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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, which is the biggest the AirLite comes in. Here is everything in the package:

• The towel
• A storage pouch
• Care instructions, rolled up inside the towel

Specifications

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

• Size 51 x 20.25in
• Weight of towel 2.4oz
• Weight of storage pouch 0.14oz
• Packed size 4 x 2.5 x 2.25in
• Blend 85% polyester + 15% nylon
• Made in China

Features

• Hanging loop None on the towelIt has a fastener that clips to a press stud inside the pouch
• Machine washable Yes
• Tumble dry Yes, on low heat
• Storage pouch 15D nylon, with a hanging loop for a carabiner

To hang it on a clothesline or a pack you need your own carabiner.

Absorbency

I soaked it in a measured bucket and worked out how much water it held against its own weight.

• Water absorbed 5.1fl oz
• Absorbency 2.2 times its own weight
• Cotton towel 3.26 timesFor a towel comparison

A much fluffier cotton towel beats it comfortably here.

Wringing

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

• Weight after wringing 4.6oz
• Water left in the towel 41%
• Cotton towel 46% left, at 29.7ozFor a towel comparison

Drying Test 1 (After Wringing)

This one measures how long it takes to dry after a full soak and a hard wring, to recreate the situation where you’re drying your towel after you wash it while backpacking.

After wringing	AirLite Towel	Cotton towel
Outdoors	14 mins	2 hours 15 mins
Indoors	2 hours	27 hours

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 to 6.0oz.

With 100mL/3.4 fl oz	AirLite Towel	Cotton towel
Outdoors	22 mins	40 mins
Indoors	2 hours 45 mins	7 hours

That works out about 82% faster than a regular cotton towel.

Odor Resistance

I ran three odor tests. It comes with antimicrobial odor protection, and it shows.

• Soaked in seawater, then bagged 4 days A faint smellAnd no mold
• Showered and dried off, then bagged 4 days No smell
• Used daily for 7 days, hung indoors between uses No smell at all

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

Grass and Dirt Test

I dragged it along some grass and stepped on it. It picked up a couple of tiny pieces of dry grass.

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. Only a little stuck, and you can hardly see it.

It shook off super easily. More stuck to the cotton towel, though that shook off too.

Portability

It’s very portable, and that’s its strongest suit. It packs down at least 10 times smaller than a regular cotton towel. Only the face-towel-sized Matador NanoDry Trek packs smaller.

• Weight 2.4oz
• Cotton towel 11.9ozA similar size, for a towel comparison

• Packed size 4 x 2.5 x 2.25in
• Hanging loop On the pouch only, and you need your own carabiner

Comfort

It’s kind of soft, smooth to the touch and not stiff at all, but it feels thin and nothing like a regular towel.

It sticks to my skin so I pat rather than wipe, though I never feel damp afterwards. The sizing also runs a little small against a regular bath towel.

Durability

This is where it loses me. The edges are laser-cut rather than stitched, and they’ve started to fray.

• After 2-3 months of light use 1.4% of its material lost
• Color The Pacific Blue does not seem to bleed much
• Press stud Not very secure, and comes apart with minimal tension
• Storage pouch Strong and lightweightThe bottom is not waterproof

I’d much rather have a conventional snap loop than the press stud.

Pros and Cons

Would I recommend the Sea to Summit AirLite Towel?

Very portable

2.4oz, and it packs down at least 10 times smaller than a regular cotton towel.

Fast drying

82% faster than a cotton towel, and just 14 minutes outdoors after a wring.

Good overall performance

It wrings out well at 41%, has antimicrobial odor protection, and sheds grass, dirt and sand easily.

Quality is lacking (a little)

The laser-cut edges frayed and it lost 1.4% of its material after just 2-3 months of light use, so long-term durability is questionable.

The press stud replaces a proper hanging loop

It comes apart with minimal tension, and I’d prefer a conventional snap loop.

Bonus: Must Read!

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