The problem with cotton towels on any trip involving daily movement is the morning checkout moment. The towel used the night before is still damp. It goes into the bag damp. The bag smells for the rest of the journey. Repeat this every day for a month-long trip and the cumulative effect on the bag and everything in it is unpleasant.
Quick dry towels were designed specifically to solve this. Here is how they work across three specific contexts: travel, camping and caravanning, and what makes them worth switching to permanently.
Saving space without sacrificing comfort
Traditional towels are familiar and comfortable, but they’re also thick and bulky. When you’re packing for travel, even one towel per person can take up valuable space.
Quick dry towels are designed to fold down small, making them ideal for suitcases, backpacks and caravan storage. This allows families to pack one towel per person without filling entire cupboards or bags.
Despite their compact size, these modern towels are still soft and comfortable. They’re designed to dry effectively while remaining pleasant to use, making them a reliable alternative for travel rather than a compromise.
Many families travelling through coastal areas rely on quick dry travel towels because they balance comfort with practicality in a way traditional towels often cannot.
Faster drying on the road
Drying towels while travelling can be challenging. Campsites, caravans and holiday accommodation don’t always offer ideal drying conditions, and damp towels can quickly become unpleasant.
Quick dry towels are made from fibres that allow moisture to evaporate rapidly. This means towels dry faster when hung over a chair, railing or clothesline. In warm conditions, they can often be ready to use again in a short amount of time.
This fast drying performance is especially useful when towels are used multiple times a day, such as after swimming, showering or spontaneous beach stops.
At 270g and drink bottle pack size, a Will and Wind travel towel also adds negligible weight and space to a carry-on. For the travel context in full, see best packable travel towel for your next summer holiday and why I take my travel towel everywhere.
For camping: drying without facilities
Camping involves limited drying facilities. A cotton towel used for a river swim or campsite shower and hung in a tent overnight stays damp and develops the characteristic camping-towel smell by day three. A Will and Wind travel towel clipped to a pack strap or tied to the outside of the tent dries in one to two hours in normal outdoor airflow. By the time camp is packed up after breakfast, the towel is dry and ready to roll up.
The 270g weight and drink bottle pack size also mean the towel takes up minimal space in a pack or car boot. For a week-long camping trip with four people, switching from cotton to Will and Wind saves over 2kg of towel weight. For the camping context, see hiking towels: what makes a good one.
Ideal for camping and caravanning
Camping and caravanning often involve a mix of environments, beaches, rivers, showers and outdoor kitchens. Towels need to adapt quickly without becoming a burden.
Quick dry towels are lightweight enough to carry to the beach, compact enough to store in small spaces and durable enough to handle regular use. They’re also easier to shake sand free before heading back to camp, which helps keep living areas cleaner.
When paired with waterproof beach mats, families can create a comfortable outdoor setup that works just as well at a campsite as it does on the sand.
For caravanning: the limited airflow problem
Caravans have small bathrooms with limited ventilation. A cotton towel in a caravan bathroom can take most of the day to dry, staying damp and accumulating a musty smell across a long trip. A Will and Wind travel towel hung near a window or outside the van dries quickly regardless of ventilation. The damp-towel smell that builds up in a cotton towel over weeks of caravan use simply does not accumulate in the same way. For the specific caravan upgrade case, see caravan towel: the upgrade every van lifer actually notices and maximising space: a guide to caravan storage solutions.
Less laundry, less hassle
One of the less talked about benefits of these towels is how they simplify laundry while travelling. Because they dry faster and stay fresher between uses, they often require less frequent washing.
This is a big advantage when access to washing facilities is limited. Fewer washes mean less time spent doing laundry and more time enjoying the trip.
They also tend to dry faster after washing, which reduces the risk of packing damp items when moving between locations.
The beach at every stop
Coastal travel in Australia means beach stops: on the east coast from Sydney to Cairns, on the west coast past Ningaloo, on the Nullarbor. A Will and Wind travel towel that lives in the car or caravan boot is always dry, always ready and always there when an unplanned beach stop happens. The sand free loopless weave means it shakes clean at the car. For what to bring on the full coastal road trip, see how to choose the best travel towel for beach and road trips and the ultimate beach packing list.
Easier for kids to manage
When kids are involved, ease of use matters. Heavy, bulky towels can be difficult for children to carry or pack away themselves.
These towels are lighter and easier for kids to handle, which encourages independence and helps keep things organised. When each child has their own towel that fits easily into their bag, it reduces confusion and mess.
This small detail can make travel days run more smoothly.
Designed for outdoor living
They're built for outdoor use. They handle exposure to sun, salt and frequent washing better than many traditional towels, especially when cared for properly.
Avoiding fabric softener and allowing towels to air dry helps maintain their performance and softness over time. With the right care, they can last through many trips and adventures.
A smart choice for travelling families
For families who travel regularly, quick dry towels offer a practical solution to common challenges. They save space, dry fast and adapt to a wide range of environments.
Paired with other thoughtfully designed gear, they help reduce packing stress and make travel more enjoyable.
Care while travelling
Cold machine wash when facilities are available. Rinse with fresh water and hang to dry between washes when they are not. The one to two hour dry time means the towel is clean and dry within the morning even at a basic campsite. No fabric softener in any situation. For the full care guide, see how to clean and care for your beach gear.
Frequently asked questions
Do quick dry towels actually dry fast enough for daily travel?
Will and Wind dries in one to two hours. Used at night and hung to dry, it is consistently dry by morning. This passes the overnight dry test that determines whether a towel works for daily travel.
What is the best towel for camping in Australia?
Will and Wind travel towels at 270g and 200 GSM. They dry between uses without drying facilities, pack small in a camping bag and work for beach stops, campsite showers and river swims.
Can you wash a Will and Wind travel towel at a campsite?
Yes. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water and hang to dry. Cold machine wash when laundry facilities are available. No fabric softener at any point.
Do microfibre towels smell if they get wet in a bag?
A Will and Wind towel that has dried before being packed does not smell. A towel packed while still damp will develop odour the same as any fabric. The solution is the same: one to two hour dry time before packing rather than packing wet.
Shop Travel Towels | Caravan Towel Guide | Best Travel Towels Australia