The season’s best beach towels, stripes included.
It’s been a long winter—like thirteen months long—and I’m ready to hit the beach. In my capacious beach bag will go a big bottle of sunscreen, snacks, water, Kindle, Airpods (Note: see weird fact about Airpods at the beach, below), and a great beach towel.
Yes, I could bring a bath towel from home, but I prefer a larger-sized towel designed to withstand a day of sun and sand. Plus, bright colors and stripes (it has to have stripes) make my beach trip seem more like a mini-vacay.
I’ve gone through some trial and error because—as I have discovered—many towels are not as soft, durable, UV-resistant, quick-drying, sand-resistant, and/or absorbent as claimed. Here are my winners:
Best Overall: Utopia Cabana Stripe Beach Towels ($35/four towels)
Soft, absorbent, and five striped (of course) colors to choose from, or you can opt for the multi-color pack (my choice, so you can tell whose towel is whose). These towels spell SUMMER to me.
Best Sand-free Option: Venture 4th Microfiber Beach Towel ($17)
I am so not a fan of sand. This microfiber towel doesn’t have any piling, so sand easily shakes free and won’t get stuck to it. Plus, it can hold up to five times its weight in water and dries ten times quicker than regular cotton towels. Five color choices (stripes only), two sizes, one carrying case that easily fits into your tote or checked luggage.
Best Round Option: Poly House Round Towel ($18)
While a rectangle shape is traditional, round is gaining in popularity. This towel is plush, absorbent, and looks good on Instagram. There are twenty different styles, from classic chevron to hamburger, sugar skulls, American flag, pizza, and donut prints…and, of course, stripes. Plus, who doesn’t love tassel fringe?
Best Oversized Option: Cotton Craft Oversized Beach Towels (34)
Velour gives this cotton towel a plush feel, and its large size makes it picnic-perfect. Four color options in (you guessed it) stripes.
Best Turkish Option: WetCat Turkish Towel ($19)
On my first trip to Istanbul, I became a fan of Turkish towels. They may seem thin, but they are just as soft and absorbent as the extra-thick cotton ones. Not only do they roll into a compact size, making them suitcase-friendly, but they also get softer each time you wash them. Thirty-three color choices…all in stripes.
Best Microfiber Option: Elite Trend Microfiber Beach Towel ($23)
Lightweight, ultra-soft, and quick-drying, each towel is reversible with prints on both sides (18 choices, including stripes) and folds up to fit into a compact carrying case that is small enough to throw in your bag or backpack.
Best Affordable Option: AmazonBasics Cabana Stripe Beach Towel ($22/two towels)
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a decent beach towel. Sold in a set of two, these fluffy all-cotton towels are available in four (yes) cabana-striped colors.
Best Set: BolBom Cotton Beach Towel Set ($29/six towels)
Durable, soft, and absorbent, these towels are sold in sets of four or six, so you can stock up for family or guests. Seven color options: solid white, prints, and (surprise) stripes.
Best for Kids: Jay Franco Kids Hooded Poncho Towel ($18)
The attached hood will help dry your kiddo’s hair, and the over-the-body style will keep them warm. Twelve prints, including a mermaid, a pirate, Spiderman, Minnie Mouse, and (my personal favorite) Minecraft Creeper. Alas, other than the pirate’s shirt, no stripes.
Best for Travel: Uncommongoods Convertible Turkish Towel ($45)
While several of the above towels are small enough to stow in a suitcase, this Turkish model goes one better: it converts into a striped shoulder bag, so you get a towel and beach bag all in one. Large enough to hold summertime or airplane essentials, it can be used as a lap blanket or pillow for plane or car trips.
Twist’s Take: Get your stripes on and snag one of these towels for your next beach or pool visit.
P.S. Here’s your weird Airpods-at-the-beach fact: If you drop them or their case in the sand, they’re magnetized enough to pull out the iron. Yeah, I think they look like eyebrows, too.
