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See the 13 tests

1. In the Box
2. Specifications
3. Features
4. Absorbency
5. Wringing
6. Drying Test 1 (After Wringing)
7. Drying Test 2 (100mL/3.4 fl oz)
8. Odor Resistance
9. Grass and Dirt Test
10. Sand Test
11. Portability
12. Comfort
13. Durability

In the Box

There is no storage pouch, so you get the towel and nothing else. Mine is the Double-Sided version, which costs more than the Single-Sided one.

Specifications

These are my own measurements. It only comes in one Beach size:

• Size 71 x 30in
• Weight of towel 17.2oz
• Packed size 9.5 x 8.5 x 2in
• Blend 90% polyester + 10% nylon
• Made from Recycled plastic bottles
• Made in China

Features

• Hanging loop Yes, but you need your own carabiner
• Machine washable Yes
• Tumble dry Yes
• Storage pouch None

Absorbency

I measured the water in a bucket, soaked the towel in it, then lifted it out and let it drip until it stopped. Whatever was missing from the bucket is what it held.

• Water absorbed 38.9fl oz
• Absorbency 2.4 times its own weight
• Cotton towel 3.26 timesFor a towel comparison

It holds far more water than the cotton towel in absolute terms, but it is also a lot heavier, so the ratio comes out lower.

Wringing

After soaking it, I wrung out as much water as I could and weighed it again.

• Weight after wringing 40.2oz
• Water left in the towel 57%
• Cotton towel 46% leftFor a towel comparison

This is my worst wringing result. The towel is so big that I could not get a proper grip on it.

Drying Test 1 (After Wringing)

This test measures how long it takes to dry after a full soak and a hard wring, which is what happens when you wash it at camp.

It dries in 1 hour 45 minutes outdoors and 16 hours indoors. The cotton towel took 2 hours 15 minutes outdoors and a whopping 27 hours indoors.

Outdoors	Weight	Dry
0 hours	40.2oz	0%
0.5 hours	32.7oz	33%
1 hour	26.0oz	62%
1.5 hours	19.0oz	92%
1 hour 45 mins	17.2oz	100%

Indoors	Weight	Dry
0 hours	40.2oz	0%
2 hours	36.1oz	18%
4 hours	33.1oz	31%
6 hours	30.8oz	41%
8 hours	28.5oz	51%
10 hours	25.5oz	64%
12 hours	22.5oz	77%
14 hours	19.8oz	89%
16 hours	17.2oz	100%

Drying Test 2 (100mL/3.4 fl oz)

For a fair comparison I add the same 100mL/3.4 fl oz of water to every towel I test. It also recreates drying off after a shower at camp.

That takes it from 17.2oz up to 20.7oz. It dries in 26 minutes outdoors and 3 hours indoors, against 40 minutes and 7 hours for the cotton towel.

Outdoors	Weight	Dry
0 mins	20.7oz	0%
10 mins	19.2oz	43%
20 mins	17.8oz	82%
26 mins	17.2oz	100%

Indoors	Weight	Dry
0 hours	20.7oz	0%
1 hour	19.5oz	36%
2 hours	18.3oz	70%
3 hours	17.2oz	100%

Spread over the same amount of water, it is one of my faster drying towels, at least 50% quicker than cotton.

Odor Resistance

I ran three odor tests. It is treated antimicrobially, and it shows.

• Soaked in seawater, then bagged 4 days A faint damp sea smellNot unpleasant
• Showered and dried off, then bagged 4 days No smell at all
• Used daily for 7 days, hung indoors between uses No smell

So you can pack it away damp in a rush. The cotton towel smelled like rotten food after the same seawater test.

Grass and Dirt Test

I dragged it along some grass and stepped on it. It picked up 2 stray leaves.

They fell straight off. The cotton towel picked up more, and still had bits stuck when I got home.

Sand Test

I covered it in sand at the beach to see how much would stick. Some did, which surprised me given how many people use this as a beach towel.

It shook off very easily though, and the towel was clean afterwards. Same result for the cotton towel.

Portability

This is its weak spot. It is my heaviest camping towel, because it is a beach-sized towel.

• Weight 17.2oz

• Cotton towel 11.9ozA similar size, for a towel comparison

• Packed size 9.5 x 8.5 x 2inAbout the same as the cotton towel, despite being much bigger

• Storage pouch None

Because it is so long it drags on the ground when I hang it off my pack, and you need your own carabiner to attach it.

Comfort

It is soft and smooth to the touch and not stiff at all. It does not stick to my skin, so I can wipe instead of patting down.

It also does not leave my skin feeling damp afterwards, and it is much bigger than a regular bath towel.

Durability

• Stitching Black, consistent, and no gaps
• Material Intact, with no loose threads or fraying
• After 4 months of light use Same weight, so no material lost
• Printing Has not faded
• Color Does not bleed in the wash
• Hanging loop Stitched down nicely and really secure

This is the best-made camping towel I own, and I can see it lasting years.

Pros and Cons

Now, what are the pros and cons, and would I recommend the Nomadix Original Towel?

The best quality of any towel I own

Incredible stitching and materials. After 4 months there is no fraying, no material lost and no fading.

Fast drying

At least 50% faster than a regular cotton towel, and one of my quicker camping towels.

It shakes clean

Just 2 stray leaves off the grass, and they fell off on their own.

Soft and super comfortable

It does not stick to my skin and it dries me off properly.

Versatile

It is the one towel here I would also take to the beach or use for yoga.

My heaviest camping towel

17.2oz against 11.9oz for a cotton towel. It only comes in the Beach size.

The size makes it hard to wring out

57% of the water stayed in, my worst result. It also drags on the ground off a pack.

My most expensive camping towel

The Double-Sided version costs more again than the Single-Sided one.

Bonus – MUST Read!

Every figure above is from my own testing — measured by hand, bought with my own money.