Best Quick-Dry Travel Towel for Backpackers
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Comparison table
| Sea to Summit Drylite ★ | Sea to Summit Pocket Towel | Matador NanoDry Shower (Large) | Matador NanoDry Trek (Small) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 120 x 60 cm (Large) | 120 x 60 cm (Large) | 132 x 60 cm | 39 x 39 cm |
| Weight | 145 g (164 g packed) | 112 g (144 g packed) | 160 g | 34 g |
| Packed size | 16 x 16.5 x 2 cm | 15.5 x 7.5 x 4 cm | Case 13.2 x 8.1 x 5.1 cm | Case 6.9 x 4.8 x 3.3 cm |
| Fabric | 80% recycled polyester, 20% polyamide | 100% recycled polyester | Nanofibre | Nanofibre |
| Feel | Ultra-suede, soft | Silky | Smooth | Smooth |
| Case | Mesh-faced pouch (recycled nylon) | Zippered EVA case | Silicone case with carabiner | Silicone case |
| Other sizes | S, M, L, XL | S, M, L, XL | Large only on this page | Small only on this page |
| Link | Check current price | Check current price | Check current price | Check current price |
Specs are from Sea to Summit and Matador's official product pages, checked 31 Oct 2026. Sea to Summit figures are for the Large size.
From hostels that charge for towels to beach days and campsite showers, a backpacker's towel gets plenty of use. Cotton is bulky and stays damp for hours. Quick-dry microfibre and nanofibre towels pack small, dry fast on a bunk rail and weigh a fraction as much. We've compared four from Sea to Summit and Matador.
Sea to Summit Drylite Towel: best overall
Sea to Summit Drylite Towel
- Large: 120 x 60 cm
- 145 g (164 g packed)
- 80% recycled polyester
Best for: Backpackers who want one soft, full-size towel for hostels, beaches and camps
Check priceThe Sea to Summit Drylite Towel is the one we'd recommend to most backpackers. Sea to Summit calls it its medium-weight towel, with a soft, ultra-suede finish, and describes it as super absorbent and fast drying.
It comes in four sizes. The Large is 120 x 60 cm, weighs 145 g (164 g packed) and packs to 16 x 16.5 x 2 cm. The Small (80 x 40 cm, 70 g) works as a hand or gym towel, and the XL (150 x 75 cm, 230 g) suits anyone who wants to wrap up properly. The towel is 80% recycled polyester and 20% polyamide, and the mesh-faced storage pouch is 100% recycled nylon, per Sea to Summit's spec list. Every size has a hang loop with a press stud so you can clip it to a bunk, hook or washing line, and it's machine washable. Sea to Summit says to skip fabric softener, which reduces absorbency.
What we like
- Soft finish that's pleasant on skin
- Four sizes, from hand towel to XL
- Hang loop with press stud
What to consider
- Packs flatter but larger than the Pocket Towel
- Not treated to be anti-microbial (Sea to Summit says it doesn't need to be if you dry it fully)
Who it's for: most backpackers who want one main towel that's comfortable to use every day.
See the Sea to Summit Drylite Towel
Sea to Summit Pocket Towel: lightest full-size
Sea to Summit Pocket Towel
- Large: 120 x 60 cm
- 112 g (144 g packed)
- 100% recycled polyester and absorbs three times its weight
Best for: One-bag and ultralight travellers who want the smallest packed size
Check priceIf grams and space matter most, the Sea to Summit Pocket Towel is lighter than the Drylite in Large, the size we compared. The Large is the same 120 x 60 cm but weighs 112 g (144 g packed) and packs into a zippered EVA case measuring 15.5 x 7.5 x 4 cm.
Sea to Summit lists the towel as 100% recycled polyester with a silky finish, and says it absorbs three times its weight in water and dries quickly. It's machine washable, but Sea to Summit warns that it isn't colour-fast dyed, so wash it separately the first few times.
What we like
- Lightest full-size option here
- Tough zippered case keeps a damp towel away from clothes
- 100% recycled polyester, per Sea to Summit
What to consider
- Silky finish feels thinner than the Drylite
- Wash separately at first
Who it's for: carry-on-only and ultralight backpackers.
See the Sea to Summit Pocket Towel
Matador NanoDry Shower Towel – Large: biggest coverage
Matador NanoDry Shower Towel – Large
- 132 x 60 cm
- 160 g
- Nanofibre that Matador says absorbs 2.3 times its weight
Best for: Taller travellers and beach days where you want a bigger towel
Check priceThe Matador NanoDry Shower Towel – Large is the largest towel here at 132 x 60 cm, which Matador calls full-size coverage. It weighs 160 g and packs into a premium silicone case with a carabiner (13.2 x 8.1 x 5.1 cm), so you can clip it to the outside of a daypack.
Matador makes it from its nanofibre material, which the brand says absorbs 2.3 times its weight in water, enough to towel-dry an adult after a shower or swim.
What we like
- Longest towel in this guide
- Carabiner case clips to a bag
- Compact for its size
What to consider
- Heaviest pick
- Only one size on this product page
Who it's for: taller backpackers and anyone who spends a lot of time at beaches and lakes.
See the Matador NanoDry Shower Towel – Large
Matador NanoDry Trek Towel – Small: best hand towel
Matador NanoDry Trek Towel – Small
- 39 x 39 cm
- 34 g
- Absorbs twice its weight
Best for: A second towel for face, hands, sweat and wiping down gear
Check priceThe Matador NanoDry Trek Towel – Small isn't meant to be your only towel. At 39 x 39 cm and 34 g, it's sized as a hand towel or washcloth, and it packs into a tiny 6.9 x 4.8 x 3.3 cm silicone case. Matador says it absorbs twice its weight and dries fast.
What we like
- Only 34 g
- Tiny case lives in a daypack pocket
What to consider
- Too small to dry off after a shower
See the Matador NanoDry Trek Towel – Small
How to choose a travel towel
- Size first. For showers, pick at least 120 x 60 cm (Large). Taller travellers may prefer the 132 cm Matador or the Sea to Summit XL.
- Feel. Sea to Summit's Drylite has an ultra-suede feel; the Pocket Towel and Matador NanoDry are smoother and silkier.
- Weight and packed size. The Pocket Towel is the lightest full-size towel here. The Matador Trek Towel is the smallest overall.
- Drying. Hang loops (Sea to Summit) and carabiner cases (Matador) make it easy to dry a towel on a bunk or bag.
A towel is one small piece of the kit. Before a long trip, set up a travel eSIM so you can book hostels and find your way on arrival. Our best travel eSIM guide compares Saily, Yesim and Holafly. For cover on long trips, SafetyWing is one of the plans in our travel insurance guide. For beach and boat days, pair your towel with one of our best dry bags for backpackers, and for hostel nights, see our best packable travel pillow guide.
Our verdict
For most backpackers, the Sea to Summit Drylite Towel in Large is our top pick: soft, quick-drying, 120 x 60 cm at 145 g, with a hang loop and a recycled-fabric build. If weight and space are your priority, the Sea to Summit Pocket Towel saves over 30 g at the same size. Choose the Matador NanoDry Shower Towel – Large if you want the most coverage, and add the 34 g NanoDry Trek Towel as a hand towel.
Check prices: Sea to Summit Drylite Towel
FAQ
What size travel towel should I get?
For showering, a Large (around 120 x 60 cm) works for most people. Taller travellers may want the Matador NanoDry Shower Towel (132 x 60 cm) or the Sea to Summit XL (150 x 75 cm).
Are microfibre towels anti-microbial?
Sea to Summit says its towels aren't treated with anti-microbial chemicals; because they're easy to wash and dry, they stay fresh if you dry them fully before packing.
Can I machine wash these towels?
Sea to Summit says the Drylite and Pocket Towel are machine washable. Avoid fabric softener and wash separately for the first few washes because they aren't colour-fast dyed.
Will the towel dry inside its case?
Not quickly. Matador says to take the towel out of the case and hang it up to dry.
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