This page contains affiliate links, and that means that I may earn a commission if you buy something, at no extra cost to you. You can find my full disclosure policy here.

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 paid $14 for the Large towel, which also came with a product tag and a thank you note. Here’s everything in the package:

• The Large towel
• A 12 x 12in face towel
• A rectangular storage pouch

Specifications

These are my own measurements of the Large size, which differ from the marketed dimensions:

• Size 46 x 23.5in
• Weight of towel 5.3oz
• Weight of storage pouch 0.5oz
• Packed size 7 x 5 x 1.5in
• Blend 80% polyester + 20% polyamide/nylon
• Made in China

Features

• Hanging loop Yes

• Machine washable Yes
• Storage pouch Lightweight, with a mesh panel for ventilation

• Pouch hanging loop Yes, for a carabiner

Absorbency

I measured the water in a bucket, soaked the towel in it, then lifted it out and let it drip until it stopped.

• Water absorbed 15.2fl oz
• Absorbency 3 times its own weight
• Cotton towel 3.26 timesFor a towel comparison

A cotton towel actually holds slightly more, relative to its own weight.

Wringing

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

• Weight after wringing 11oz
• Water left in the towel 36%
• Cotton towel 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.

It dries in 45 minutes outdoors and 6.5 hours indoors. The cotton towel took 2 hours 15 minutes outdoors and a whopping 27 hours indoors.

Outdoors	Weight	Dry
0 mins	11oz	0%
15 mins	8.9oz	36%
30 mins	7.1oz	69%
45 mins	5.3oz	100%

Indoors	Weight	Dry
0 hours	11oz	0%
1 hour	9.9oz	19%
2 hours	8.9oz	36%
3 hours	8.1oz	50%
4 hours	7.3oz	64%
5 hours	6.5oz	78%
6 hours	5.7oz	93%
6.5 hours	5.3oz	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 5.3oz up to 8.8oz. 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	8.8oz	0%
10 mins	7.5oz	37%
20 mins	6.4oz	67%
29 mins	5.3oz	100%

Indoors	Weight	Dry
0 hours	8.8oz	0%
1 hour	7.5oz	35%
2 hours	6.8oz	57%
3 hours	5.9oz	83%
4 hours	5.3oz	100%

Odor Resistance

I ran three separate odor tests. Wise Owl towels aren’t treated with any antibacterial or antimicrobial coating, so it didn’t fare well in the odor resistance tests.

• Soaked in seawater, wrung out, sealed in a bag for 4 days (96 hours) A sour smellOne of the more unpleasant smells of all the towels I tested
• Used after a shower, then sealed in a bag for 4 days A faint musky smell
• Used every day for 7 days without washing, hung on a rack in between No smell

The cotton towel smelled like rotten food after the seawater test, muskier than the Wise Owl after the shower test, and musky again after a week of use.

Note Do not soak this one in seawater, and please dry it before you pack up.

Grass and Dirt Test

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

A few shakes took all of them off and it came up completely clean.

The cotton towel picked up more, and that dirt wouldn’t shake off, so pieces were still stuck when I got home.

Sand Test

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

It shook off easily and the towel came up clean. The cotton towel did just as well here.

Portability

• Weight 5.3oz

• Cotton towel 11.9ozA similar size, for a towel comparison
• Packed size 7 x 5 x 1.5in
• Folding Half it three times into a square, then third it and half it again

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 smooth with a suede finish, and it isn’t stiff. The Large size is a little smaller than a regular bath towel. I explain how to pick a towel size in my buying guide.

It does stick to your skin, so you have to pat down instead of wiping. It’s one of my stickier camping towels.

Durability

• Stitching Consistent, no gaps, and still holding up after 4 months
• Material Intact, with no loose threads or fraying
• After 4 months of light use Same weight, so no material lost

• Hanging loop High quality and secure
• Storage pouch Strong and lightweight, with relatively smooth zippers

The color does bleed quite a bit though, especially on the first wash.

So it isn’t the most comfortable towel, but the quality is pretty good.

Pros and Cons

Would I recommend the Wise Owl Towel?

One of the lightest towels I own

At 5.3oz it’s under half a similar cotton towel, and it packs down to 7 x 5 x 1.5in.

Good quality that has held up

After 4 months the stitching is intact, there’s no fraying, and it has not lost any weight.

It shakes clean

It picked up only a few specks of dirt off the grass, and a few shakes took all of them off.

It is inexpensive

I paid $14 for the towel, a face towel and a pouch. Most of my other camping towels cost $20-40, and the only cheaper one I own is the Rainleaf Microfiber.

It picks up odors

Four days sealed in a bag after a seawater soak left it with a sour smell, one of the more unpleasant ones I got.

It sticks to your skin

You have to pat down instead of wiping. It’s one of my stickier towels.

The logo feels slimy when wet

I didn’t like the feel of it against my skin while drying off.

The color bleeds

I washed mine 3-4 times before the bleeding stopped.

On absorbency, wringing and drying time the Wise Owl was average against the other camping towels I bought, so those are neither a pro nor a con.

Bonus – MUST Read!

I measured every number on this page myself.