# Bath Towel Recommendations Please **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836 "2015-12-08T18:37:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/1 "2015-12-08T18:37:24Z")
Hi. I am looking for a good bath towel that I can buy on Amazon or a site that takes PayPal. I went the cheap route this time and ended up with towels that fail at the number one function of a towel: absorbing water. So, if you know of a good towel, lay it on me. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/2 "2015-12-08T19:18:05Z")
I used to always buy Walmart towels, use them for a while, then use them for car washing. I decided to buy nicer towels and began looking on Amazon only to find it was a difficult task. I ended up buying [these and I’m very happy with them](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005TOXK7W?keywords=Superior%20900%20Gram%20Egyptian%20Cotton%202-Piece%20Bath%20Towel%20Set%2C%20Navy%20Blue%20by%20Superior&qid=1449602250&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1). ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/3 "2015-12-08T20:14:33Z")
I got a set of those green, organic, hippy towels on a discount from TJ Max. They’re a little rougher in feel, but the nice part about them is that they actually soak up water. I don’t know what waxy chemicals or dyes they use in those super soft towels but they don’t work as towels. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/4 "2015-12-08T20:21:12Z")
I like really big towels that I can wrap all the way around my rather large body. I have found that extra-large towels are sometimes sold as “bath sheets”. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/5 "2015-12-08T20:27:29Z")
Pinzon, it’s Amazon’s own brand. I own 2 sets. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/6 "2015-12-08T20:29:11Z")
Mine are Lands End Supima cotton towels. Not cheap; the list price is $24 each. But they have a 50% off sale today. And they take Paypal. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/7 "2015-12-09T04:58:36Z")
I bought a bunch of seconds at a Ralph Lauren factory outlet 25 years ago, and they still look nearly new. ---
**Author:** ![Beelzebubba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Beelzebubba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beelzebubba)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/8 "2015-12-09T07:32:32Z")
Quick question- do you use fabric softener when you wash your towels? If so, that will reduce absorbency significantly (varies depending on brand/material of towel). As far as brand, I’m not sure if Kohl’s takes Paypal, but I LOVE their ‘Sonoma’ brand towels. ---
**Author:** ![tuesdayweld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@tuesdayweld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuesdayweld)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/9 "2015-12-09T10:40:11Z")
I’ll second the Land’s End brand. I bought half a dozen of their bath towels about 7 or 8 years ago and they still appear as a brand new, fluffy stack of towels. Soft, extra large, absorbent. Worth the investment. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/10 "2015-12-09T11:03:15Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Mine are Lands End Supima cotton towels. Not cheap; the list price is $24 each. But they have a 50% off sale today. And they take Paypal. Thirded. They work nicely. They also last forever; my parents have some that are 10 years old and they still look fine. I’ve bought some huge bath sheets from Sears that are also very nice; 100% Supima cotton. Seconded **Beelzebubba** ’s remark about fabric softener. You can try using laundry balls instead (I have wool ones), or use \*\*much \*\*less fabric softener (I use half a sheet of Bounce free and clear). ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/11 "2015-12-09T14:37:27Z")
Thanks again for the recommendations! Beelzebubba, I do not use fabric softener. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/12 "2015-12-09T23:55:57Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I used to always buy Walmart towels, use them for a while, then use them for car washing. . . . That’s still my practice. Cheap, cheap, cheap. Use 'em till they start to unravel along the edges, and then replace 'em. (Did I mention cheap?) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/13 "2015-12-10T00:10:55Z")
I doubt if they’re available via PayPal, but I really, really like “The Big One” brand from Kohl’s. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/14 "2015-12-10T02:22:30Z")
Towels and pillows are things to buy once and be done with it. I paid the price of real feather and down pillows in 1982. They went into zippered pillow cases. Still nice and comfy. The towels have aged, but I still have one of the bath towels from 1983 (Macy’s, when they still did the upscale thing - you pay, but you get quality. Don’t think that still applies. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2015, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bath-towel-recommendations-please/739836/15 "2015-12-10T03:23:12Z")
They have to be 100% cotton and heavy and if they last less than ten years, you got ripped off. I have towels (and some pillow cases) older than my marriage; they’re Fieldcrest. But I have no idea what the brand is like now. Oh, and bamboo does not last and linen does not absorb. > [@Beelzebubba](#): > > Quick question- do you use fabric softener when you wash your towels? … If you like fluffy soft towels, use a dryer; me, I’ve come to like a rough line-dried lowell. > [@Trinopus](#): > > That’s still my practice. Cheap, cheap, cheap. Use 'em till they start to unravel along the edges, and then replace 'em. (Did I mention cheap?) See **usetobe’s** post; that’s real frugality