In this article we’ll be doing a review of the best gym towels, and providing you with all of the info you need to know before purchasing the next most important item to keep in your gym bag.
Sweat isn’t sexy, especially if you’re practically drowning in someone elses after they forgot to clean up after themselves on the bench press. It’s super important to use a gym towel (FOR YOUR HEALTH AND OTHERS). Maybe if others see you using one, it’ll catch on and they will too.
A gym towel must: dry you off quickly, be soft and not irritate the skin (this may vary person to person), NOT break the bank, and also stand the test of time for many gym sessions. Before we get into the individual reviews let’s look at our top picks for the best gym towel.
Best Gym Towel Reviews:
Youphoria Sport Towel [usr 4]
The Youphoria sport towel is a great all-arounder for an even greater price. This is a quick drying, super absorbent micro-fiber towel. Great for at the gym due to the amount of water it can hold and take off your body, it dries quickly so it won’t stank up your bag, and it’ll last a long time. Past the gym, this is just a great all around towel that anyone should consider.
- Fast drying, absorbent towel
- Microfiber
- Great price
- Best all around gym towel, best microfiber gym towel
[su_divider top=”no”]
The Original Chill Pal Towel [usr 4.5]
This is a super high quality PVA towel that keeps you dry and cool no matter what! Bring it out while you exercise or lift to stay cool and use the same towel to dry yourself off after you shower. They use extra thick PVA with evaporative properties – but they won’t tell you their secret. Many have tried to copy the Chill Pal but non have succeeded. This is a high-quality gym towel that’s especially useful if you find yourself hot and bothered during your workout.
- Fast absorbing, cooling towel
- Made from thick PVA
- Uses evaporative technology – it holds water and stays cool while you use it
[su_divider top=”no”]
Swol Fitness Ultra Soft Bamboo Towel [usr 4]
Here we have a really sweet towel using eco-friendly materials and boasting anti-microbial properties. This is the Swol Fitness bamboo towel – it’s static free, super soft, doesn’t stank at all, feels similar to cotton, and it’s SUPER absorbent. This is personally my favorite towel and definitely the most comfortable option out there right now.
- Eco-friendly bamboo towel
- Ultra soft, ultra comfy
- Anti-microbial, anti-odor, anti-suck
- Most comfortable gym towel
- Best bamboo gym towel
[su_divider top=”no”]
Utopia Ringspun Cotton Towels [usr 3.5]
Who doesn’t love a plush and cozy cotton towel? It wouldn’t be a best gym towel list without a cotton towel so here’s my pick: the Utopia ringspun cotton towel that’s comfier than hell – it drys fast, and it lasts long. The only issue with a white cotton towel like this is that it will appear dirtier and soiled faster than the other options. I do myself love cotton and understand other gym-goers like that classic feel so that’s why I’ve included it in this article.
- Cozy ringspun cotton
- Fast drying
- Classic gym towel feel
- Best cotton gym towel
[su_divider top=”no”]
Sinland Microfiber Gym Towels [usr 3]
Here’s my final pick for the best gym towel, and it’s a budget one. This is the Sinland microfiber towel set of 3 for less money than any individual towel on this list – what a steal! Some like microfiber, some like cotton – if you like microfiber then get this set of 3 towels that are fast drying, absorb quickly, and are extremely cost effective.
- Fast drying and absorbing micro fiber
- Cost effective 3 pack
- Comfortable and anti-bacterial towels
- Best budget microfiber gym towels
[su_divider top=”no”]
The Best Gym Towel for You
Picking a gym towel isn’t rocket science – get the appropriate size, choose your favorite material whether it’s cotton or microfiber, and look for any other additional features you might want. Let’s look at the main material types and their pros/cons.
Microfiber
Microfiber is certainly a more recent textile in use for gym towels than cotton, but it’s been around for a while. Popular for it’s lightweight feel, portability, and ultra-fast drying properties – everyone loves microfiber. They’ll fold up to a super small size and fit right in your gym bag versus cotton that takes up a ton of space, and holds onto even more water.
The only downside is that they require extra care when washing and drying so maintaining them can be a chore – however with anti-bacterial properties and quick drying aspects they don’t need to be washed as often, and can even be hand washed quickly.
Cotton
Cotton is a fan favorite due to the feel, but that’s about it. Cotton is inexpensive which is nice, but it holds odors, holds a lot of water, and also breaks down faster than any other materials used on this list.
PVA
PVA is Polyvinyl Alcohol which has amazing absorption properties, and dries at a slightly slower rate which provides the towel on our list with a cooling effect.
Bamboo
Bamboo naturally contains anti-baterial properties that has some carry over to textiles that use bamboo. It’s probably not as profound as the manufacturers claim especially since a bamboo towel is a mix of textiles – not just pure bamboo and it’s also been processed. Think of bamboo towels as a step up from cotton in durability, comfort, and also cost.
Why You Should Use a Gym Towel
Gyms are filthy to be completely honest, you should shower off after you’ve finished your workout to clean off the bacteria and use a clean dry towel to dry off afterwards. You can also use your towel to wipe off equipment before you use it, where a microfiber or PVA towel would come in handy to absorb any bacteria, dry quickly, and not get as dirty as say a cotton towel.
Some even will lay their towel down on the equipment during use to limit contact with the potentially bacteria infested surfaces.
What’s the Best Gym Towel for You?
Remember that at the end of the day you do need a gym towel – if you don’t have one that means you’re not showering at the gym which is a big no-no. You’re really going to wait until you get home and let that bacteria stew on your body?
The best gym towel for you is #1 a towel that you can afford. If you don’t have a lot to spend just get a basic cotton towel or use one you already have in your house. After that you have higher end options with better materials like microfiber, PVA, and even bamboo. From those higher end materials just pick one that you like and feel comfortable using.
Leave a Reply