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  #1  
Old 8 Jan 2009
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Camping/micro towels
Can anyone recommend a good brand of camping or micro towel, or are they all the same really.

We're not short on space in the 4by, but a normal towel does take forever to dry, especially when it's cold

Thanks
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Old 8 Jan 2009
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i got the biggest microfibre towel i could find on ebay, it was pretty cheap and works very well, supposed to soak up lots of water.

folds up small, dries very fast but does feel like rubbing yourself with a short haired cat, kind of weird but not unpleasant (unless youre the cat)
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Old 8 Jan 2009
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Originally Posted by DAVSATO View Post
i got the biggest microfibre towel i could find on ebay, it was pretty cheap and works very well, supposed to soak up lots of water.

folds up small, dries very fast but does feel like rubbing yourself with a short haired cat, kind of weird but not unpleasant (unless youre the cat)
They do the trick but are not quite as satisfying as a rough cotton towel. I've got two one was twice the price of the other but I don't notice any difference in use. The expensive one came in a little mesh bag and has a couple of hanging loops though. Got it from Millets I think
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Old 9 Jan 2009
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I´ve had an Aerostich one in the past which was terrible - left fibres all over you, making you look like a balding chimp. I now have a Gelert one which is much better. Feels like rubbing yourself with a shaved kitten. Er, I imagine.
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Old 9 Jan 2009
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Antibacterial Travel Towel by Gelert - stops mould and smells

i got the big one of these towels as the other would not cover/dry all (6ft4), does the job very nicely and comes in a wee bag that they say you can hang on the outside of your rucksack(or bike if you want) and cause its got partly mesh its suppose to dry, not too sure wheather it would or not. Does the job and rolls up alot smaller than that of a normal towel and drys you like a normal towel too.

Does feel wierd thought as everyones said, this one isnt fluffy but feels like rubber slighty (fetish what fetish)
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Old 10 Jan 2009
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Does feel wierd thought as everyones said, this one isnt fluffy but feels like rubber slighty (fetish what fetish)
This must be the one I've got: feels like toweling off with a giant pencil eraser. Shouldn't work at all.....but it does. When buying, the bigger the better.

Mark
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Old 10 Jan 2009
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Hi
I think I have the Gelert one (crimbo pressie last year)

Its Green Large and antibacterial... and it WORKS !

Feels quite strange at first but after a couple of days it was fine (Im mean what do you want a towel to do apart from dry you ?? lol)

They dry quite quick and are brill for putting your washed clothes in and using it like a wringer.

I would never take a normal fluffy towel on the bike again

Cheers
Geordie
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Old 10 Jan 2009
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I have few years old MSR PackTowl that is well made but it does not absorb water too well (could be better). I see they now have UltraLite model that is advertised as "Soaks up water like a sponge", I'd take something like that! For very cheap towel solution I think fast-absorbing thin kitchen cloth from a supermarket works about as well for its price.
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Old 10 Jan 2009
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I have three different MSR Packtowl's, they all dry quick and none have ever left any fibers on me.

Ultralite: Soaks very well but it's too thin.
Original: Good thickness but after a while it feels like a dish-washing cloth
Personal: Like this one the best against my skin by far, absorbs and dries decently.

I'd recommend at least a medium but preferably a large Personal. Then you can use it when you go to the beach to lie on, or wrap it around your waist if you have to change in public etc.
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Old 19 Jan 2009
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I have a Paramo towel very happy with it I also carry a smaller therma something thats the size of a flanel but good if you want to go ultralight!

The other thing to consider is dual usage my Paramo towel will cover my sleeping bag so works as an extra layer if the temp drops.

I also got one big enough to go all the way around me so as not to offend anyone in foreign parts with my parts !
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Old 25 Jan 2009
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Originally Posted by LukasM View Post
I have three different MSR Packtowl's, they all dry quick and none have ever left any fibers on me.

Ultralite: Soaks very well but it's too thin.
Original: Good thickness but after a while it feels like a dish-washing cloth
Personal: Like this one the best against my skin by far, absorbs and dries decently.

I'd recommend at least a medium but preferably a large Personal. Then you can use it when you go to the beach to lie on, or wrap it around your waist if you have to change in public etc.
+1!!! So true
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  #12  
Old 25 Jan 2009
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Consider a cotton sarong-
Perfect for changing in, very comfortable to wear when shorts/trousers may have been chaffing your thighs, dries very quick, multi use in shower/beach towel / as pillow/arm sling/ etc! and very light weight.
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Old 10 Feb 2009
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Just to add something to the mix - I picked up a 70cm x 50cm Microfibre 'Hand Towel' from Poundland today.

Put it in the sink when I got home and couldn't believe how much water this thing soaked up! Reminded me of me old 'chammy', so I'm guessing it's the real thing. Spec says 80% Polyester, 20% Polymide, wash by hand, no softener, etc.
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Old 11 Feb 2009
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Dog towels from Petsmart or wherever are microfibre and are much cheaper than travel towels, despite being the same thing. Doubt if they'll match Poundland for price though.

Regards, Mick
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Old 11 Feb 2009
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It begs the question why the camping ones are so bloody expensive? But then, 'specialized' stuff often pushes up prices.

Saw some 'yoga towels' in TKMax for £10 that looked 'microfiberish' - it's massive and lays over the whole mat to absorb sweat/help grip, etc. A good beach towel maybe? I'll try and have a proper look at the 'ingredients' next time I'm near there.

Cheers.
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