A good travel towel is one of those travel purchases that seems minor until you've experienced one — and then you'll never travel without it. Compact microfibre travel towels dry in minutes rather than hours, weigh almost nothing, and compress to a fraction of the size of a standard cotton bath towel. For backpackers, beach travellers, campers, gym goers, and anyone who's ever arrived at a guesthouse to discover the towel isn't included, a quality travel towel is simply essential kit.
At Travel Gear, we stock travel towels from Sea to Summit — Australia's leading outdoor and travel gear brand — across multiple sizes and fabric technologies, plus options from other trusted brands in our outdoor range. Every towel in our collection is chosen for its absorbency, dry time, pack size, and durability across repeated washes.
Why Microfibre Travel Towels Are Better for Travel
They dry in minutes, not hours. A standard cotton bath towel takes 4–8 hours to air-dry in normal conditions. A quality microfibre travel towel dries in 20–60 minutes — fast enough to pack it between morning swim and afternoon departure. On multi-city trips where you're moving daily, this matters enormously.
They pack incredibly small. A large (75 x 150cm) microfibre travel towel packs down to roughly the size of a water bottle. Compare that to a cotton bath towel that takes up half a suitcase. On carry-on-only trips, this packing efficiency is significant.
They're lighter. A large Sea to Summit DryLite towel weighs 130–180g. A standard cotton bath towel weighs 500–800g. That's 400–600g saved — meaningful on the weight limits of budget airlines.
They resist odour. Quality travel towel fabrics incorporate antimicrobial treatment that resists the damp-towel smell that cotton develops rapidly. Particularly relevant for tropical travel where humidity means towels rarely dry fully between uses.
Choosing the Right Travel Towel Size
| Size |
Dimensions |
Best For |
| XS / Pocket |
30 x 60cm |
Face, hands, gym, quick dry |
| Small |
40 x 80cm |
Hair, upper body, compact travel |
| Medium |
50 x 100cm |
Full body in hostels, pool use |
| Large |
60 x 120cm |
Beach, camping, full comfort |
| XL / Beach |
75 x 150cm |
Beach days, laying on, maximum coverage |
Our recommendation for most travellers: a Large (60 x 120cm) as your primary towel for accommodation use, plus a Small or Medium for beach and day-trip use. Both together pack smaller than one standard cotton towel and cover every situation.
Sea to Summit Travel Towels: Our Top Pick
Sea to Summit's DryLite and Airlite travel towel ranges are the benchmark products in the category. The DryLite uses a double-sided microfibre that dries faster and feels softer than standard travel towels. The Airlite is the ultralight option for weight-obsessed hikers and ultralight backpackers, sacrificing some softness for extreme packability.
Both ranges come with a mesh carry pouch, hang loop, and are machine washable. Treated with antimicrobial Polygiene® technology for odour resistance. Available in multiple colours and all sizes from XS to XL. Browse the full range in our Sea to Summit Australia collection.
Pair with a toiletry bag for a complete bathroom travel kit, or add to a backpacker essentials setup for the full system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are microfibre travel towels as absorbent as cotton towels?
Microfibre is actually more absorbent than cotton per gram of weight — quality microfibre holds up to 4 times its weight in water. The difference is feel: cotton feels softer and more immediately absorbent on contact. Microfibre works best when you pat dry rather than rub, and it absorbs effectively on subsequent passes. Most travellers adapt to the different feel within a trip or two and then prefer the travel towel's practical advantages.
How do I wash a microfibre travel towel?
Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold or warm water. Do not use fabric softener — it coats the microfibre strands and reduces absorbency significantly. Do not tumble dry on high heat — low heat or air dry only. Most travel towels can be hand-washed and wrung out for fast turnaround on the road. Wash every 3–5 uses, or when they begin to feel less absorbent.
Can I take a travel towel to the beach?
Yes — and for beach travel it's ideal. A Large or XL travel towel works well as a beach towel, laying surface, and coverup. It dries far faster between beach sessions than a cotton towel, and packs into a daypack without taking up meaningful space. For sandy beach use, note that microfibre attracts fine sand more readily than cotton — shake thoroughly before packing.
