Surfing Towels

Surfing Towels FAQs

What type of beach towel works best after a surf session?

After a session in cold water, the priority is drying off fast before the wind chill sets in. Microfibre towels absorb water quickly because the fibres are split during manufacturing to a fraction of the width of a human hair, giving them a vastly greater surface area per gram than cotton loops. A standard microfibre surf towel weighing around 200 g can absorb up to four times its own weight in water and air-dry within 20 to 30 minutes, which matters when you need it ready for a second session the same afternoon. Changing in a car park or on a cold seafront promenade is far easier when a fast-drying towel is paired with one of the ponchos, providing wind coverage, added warmth, and privacy while changing out of a wetsuit. Smart tip: wring a microfibre towel rather than rubbing it across the skin; rubbing spreads water laterally across the fibres rather than pulling it in, which slows absorption and leaves the surface feeling damp faster.

How do you choose the right towel size for surfing?

Size affects both drying coverage and pack volume. A compact towel around 80 cm x 130 cm fits in a side pocket of a surf bag and handles post-session drying for most body sizes without issue. A larger 100 cm x 160 cm version is better suited to lying on the beach between sessions, doubling as a ground mat in the absence of sand. Rocky beaches add another problem on the walk from car to water and back. Packing surf shoes next to a compact towel solves it, keeping the towel clean and dry in the bag instead of collecting grit and pebbles along the shoreline.

Is a cotton or microfibre towel better for surfing?

Cotton and microfibre serve genuinely different purposes at the beach. Cotton towels are soft against the skin, look better on the sand, and feel more familiar, but they hold onto salt water for hours, weigh significantly more when wet, and take up considerable space once packed damp into a bag. Microfibre is the practical choice for anyone moving between sessions or travelling with kit. Its synthetic polyester and polyamide blend repels sand more effectively than cotton loops, which trap grains deep between fibres. It matters even more for anyone hauling multiple boards: with a surfboard and bag already close to a single person's carrying limit, small weight savings across the whole load quickly become significant.

Can a beach towel double as a mat or windbreak at the beach?

A larger beach towel, anything from 150 cm x 200 cm upwards, functions well as a temporary ground cover between surf checks, protecting your kit from direct sand contact. However, it offers no insulation from cold ground and no wind protection on its own. Long sessions on the beach between tides go more smoothly with a towel backed up by a full set of surf accessories like board bags, wax, leashes, that are kept together in one spot, so nothing is strewn across wet sand when a set rolls in and it's time to move fast.

What is the difference between a fouta towel and a standard beach towel?

A fouta is a flat-woven 100% cotton towel, where the tight weave makes it significantly thinner and lighter than a standard terry-loop cotton towel of equivalent dimensions. Because there are no raised loops, sand releases easily from the surface with a single shake. The flat weave also means a fouta folds down to roughly half the packed volume of a terry towel of the same size, making it a practical middle ground for beach users who want cotton's natural softness without the bulk of a traditional option. Foutas also transition well off the beach; they work as a wrap or light layer over swimwear and boardshorts when moving between the water and a cafe or car park, where a full wetsuit or changing robe would be excessive.