# Best Towels in the World? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2010, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516 "2010-08-26T10:52:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/1 "2010-08-26T10:52:37Z")
Uncharacteristically, I have not finished my Christmas shopping months ago. Out of ideas, I think I will get her new cotton bath towels. I was recently in a hotel that had some super stuff. Where can I find really good white cotton bath towels? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/2 "2010-08-26T11:50:39Z")
Since the replies to the OP will probably involve personal(but factual) opinions, I think this one will do better in IMHO rather that General Questions. Moved. I’d also like to know the answer as I’ve bought some before which appeared to be soft, big and fluffy, but don’t absorb water worth a damn. **samclem** Moderator, GQ and IMHO ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/3 "2010-08-26T12:03:27Z")
I don’t know about the best in the _world_, but the best _in our experience_ have been ones that are 100% Egyptian cotton. [Overstock.com](http://Overstock.com) has some nice ones, though we always buy ours at Costco. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/4 "2010-08-26T12:10:02Z")
My best towels say “Hilton” on them, but I can’t remember where I got them. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/5 "2010-08-26T13:20:38Z")
What about something called 800-Gram Towels? [I suppose](http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Supreme-800-gram-Egyptian-Cotton-Towels-6-piece-Set/3450273/product.html) these things weigh 800 grams per fortnight or something. I ask because when I buy towels in the shop I feel like a rube. In the store the towels are so nice and fluffy. I launder them once and they are all flat, just like every other towel. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/6 "2010-08-26T14:10:49Z")
JCPenney is known for their towels. I don’t know that I’d call them the best in the world but they’re certainly good enough. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/7 "2010-08-26T14:41:08Z")
Does it matter if it needs to get high from time to time? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/8 "2010-08-26T14:52:16Z")
Whatever you do, don’t get the El Cheapo $2.99 ones from Kohl’s. I think the brand name was The Big One or something like that. (sigh) I’ll be watching this thread for replacement recommendations. Those things _suck_, and have become Cat Towels. Blah! These were not worth cheaping out, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/9 "2010-08-26T15:03:33Z")
I am going to second JC Penney for towels. I bought the expensive versions on sale and could not be happier with them. They stay fluffy and are very good towels. When we got married, we registered for towels at BB&B, those ones are alright, but I do prefer the JCP ones. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/10 "2010-08-26T17:01:19Z")
I personally think that [Christy](http://www.christy-towels.com/) towels are the best in the world. It’s a UK company, but they are available at stores and online in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/11 "2010-08-26T21:19:23Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > What about something called 800-Gram Towels? > > [I suppose](http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Supreme-800-gram-Egyptian-Cotton-Towels-6-piece-Set/3450273/product.html) these things weigh 800 grams per fortnight or something. > > I ask because when I buy towels in the shop I feel like a rube. In the store the towels are so nice and fluffy. I launder them once and they are all flat, just like every other towel. Do you put fabric softener in with your towels by any chance? The fabric softener (the ‘sheets’ are especially infamous for this) deposit a waxy substance that really affects the absorbency of towels! Also, something like a couple of (new, of course!) tennis balls in your drier while you are drying your towels, may help keep them fluffy. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/12 "2010-08-26T23:23:40Z")
I’ve been very happy with my Wamsutta towels from Bed Bath & Beyond… I dry them with dryer sheets and they still seem super-absorbent. I certainly don’t have to dry areas more than once… I think they have a nice balance of body and manageability. I had a Turkish cotton terry robe once that taught me how undesirable towels can be when they’re _too_ thick. Didn’t absorb worth a damn either. Since these are a present, include the really big bath sheets. Makes ladies feel spoiled. I recommend classic white. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/13 "2010-08-26T23:39:58Z")
I got two sets of towels from Land’s End last Christmas…I love them! They’re nice and fluffy, very absorbant, and they’ve held up very well with near constant use. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/14 "2010-08-27T03:12:19Z")
[Land’s End](http://www.landsend.com/cd/popup/0,,copyName=pop_product_0204_FTHtowels.html) has a handy Guide! I think I like the spa towels. ---
**Author:** ![sharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@sharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharding)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/15 "2010-08-27T07:06:18Z")
I hate to post a link to my own blog, but… I guess I will. A couple of years ago, I did a pretty comprehensive search for towels, including buying a whole bunch of samples. In the end, I ended up buying Matouk Milagros, and we’re still extremely happy with them. Here’s my whole writeup: [http://sharding.org/blog/2008/04/21/too-many-towels/](http://sharding.org/blog/2008/04/21/too-many-towels/) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/16 "2010-08-27T07:37:41Z")
I learned the hard way expensive towels aren’t necessarily good. Some expensive towels are too big. They are like beach towels. Big towels are hard to hold and some are too darn thick. Others don’t absorb water well. I have better luck with mid priced towels. They are a standard size and they aren’t too thin or thick. ---
**Author:** ![sharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@sharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharding)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-towels-in-the-world/551516/17 "2010-08-27T07:40:41Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Some expensive towels are too big. They are like beach towels. Big towels are hard to hold. Are you sure you’re not talking about “bath sheets” vs. “bath towels”? Most towel lines I’ve seen both a bath sheet and bath towel option. It isn’t a matter of the expensive towels being too big, but bath sheets being too big. I do agree bath sheets are too big, but even the most expensive towels I considered were also available in the normal bath towel size.