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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

I bought mine in the Extra-Large size, and here’s everything in the package:

• The towel
• A storage pouch

Specifications

These are my own measurements, for the Extra-Large size:

• Size 53 x 24in
• Weight of towel 6.7oz
• Weight of storage pouch 0.4oz
• Packed size 7 x 7 x 1.5in
• Blend 100% polyester
• Made in Korea

Features

• Hanging loop Yes, a quick-attach one
• Machine washable Yes, in cold water
• Tumble dry Yes, on low
• Storage pouch Has its own hanging loop, and vents on one side so a damp towel can breathe

Absorbency

I measured the water in a bucket, soaked the towel in it, then lifted it out and let it drip until it stopped. Then I measured the water left in the bucket to see how much it had absorbed.

• Water absorbed 15.2fl oz
• Absorbency 2.4 times its own weight
• Cotton towel 3.26 timesFor a towel comparison

That’s one of the lowest absorbencies of all my camping towels, and a plain cotton towel holds more. The full-size REI Multi Towel holds nearly three times as much.

Wringing

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

• Weight after wringing 14.3oz
• Water left in the towel 48%
• Cotton towel 46% leftFor a towel comparison

It’s about as hard to wring out as a cotton towel, which isn’t what you want from a camping towel.

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 55 minutes outdoors and 7 hours 15 minutes indoors. The cotton towel took 2 hours 15 minutes outdoors and a whopping 27 hours indoors.

Outdoors	Weight	Dry
0 mins	14.3oz	0%
15 mins	11.9oz	31%
30 mins	9.8oz	59%
45 mins	7.7oz	87%
55 mins	6.7oz	100%

Indoors	Weight	Dry
0 hours	14.3oz	0%
2 hours	11.4oz	38%
4 hours	9.2oz	67%
6 hours	7.4oz	90%
7 hours 15 mins	6.7oz	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 6.7oz up to 10.2oz. It dries in 29 minutes outdoors and 4 hours indoors, against 40 minutes and 7 hours for the cotton towel.

Outdoors	Weight	Dry
0 mins	10.2oz	0%
10 mins	8.9oz	36%
20 mins	7.7oz	70%
29 mins	6.7oz	100%

Indoors	Weight	Dry
0 hours	10.2oz	0%
1 hour	9.3oz	26%
2 hours	8.2oz	56%
3 hours	7.2oz	84%
4 hours	6.7oz	100%

Odor Resistance

I ran two odor tests, sealing the towel in a plastic bag for 4 days each time.

• Soaked in seawater, then bagged A damp sea smellNot unpleasant
• Showered and dried off, then bagged A very faint smellNot musky, and not body odor

It has no antibacterial treatment at all, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Grass and Dirt Test

I dragged it along some grass and stepped on it. It picked up a few flakes of grass.

Shaking it didn’t get everything off, and I had to pick the rest out by hand. The cotton towel behaved much the same.

Sand Test

I covered it in sand at the beach to see how much would stick.

Some stuck, but a few good shakes got rid of it. The cotton towel did just as well.

Portability

• Weight 6.7oz

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

• Packed size 7 x 7 x 1.5in
• Hanging loops On both the towel and the pouch

I’m 5’3″, so it drags on the ground when I hang it off my pack.

Comfort

It’s soft and smooth to the touch and not stiff at all. The Extra-Large is a good size for a shower towel.

It sticks to my skin a little, so I pat down instead of wiping. It’s also quite a bit thinner than a cotton towel, which may not suit everyone.

Durability

• Stitching Consistent with no gaps
• Material Intact, with no loose threads or fraying
• After 3 months of use Same weight, so no material lost
• Color Does not bleed at all, even on the first wash
• Hanging loop Useful and secure, but the catch can be stiff
• Storage pouch Strong and lightweight, though I’d prefer zippers to the Velcro opening

The quality is really good, and it held up well over the months I used it.

Pros and Cons

Would I recommend the REI Multi Towel Lite?

Soft, smooth and comfortable

I like how it feels against the skin, though it’s thinner than a cotton towel.

Really good quality

Consistent stitching, no fraying, and after 3 months it had not lost any weight. The color doesn’t bleed either, even on the first wash.

It packs small and light

6.7oz against 11.9oz for a similar-sized cotton towel.

One of the lowest absorbencies I have measured

2.4 times its own weight, which even a cotton towel beats at 3.26 times.

It does not wring out well

48% of the water stayed in, against 46% for cotton.

It does not shake clean

Grass stayed put after shaking and I had to pick it off by hand.

Bonus: Must Read!

I measured every number on this page myself.