Maybe my judgment was clouded by the price or just the novelty, but I stumbled across these on clearance today at Wal-Mart at sporting goods counter — 10 cents for a card of eight (regular price $1 per card) — and figured I could throw a couple into various kits.

Compact Disposable Towels; 100% rayon; 100% biodegradable; just add water and they expand to a 9" x 9-1/2" towel. Instructions call for .5 oz water, but found 1/3 that amount (1 tsp) works. Can be air-dried and reused a couple of times.

Feel like dense foam; same size as six stacked pennies as shown in photo.

Here is the web site for EZ-Towel
www.eztowel.com
$9.99 for 50

Mike

These are standard issue in my car camping gear box. I also carry several in my toiletries kit.

There was discussion on the board a while ago about their usefulness for first aid. I doubt they're 'sterile' but could be better than nothing to use as a compress or to clean a wound if hydrated with alcohol or an iodine solution.