If you are on the hunt for the best quick-dry travel towel, then you have come to the right place, as this guide takes you through everything you need to think about when purchasing the perfect lightweight travel towel.
When it comes to a fast-drying towel for travel, it not only needs to dry super-fast, but it also needs to have good absorbency to get you dry otherwise what’s the point? Plus, when it comes to travel you want your towel to be lightweight and pack down nice and small, this is particularly important for traveling by plane where there are the size and weight restrictions.
To help you find the perfect fast drying travel towel, this guide takes you through all the things you need to consider. Then, I’ll take a closer look at some of the more popular quick dry towels for travel currently on the market.
This post may contain compensated links. Please refer to my disclaimer here for more information.
Table of Contents
What are Quick-Dry Towels for Travel & Why Should I Get One?
If you haven’t yet got yourself a quick dry towel for travel – you are in for a real treat! These towels are designed just for travelers in that they dry super-fast, have great absorbency and compact down nice and small, so they take up barely any space in your bag.
Gone are the days of taking your big, bulky towel from home, which takes up far too much room in your bag, or taking a tiny hand towel to save on space but that barely covers your stomach let alone your entire body! With a travel towel, you can basically have your cake and eat it too!
Here are some reasons why you have to get yourself a travel towel:
- Quick-drying, so you don’t have to wait around for hours on end before being able to pack it away – perfect for travelers always on the move;
- They are lightweight, so don’t take up precious weight allowances in your baggage; and
- They pack down super compact, so you can easily pop it in the bottom of your backpack.
My Pick for the Best Quick Dry Travel Towel: Wildhorn Microlite Travel Towel Set 
Don’t have time to read my entire quick dry travel towel guide? My pick for the best travel towel is the Wildhorn Microlite travel towel set. This set offers great value as you get three good sized towels for a small price. Theses towels also pack down smaller than any other option in this guide could find, and the material is soft, lightweight and dries super fast.
Best Quick Dry Towel Travel Comparison Chart 2020
Check out the table below for a quick and easy comparison of the all quick dry towels reviewed in this guide. For further information, keep reading the detailed reviews below.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | Size | Packed Size | Fabric | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1. Rainleaf Towel | XS – 12” x 24” S – 16” x 30”; M – 20” x 24”; L – 24” x 48”; XL – 30” x 60”; XXL – 40” x 72” |
XS – 6”x8.5”; S – 5.4”x5.7”; M – 5.8”x7”; L – 7.1”x9.05; XL – 9.1”x9.4”; XXL – 8”x9.8” | Microfiber | Check Price |
 |
2. Wise Owl Outfitters | L – 48’ x 24”; XL – 60” x 30” | L – 7” x 5”; XL – 10” x 7” | Microfiber | Check Price |
 |
3. Wildhorn Mirolite | S – 24” x 12”; M – 48” x 24”; L – 60” x 30” | S – 4” x 4”; M – 6” x 5”; L – 8” x 5” | Microfiber | Check Price |
 |
4. Youphoria | S – 40” x 20”; M – 56” x 28”; L – 72” x 32” | S – 6.5” x 2.5”; M – 7.5” x 3”; L – 9.5” x 3.25” | Microfiber | Check Price |
 |
5. Dock & Bay | L – 63” x 31”; XL – 78” x 35” | L – 8” x 5”; XL – 10” x 6” | Microfiber | Check Price |
 |
6. 4Monster | S – 31.5” x 15.7”; M – 48” x 24”; L – 55.1” x 26.7” | S – 4.3” x 2.8”; M – 6.3” x 3.1”; L – 7.9” x 3.5” | Microfiber | Check Price |
 |
7. Elite Trend | M – 63” x 31”; L – 78” x 35”; XL – 63” x 63”; XXL – 72” x 72” | Unknown | Microfiber | Check Price |
 |
8. PackTowl | S – 14” x 10”; M – 36” x 16.5”; L – 54” x 25”; XL – 59” x 36” | Unknown | Microfiber | Check Price |
 |
9. Wolkyok | S – 24” x 16”; L – 58” x 30” | S –; L – 8” x 3” | Microfiber | Check Price |
 |
10. Nature is Gift | 70” x 37” | Unknown | Turkish Cotton | Check Price |
Things to Consider when Purchasing a Fast Drying Towel for Travel
To ensure you purchase a fast-dry towel that is perfect for your needs, consider the following factors:
Fabric
The fabric of the towel is super important when it comes to a quick-dry towel. Travel towels tend to be most commonly made with microfiber, but other good options include cotton and linen.
- Microfibre: You’ll note that most of the towels in this guide are microfiber. This is because a microfibre travel towel is not only quick-drying but also packs down super compact, making it perfect for traveling.
- Turkish Cotton: This is also another popular option for a travel towel – particularly if you want an oversized towel. These towels look great and can double as a sarong too. They don’t tend to be as absorbent or quick-drying as microfiber though.
- Linen: Much more absorbent and faster drying than cotton, linen is another good option for travel towels. However, linen towels don’t tend to feel as nice against the skin and are often more expensive.
Size 
Don’t think there is a standard travel towel size – some are super tiny and better resemble a tea towel while others are large and oversized. So, do think about what size you want and check the size of the towel before you purchase it.
Of course, the larger the towel, the heavier and bulkier it will be, however, you will be super surprised just how compact a good-sized travel towel is these days.
For your convenience, I’ve included the size of all the towels in these reviews in the table above.
Packability
The best travel towels are the ones that pack down nice and compact and take up minimal space in your luggage. You want a travel towel that you can throw in your backpack when you’re out sightseeing so its there in case you decide to take a dip in the ocean or pool while you’re out and about. The last thing you want to carry around with you is a big bulky towel.
The other thing you might like to consider is whether the towel comes in its own pack. Most towels come with their own pouch, while others have carabiners or straps that allow you to latch it onto your suitcase or backpack easily.
Best Quick Dry Towels for Travel Reviews 2020
1. Rainleaf Microfiber Towel
This microfiber travel towel from Rainleafcomes in six different sizes and a huge range of colours that you’ll easily find the perfect towel for your needs.
This soft travel towel is made using 200g microfiber with an 85% polyester and 15% polyamide blend. The towel can absorb up to five times its own weight, which is huge, so you know you’ll quickly get dry with this absorbent towel. The towel is also treated with Silvadur, which acts as an antimicrobial agent to combat odors.
Rainleaf offers a huge range of different sizes and colors to choose from, and their largest option is one of the biggest in this buying guide. Even the largest sizes on offer pack down to a really small size for traveling though (the biggest will fold up to less than 10 x 8 inches). The carry bag also has a small handle so you can even attach it to the outside of your bag to save extra space.
If you are looking for a particularly large travel towel but still want to be able to pack it down small into your luggage, these Rainleaf microfiber towels will be hard to beat.
Click here to read more reviews and to check the current price. 
2. Wise Owl Outfitters Towel
One of the best microfiber towel for travel options is the Wise Owl Outfitters towel. This is a super absorbent towel that packs down small and comes with a great low price tag too.
The Wise Owl Outfitters towels are made from an 80% polyester and 20% polyamide microfiber blend and are much softer to the touch than some other microfiber options. The towels are large enough to be used as a beach towel, yet they pack down into a small, lightweight carry case and can be easily hooked to the outside of a backpack.
Every purchase of a Wise Owl towel comes with a free small hand towel as well, so you can be prepared for any occasion. All the towels are odor resistant and versatile enough to use on camping trips, backpacking adventures or days at the beach, where you won’t have to deal with a sandy towel thanks to the non-stick surface.
These microfiber towels come in two different sizes and six different colours and are a good all-round towel that is high quality but won’t break the bank.
Click here to read more reviews and to check the current price.
3. Wildhorn Microlite Travel Towel Set 
If you like the option of a range of towel sizes in the one set, consider the Wildhorn travel towel set which comes with three different sized towels, so you’ll be ready for any occasion.
These Microlite towels are made from 100% lightweight and soft microfiber material with reinforced stitching around the edges. The material used to make these towels will dry ten times faster than cotton blends and can absorb up to four times their weight in water. Drying the towels is easy, and the largest size can dry in as quickly as 20 minutes without even being wrung out.
This pack comes with three different size towels: 24 x 12 inches, 48 x 24 inches and 60 x 30 inches, all three of which pack down into the impressively small mesh bags provided. These towels also feature handy hanging loops making it super easy to hang them to dry just about anywhere.
These are our pick for the best microfiber travel towel thanks to the super small size they pack down into and the great value price considering you get three decent sized towels in this pack.
Click here to read more reviews and to check the current price.
4. Youphoria Microfiber Towel
These travel towels made by Youphoriaare perfect for anyone looking for not only one of the cheapest options but also have really limited space in their luggage.
Made from microfiber material, these towels are super absorbent and can hold up to five times their weight in water. Plus they are rapid drying too – just lay the towel out, and in about 20 minutes you’re ready to go. The material is also designed to be mildew resistant, odor free and wicks away sand and debris, so they’re perfect beach towels too.
Youphoria towels come in three convenient sizes: 10 x 40 inches, 28 x 56 inches, and 32 x 72 inches, as well as a huge range of colors, so whether you need a camping towel, shower towel or beach towel, they have you covered. Each towel also comes with a handy mesh bag so it can be attached to the outside of your backpack to save space and a quick snap loop on the towel so you can hang it just about anywhere to dry.
If you need something that packs down really small but is still big enough to be used as a shower towel, beach towel and much more, check out these great options from Youphoria.
Click here to read more reviews and to check the current price.
5. Dock & Bay Microfiber Towel
Lightweight beach towels for travel can be hard to find but don’t worry, these towels from Dock & Bay make great beach towels without the extra bulky weight. Best of all, they are super stylish and a great size too.
The Dock & Bay towels are made from a high-quality 220gsm microfiber material that is an 80% polyester and 20% polyamide blend for a super soft finish and sand resistant too. They can dry three times faster than a standard cotton towel, are incredibly lightweight and pack down very small despite the huge sizes on offer.
These travel towels are some of the most eye-catching options on the market and their huge sizes, coupled with a great choice of colors and designs, making them a much more stylish option than the standard microfiber towels you see everywhere. The large round towel on offer would be particularly great for the beach as a couple could both easily fit on one towel.
If you need a towel large enough to fit a couple of people and you’re sick of the same old boring microfiber towels, these amazing designs from Dock & Bay are much more appealing to the eye.
Click here to read more reviews and to check the current price.
6. 4Monster Microfiber Towel
The 4Monster Microfiber towels are great for those after a durable travel towel which is easy to transport thanks to the ability to attach it to the outside of a backpack easily.
4Monster travel towels have heavyweight stitching and are made from a 100% polyester microfiber material that is soft, lightweight and super absorbent. They come in a range of colors and all-natural plant dyes are used so no need to worry about any nasty chemicals.
These towels also feature a quick snap loop, which is great for hanging to dry pretty much anywhere. Every towel comes with a durable hard shell EVA case rather than the usual flimsy mesh bag, further protecting your towel and making sure it is packed really small in your luggage.
These 4Monster microfiber towels are a great choice for anyone on the go.
Click here to read more reviews and to check the current price.
7. Elite Trend Microfiber Towel
These Elite Trend Microfiber towels are another really bright and colourful alternative to the plain coloured microfiber towels you see everywhere.
These towels are made from a lightweight microfiber material that is really absorbent, odor free and antibacterial. They come in an extensive range of sizes with some very large beach towel sized options, and the impressive array of designs means there is sure to be something for every taste.
The Elite Trend travel towel also comes with a really cute travel case to easily pack the towel into when your done and doubles as a place to store keys and valuables out of sight at the beach.
These brightly coloured microfiber towels are super functional and sure to get you noticed down at the beach.
Click here to read more reviews and to check the current price.
8. PackTowl Microfiber Towel
When you need to travel light yet be able to dry off quickly on the go, PackTowlhas you covered with their quality range of microfiber towels.
Made from super quick-drying microfiber material, these towels are lightweight and can absorb up to four times their weight in water. Plus these towels dry 70% faster than cotton material and have been treated with an odor control to keep these towels fresh and odor-free, even during extended use.
These towels come in a vast range of sizes from face washer size to beach towel size, and there is a range of colors and designs to choose from. They also come with a handy zippered storage pouch for easy packing and a hang loop for quick and easy drying.
If you think your travel towel will be a high use item, these PackTowl towels stay odour free and fresh even after multiple uses.
Click here to read more reviews and to check the current price.
9. Wolfyok Microfiber Travel Towel 
This pack of two towels from Wolfyok is a good cheap option for those on a tight budget who don’t want to have to compromise on quality. These travel towels are made from a high quality microfiber material that is absorbent, lightweight and quick drying for those in a hurry.
Each set comes with an extra-large 58-inch x 30-inch towel and a hand towel, 24-inch x 16 inches, and both pack into just an 8-inch x 3-inch roll, so they take up hardly any space in your luggage. The set also comes with a mesh carry bag for traveling and a hang loop so you can hang them to dry pretty much anywhere.
This Wolfyok set of two microfiber towels which packs up nice and compact is a great one to consider, and it won’t blow your budget either.
Click here to read more reviews and to check the current price.
10. Nature is Gift Turkish Towel 
Not a fan of the feel of microfiber? These Turkish towels are a great alternative that has a softer feel yet still packs down compact so won’t be bulky for travel.
At 39 inches x 70 inches, these towels are large enough to use as a beach towel. They are made from 100% Turkish cotton that is soft, lightweight, quick-drying and really absorbent. This premium cotton material is known for having longer fibers than regular cotton and so becomes softer and more absorbent after every wash. All the knotted tassels to these towels are actually hand-tied.
These towels come in a beautiful range of soft and muted colors and designs, so there is sure to be something you will love.
If you are looking for a super soft and comfortable alternative to the suede-like feel of microfiber, these Turkish cotton towels feel really luxurious next to your skin and just keep getting better with further use and washes — a real bargain for something so beautiful.
Click here to read more reviews and to check the current price.
Disclaimer: Travel Passionate is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and its partners. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Affiliate advertising is used throughout this site. These affiliate ads allow me to earn a small commission on any bookings you may make but they do not incur any extra cost to you.