Quick dry towels

An absorbent, quick-drying towel is a must-have for any trip, whether you’re hostel-hopping for a month or camping lakeside for a weekend. PackTowl is a popular choice with the quick-dry crowd, along with options from MEC Label and Slowtide.

Dry off and pack up

Most travel towels have little hanging loops so you can attach them to backpacks or tree branches to let them dry in the wind. Antimicrobial finishes keep your towel (and you) fresher on multi-day backpacking or river trips, too. Depending on how light you like to pack, you can find travel towels in small face-sized options or full, beach-sized versions. If you’re car camping and space isn’t at a premium, there are also wearable changing ponchos to make quick-changes smoother after a dip or surf session.

A fast-drying, packable towel is just one way to simplify your travel. For more useful gear, check our travel accessories. And before you hit the road or the trail, make sure you’re not forgetting anything with our handy travel packing checklist.