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Quick answer: The best backpacking towel for Australian conditions is a 200 GSM microfibre travel towel that weighs under 300g, dries in one to two hours, packs to the size of a drink bottle and does not trap sand. Will and Wind travel towels weigh 270g, are 160cm x 80cm and are made from 16 recycled plastic bottles each. They are the best-rated backpacking towel option for Australian travel at 4.9 stars across 260 plus reviews. |
Every backpacker carries a towel. Most have at some point regretted the choice. The best backpacking towel for Australian conditions is not just the lightest option. Too heavy, too slow to dry, too much sand embedded in the fibres by the end of week two. Picking the best backpacking towel for Australian conditions, where beach stops are part of almost every route and pack weight matters from the first day, requires thinking about more than just the weight on the label.
What Makes the Best Backpacking Towel for Australia
Weight and pack size. 270g and drink-bottle sized is the target. That is what a Will and Wind travel towel delivers. Lighter options exist but they sacrifice GSM to get there, which means thinner fabric with lower absorbency and less durability through the washing cycles a backpacking trip demands.
Dry time. This is the one that cotton towels fail at completely. A cotton towel hung in a hostel room may not be dry by the next morning. A microfibre towel hung in the same conditions is dry in one to two hours. For backpackers moving between locations daily, a towel that dries in the room overnight is not just more convenient, it is lighter to carry the next day.
Sand performance. Any Australian route that goes near a coast, which is most of them, means the towel will encounter sand repeatedly. Cotton loops trap sand and hold it. Microfibre with a loopless weave sheds sand on a shake. A cotton towel on a week-long coastal route accumulates enough sand to be genuinely unpleasant. A Will and Wind towel stays usable throughout.
Durability through repeated washing. Backpacking towels get washed frequently in varying conditions, often with whatever soap is available. The 200 GSM material in Will and Wind towels holds its performance through this kind of treatment. Lower GSM microfibre can develop a worn or less absorbent feel faster under the same conditions.
Size. 160cm x 80cm is full beach towel size. Some backpacking towels marketed as lightweight are noticeably smaller. This matters for beach use, for drying off properly after a shower in a hostel bathroom and for any situation where you want to actually lie on the towel. A towel that is 90cm x 50cm is a hand towel, not a beach towel.
How Will and Wind Compares to Other Backpacking Towel Options
Choosing the best backpacking towel involves more trade-offs than most comparison guides acknowledge. For the full 18-brand view across sustainability, performance and value, the best travel towels Australia guide is the reference. The short version for backpacking specifically:
Weight. Will and Wind 270g. Most comparable brands in the 250-300g range when sized at 160cm x 80cm.
Dry time. One to two hours for Will and Wind. Cotton equivalents: three to five hours minimum.
Pack size. Drink bottle when rolled with the carry bag included.
Price. $69.99 with a 60-day money-back guarantee. If it does not work for you, return it within 60 days.
Backpacking With a Towel in Australian Conditions Specifically
Australian backpacking routes have some specific characteristics that affect towel performance more than European or South-East Asian equivalents. The east coast route from Melbourne to Cairns involves beach after beach. The west coast runs past some of the finest stretches of coastline in the world. The Larapinta Trail and other inland routes involve heat and dust rather than sand but the fast-dry property matters there too.
For anyone doing the overland routes that involve camping as well as hostels, a towel that does double duty as a beach towel and a camp towel makes the packing simpler. The same 270g towel that works at the beach on Tuesday works at a bush camp on Thursday. The hiking towels guide covers the trail-specific requirements in more detail.
What to Pack Alongside the Towel
The broader packing picture for Australian travel is in the ultimate beach packing list, which covers what actually earns its place across a mix of beach days and travel days. The towel is the most weight-efficient upgrade most backpackers can make.
FAQs
What is the best towel for backpacking in Australia?
A 200 GSM microfibre travel towel at 160cm x 80cm, weighing around 270g. Will and Wind meets all of these specifications and adds a 60-day money-back guarantee. See the full comparison at the best travel towels Australia guide.
How light should a backpacking towel be?
Under 300g for a full-size (160cm x 80cm) towel is the target. Going lighter than 200g typically means a smaller towel or lower GSM fabric that sacrifices absorbency. The weight trade-off is not worth it for Australian coastal backpacking where the towel is in regular use.
Can I use a microfibre beach towel as a backpacking towel?
Yes, and for Australian backpacking this is the right approach. A full-size microfibre travel towel covers beach use, hostel showers and camping in one 270g item rather than carrying separate towels for different contexts.
How do I dry a backpacking towel at a hostel?
Hang it anywhere with airflow. A Will and Wind microfibre towel hung over a bed rail, chair or balcony in a hostel room will be dry within one to two hours in normal conditions. It does not require a towel rail or direct sun, which makes it practical even in dorm rooms.