When you decide to buy a towel, you first check the fiber content. When it says 100% cotton, this means it is the softest and most absorbent towel. Don’t focus too much on premium cottons like Egyptian and Supima; they’re normally considered top-notch, but don’t add much to the softness, absorbency, or durability in our towel tests. Another option is a cotton/polyester blend: It’s often less expensive, quick-drying, and durable.
Next, you look for the production highlight. Towel lingo can be tricky, but here are some keywords to look for:
- Combed cotton: the cotton is brushed to remove short fibers, making the fabric softer and more durable.
- Ring spun cotton:long and short fibers are tightly twisted, making the towel loops strong and smooth.
- Twist: a description of how much the loop’s yarn is twisted. A high twist is more durable, but a low (or zero) twist increases surface area to make the towel plusher and more absorbent.
- Hydrocotton, Microcotton, Aerocotton, etc.: brand names of manufacturing processes (not to be confused with actualtypes of cotton) to help increase softness and absorbency.
Perhaps the most important is the weight of the towel. Towel weight is measured in grams per square meter (GSM). Generally, the higher the weight, the denser the towel and the more absorbent and plush it will be. 300-400 GSM is considered lightweight, 400-600 GSM is medium weight, and 600-900 GSM is the heaviest. The top performers in our test were between 500-700 GSM.
In the end, it comes down to personal taste. It’s a matter of personal preference. If you want a super soft, ultra-absorbent towel, look for 100% cotton with dense, plush loops of yarn on the surface. Or, if you want one that’s quick-drying and more durable, consider a cotton-poly blend or a lighter fabric with a low pile (short loops). Fluffy loops help the towel feel soft and absorb water, but they can take longer to dry and may show more wear from laundering.
