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Note The REI Multi Towel has been discontinued, but REI replaced it with the REI Multi Towel Deluxe, which has all the same specs and is just slightly bigger in size.

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

You get the towel and a storage pouch, and that’s all.

Specifications

These are my own measurements:

• Size 57 x 23in
• Weight of towel 9.3oz
• Weight of storage pouch 0.56oz
• Packed size 10 x 8 x 2in
• Blend 85% polyester + 15% nylon
• Made in Korea

Features

• Quick-attach loop Yes
• Machine washable Yes, in cold water
• Tumble dry Yes
• Storage pouch Velcro, and it fits the towel easily
• Pouch hanging loop Yes, for a carabiner

Absorbency

I measured the water in a bucket, soaked the towel in it, then measured whatever water was left behind.

• Water absorbed 42.3fl oz
• Absorbency 4.8 times its own weight
• Cotton towel 37.2fl oz, or 3.26 timesFor a towel comparison

It’s the most absorbent camping towel I own.

Wringing

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

• Weight after wringing 22.1oz
• Water left in the towel 29%
• Cotton towel 29.7oz, with 46% leftFor a towel comparison

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.

• Outdoors, from 22.1oz 1 hour 35 minutes
• Indoors 14 hours
• Cotton towel 2 hours 15 minutes outdoors, 27 hours indoorsFor a towel comparison

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.

• Starting weight 12.8oz
• Outdoors 35 minutes
• Indoors 5 hours
• Cotton towel 40 minutes outdoors, 7 hours indoorsFor a towel comparison

Odor Resistance

I soaked it in seawater at the beach, wrung it out, and sealed it in a plastic bag for 4 days (96 hours).

It came out smelling like food that had gone bad, and it was really unpleasant. The cotton towel smelled exactly the same, so the odor resistance here is badly lacking.

Grass and Dirt Test

I dragged it along some grass and stepped on it. It picked up a whole bunch of grass and leaves.

Even after shaking there was still a lot left, so I had to pull them off one by one.

The cotton towel picked up much less. I thought that dirt came off easily, but some was still stuck when I got home. Both towels did badly here, but the cotton towel did better.

Sand Test

I covered it in sand at the beach, the same way I did the grass test.

A few good shakes got rid of it, and the cotton towel did just as well.

Portability

• Weight 9.3oz

• Cotton towel 11.9ozA similar size, for a towel comparison
• Packed size 10 x 8 x 2in
• Folding Thirds, thirds again, then in half, or just stuff it in

Both the towel and the pouch have hanging loops. I am not tall, so the towel drags on the ground when I hang it off my pack.

Comfort

It’s soft and fluffy and doesn’t stick to your skin much, so you can wipe instead of patting down, and it won’t leave your skin damp.

It does have a faint staticky feel, which is a little weird, but I don’t think it’s a big deal.

Durability

The stitching is consistent with no gaps, though a few loose threads started to appear after some use.

• After 4 months of light use About 1% of its material lost
• Color Bleeds a little in the wash
• Hanging loop Useful and secure, but the catch can be stiff
• Storage pouch Strong and lightweight, though I’d prefer zippers to Velcro

So, while the REI towel is a comfortable towel, the quality might be a little lacking.

Pros and Cons

Would I recommend the REI Multi Towel?

The most absorbent towel I tested

It holds 42.3fl oz, which is 4.8 times its own weight. No other camping towel I bought comes close.

It wrings out well

Only 29% of the water stays in, against 46% for a cotton towel.

Decently comfortable

It’s soft and fluffy, it doesn’t stick much, and it won’t leave your skin damp.

My worst-smelling camping towel

Four days sealed in a bag after a seawater soak left it smelling like food gone bad, exactly as bad as the cotton towel.

It is not dirt repellent

It picked up a whole bunch of grass and leaves, and I had to pull them off one by one.

It dries slowly

1 hour 35 minutes outdoors after wringing, only about 15-20% faster than a cotton towel. My Sea to Summit Tek was slower still, at 1 hour 40.

Loose threads after a few months

It also lost about 1% of its material over 4 months of light use.

Bonus – MUST Read!

I measured every number on this page myself.