BEST SWIM TOWELS 2023

BRAND: DARCHEN
MATERIAL: Microfiber
COLORS: Four
FEATURES: Portable, Quick dry, Soft, Hypoallergenic, Super Absorbent
SUITED FOR: Swimming, sports, travel, camping

This is a set of three microfiber towels in varying sizes (51”x31”, 30”x15, and 15”x15”) which can be compacted into a small space for packing, making them some of the best swim towels for travel. They are absorbent and fast drying with high-quality, odor-resistant, anti-microbial fabric that is soft and kind to the skin. Made from plush microfiber, they are lightweight and easy to clean. They can be machine washed but should be washed separately at first as colors may bleed. A few minutes in the sun will have them dry and ready to reuse. There is a choice of eight colors, and they come with mesh bags to store them in.

This is a generously sized multi-purpose microfiber swim towel which is available in ten color options and is very popular with buyers. Great for pool or beach swimming, it’s super absorbent fast-drying, lightweight, and easy to pack as it can be folded or rolled up into the supplied carry bag. These towels can be machine washed and tumble dried. They also have a snap loop makes it easy to hang them up to dry quickly in the sun. The lint-free, brushed microfiber wicks sand away and resists mildew, so it won’t get smelly. The towels are lovely and soft, and the largest size could also be used as a travel blanket. There are three sizes available, so if you’re traveling and space is at a premium, you could go for a smaller version as it will still get you dry after swimming.

With ten colors and six sizes to choose from, this quick dry swimming towel offers plenty of options to help find the best swim towel for you. Popular with buyers, this is a super absorbent towel that dries quickly, making it excellent for use after swimming, whether you’re in a pool or on the beach. The antimicrobial microfiber fabric is soft and skin-friendly. The Rainleaf is good for traveling as it is compact, lightweight, and comes with a storage bag. As these towels dry quickly, they won’t smell damp, and they even come with a handy loop for hanging them up to dry. Rainleaf gets good reviews from buyers as these towels do a great job and are well made.

BRAND: Elite Trend
MATERIAL: Microfiber
COLORS: 31
FEATURES: Compact, Extra-large, Quick-drying
SUITED FOR: Swimming, diving, beach, yoga, travel, gym, beach

If you’d prefer a more traditional, fluffy cotton towel to microfiber or chamois for getting dry after swimming, then this four-pack from Kaufman ticks all the boxes. You get four vibrantly colored stripy towels, which are great for the pool or beach, and would also be useful to have at home. They are soft and absorbent and feel more luxurious than alternative fabrics. They are not as compact or portable, so not great for traveling with, but they remain lightweight and well-made. Some buyers have been disappointed by the fabric’s quality, but for a cheap and cheerful product, they do an excellent job of getting you dry. Furthermore, a simple gentle wash should keep them in good condition.

This chamois towel for swimming comes with a convenient storage tube to prevent it from drying out too much. It is also available in five colors, and much like other chamois swim towels, it is smaller than what you might expect at just 13” x 17”, making it extremely portable. A swim chamois absorbs more water than traditional towels, and these just need wringing out in between races or dives before they are ready to get you dry again. They are very absorbent and lightweight and can be dried quickly when necessary.

The Speedo swimming towel is a cotton chamois towel, so it is relatively small-sized but works well at getting you dry as it is extremely absorbent. A chamois swimming towel will come with a storage tube to keep it in, and the speedo towels are no exception. They can be kept damp in the tube and will still get you dry, but if kept there too long, they can become a bit smelly. They can be very hard when dry, and you need to be careful to moisten them before unfolding. These Speedo swim towels are great if space is at a premium, so it would be a good buy if you stop off at the pool on the way to work or need something small to take traveling.

Whether you are a competitive swimmer training in a pool or just going for a dip in the ocean while on vacation, a good towel is necessary. The best swim towels are absorbent, fast-drying, and don’t take up much space. They are also easy to keep clean, so they don’t get smelly over time.

We’ve included some traditional cotton towels in our guide to the best towels for swimmers for those of you who prefer the feel of them. We have still concentrated on the more portable, quick-drying microfiber towels that have become increasingly popular with swimmers, beachgoers, and watersport enthusiasts. Chamois towels are also a popular choice as they are so efficient, but their small size might not appeal to everyone.

Types of Towel

Cotton

Most bathroom towels are made from cotton, and they can serve as swim towels as well. They are soft, comfortable, and reasonably cheap. The durability of cotton can stand up to a lot of laundering, and they are available in an endless array of sizes and colors.

The absorbency comes from the cotton loops in the fabric, which increase the surface area and soak up water effectively. But is a big fluffy towel good for swimmers? If you have the space to carry it and time to dry it afterward, then there’s no reason not to use them if you prefer the look and feel, but there are much more practical alternatives such as a swimmer towel. Cotton towels are bulky and aren’t small when folded. They are not so suitable for travel, can take a long time to dry, and hold water, which increases their weight. And damp towels can get smelly, so a quick dry towel for swimming is a better buy.

Chamois

A chamois towel for swimming is a high-performance product with specific needs in mind. They don’t have the same comfort and softness as alternatives, but they are incredibly efficient. The fabric has a smooth finish and is very absorbent. Once it is saturated with water, you simply wring it out and it’s ready to be used again afterward. A swim chamois needs to be slightly moist to use as they are very stiff when dry. After use, simply wring them out, roll them up and keep them in the supplied tube ready for your next swimming session.

Due to their small size, this kind of towel won’t be appealing to beachgoers, and they would not be suitable for anyone who gets cold after swimming and likes to wrap themselves up. They can feel uncomfortable on the skin, and the sensation can take some getting used to. Chamois swim towels are great space savers, require little laundering, and work well for those of you who want to get dry fast and don’t need something bigger.

Microfiber

Microfiber has taken over the world of swim towels for good reason; the fibers are much thinner than a standard cotton towel, so they have a greater surface area. This allows them to absorb more water and dry much faster after use. They are generally made from a mixture of polyester and nylon and are available in many different sizes, colors, and prints. Some are very smooth, have a similar feel to a chamois towel, and are very efficient at drying, but like a chamois, the fabric’s feel and how it dries may feel strange. These are used in a patting motion rather than rubbing like you would with a traditional cotton towel. Textured microfiber towels may feel more comfortable on your skin.

One of the big reasons for their popularity is that they can be folded or rolled into a very compact form, making them fantastic for traveling or just saving space in your swim bag. They dry quickly, so you don’t have to put a damp towel in your bag. Most come with hanging loops to be hung up off the ground or clipped onto the outside of a bag. Mesh bags are included, which reduces odor, and antimicrobial treatments will keep them fresh.

Microfiber towels will work great for use at the pool and are suitable for beach use as it’s easy to brush sand off them. The range of sizes and bold colors mean you can find something to suit your needs and personal style.

Other Considerations

If you are a serious athlete focused on training and competing in an indoor pool, then a chamois is likely to suit you. If you are lucky enough to have a home swimming pool with plenty of space to dry your towels and no need to transport them, then fluffy cotton towels could work great. But for most people, microfiber is the best bet.

Microfiber and cotton offer a huge range of colors, styles, and design options to suit your style.  Some microfiber towels have different prints on each side, and you can even get customized versions with your own photos or designs on.

Keeping your swim towel in good condition is essential, so make sure you read the instructions for washing it. Chamois towels don’t need to be washed after every use. Just rinse them out before storing them. They should only be cleaned occasionally, by hand, with a mild detergent. Cotton and microfiber are machine washable, but if they are new make sure you wash them separately for the first few washes as colors may bleed.

If you’re heading to the beach or going out on a boat, then we’d recommend getting a good dry bag to keep your towel from getting wet before it’s time for it to do the work of drying you off. Afterward, you can store it in the supplied mesh bag or tube. Most microfiber towels come with snap clips or elastic loops to make attaching them to things easy.

1. How Can I Dry Up Faster After Swimming?

If you’ve just taken a refreshing dip in the ocean in a tropical destination, getting dry isn’t much effort as the sun will do the work. But if you’re in a colder environment or indoors, you will want to get dry fast. Therefore, super-absorbent towels are a must. All the swim towels in our review can get you dry fast (so long as you use them properly). With chamois or microfiber, the drying action is a little different to cotton and can take some getting used to; pat rather than rub and let the towel do the work for you. Be sure your towel is ready to use before you get in the water as all chamois towels need to be slightly moist to work, which can seem counter-intuitive. After use, remember to wring them out as they get saturated with water. However, with microfiber or cotton towels, be sure to have dried them before you need to use them.

For those of you with longer hair, it can be the hardest thing to dry – so you might want to consider an extra towel for your hair. Consider buying a turban-style towel to wrap it up in and check out some tips on how to keep hair dry when swimming.

2. What is the Difference Between Cotton, Chamois, and Microfiber Towels?

Cotton has been around for a very long time and is what we are used to seeing in bathrooms; it makes for soft, fluffy, and comfortable towels, but they are bulky, take longer to dry, and are less absorbent than more modern materials. As a natural material, cotton is biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and easy to wash and care for.

Chamois is made from cotton, viscose, PVA, or a mixture of these. It is very smooth yet absorbent, and these towels are almost always very small as they are so efficient. They are kept damp when not in use as they will become very stiff if allowed to dry out. Chamois soaks water up very effectively.

Microfiber is available in a huge range of sizes; it is very absorbent due to the increased surface area of the fabric compared to cotton. Primarily made from plastic derivatives such as polyester and nylon, it is soft and lightweight. These properties also mean it can be folded or rolled up very small and is ideal for traveling. Microfiber is fast drying, which is especially beneficial in hot and humid climates as it prevents mildew and odors.

3. Is There a Difference Between A Swim Towel and a Bath Towel?

Bath towels don’t need to travel anywhere other than between your bathroom and the laundry, so they can be as big and bulky as you like! If you have a home pool with space to store and dry them, there’s no reason not to use bath towels for double duty. However, if you go anywhere else to swim, be it the pool or beach, then a swim towel is a much better choice.

Swimming towels are designed to be compact and easy to pack, so they are perfect for travel. But even if you are just headed to the local pool, a compact, quick-drying swim towel will save you having to carry a big towel around, which may be heavy when wet. Chamois or microfiber swim towels will get you dry fast and take up little room compared to a bath towel. They do however need some special care when washing them.

4. What Kind of Towels Do Olympic Swimmers Use?

Chamois or chamois swim towels are associated with competitive divers needing to dry quickly while competing and are also used by competitive swimmers. Olympic divers like these as they can absorb a great deal of water from their bodies between jumps, whereas a bath towel would end up too wet to use. They’re favored for their exceptional absorbency, which provides great drying ability in a very small sized towel. Competitive swimmers also use microfiber towels as they have similar benefits but are available in a broader range of sizes.

5. How Should I Wash my Swim Towel?

If you choose a traditional cotton towel as your swim towel, then you most likely already know how to wash it – the same as your bath towels. Be sure to check any instructions and if you have bright colors, then always wash them separately at first. Many are washable at high temperatures but try cleaning them at lower temperatures to keep them in good condition. They generally tumble dry well, and this can even help keep them nice and fluffy.

A chamois does not need frequent washing, but when you wash it, do it by hand with a mild detergent, excluding fabric softeners and heat. They should be air-dried rather than machine dried.

Microfiber towels also have some more specific washing requirements, which will help prolong their life. They do not respond well to high temperatures as this can damage the tiny fibers, and avoid fabric softeners as they can clog the fabric and reduce its effectiveness. Only wash with other microfiber fabrics to avoid attracting lint.

6. Do All Swim Towels Shrink in the Dryer?

With any towel, it’s essential to read the laundering instructions that come with it. Cotton towels are likely to shrink somewhat after they are washed and dried for the first time, particularly if you are using high temperatures. But once they have shrunk, they should retain their size during future washes.

Microfiber swim towels shouldn’t shrink in the dryer because you shouldn’t be using high heat to dry them, and if you do, then there may be some shrinkage when they are new. The high heat could cause the fabric fibers to melt, so dry them on low heat or cool to avoid damage. And chamois towels should not be put in the dryer at all because they are designed to stay moist.

7. Why Do Colored Swim Towels Bleed?

Even the best swim towels are prone to color bleeding; when the fabric gets wet, the dye can leach out of the fibers and transfer to other materials either in the wash or through rubbing against another item’s surface. Over dying to produce vivid colors, the wrong dyes being used, or badly set dyes can all be culprits. Chemicals in detergents or fabric treatments can also cause colors to be released or even bleached. Labels and instructions will often advise of the possibility, and you should follow any advice given to reduce the risk. When your colored swim towels are new, be sure to wash them before use, as this should reduce any color bleeding when you use them after swimming. Wash bright colors separately, and remember that colder temperatures will help prevent colors from bleeding or fading.

As always, we create our content with you, fellow adventurers, in mind. So, how’d we do? Did you find this informative? Did it help you make a decision? Did we miss anything? We’d love to hear from you below. Thanks for reading and we hope your next adventure is a great one!