My towel seems heavy? Another option?

[snorkelman]

I’d like to suggest that you find a small towel that is not too thick and use this as your bath towel.  See, you will usually use the towel just before you leave the hostel and you may have to let it dry on the outside/top of your backpack – so the smaller and thinner that it is, the more likely that it will dry!  Give some consideration to buying one of those “Viscose towels” such as the brand name Pack Towel - it weighs only 2 oz. (57 g.), Viscose is a form of rayon that absorbs ten times its weight in water, then wrings 98% dry with a few twists.  These towels don't smell bad as a cotton towel would.

Dave - a.k.a. snorkelman

[Kim]

I found this one to be good-it's Microfiber, along the same lines as Viscose.

www.qksrv.net/click-711188-1481194

[CMC_Michele]

I found this site too.....seems spendy for a towel but worth it in the long run.  Is it?  Michele

[LHR02]

Hi,
  I ordered the travel towel from Menda and love it!  Packs down quite small in it's own bag, looks and feels like a thin terry cloth and dries in a snap.  I am very pleased.  I do not like the chamois feeling things although they do dry super quick.
  While you are at the Menda site, check out their 'fix it' kit.  A great find I think.  Has a little bit of most anything and everything you might need for a quick fix it job, all contained in a small metal can.  

ginger

[[e-mail]]

I know that this reply is too late for the person who posed the bathtowel question, but I assume other people will be reading these posts for helpful hints.  I know that I do!  
    I saw a really cheap handtowel at the local "dollar store" which would be great for backpacking.  It was 100 percent cotton and only cost $1.00.  It wouldn't take very long to dry because it was so thin, and at $1.00, I wouldn't feel bad throwing it away after the trip (before I got back on the plane).  Plus, a handtowel is alot smaller than a bathtowel so it has to take less time to dry!
    I just have to add this:  It's funny how two people will look at something in two completely different ways.  A friend and I were bumming around the dollar store and we both saw the towels.  She said this would be great for a craft project and she explained how she would use it.  Then I told her how I would use it for a back-packing trip.  

[Michael]

If you want a super soft feel get the Micro Fibre the best(softest) are at www.yosteve.com his prices are good too.

I you just want something that absorbs water you can get the Absorber from Wal Mart it is a synthetic chamois for drying cars- works on people too.

[Rondomondo]

I bought a micro-fiber towel from Rick Steves' travel website for (I think) $9. Find it at www.ricksteves.com. It may be the same towel mentioned in earlier replies. I tried it at home for a week to be sure I'd like it...and I do. It's small but efficient, and dries out quickly. I'll just get a thin cotton washcloth to take with me, and I'll be good to go!