The 9 Very Best Beach Towels

Material: Ring-spun cotton | Weave: Medium-pile terry, 450 GSM | Size: 36 by 68 inches

L.L.Bean beach towels, which are patterned with bright and cheery ocean-themed graphics in a reversible jacquard weave, evoke summer most strongly for me. I tested one in a bold lobster print and loved how familiar it felt, like something you would find in your family’s linen closet year after year. It’s made from 450 GSM ring-spun, medium-pile cotton that’s soft but not too soft, with a perfect heft that’s both substantial and lightweight, making it highly absorbent, fast drying, and not too bulky to transport. It’s also a great price for something that should last many summers to come. In addition to the lobster print, other seaside-themed patterns include starfish, turtles, sharks, and paddles.

Material: Turkish cotton | Weave: Flat weave | Size: 38 by 64 inches

Sometimes a terry towel can feel too heavy or cumbersome to take on a beach trip. Traditional Turkish towels are a great alternative as they are made with a flat weave, are extremely lightweight yet absorbent, and dry almost instantly in the sun. Grincevicius, who likes a fluffy towel when spending a lazy day at the beach, opts for this flat-weave cotton one from Sand Cloud when she’s out surfing. “It’s a great towel to keep dry or use as a cover-up,” she says. Plus the brand donates a portion of the sales to marine conservation.

Material: Polyester | Weave: Flat weave | Size: 30 by 60 inches

While cotton towels are definitely a plusher option for the beach, sometimes you need something more compact and fast-drying that you can throw in your bag. Gillespie swears by this microsuede beach towel from Rumpl that she’s had for two years. “While I’ve used many microfiber travel towels in my life and found them to be pretty similar across the board, this one is unusually silky to the touch,” she says, adding that many packable towels she’s tried in the past end up feeling “a bit crunchy.” She loves its roomy size — “perfect for laying out on the beach” and the fact that it “packs up really small” despite how “substantial and soft” it feels. Plus, it’s really absorbent and wicks the water away. “It’s very effective,” she concludes. In my testing of this towel, I was surprised by just how absorbent and lightweight it is. A convenient option not only for the beach but also for drying kids off at the splash pad.

Material: Cotton | Weave: Fine-twisted terry, 500 GSM | Size: 40 by 71 inches

Swiss textile company ZigZagZurich works with artists to design its textiles, including a collection of graphic beach towels. Woven in Europe, the towels come in either terry or jacquard with the terry towels being oversize at 40 by 71 inches (the brand also calls them “mini blankets”) and the jacquard being slightly smaller at 36 by 56 inches. I got the chance to test the “Legs” terry towel by Michele Rondelli, and I love the cheeky pattern that reminds me of the Barry Lyndon movie poster. It’s a striking textile (as well as plush and absorbent) that I am excited to spread out at the beach. I’m also testing one of the jacquard weaves (“El Pescado,” the one I have, is sold out), which, like the Parachute towel above, has more of a blanket feel but is equally efficient at drying.

Material: Cotton | Weave: Medium-pile terry, 450 GSM | Size: 36 by 70 inches

Dusen Dusen’s beach towels are another great option if you’re looking for something bright and jaunty. The brand is ubiquitous on Brooklyn beaches and was mentioned by a few of the stylish ocean swimmers I spoke with, including Zoca Lotion’s Emily Seager and Coming Soon co-owners Fabiana Faria and Helena Barquet. All the designs are extremely Rockaways ready, including this season’s raspberry pattern. The towels are “very absorbent,” says Faria, but for extra warmth, she and Barquet also love drying off with the brand’s matching terry robes: “They’re great, especially at the end of the day when it’s windy.” Strategist writer Katherine Gillespie notes that the texture is really nice. “It’s neither too plush nor too shorn down and even on first purchase has a slightly worn-in feel,” she says.

Material: Organic cotton | Weave: medium-pile terry | Size: 30 by 60 inches

While Baggu’s towels are technically bath towels, they come in such fun, graphic patterns that they look made for the sun. Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo owns one in a mushroom pattern that’s sadly sold out, but there are multiple other fun designs available. “I like how unique it is while still feeling classic in terms of color palette,” she says. As for quality, it was just what she was looking for: “Medium loft so it’s cozy and squishy but also very absorbent and dries quickly.” In addition to this print, the towel is available in other festive patterns including smiley faces, moons, and constellations.

Material: Organic cotton | Weave: High-pile terry | Size: 39 by 59 inches

Here’s another bath sheet that would transition seamlessly to the beach. The stripes on Tekla’s bath towels are closer to pinstripes than to the cabana variety, giving the towels a sophisticated edge. In addition to their look, I love how they feel. The towels are plush and bouncy but lightweight, making them great for the beach. While I’ve tried only the bath-towel size, the larger sheet, coupled with its graphic design, makes it quite versatile for lying out and drying off. Minimalist-swimwear designer Gina Esposito, the founder and creative director of Nu Swim, prefers to dry off with one of these striped bath sheets, which stylist Beverly Nguyen also loves. Made in Portugal from 100 percent organic cotton, the towels come in muted and more colorful striped styles. Esposito agrees that they’re thick and fluffy as well as stylish: “I have a bunch of waffle flat-weave organic-cotton towels that look nice, but they don’t really absorb water,” she notes. “These absorb best.” She also gave me this beachgoing tip: Scour eBay for vintage king- or queen-size Martex flat sheets and use them as “the base for your beach zone.”