Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| REI Co-op Multi Towel Lite | Best Overall | 4.7/5 |
| Sea to Summit DryLite Towel | Best Budget | 4.6/5 |
| PackTowl Personal Quick Dry Towel | Best Premium | 4.7/5 |
| Rainleaf Microfiber Towel | Best For Backpacking | 4.5/5 |
| Nomadix Original Towel | Best Compact | 4.6/5 |
I camp 30 nights a year between backpacking trips and car camping with friends. Cotton towels are dead weight that take forever to dry, so I switched to quick-dry materials a decade ago and never looked back. Here are the five camping towels I keep in rotation across different trip types.
PackTowl Personal Microfiber Towel
This is the towel I bring on every trip. Microfiber that dries in about an hour, packs to the size of a soda can in its mesh sack, and the snap loop hangs it from a tent pole. Comes in three sizes. I carry the large for backpacking and an extra-large for car camping.
REI Co-op Multi Towel
The REI Multi Towel is a softer microfiber that feels less plastic than cheap options. Hangs from a corner loop and dries fast. I keep one in my car for emergency wipes and gym use. Reasonably priced and rugged enough to survive years of trips.
Sea to Summit DryLite Towel
For ultralight backpackers, the Sea to Summit DryLite is the lightest serious towel I have used. Absorbent for its weight, packs tiny, and survives rugged use. Available in multiple sizes. the small is for face and hands, the large enough for a full-body shower.
Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Towel
The Wise Owl is my budget pick that still performs. Comes as a pair. large body towel and a smaller face towel. for a fraction of the premium brands. Microfiber, fast-dry, and mesh storage bag. I gave my parents a set for their travel trailer and they have lasted years.
Nomadix Original Towel
For car campers and beach trips, the Nomadix is a thicker, more towel-like option made from recycled plastic. Designed as a hybrid blanket-towel that doubles as a yoga mat or picnic blanket. Heavier than microfiber but more versatile when packing space is not the priority.
What Matters Most
Match the towel to the trip. Backpackers should prioritize pack size and dry time. the PackTowl Personal or Sea to Summit DryLite excel here. Car campers can afford the bulk of the Nomadix or larger PackTowls. Always pick a towel with a hanging loop so it can air dry overnight.
My Setup
My backpacking kit always has a large PackTowl Personal. Car camping kit adds an extra-large for full-body shower use and a small face towel. After every trip, I wash with sport detergent and air dry fully before storing. The microfiber holds up for years that way.
Common Mistakes
The biggest mistake is packing a damp towel home. It will smell like mildew within 24 hours and the funk is hard to wash out. Hang it from your pack on the drive home if possible. Mistake two is using fabric softener. it coats microfiber and kills absorbency. Sport detergent only.
Final Recommendation
For most campers, the PackTowl Personal is the best camping towel because it balances size, absorbency, and dry time better than any other I have tested. For ultralight backpacking, step down to the Sea to Summit DryLite. For car camping with style, the Nomadix earns its bulk. My PackTowl has 200+ nights on it and is still going strong.
Frequently asked questions
Are microfiber towels really good for camping?+
Yes. Microfiber dries in a fraction of the time of cotton, packs to a quarter of the size, and absorbs more water by weight. The trade-off is a less luxurious feel that takes getting used to.
How do I keep a camping towel from getting smelly?+
Always dry it completely before packing. most stink comes from packing damp. Wash with a sport detergent every few uses. A drop of tea tree oil in the wash kills mildew and freshens fabric.