Stay High and Dry With the Best Fast Drying Towels
It can be a nightmare to work in wet conditions. Even in fishing, a hobby that’s close to water, you don’t always want to get your feet or hands wet. And if you’re taking your boat for a spin, you will likely end up with a few splashes of water on you, even if you’re careful. Fortunately, you don’t need to stay wet for very long with the help of fast-drying towels.
As the name suggests, fast-drying towels will leave you dry in a matter of minutes. They work thanks to the absorbent abilities of the cloth and they’re incredibly useful for when you think you’re going to get a little wet. To help you find your perfect match, we’ve compiled the top-rated fast-drying towels of 2024.
Our Top Picks
Reviewing the Top Fast Drying Towel of 2024 in Detail
Best Overall
With a simple design and many color options, the Amazon Basics Fast Drying Towels have a lot going for them. You get 24 washcloths per purchase (or 60 if you really want to buy in bulk), giving you more than enough for you, your family, your friends, and more. The towels are available in a few different colors to match your outfit or boat, and the absorbent material ensures your skin will be dry just seconds after rubbing the cloth over it. Because these fast drying towels come in great bulk quantities and have a soft 100% terry cotton build, we’ve rated this set as the best overall choice.
Pros
- Comes in packs of 24 and 60
- Multiple colors to choose from
- Soft, absorbent 100% terry cloth
Cons
- A little plain looking
Best Microfiber Towel
Microfiber cloths, like this fast drying towel from Rainleaf, are often used to clean eyeglasses and are also great for cleaning and drying surfaces. This is because the microfiber composition of the towel makes it super absorbent, even more so than regular fabrics. It also leaves no traces of the towel behind, so your skin will look nice and clean, even after a good wiping. With a lightweight design and a bag to go with your purchase, this towel is perfect for use at home or on the go!
Pros
- 10 different color options
- Very lightweight with a carrying bag
- Super-absorbant microfiber build
Cons
- Expensive for a single cloth
Softest Towel
When it comes to choosing towels, a lot of folks like to go with the softest option. This is due to a couple of reasons — maybe they like having soft fabric on their skin, or perhaps they’re very sensitive to certain fabrics. No matter what the reason, the Fit-Flip Fast Drying Towel is guaranteed to feel nice and smooth on your skin. It’s made out of microfiber and can be used for just about anything, whether it be cleaning wet tables or drying sweaty skin. You can also get these towels in varying sizes, which allows you to pick just the right one for your needs.
Pros
- Multiple size options to pick from
- Gentle microfiber build
- Very soft to the touch
Cons
- Color might run
Best 2-Pack
Two towels are better than one, even if you’re the only one using them. With two towels, you can share this product with someone else or use the towels interchangeably as needed. These fast drying towels may even be repurposed as a cleaning rag if absolutely necessary, though you’d be using a $10 cloth to do the cleaning. Jokes aside, the towel is of solid quality, especially if you’re looking for one that you can use to clean up after a shower. And, with multiple pattern options, you can pick more than just a single color for your towel.
Pros
- With multiple patterns available
- Comes in a set of two
- More than one size to choose from
Cons
- Might develop a musty smell
Best for Camping
Camping requires items that you’d use every day, but not all of them are well-adapted for the outdoors. Towels are a good example of this — generally, manufacturers assume that you’re going to use them indoors, which is why they don’t come in individual carrying bags. This set of towels by Wise Owl Outfitters, however, comes in bags that are compact and easy to carry around. They’re the perfect towels to use when out camping or doing any sort of outdoor activity, as you can easily pack them up in your back without trouble. And because they’re so sturdy, you won’t have to worry about them getting ruined when you’re outside.
Pros
- Great for camping and traveling
- Includes a carrying bag
- Durable material withstands outdoor conditions
Cons
- Price may vary depending on the color
Buyer’s Guide: Fast Drying Towels
Towels vs. Fast-drying Towels
We all know that towels are meant to dry our skin after getting wet. So what’s the difference between regular towels and fast-drying towels? The answer has to do with the material used. While just about any fabric can absorb water to a degree, some do it better (and more importantly, faster) than others. This means that, while many fabrics are great for towels, only a select handful of them can be used for fast-drying towels.
Fast-drying towels are named as such because they use materials that are more absorbent than your most common fabrics. A good example of this is microfiber — because of its makeup, the fabric can absorb water and liquid far more efficiently than the likes of cotton, allowing you to clean up a wet mess on your table almost instantly.
Tips When Choosing Fast-drying Towels
Size
Size matters when it comes to fast-drying towels. Some towels may be small enough to fit in your hand, which is great when you want to dry your hands after a quick handwash. That said, these clothes are terrible for drying your body after a shower, as it’ll take a while to dry your body using a tiny cloth. And that’s without mentioning all the water and moisture that would build up in the process. It’s just not that efficient.
Conversely, it can be pretty inconvenient to use a huge towel when washing your hands. In general, you’ll want to be wary of your towel’s size when making a purchase. Pick towels that are just large enough for your intended purpose and you should be good to go.
Color
The color of fast-drying towels also matters. These towels are often made with function over form in mind, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pick a towel that looks good too. Most fast-drying towels are sold in single colors, though you may find the occasional towel that has patterns on it, which gives it a little extra texture and complexity.
Tips When Using a Fast-drying Towel
Use every inch of the towel
This may seem obvious at first, but a lot of people leave large portions of their towels dry and unused. But why is that? The answer has to do with how the user holds the towel. Often, towels are held on both ends, and if you don’t move the towel around a lot, you’re only rubbing the same part of the towel over your skin. This means that an already-soaked part of the towel is getting drenched in even more water, making for an inefficient way to clean yourself.
By using every inch of the towel, you get to dry all parts of your skin, letting your body feel dry all over.
Hang them to dry immediately after use
Moisture is the perfect home for bacteria, and sure enough, your towel can smell bad due to bacteria build-up if it isn’t dried quickly. Hang your towel out to dry or dry it with a machine after use to ensure it doesn’t start smelling after a while.
How We Choose the Finest Fast-drying Towels
When choosing fast-drying towels, we paid close attention to a few different aspects. Firstly, we consider the towel’s size and intended use, such as for handwashing, outdoor use, and more. Then, we think about the extra features that may come with the towel, such as a free carrying case. Extra perks like these can be very useful in certain scenarios, making them worth considering.
People Also Asked
Are fast-drying towels made out of microfiber?
Not necessarily. While many fast-drying towels are made using microfiber, this isn’t always the case. Fast-drying towels may be made out of other fabrics or materials — as long as they can dry a surface relatively quickly, they can be considered a fast-drying towel.
Are fast-drying towels safe for the skin?
While fast-drying towels are great for removing moisture quickly, they won’t leave your skin devoid of all moisture, so they’re perfectly fine to use on your body.
Should I get a fast-drying towel?
If you like feeling dry right after a shower or doing outdoor activities such as camping, fast-drying towels can be quite useful.