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My quick-dry towel trick saved space on a 2 week trip to Portland | Carry-On Only Packing - Librear

My quick-dry towel trick saved space on a 2 week trip to Portland

Last month I packed for a trip to Portland with just a 30L backpack. I brought a thin microfiber towel instead of a bulky cotton one and it dried in like 2 hours on the hotel rack. That freed up enough room for an extra pair of shoes. Has anyone else tried these for long trips or do you stick with regular towels?

2 comments

2 Comments

rodriguez.cora4mo ago

Have you ever actually tried drying a microfiber towel after a good scrub though? Because mine ended up smelling musty by day three no matter how fast I hung it up... That smell just stays in there and then you're wiping your face with something that smells like a damp basement. Plus those thin towels don't soak up water the same way a real cotton one does, you're just pushing the water around your skin. I packed a regular towel for my last trip and yeah it took up more room but I actually felt clean after showering instead of fighting with a slimy rag.

lisa6714mo ago

Oh man, that's the thing nobody really talks about with microfiber. Honestly, the problem isn't just the drying itself, it's that the fabric traps oils and dead skin deeper than cotton does. So even if you rinse it well, that stuff starts breaking down after a couple days and that's what gives you the musty smell. Plus most people don't realize you're not supposed to use fabric softener or dryer sheets with them either, that completely ruins the fibers and makes them even worse at absorbing water. Tbh I switched to a linen blend towel for travel and it's the happy medium. It dries fast like microfiber but doesn't get that weird slimy texture and actually wicks moisture away from your skin instead of just pushing it around.