Best microfibre beach towels
HOPING to pack light this summer? Microfibre beach towels are smaller and lighter than their bulky cotton counterparts and can be easily squashed into an overloaded suitcase or carried alongside armfuls of buckets and spades.
Microfibre beach towels are also surprisingly absorbent and quick drying (some with up to 10x faster dry time than a classic beach towel) and are also ideal for camping trips or stuffing into your gym bag.
Once thought to be too small and thin for the beach, microfibre towels now come in a vast array of bright colours, textures, thicknesses and sizes (including extra, extra large!) and some even repel sand.
Here’s our pick of the best microfibre beach towels on the market right now.
Best microfibre beach a towels at a glance:
- Best overall towel: Dock & Bay Quick Dry Towel
- Best value towel: Bagail Microfibre Travel Towel
- Best mid-range towel: Printed Microfibre Towel
- Best premium towel: Saltrock Cold Water Club Microfibre Towel
- Softest towel: Nabaiji Ultra-Soft Microfibre Towel
Dock and Bay
Quick Dry Towel, £28 from Dock & Bay
Pros: Made from 100% recycled plastic, great range of colours, hanging loop and travel bag
Cons: More expensive
Rating: 5/5
Dock & Bay, the Dragon’s Den-backed brand (Deborah Meaden is an investor after they appeared on the hit TV show) arrived on the scene back in 2015 to shake up the microfibre towel scene and offer beach lovers the ultimate holiday companion.
This large microfibre towel is available in a range of gorgeous prints; we tested the beautifully-bright chevron design, which received a whole load of compliments from fellow bathers.
It is soft, absorbent, repels sand and it dries exceptionally quickly. Plus, it folds down into a compact packet and comes with its own little drawstring travel bag.
Dock & Bay offer the option to buy their towels in sets so you can quickly kit your family out for the beach. But, perhaps most importantly, every single towel is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles and is certified carbon neutral.
Material: 83% polyester and 17% polyamide; Size: 160 x 90cm; Colours: various shades and patterns
Cold Water Club
Cold Water Club Microfibre Towel, £20 from Saltrock
Pros: Very absorbent, compact, hanging loop
Cons: One design only, slightly more expensive
Rating: 4/5
This beautiful, bright, tangerine-dream of a towel was created by British surf specialists Saltrock with cold water swimmers in mind.
Despite its tiny size (this was the smallest folded towel we tested) this towel felt surprisingly warm and comforting even after a dip in chilly UK waters and it absorbed an astonishing amount of liquid.
The small attached loop means you can hang your towel to dry it and fold it up neatly afterwards too.
Material: 88% polyester and 12% nylon; Size: 163 x 80cm; Colours: orange
Nabaiji
Nabaiji Swimming Ultra-Soft Microfibre Towel, £13.99 from Decathlon
Pros: Extremely soft, hanging loop
Cons: Slightly larger when folded
Rating: 4/5
Love the convenience of microfibre, but miss the softness of a regular beach towel? Crafted by Decathlon brand Nabaiji, this microfibre towel manages to be both cloud-soft and still ultra-absorbent and quick-drying.
We tested the navy blue towel, which has some welcome pops of bright orange, including the stretchy hanging/packing loop.
When folded down it was slightly larger than some of the other towels we tested, but it makes up for this in pure fluffiness.
Material: 90% polyester and 10% polyamide; Size: 175 x 110cm; Colours: pink, blue and green
Bagail
Bagail Microfibre Travel Towel, £14.02 from Amazon
Pros: Handy travel case
Cons: Not as soft as some others we tested
Rating: 4/5
This may be the smallest unfolded towel on our list, but it is still a decent size, and it comes in a range of bright block colours. It can hold up to four-times its weight in water and the microfibre material is antimicrobial to prevent mold and mildew.
However, the best thing about this towel is that it can be folded down into an impossibly-small bundle and stowed away in its zippable travel case.
This towel is so small it can easily be popped into carry-on luggage or squeezed into a bulging rucksack and you won’t even notice you’re carrying it on trips to the coast.
The case is also breathable, which means the towel won’t go stinky if it’s packed away without being 100% dry.
Material: 88% polyester and 12% polyamide; Size: 140 x 70cm; Colours: various
Dock and Bay
Quick Dry Towel for Two, £50 from Dock & Bay
Pros: Made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, extra large for sharing
Cons: Expensive, limited colours
Rating: 4/5
Crafted in the same fabric as the classic Dock & Bay Quick Dry Towel, this offering is essentially a giant version! This enormous beach towel is perfect for two adults sharing and makes a good alternative to picnic rugs for families on the beach.
It is ultra fast-drying and sand-repellent so it will stay clean and comfortable all day long, plus it folds down into its own little travel bag and can be easily added to an overflowing beach kit.
Like all Dock & Bay towels it is made from 100% recycled materials and is a carbon neutral product.
Material: 83% polyester and 17% polyamide; Size: 200 x 200cm; Colours: blue stripes, pink stripes, pastel unicorn stripes
Nabaiji
Nabaiji Microfibre Swimming Towel Size XL, £12.99 from Decathlon
Pros: Quick drying, hanging loop
Cons: Darker colours
Rating: 4/5
Another giant from Decathlon, this towel still manages to be remarkably soft thanks to the ribbed-like texture, which provides a little more fluffiness than some of the more classic microfibre towels on the list.
It is available in three slightly more muted tones, which although not particularly beach-ey, would be quite handy for hiding dirt and grime on camping trips.
It absorbs water well and you won’t be left with a soggy, smelly towel after use, as it dries super quickly. The hanging loop means it can be dried wherever you are and then secured for travel.
Material: 88% polyester and 12% polyamide; Size: 175 x 110cm; Colours: black, green and blue
Mountain Warehouse
Printed Microfibre Towel, £14.99 from Mountain Warehouse
Pros: Bright beach design, fast drying, hanging loop
Cons: Not as soft as some others we tested
Rating: 3/5
Available in two beach-ready designs, including blue surf waves and bright rainbow stripes (which we tested), this large towel is bigger than a bath sheet, soft to touch and super quick to dry too.
It also has a handy clip for hanging your towel up to dry or packing it away. Plus, it folds down into an impossibly compact size, which makes it a must-have item for any traveller’s backpack.
Material: 100% polyester; Size: 150 x 85cm; Colours: rainbow and blue waves
Marks and Spencer
Pure Cotton Striped Sand Resistant Beach Towel, £15 from Marks & Spencer
Pros: Sand-resistant, pure cotton
Cons: Longer drying time, bulkier size
Rating: 3/5
As a pure cotton towel, this offering from Marks & Spencer isn’t strictly a microfibre beach towel. However, its sand-resistant properties and smaller size make it a perfect choice for those who would like the convenience of microfibre, but prefer natural materials.
Admittedly it doesn’t fold down as small as the others on the list and it does have a longer dry time, but it is remarkably soft and absorbent, plus sand brushes off it easily so you won’t end up bringing half the beach home with you.
This towel is also chlorine-resistant making it a great choice for poolside lounging and washes really well. We also loved the classic deckchair-striped design and the choice of seven bright, summery colours.
Material: 100% cotton; Size: 152 x 60cm; Colours: stripes in various shades
How we tested these microfibre beach towels
We tested these microfibre beach towels, by packing them up and taking them away to the beach, to local swimming pools and on camping trips.
We considered size (both unfolded and packed away), softness, absorbency, dry time, green credentials and convenience.
What are microfibre towels made of?
Microfibre towels are made of a blend of polyester and polyamide.
These synthetic, plastic fibres are woven together to produce a flatter, thinner, absorbent fabric that doesn’t crease and is extremely durable and hard-wearing.
Where to buy microfibre beach towels
You can find microfibre beach towels in online marketplaces such as Amazon as well as specialist retailers such as Dock & Bay.
You’ll also spot them in high street shops and department stores like Marks & Spencer and John Lewis & Partners as well as in outdoor and sports specialists like Decathlon and Mountain Warehouse.
How much do microfibre beach towels cost?
Microfibre towels vary greatly in size and quality, but for a larger quick drying, microfibre beach towel you can expect to pay between £10-30.
How do you wash microfibre towels?
Most microfibre towels are very easy to wash and care for – simply pop them in your washing machine and follow the label instructions.
However, do not use fabric softener as this can clog up your microfibres and affect their absorbency and slow drying time.