skin to breathe, keeping you cooler on long beach days.

Classic and timeless:

There's a reason cotton is a popular choice for beach towels. It offers a nostalgic charm and a traditional beach experience.

Eco-friendly option:

If you choose organic cotton, you're making a more sustainable choice compared to some synthetic materials.

Easy to care:

Many cotton towels can be machine-washed and dried for hassle-free cleaning.

A point to remember:

Cotton beach towels dries fairly slowly and they can be somewhat bulky to carry around in a beach bag. However, cotton towels are still the most common type of beach towels you’ll find. Cotton towels are a great choice if you prioritize comfort over quick drying.

Range of cotton towels available in the market:

Egyptian Cotton:

Luxurious and highly absorbent due to long fibres, but may take longer time to dry due to its density.

Turkish Cotton:

Balances between absorbency and quick-drying capabilities, less dense than Egyptian cotton.

Pima Cotton:

High-quality cotton with long fibres resulting in a soft, absorbent, and durable towel, with a slightly faster drying time than Egyptian cotton.

Terry Cloth:

A type of cotton with uncut loops, highly absorbent, and moderate to slow drying time.

Cotton Polyester Blend:

Combines the absorbency of cotton with the durability and quick-drying properties of polyester.

All these options make cotton one of the best materials for beach towels.

Let's look at some of our fabulous beach towels

 

 

Take a look into our full range of personalised beach towels here.

Are Turkish or Egyptian Cotton Towels Better?  

Although there are various types of cotton towels available in the market, Turkish and Egyptian cotton towels steal the show.

Egyptian cotton towels are highly absorbent as they soak much water. However, high absorbency also comes with the headache of wetness. The downside is that these towels will stay wet long after use. 

Turkish cotton towels are decently balanced regarding softness, absorbency, and drying.   

Which one is better out of the two largely depends on your needs. If you enjoy the royal and warm feeling of being wrapped in a fluffed-up bath towel, you should go for an Egyptian cotton towel. 

A Turkish towel should be your pick if you want a lightweight, travel-friendly bath towel that dries up without much fuss.  

Maintaining and Caring for Cotton Towels  

To maintain your bath towels properly, remember these tips:  

• Avoid using fabric softener to preserve towel quality.  

• Soften your towels by washing them before your first use.

• Mix detergent with water for a longer towel life.  

• Tumble dry at medium heat; skip ironing.  

Microfiber towels: 

Microfiber towels are the best beach towels for sand. 

Microfiber beach towels are made from a synthetic fibre that is much thinner than cotton. As a result, microfibers are more lightweight and compact, making them easier to carry and pack. They also dry more quickly. 

However, microfiber beach towels are not as absorbent. If you're looking for a beach towel that is easy to carry and quick to dry, microfiber is the way to go.

Advantages of Microfiber Beach Towels

If you're looking for a beach towel that combines convenience and comfort, microfiber might be your perfect match!

Here are some of the key advantages that set them apart:

• Super Absorbent: Soaks up tons of water despite being thin, drying you off quickly.

• Lightning-Fast Drying: Dries in a flash, even in windy conditions, no more soggy towels!

• Lightweight & Compact: Folds up tiny, perfect for travel or packing light.

• Sand Shake-Off Champ: Sand easily glides off, leaving your towel (and car) sand-free.

• Soft & Gentle: Smooth feel, friendly even for sensitive skin.

• Built to Last: Durable and resistant to wear & tear, a good investment.

• Quick Clean-Up: Rinses clean easily with just water, no bulky washes are needed.

• Antibacterial Power: Some fight odour-causing bacteria, keeping your towel fresh.

• Style & Choice: Wide variety of colours, patterns, and sizes to match your beach vibe.

• Eco-Options: Recycled microfiber choices for a sustainable beach experience.

How Microfiber towels compare to cotton?

Microfiber is the lightweight champ, absorbing tons of water while drying in a flash. Compact and sand-resistant, it's perfect for travel and quick dips. 

Ideal Uses and Environments for Microfiber Towels

Microfiber towels could be your trusted companion if taken care of well. They are compact and quick-drying.

Beach and Pool: Sand-resistant, dry fast, perfect for post-swim and travel.

Fitness and Activities: Absorb sweat, dry quickly, and lightweight for your gym bag.

Home and Everyday: Kitchen cleaning, bathroom drying, gentle for pets.

Environments: Not ideal for extreme heat/humidity, some skin might prefer cotton.

Terry cloth towels

Terry cotton towels are a type of cotton towel that has a thicker pile and looping patterns woven into it. They have loops that are woven on a loom to create a soft towel and a fabric that feels super smooth.

These loops are also what make a terry cloth towel even more absorbent towel than a regular cotton one.

The soft fabric in combination with great absorption is the reason some say terry cloth towels is one of the best materials for beach towels.

Best Practices for Maintaining Terry Cloth Towels:

• Rinse after use: Remove sand and salt residue with clear water before washing.

• Machine wash in warm water: Use a mild detergent and avoid harsh chemicals.

• Tumble dry low: Avoid high heat which can damage the fibers.

• Shake regularly: This helps loosen sand and prevent it from becoming embedded in the fabric.

• Sun dry occasionally: Sunlight can help kill bacteria and refresh the towel.

• Don't use fabric softener: It can reduce absorbency.

• Replace worn-out towels: Replace towels that are faded, thin, or have lost their absorbency.

By following these tips, you can ensure your terry cloth beach towels stay soft, absorbent, and ready for years of beach adventures to come!

Linen Beach Towels: Your Breezy and Eco-Friendly Choice

Linen beach towels are a great option for those looking for a lightweight and absorbent towel for their trips to the beach or pool.

Made from the natural fibre of the flax plant, linen beach towels are known for their durability and quick-drying abilities.

They offer a unique texture and feel, and are a great choice for those with sensitive skin.

Linen beach towels dry quickly, you don’t have to worry about carrying around a damp towel all day.

Durability. Linen fibres are strong and can withstand wear and tear, making linen beach towels a great investment for those who frequently spend time at the beach or pool

Hypoallergenic and antibacterial: Linen is naturally hypoallergenic and antibacterial, which is great for people with sensitive skin.

When to pick Linen beach towels:

Hot Weather: Breathes & wicks moisture, keeping you cool and dry.

Formal/Semi-Formal: Elegant drape & unique textures for style.

Sensitive Skin: Hypoallergenic & soft, perfect for irritation-free comfort.

Sustainability: Natural, durable, & low water usage - good for the planet.

Caring for linen towels:

• Wash: Lukewarm/cold water, gentle cycle, separate from other fabrics, mild detergent, no bleach.

• Dry: Low heat or air dry, gently shake out wrinkles.

• Bonus: Spot clean promptly, avoid overwashing, iron on low heat (optional).

Bamboo Beach Towels

Bamboo beach towels are made from bamboo fibres which are much softer and more absorbent than regular cotton towels. They’re also eco-friendly.

One of the biggest pros of bamboo beach towels is their softness. 

They’re much softer than regular cotton towels, Bamboo towels also absorb water much more quickly than cotton towels, so they dry you off faster and don’t leave you feeling damp.

Another great thing about bamboo beach towels is that they’re naturally antibacterial, so they won’t develop that musty smell that regular towels can get after a while. This makes them perfect for use at the beach or pool, 

Of course, there are some cons to bamboo beach towels too. 

They can be a bit more expensive than regular cotton towels.

 And while they’re great for absorbing water, they can be a bit heavier than regular towels, so they might not be as easy to pack in a beach bag or suitcase.

Sand-Free Towels

Sand-free towels are a variation of microfiber towels that have a special coating that repels sand. These towels work by using a unique fabric that repels sand and other small particles.

These sand-repellent towels are becoming increasingly popular for beachgoers. The fabric used in sand-free towels is typically made from a blend of nylon and polyester. The secret to the effectiveness of these towels is in the way they are woven.

Sand-free towels are not only great for the beach but can also be used for camping, picnics, and other outdoor activities where you want to keep your belongings clean and free of debris.

Polyester beach towels

A polyester towel is second only to cotton in popularity when it comes to the number of towels made from it.

Polyester towels are, highly absorbent, don’t fade, breathable, and  very durable. For this reason, they are used to make towels that undergo lots of abuse like bath and hand towels. 

These normally have a stunning appearance.

 You do not have to worry about fading or harming the color because of its excellent colourfastness. It also offers exceptional absorption and breathability. 

Blended towels

Blended towels are made from a combination of two or more different types of fibers.

Blended towels offer several advantages over towels made from just one type of fibre. Blended towels are a good option for people who are looking for a towel that is soft, absorbent, and dries quickly.

However, it is important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of blended towels before making a purchase.

Understanding GSM helps you choose a towel that best suits your needs. If absorbency and softness are priorities, especially for beach use, a higher GSM is a good choice. However, if drying speed is crucial or you prefer a lighter towel, a lower GSM might be preferable.

GSM, which stands for grams per square meter, is a unit measuring the density of a fabric, indicating its weight and thickness.

Beach towels typically fall within the range of 400-600 GSM and there is an ideal size for a beach towel. 

Conclusion

With so many different types of beach towels available, it’s important to consider your preferences and needs before making a purchase.

Use this data to make an informed choice that enhances your beach experience and ensures you're well-prepared for your sunny adventures.