I think I speak for all of us when I say that a fun summer is long overdue. I’ve been dreaming about “vaxications” for months and cannot wait to spend the summer by the water soaking up the sun. I actually leave on Sunday for the West Coast and have been going through my packing list to make sure I have everything I’ll need. From the best sunscreen to a good self-tanner, I’ve been doing a lot of research. One non-negotiable? Finding the best beach towels.
A good beach towel is a multi-purpose item—it will of course dry you off, but can also serve as a picnic blanket, a wrap, and even a rug.
It’s important to me that a beach towel easily shakes off all of that pesky sand from the beach, and, since I suffer from over-packing syndrome, will also fit nicely in a suitcase or beach bag. In preparation, I asked our editors to share their best beach towel picks to help me prep for my summer adventures, and I can confidently say that we have created a trustworthy list of the 10 best beach towels on the internet. Read on for our picks and comment your faves below.
Why We Recommend It: I love a Turkish-style towel for the beach. A few years ago, a friend gave me one as a gift at a bachelorette party and I’ve never looked back. They’re super lightweight so they dry incredibly quickly and don’t take up much space in your beach bag. This leaves plenty of room for sunscreen, a trashy novel, a water bottle, and most importantly, snacks! I also am partial to the aesthetic and find the kicky fringe to be absolutely delightful. I like to imagine that I’m laying on the Riviera, luxuriating with a glass of champs in hand even if I’m really just swatting pigeons away along the East River. It also works perfectly as a picnic blanket for one! — Lourdes Avila Uribe, Contributing Editor
Why We Recommend It: Between trips to Barton Springs, hangs at Zilker, and boat days on Lake Austin, beach towels are one of those items I always struggle to keep up with. Despite my best efforts, they tend to get lost, ruined, or mysteriously walk off with one of my friends. I’m always on the hunt for affordable options that are still cute, and these lookalike Turkish towels from Amazon are a steal. They are under $12 a piece and come in almost every color imaginable. Plus they’re thin and easy to bring on trips! — Michelle Nash, Senior Producer
