i have a few of the lifeadventure towels and they aren’t very absorbent, just wondered if there was anything else better?
Packable towels
- Thread starter johnnytheboy
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The decathlon ones work well for me. Also worth nothing that the more beaten up and washed they are that the more absorbent they get (up to a point)
J-Cloth...you know, blue and white check things from the supermarket.
Okay, you want some luxury. I have a Paramo light towel that works very well. Purchased to replace a shamagh which was plenty absorbent, but would never dry out again.
Stuart swears by the artificial chamois from Halfords for use in jungle (although I am not sure that what he describes is still what they sell).
Seriously though, I hardly use my Paramo travel towel. A J-Cloth is fantastic, very light, very absorbent, won't smell, dries really fast. Only downside is that it doesn't do much for scrubbing the composite grime of sweat, dust and wood smoke off one's face. For that I like E-Cloths, cut in half, but they don't dry nearly as easily, and do require a good washing every so often.
Okay, you want some luxury. I have a Paramo light towel that works very well. Purchased to replace a shamagh which was plenty absorbent, but would never dry out again.
Stuart swears by the artificial chamois from Halfords for use in jungle (although I am not sure that what he describes is still what they sell).
Seriously though, I hardly use my Paramo travel towel. A J-Cloth is fantastic, very light, very absorbent, won't smell, dries really fast. Only downside is that it doesn't do much for scrubbing the composite grime of sweat, dust and wood smoke off one's face. For that I like E-Cloths, cut in half, but they don't dry nearly as easily, and do require a good washing every so often.
Medium size cotton towel?
I use the towels that are not good enough at home anymore, with frayed edges or the odd hole.
I use the towels that are not good enough at home anymore, with frayed edges or the odd hole.
It used to be a bandanna, and sometimes still is, but they don't really work for anything other than just a face wash and take a long time to dry out.
Used to use one of the boys' old nappies (diapers to US readers) very well washed, of course, but now they are 50 and 48 years old respectively this must be proof of my long memory.
Then used to use the sort of thing Janne describes, usually torn in half to save weight and bulk. I stopped doing this after having had it held up as lost property by an instructor at an outdoor centre in full view of the school party I was leading.
Now always have the hand-towel size version of the Lifeventure travel towel in my pack and try to kid myself it is adequate for use after a shower on a campsite, but usually find myself needing to supplement with Tshirt.
Have a Decathlon towel which I use on the beach and wonder why I don't use it in my travel washkit as it works well. Probably will replace small Lifeventure towel with it eventually.
My criteria: must be light and compact, must dry quickly. It must also be cheap (which rules out most of the specialist camping firms' offerings) because I don't see the point of spending good money on something I seldom use!
Used to use one of the boys' old nappies (diapers to US readers) very well washed, of course, but now they are 50 and 48 years old respectively this must be proof of my long memory.
Then used to use the sort of thing Janne describes, usually torn in half to save weight and bulk. I stopped doing this after having had it held up as lost property by an instructor at an outdoor centre in full view of the school party I was leading.
Now always have the hand-towel size version of the Lifeventure travel towel in my pack and try to kid myself it is adequate for use after a shower on a campsite, but usually find myself needing to supplement with Tshirt.
Have a Decathlon towel which I use on the beach and wonder why I don't use it in my travel washkit as it works well. Probably will replace small Lifeventure towel with it eventually.
My criteria: must be light and compact, must dry quickly. It must also be cheap (which rules out most of the specialist camping firms' offerings) because I don't see the point of spending good money on something I seldom use!
When I walked I took three T-shirts, one dirty, one clean and one I was wearing. I'd use one of those.
Don't forget not to use softener when cleaning your towels, as it decreases their absorbancy. I use vinegar instead of detergent to wash my towels, and they feel fantastic and soak up loads
It hot conditions it is ok to use a T-shirt.
In the summer in France I usually use the shirt, I am wearing. Or I just wait 5 minutes, sitting in the sun.
But the microfibre towels are drying really faster than cotton! The investment in a 2€ Decathlon Microfibre Towel is really a good idea.
In the summer in France I usually use the shirt, I am wearing. Or I just wait 5 minutes, sitting in the sun.
But the microfibre towels are drying really faster than cotton! The investment in a 2€ Decathlon Microfibre Towel is really a good idea.
Was going to post the same tip regarding not using fabric softener. The vinegar though, i've not heard of that for cloth. Do you mix the vinegar with water, like in a washine machine, or just neat and by hand? And what kind of vinegar do you use? White? Malt? Some other kind i've not heard of? Hope it's not apple cider vinegar (most expensive).
I use plain white vinegar. I put half a cup to a cup in the dispenser drawer of the washing having. It has the added benefit of cleaning the machine too. For extra fluffy towels I sometimes do a second wash where I put half a cup of bicarbonate of soda in the drum. This neutralises any remaining acid from the vinegar whilst softening the towels.
Vinegar and bicarb are my two favourite cleaning products for most things
Vinegar and bicarb are my two favourite cleaning products for most things
I use bicarb quite a lot too... good stuff.Old towels around the house that have been worn and are not suitable for visitors.
I wash them with white vinegar like Hunkyfunkster. I do not put it in the dryer instead I hang it on a hanger and drip dry by air for future use. The towel will feel a bit rougher but sometimes a "rougher" towel against the skin feels good. Old towels that have a little bit of polyester in them I find are better…dry more quicker than all cotton towels.
Hunkyfunkster,
not many know about the vinegar trick. I remember having laundry cleaned once and when the bath towels came back there was no absorbency with the cotton material. Softeners and regular detergent tend to leave a film on the material. Thanks for the bicarbonate of soda tip…did not know about this.
I wash them with white vinegar like Hunkyfunkster. I do not put it in the dryer instead I hang it on a hanger and drip dry by air for future use. The towel will feel a bit rougher but sometimes a "rougher" towel against the skin feels good. Old towels that have a little bit of polyester in them I find are better…dry more quicker than all cotton towels.
Hunkyfunkster,
not many know about the vinegar trick. I remember having laundry cleaned once and when the bath towels came back there was no absorbency with the cotton material. Softeners and regular detergent tend to leave a film on the material. Thanks for the bicarbonate of soda tip…did not know about this.
PackTowl ... accept no substitute. They are great. Sea to Summit do one called Tek-Towel. As good, and perhaps their sizing is better. Great for gym, camping, whatever. I know what you mean about some microfibre towels just not doing the soaking up water part of the job. I still have a couple like that and try relentlessly to fob them off on the kids.
In the past I have got by with one of the large microfibre cloths that they sell in bundles at car spares shops.
(Just like R.Lewis and MartinK9 mention, in fact
)
In the past I have got by with one of the large microfibre cloths that they sell in bundles at car spares shops.
(Just like R.Lewis and MartinK9 mention, in fact
)
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What do you guys feel are the benefits of synthetic fiber vs cotton?
I am a little bit puzzled, why use synthetics out and about, but cotton at home?
Or do you use synthetics at home too?
My nicest towels (at home) are made from flax. Linen.
Those fabrics have a nice 'semi rough' feel. Feels like a nice defoliation.
I love linen. Clothes, everything. Wife says they are a pain to iron though.
I am a little bit puzzled, why use synthetics out and about, but cotton at home?
Or do you use synthetics at home too?
My nicest towels (at home) are made from flax. Linen.
Those fabrics have a nice 'semi rough' feel. Feels like a nice defoliation.
I love linen. Clothes, everything. Wife says they are a pain to iron though.
Tell that to my wife!
My shirts would look horribly crumbled unless she ironed them.
All my shirts I wear here are either linen or silk. Nicer against the skin than cotton.
My shirts would look horribly crumbled unless she ironed them.
All my shirts I wear here are either linen or silk. Nicer against the skin than cotton.
