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Quick answer: A microfibre towel for sweat absorbs moisture three to four times faster than cotton and dries between uses rather than staying saturated. Will and Wind microfibre towels are 200 GSM, weigh 270g and dry in one to two hours. They are machine washable, sand free and made from 16 recycled plastic bottles each. |
The cotton gym towel has one notable weakness: it saturates. By the third or fourth exercise in a session it has accumulated enough sweat that it stops absorbing effectively and starts redistributing moisture instead. A microfibre towel for sweat does not do this. The material absorbs moisture into its fibre structure rather than holding it on the surface, which means it keeps working through the whole session rather than tapping out halfway through.
Why Microfibre Handles Sweat Better Than Cotton
Standard cotton fibres are hollow loops that absorb moisture and then release it back slowly. In a gym context this means a cotton towel becomes progressively wetter as the session goes on. The towel never dries between sets because cotton drying time is measured in hours, not minutes.
Microfibre is made from fibres split to a fraction of the width of a human hair. The split structure creates enormous surface area within the fabric. Moisture is drawn in by capillary action and held inside the fibre structure rather than sitting on the surface. The result is a towel that feels drier to the touch than its moisture content would suggest, and that dries between uses because the surface exposure allows rapid evaporation.
The number to know is 200 GSM. That is the grams per square metre rating of Will and Wind microfibre. Most brands selling gym towels do not publish their GSM because it is one of the clearest ways to compare fabric density. Higher GSM means denser fabric, more absorption and better durability through repeated washing. The full towel comparison across 18 brands shows Will and Wind as the only brand that publishes this figure at 200 GSM.
What a Microfibre Sweat Towel Needs to Do
Absorb fast. The point of a gym towel is to remove sweat quickly and keep equipment clean. A towel that takes time to absorb is not doing its job in a gym setting where you move between stations.
Feel dry between uses. Picking up a sodden cotton towel repeatedly across a session is unpleasant. Microfibre returns to a substantially drier state between uses due to evaporation from the surface.
Stay manageable in size. Gym bags have limited space. A Will and Wind microfibre towel packs to the size of a drink bottle at 270g. A cotton gym towel of the same surface area weighs 700g to 1kg and takes up substantially more space.
Wash easily and dry fast. Gym towels need frequent washing. Microfibre machine washes cold or warm and dries in one to two hours. Cotton towels at the same washing frequency take considerably longer to dry and are more prone to developing odour in the meantime. The care guide at the how to clean your beach gear blog applies equally to gym towels.
Will and Wind Gym Towels Specifically
The Will and Wind gym towel range is the microfibre towel for sweat that uses 200 GSM rPET microfibre, the same material as the travel and beach towel ranges. They are made from 16 recycled plastic bottles per towel, GRS 4.0 certified, and carry the same 60-day money-back guarantee as the rest of the range.
The designs are original Australian underwater photography rather than plain solid colours. Practically speaking, the towel performs the same either way. But at Noosa, Bondi or in a Perth gym, a humpback whale design is more interesting than a grey polyester rectangle.
The Fabric Softener Warning
The single thing that degrades a microfibre towel for sweat faster than anything else is fabric softener. Fabric softener coats the split fibres with a waxy residue that reduces their ability to draw moisture in. A microfibre towel washed with fabric softener repeatedly becomes progressively less absorbent. Cold machine wash, no fabric softener, line dry. That is genuinely all the care instruction needed.
FAQs
Is a microfibre towel better than cotton for the gym?
For gym use, yes on every practical measure. It absorbs faster, dries between uses, packs smaller and stays fresher between washes. Cotton has a fluffier feel but that is its only advantage in a gym context.
What size microfibre gym towel do I need?
Standard hand towel size (50cm x 30cm) covers most gym use: wiping equipment, drying face and hands between sets. A full travel towel at 160cm x 80cm also works if you prefer a larger format, particularly for floor work or post-gym showering.
How often should I wash a microfibre sweat towel?
After every gym session. Sweat combined with warm conditions accelerates bacterial growth. Machine wash cold or warm, no fabric softener, line dry. At this frequency a quality microfibre towel will hold its performance for years.
Can microfibre gym towels go in the dryer?
Low heat is fine occasionally. High heat degrades the fibres over time and reduces absorbency. Line drying is better for longevity. A Will and Wind microfibre towel line-dried after each session stays in good condition through years of regular use, as the customer reviews consistently note.