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glatt · 04-02-2014, 08:03 AM

Microfiber towels.

I had heard recently about these "microfiber towels" but didn't know what the big deal was. We have nice fluffy 100% cotton bath towels and like them. But I had a camping trip this past weekend, and there was a forecast for heavy unrelenting rain, and somebody suggested getting some microfiber towels.

So I went to Bed Bath and Beyond on a lunch hour last week and picked up a hand towel sized microfiber towel sold under the "Real Simple" brand name. It was 85% polyester and 15% polyamide, and had a thin terry cloth texture. As I held it in my hands, it snagged on my dry skin all over. That's how fine the fibers were.

So I went camping, and the rain stayed away until abut 6PM Saturday night, but then it was a steady heavy rain after that. I had good rain gear, and was out in the rain until it was time to go to bed, and then I opened my tent and got inside quickly. Even so, lots of water came inside with me, so I quickly pushed my sleeping bag and pad over to the other side of the tent as I peeled off my outer layers and made a big puddle on the floor.

It was a lot of water in a small tent. Enough to soak everything if I didn't take care of it. So I got out my new microfiber hand towel and mopped it all up. Then I took the hand towel and dried off my raincoat, both inside and out and folded it up neatly and put it away. I had already taken off my boots and and they had drained onto the floor, I mopped up that puddle. Then off came my rain pants. And I dried those off with the towel, turned them inside out, and dried them on the inside. And I folded them up and put them away. I mopped up stray water droplets that had gone everywhere.

Looking around, I couldn't see any evidence of water anywhere inside the tent. None. I draped the somewhat damp towel on the stiff canvas handles of a tote bag to dry, and in the morning, it was still damp. It was supposed to dry quickly, but it was about 35 degrees and raining with no air circulation inside the dark tent, so I'm not surprised.

I highly recommend a microfiber towel for a camping trip.

04-02-2014, 08:03 AM	#669
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Microfiber towels. I had heard recently about these "microfiber towels" but didn't know what the big deal was. We have nice fluffy 100% cotton bath towels and like them. But I had a camping trip this past weekend, and there was a forecast for heavy unrelenting rain, and somebody suggested getting some microfiber towels. So I went to Bed Bath and Beyond on a lunch hour last week and picked up a hand towel sized microfiber towel sold under the "Real Simple" brand name. It was 85% polyester and 15% polyamide, and had a thin terry cloth texture. As I held it in my hands, it snagged on my dry skin all over. That's how fine the fibers were. So I went camping, and the rain stayed away until abut 6PM Saturday night, but then it was a steady heavy rain after that. I had good rain gear, and was out in the rain until it was time to go to bed, and then I opened my tent and got inside quickly. Even so, lots of water came inside with me, so I quickly pushed my sleeping bag and pad over to the other side of the tent as I peeled off my outer layers and made a big puddle on the floor. It was a lot of water in a small tent. Enough to soak everything if I didn't take care of it. So I got out my new microfiber hand towel and mopped it all up. Then I took the hand towel and dried off my raincoat, both inside and out and folded it up neatly and put it away. I had already taken off my boots and and they had drained onto the floor, I mopped up that puddle. Then off came my rain pants. And I dried those off with the towel, turned them inside out, and dried them on the inside. And I folded them up and put them away. I mopped up stray water droplets that had gone everywhere. Looking around, I couldn't see any evidence of water anywhere inside the tent. None. I draped the somewhat damp towel on the stiff canvas handles of a tote bag to dry, and in the morning, it was still damp. It was supposed to dry quickly, but it was about 35 degrees and raining with no air circulation inside the dark tent, so I'm not surprised. I highly recommend a microfiber towel for a camping trip.