Just ran across this after hearing about them in a lecture. Anyone have any first hand results? Microfiber towel

I have the one made by Lifeventure. They work, dry out very quickly. The only thing you have to remember is that you have to blot the water off you rather than rub as with a conventional towel. Takes a little bit longer.

These (other brands) have been common amongst competitive swimmers and divers for many years and have come into use in the home, camping and travel markets. My kids are swimmers and have used them at meets. I have used them while traveling/camping and find they work well. As with any towel, you must hang them up or attach them to the outside of your pack to allow them to dry.

Pete

I have one for traveling that i got at REI. It works great, you can wring it out and then it dries in a couple hours. It's also more compact than a cotton terry towel of the same size

I have a "sub-question". Do you think it's better a viscose based towel such as Packtowl® or a microfiber based towel?

Thank you
Frankie

I have a couple of the viscose towels (that actually came from Brigade); I've since found the same thing at a garage sale for a buck a piece, & got several more. They were being sold as ersatz chamois to wash/wax cars.

I've recently helped a friend build a BOB, & I have one in my BOB. Having gone through my kit with a critical eye, I decided to test it, & have used it as a bath towel for a couple of days. It dries better than a full-sized bath sheet, & is about the size of a large hand towel. I'm thinking of cutting it in half; I think it would still work just fine (& might still be overkill for a kit).

I'm glad I tested it; I really like it.

I'm not a fan of microfiber; the smaller pieces I've used (mostly for cleaning eyeglasses) were unsatisfactory to me.

David

Just read a couple of reviews on the viscose towels. The reports say that they don't hold up, and will tear if rubbed against a day old beard, or caught on a fingernail. Also, you can't wash them out as hand washing will separate the threads, and machine washing will utterly destroy them. Has this beent he case in your use of them?

If any of you are Sam's Club Members, take a look at the Microfiber Shop Towels - 25 pack. I've used both the BQM Microfiber towel, and various sports/camp towels. The whole sack of Sam's towels cost less than one of the others. And work just as well. They're about the size of a dishtowel.

I have a few various microfibre towels (like some of those listed on this web page ) but have only used one up to now.
No tried to wash it in my washing machine...

I also put a few Compact towels in every EDC kit, car kit, hiking backpack, bike kit etc I have.
+ I gave a few to some friends.
Just as a small light, like a Photon, is just too small not to have along, such a tiny emergency towel should go in every EDC pack or purse...

Merde, je ne parle pas bien. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

what's the problem ?!? You don't need to talk, just to read .... <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

sorry... I don't have any english link about those "Compact" towels...
they are compressed "emergency" towels :
- a 60 x 30 cm? (24 x 12 inches?) towel is compressed into an 4.5cm diameter (less than 2 inches) and 1cm heigth (.4 inch) cylinder.
- as for the 150 x 110 cm? (59 x 43 inches?) towel : I don't have one right on hand, but I would say the diam. is less than 8 cm (about 3 inches).
Once "opened", you sure can put them back into such a tiny format... but you can use ( even and wash them in a washing machine) a few times...

________________________

here is a better link :
compressed towels at REI
Look at the first two items ...

Malpaso--

Sorry; been away from the PC for a day or too.

No, we've had no problem with them. Another use for them is as reusable towels for cleaning up spills on carpets & furniture. With an indoor dog (until he died last year), and 2 small children, rest assured they got plenty of use. We cut one of the larger towels into small (8" squares), & they're still in use. I have no idea how many times they've been washed--but it's been a bunch! And, it was in a washing machine, followed by the clothes dryer.

They're very absorbent, as noted, & when dampened before use, have an amazing capillary action that pulls liquids out of carpet & upholstered furniture.

As I mentioned earlier, I've been testing mine this week, using it instead of a bath sheet. I didn't shave this AM, & didn't notice any shredding or tearing when I dried my face. :-) Also, I'm consistently drier than with a terry cloth towel.

Don't know about the review you read, but it certainly doesn't jibe with my experiences. Remember, too, there are those who say you must dry-clean silk & wool. (Hmmm, wonder how they cleaned it for all those centuries before dry-cleaning became available?)

David

Thanks David. It seems that there is always a doom and gloom review out there on every product. Either someone with a grudge, or just wants to get attention. Unfortunately, one bad review cancels out ten good ones.

Coleman's also makes compressed towels like the REI ones. I got a three pack at Target for about $3.

But I also ordered a couple of microfiber towels to try from REI <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />