Towels

[pookiebear2002]

Hi every one,at the places to stay each night, each on the Camino, do they give you a towel to use or do you have to pack one and try to dry it each day? Thanks, Billie

 

[Bradypus]

That depends on where you choose to stay. If you stay in private rooms in hotels and pensions then you will almost certainly have towels provided. But if you stay in albergues then you will have to bring your own towel and dry it as best you can. Some people choose to bring quick-drying microfleece towels. My own preference is to use a very light cotton sarong which can also be worn to/from the shower and if dry enough as a pillowcase on occasion.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Hi every one,at the places to stay each night, each on the Camino, do they give you a towel to use or do you have to pack one and try to dry it each day? Thanks, Billie

Unless you are staying in a hostal/private albergue I suggest you pack one.
Either a microfibre one or something like a fouta Turkish towel.
(So basically what @Bradypus just said!)

 

[rohanmce]

You'll need something for sure. Personally, I hate the feel of the microfiber tek towels - they are kind of grabby on the skin. Use one and you'll know what I mean.

I use scottish woven linen. It's light, super absorbent and dries quickly.

https://trakke.co.uk/collections/travel-accessories/products/linen-travel-towel

 

[trecile]

Personally, I hate the feel of the microfiber tek towels - they are kind of grabby on the skin.

My Sea to Summit microfiber towel was like that, but my Packtowl Ultralite is not "grabby". At only 3.4 ounces/96 grams it is the lightest full size (25“ x 54"/64 x 137cm) towel that I've found .

UltraLite PackTowl - Lightweight Packable Towel | PackTowl®

Lightweight and packable towel for ultralight hiking, travel backpacking and more. Super soft towel is highly absorbent and dries fast.

www.packtowl.com

 

[Cary]

I have gone from someone who confidently thought she already had everything she'd need for the Camino to someone who is continually finding the better than what I already have options. Now I have just replaced my heavier REI multi towel with this ultralite towel. Thanks for the info!

 

[Anniesantiago]

In the many years I've walked, I've tried every towel possible.
In the end I have two favorites
1) A thin, worn out thread-bare cotton bath towel
2) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AM82SA/?tag=casaivar02-20

Both work great and dry quickly

 

[Duffman]

Hi every one,at the places to stay each night, each on the Camino, do they give you a towel to use or do you have to pack one and try to dry it each day? Thanks, Billie

If staying in Albergues you need a towel. I bought a microfiber terrycloth version that was large enough to really work (small ones get saturated before you are really dry). I hung it on the outside of my pack to dry. I attached a picture of me and said towel in Portomarín last June. Buen Camino

 

[WalkingJane]

You'll need something for sure. Personally, I hate the feel of the microfiber tek towels - they are kind of grabby on the skin. Use one and you'll know what I mean.

I use scottish woven linen. It's light, super absorbent and dries quickly.

https://trakke.co.uk/collections/travel-accessories/products/linen-travel-towel

That looks lovely!!
I took a travel towel. It is icky, but works. Also took a cotton dish towel - big square, like a cloth diaper - that worked for a lot of things though not quite big enough for a sarong.

 

[Richmond Gardner]

That depends on where you choose to stay. If you stay in private rooms in hotels and pensions then you will almost certainly have towels provided. But if you stay in albergues then you will have to bring your own towel and dry it as best you can. Some people choose to bring quick-drying microfleece towels. My own preference is to use a very light cotton sarong which can also be worn to/from the shower and if dry enough as a pillowcase on occasion.

Photos would be helpful

 

[Delphinoula]

Lol see here

The Many Uses of the Simple Sarong

There is one item that I swear by whenever we are traveling. The Sarong. We always bring 4 Sarongs with us when traveling. Two for Dave and two for Me.

theplanetd.com

Ps not me

 

[Bradypus]

Actually to be strictly accurate mine is an Indian lungi rather than a sarong. But very few people outside India seem to recognise the word so I often say 'sarong' to avoid confusion

 

[Thurland]

You'll need something for sure. Personally, I hate the feel of the microfiber tek towels - they are kind of grabby on the skin. Use one and you'll know what I mean.

I use scottish woven linen. It's light, super absorbent and dries quickly.

https://trakke.co.uk/collections/travel-accessories/products/linen-travel-towel

What many (most?) People don't realize is that the microfibre towels actually dry better if you wet them first. Sounds stupid (
as I told my wife when she suggested I try it - lol) but it is true.

 

[Sho]

Sadly, my wonderful krama from Cambodia is a bit too heavy, but I have a light cotton scarf for a towel, post-shower wrap, and light blanket.

 

[Richmond Gardner]

Actually to be strictly accurate mine is an Indian lungi rather than a sarong. But very few people outside India seem to recognise the word so I often say 'sarong' to avoid confusion
View attachment 54935

Ah hah!
I lived in India as a child and remember the lungi well...very comfortable, I would say. And obviously more convertible than I knew

 

[Bert45]

What many (most?) People don't realize is that the microfibre towels actually dry better if you wet them first. Sounds stupid (
as I told my wife when she suggested I try it - lol) but it is true.

That's probably true. I don't use a microfibre towel, so I can't say for certain. Most people probably use fabric conditioner in their washing machine. This has the effect of sort of waterproofing material, including towels. So if you wet them first, then wring them out, they will dry better. I use a flannel (face-cloth) to absorb almost all the water on my body, wringing it out frequently. Then I sometimes don't need to use a dry towel at all -- I'm dry enough to put my clothes on. As my head hair is short and getting thin on the ground, I don't need a towel to dry it.

 

[gerip]

Took two microfibre cleaning cloths I bought in a supermarket. Washed with one, wrung it out, blotted up first batch of water, took the second (dry) one, finished up drying off. Worked a charm, both dry by morning.

 

[New York Peregrina]

Hello - I don’t bother bringing a towel. I bring a face cloth (called a flannel in England) and dry myself off with that. A T-shirt wrapped around my head to dry hair, and I could easily use T-shirt to dry off too, making the face cloth unneeded. In albergues, you’re not walking around in a towel wrapped around you, it’s not a spa atmosphere. Hotels a pleasant occasional break because of towels and sheets. Hope this helps and have a good trip

 

[trecile]

I have long, thick hair and I use my buff to dry it. I pull it on over my hair and sort of twist it around turban style.