"Beach Towel Manicure" is the perfect choice for a summer vacation.

A large, bright beach Towel is a must-have for summer water activities. Whether you plan to swim or simply lounge by the water, your beach towel should be absorbent, spacious, and bright. Even a particularly attractive beach towel originally intended for the bathroom can come in handy in an emergency. Based on my personal experience, I can say that many beach towels meet these requirements. To recommend the best beach towels, I personally tested several and consulted with surfers, swimwear designers, and beach resort staff to learn their preferences. Here are nine of the best beach towels suitable for various types of pool and beach activities, from soft cotton towels to foldable, sand- and odor-resistant microfiber materials. If you plan to bring all your beach gear, be sure to pack a lounge chair, a sun umbrella, and a cooler.

Like sheets, beach towels have a similar yarn density rating called GSM (grams per square meter), which reflects the fabric's weight, softness, and absorbency. "The higher the GSM rating, the fluffier the pile, meaning the surface loops are more ideal and effective," says Yan. While most bath towels list their GSM rating in the product description, many beach towels do not. However, you can assess a towel's absorbency by looking at its weave. The best beach towels should have a fluffy weave with loops on both sides. "This increases surface area, allowing the towel to absorb up to 20 times its own weight in liquid," explains Yan. She adds that, unlike cotton towels, microfiber towels have a plain weave, which wicks moisture away from the surface. They absorb water rather than soak it up, and dry much faster.
Beach towels come in a wide variety of sizes, and we've listed some of them here. Beach towels are typically about 25 cm longer and a few cm wider than bath towels, with an average size of about 88 x 180 cm. The size you choose also depends on your intended use—for example, if you're taking your beach bag on public transportation, a smaller size might be more appropriate. "I like towels that are 88 x 175 cm," says Mike Reinhardt of Locals Surf School. "It's long and wide enough, but not so big that it's difficult to store and dry." Many of the fashionistas we spoke with admitted that they prefer to take larger bath towels to the beach for a more comfortable experience. "The bigger, the better," says Davina Grincevičius, founder of Lava Girl Surf.

While cotton towels are undoubtedly more comfortable at the beach, sometimes you need a lighter, quick-drying towel that fits easily in your bag. Gillespie raves about the Rumpl microfiber beach towel, which she's been using for two years. "I've used a lot of microfiber travel towels, and they all feel pretty much the same, but this one is incredibly silky," she says. She adds that many foldable towels she's tried in the past felt "a little stiff." She loves its large size—"perfect for laying out on the beach"—and that despite its "thick and soft" texture, it "folds up really compactly." It's also incredibly absorbent, wicking away moisture quickly. "It's very practical," she concludes. While testing this towel, I was pleasantly surprised by its absorbency and lightweight feel. Not only is it super convenient on the beach, but it's also perfect for drying off kids at the water park.