Hi, has anyone bought microfibre beach/shower towels and have any opinions on which are the best at drying yourselves, washing them etc.? Some are quite expensive so don't want to spend a fortune if they're not actually that good and if cheaper ones do as good a job.
Thinking it would reduce weight in our caravan instead of taking a swimming towel, shower towel, beach towel each.
------------- Linda
2017
May - 3 nights Yeatheridge.
May - 5 nights Mill Park, Ilfracombe
July - 6 nights not sure where yet
August - 2 weeks Croatia, Camp Lanterna.
2018
May - 3 night Yeatheridge campsite
May half term - 6 nights Cornwall
July - 1 week Cotswolds
August - 2 weeks Vendee.
Can't do a comparison comment, as never tried others, but bought some (bath towel size, in a stow bag) cheapies from Lidl/Aldi (can't remember which!) a while back, carry one in my backpack when hiking 'cos it's light and small enough to stuff in a corner, and use one in the caravan for the shower as they dry out in no time at all, so no soggy terry towels hanging around getting 'whiffy' whilst taking two days to dry! ... and other one is a 'spare' for whatever purpose is most worthy.
Really quite impressed with them. You have to pat yourself dry with them rather than wipe, but seemingly pretty effective. Generally find Lidl/Aldi stuff is of a quality beyond it's price, so wouldn't necessarily endorse any old budget one!
Brilliant...think I'll keep an eye on Lidl/Aldi and see if they come up for sale first. Might try them as beach towels first and see how we get on with them. Thanks for the replies.
------------- Linda
2017
May - 3 nights Yeatheridge.
May - 5 nights Mill Park, Ilfracombe
July - 6 nights not sure where yet
August - 2 weeks Croatia, Camp Lanterna.
2018
May - 3 night Yeatheridge campsite
May half term - 6 nights Cornwall
July - 1 week Cotswolds
August - 2 weeks Vendee.
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs mouse on 10/6/2024
Brilliant...think I'll keep an eye on Lidl/Aldi and see if they come up for sale first. Might try them as beach towels first and see how we get on with them. Thanks for the replies.
Try Mountain Warehouse but wait until there is 20% off code (or use caravan club membership for discount if you are a member). They work surprisingly well and dry fairly quickly.
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
I've tried different ones over years in YHAs and camping. My favourites are from Decathlon, they do a fluffy bath sheet size for £12.99. It dries well and has lasted years.
Loop pile ones like mountain warehouse are also good but the largest is bath towel size. Personally I'm not keen on the smooth ones but they're good if you want very compact and light, I have a small one for drying feet after a paddle when walking.
Whatever type you choose do not use fabric conditioner, it puts a coating on the fibres which stop them working.
Another vote for Mountain Warehouse microfibre towels here, found them very good and they're for sale all year round, unlike Aldi/Lidl when you just have to be lucky.
As Gari says above, you can often get 20%off codes, if you don't qualify for a C&MC discount.
I don’t use or wear microfibres: washing them releases tiny bits of plastic into the water & ultimately into the food chain. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230103-how-plastic-is-getting-into-our-food
My lifestyle choice, evidence based. There are ways to reduce the pollution at the washing machine, but it’s not easy.
We've got some of Aldi's microfibre towels and whilst they don't have the 'luxury' feeling of our cotton bath towels at home (and as Monty says that require a different method to dry you) the benefits in terms of them drying out themselves so quickly is a massive plus when on holiday. I hadn't considered the weight aspect but, yes, I suppose that too is a plus.
I prefer the ones that are smooth to touch and not loop-piled ones like normal towels, if you know what I mean, as I found the former absorbs water better using the pat-dry method.
I bought my first one years ago from Mountain Warehouse when it was on sale.
The latest ones were from Amazon purchased in 2021 when I had my van, however, the brand "Giwil" does not appear to be available anymore except of large size in blue only when I looked.
They pack down small and dry very quickly - I hang mine up on a hanging in the van's bathroom and it dries in no time at all.
Highly recommended.
DK
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Although we do have microfibre towels I've taken to using Turkish peshtemal towels instead: fairly easy to find on the internet without a summer holiday there. They're thinner/lighter than regular towels, not loopy, and dry quite rapidly with more of a terry towel feel. I've also used mine as a sarong. Ecologically, O'm not sure how the cotton production compares to microfibres sheddings when washed or if both are bad for the planet.
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I saved worn thin bath towels from home for exactly this purpose. We take 2 each and use them carefully, put them through a wash when we do one. We both use face cloths to dry ourselves after the shower before using a towel, which saves the towel getting soaked.
Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 10/6/2024
Have used Lifeventure for years, great towels.
I will second Lifeventure microfibre towels, some makes are better quality than others.
It is quite remarkable how well they they absorb moisture and how easy they are to dry again. If space and ease of drying are important to you then it's a no brainer.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
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Topic: Microfibre towels
via mobile 10/6/2024 at 6:56pm
