How to Choose the Best Bath Towels Based on Material, Size and Weave
Towels are serious business. Their market is estimated at 10 billion dollars . First of all, we buy a lot of towels. If you’ve ever had to deal with scratchy, thin towels, you understand the importance of good towels. If you’ve ever stayed at a luxury hotel and used their insanely thick and expensive towels, you know how much better life is with really good towels.
But choosing the right towel isn’t just about cost: There are several factors that go into choosing a bath towel, depending on your lifestyle and specific needs.
What is “GSM”?
Towels don’t have a thread count like sheets, but they do have a grams per square meter (GSM) rating that measures their weight and softness. The GSM range varies from 300 to 900 and, like the thread count, gives an idea of the overall quality of the towel and its best use:
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300 to 400 GSM: Lightweight, dries very quickly, doesn’t look luxurious.
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400 to 600 GSM: Heavier, ideal for the beach.
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600 to 900 GSM: Dense and heavy, nice to the touch, but takes longer to dry (though fabric also affects drying time).
A few years ago, Good Housekeeping tested bath towels and found that GSM standards between 500 and 700 worked best. But if you need a heavier or lighter towel, you can do it.
Material
The next thing you should pay attention to is the material the towel is made from. You have several options, and while all of these materials will get the job done, they each have their pros and cons:
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Cotton. High-quality cotton (common varieties are Egyptian, Turkish and Pima) is a natural fabric that absorbs moisture very well and is soft to the touch. Cotton may take a little longer to dry, which can lead to mildew or other moisture-related problems.
The process of cotton construction may make a difference. Ring-spun cotton uses a weaving process in which longer and shorter fibers are spun together, resulting in a towel that feels super soft and comfortable against the skin, but is also more durable than other cotton towels. Combed cotton is cotton that is literally “combed” before use. This process removes debris and shorter strands that are more prone to breakage. The end result is a soft towel that doesn’t pill and looks elegant and high quality.
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Mixtures. Cotton-polyester blends combine the absorbency of cotton with the faster drying properties of synthetic fabrics. However, this mixture will not be as pleasant as other materials.
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Microfiber. Made from very fine synthetic fibers, these towels dry very, very quickly, but don’t feel very luxurious. You’ve probably come across microfiber towels used for cleaning, but you can also find bath towels made from this material, so if you want your towels to dry quickly and luxury isn’t an issue, this could be a good choice.
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Bamboo. Bamboo towels are ideal if you’re concerned about your impact on the environment. Bamboo grows incredibly quickly, making it one of the most renewable resources on the planet. Bamboo towels are soft and absorbent, but sometimes feel “slippery” and take longer to dry.
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Wool. Made from plant fibers, flax makes lightweight towels that absorb water quickly and dry quickly. However, they don’t feel very soft.
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Modal. This material is made from wood pulp (yes, really), it is very absorbent and dries quickly. Modal towels are soft but can feel slippery, so if you’re looking for the feeling of a thick, comfy towel, this might not work.
Weaving
In addition to the material used, towels are made using different weaving techniques:
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Terry. Terry towels are typically made from cotton and have fabric “loops” (called naps) that make the towel fluffy, soft, and highly absorbent.
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Wafer. Waffle weave towels have a square pattern that literally looks like a waffle. The result is a lighter towel that is just as absorbent as a heavier one, but dries very quickly , but may feel thin.
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Zero turn. Most towels are made using a process in which strands of fabric are twisted together, making them stronger. Zero curl towels are made from premium cotton, have a premium look, are highly absorbent and durable. This is usually the most expensive option.
Size
Finally, you need to think about the size of the towels :
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Standard. Standard towels measure 27-30 by 54-56 inches. They are generally large enough for most people to dry in and relatively compact for hanging and storing.
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Jumbo/sheet. Bath sheets are gaining popularity and typically measure 35-40 by 60-70 inches. They’re ideal for people with larger frames or those who want a luxurious feel while drying, but hanging them and storing them in a small bathtub can be a challenge.
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Oversized. These large towels are usually longer than bath towels (usually about 80 inches) and are suitable for very tall people, but actually require a lot of bathroom and linen closet space.
When choosing towels, it’s important to consider the size of your bathroom and your linen storage space – that huge bath sheet may seem like a luxury, but if you can hang it properly and it never gets dry, it will cause more problems than it solves.