When I moved out of my parent’s place, they sent me off with a few pots and pans, thousands of drinking glasses, and… bath towels. All the things a man needs to survive in the “real world.”
Well, that was the idea anyway. Unfortunately, one of these items was actively trying to kill me: the bath towels. You see, I’ve been on my own for quite a few years now, and they were already a little rough around the edges when I got them. These days, despite numerous washings and copious amounts of bleach, they smelled pretty funky. So I tossed them out and starting looking for something better.
The Beauty of Quick Drying Towels
When I research projects these days, I always try and strike a balance between cost and longevity. I’m always looking for something that will “last forever” at a price I can afford. It’s often not as difficult as one would think.
It turns out that superior, long lasting towels are a thing as well, and I found them after a few hours of browsing around. Ever heard of microfiber? Yeah… it’s pretty damn amazing.
You may already be using them to clean your car, and many travel towels are made of microfiber as well. They’re super super absorbent, fast drying, very soft, and microbe resistant. Athletes, especially swimmers, use them all the time for sports because they’re so compact. So the question is, why not use them for a regular bath towel?
Well, here’s one reason: they’re not as… luxurious.
They’re typically thinner and less “poofy”, making them slightly less enjoyable for people that are wussies. For the rest of us, though, they’re fantastic. I picked up a few “RatTowels” from a company appropriately called YogaRat, and I would never switch back to more traditional towels. Here’s the one I’m using: SportLite Sport + Bath RatTowel. These guys had the best reviews; solid construction, high quality microfiber, etc.
Yes, if you’re in the market to replace your stinky old hand-me-down towels, give microfiber a try. I’m a big fan of YogaRat so far (seriously, who thought using a rat as a mascot would be a good idea?), but there are dozens of microfiber towel brands on the market. Just do your research and find one that doesn’t suck.
Questions? Comments? Leave me a message below.
Photos: Gumption Gear, YogaRat
