PackTowl Luxe - Review 2023

Overview

This towel is made of 80% polyester and 20% nylon. The terry knit microfiber fabric feels a lot like a regular cotton towel. Visually, it has a trim that contrasts nicely against its vibrant color.

The PackTowl Luxe Towel is designed with Polygiene, a formulation based on silver salt to control and resist odor buildup. This treatment doesn’t wash out over time because it is integrated into the fabric. Since the silver salt is derived from recycled silver, it has less carbon footprint than other odor resistance treatments.

Before using this towel for the first time, wash it to let the color bleed. A tiny amount of dye can still bleed due to the manufacturing process.

This beach towel is machine washable. Remember to wash it in a cold setting with like colors. Note that the use of bleach and fabric softener is not recommended. After washing it, you can put it in the dryer on a low setting or hang it to dry.

Intended for traveling, the PackTowl Luxe Towel comes with a hanging loop and zippered storage pouch. You can dry it properly using the loop. Once it is dry, you can pack it in the bag.

Let’s dive deeper to know more about these features!

Material

This towel offers the benefits of a microfiber towel without feeling like a microfiber towel. It is not rough and stiff, two qualities that most people don’t like about microfiber towels. In fact, it is as fluffy and as soft as your everyday cotton towels at home.

The reason for this is the Polygiene stitching material. It’s a relatively new process of production that makes this towel automatically more premium in its texture and environmental standing.

Despite having the consistency of a microfiber towel, this beach towel barely sticks to the skin.

Moreover, this PackTowl towel has pretty solid and consistent stitching. There is no evidence of fraying even after occasional uses for months and several washes.

On the downside, this towel can collect sand or grass if it falls on the ground. You can easily shake off the sand, but you might need tweezers to pull the grass completely.

The hanging loop can also be improved because the snap breaks easily. The same goes for the storage pouch, which frays a little bit on the inside. While this fraying doesn’t affect the quality of the towel, it does affect the overall value of the purchase.

These accessories do make the PackTowl Luxe Towel easy to dry and pack. So, if they work properly, they can enhance your outdoor trips.

In most cases, this towel bleeds some color when washed for the first time. Nonetheless, that is pretty normal for beach towels. The good news is that there is no more color bleeding in subsequent washes.

Absorbency

This beach towel can hold so much water. It can soak water that is about four to five times its weight. That is a huge deal, especially if you are using it after diving or other demanding activities on the water. With a highly absorbent towel, your skin can dry thoroughly and not feel wet at all.

It is one thing for a towel to be able to absorb that much water. Now, can you wring out the water quickly? The answer is yes. Some would even say that the PackTowl Luxe Towel is easier to wring out than a regular cotton towel.

The ability of a beach towel to absorb water and dry rapidly should go hand in hand, and PackTowl struck that balance. This towel can dry almost 30% faster than your average cotton towels, and that is not just a marketing figure. It has been put to the test, and it did deliver.

Size & Weight

When it comes to size and weight, let us start with the positive. This fluffy beach towel is true to size. The dimension you see on the label is what you get. It is huge enough to dry a full-size adult getting out of the ocean or shower.

However, the PackTowl Luxe Towel weighs 16 ounces or 1 whole pound. It is pretty heavy and not that compact when packed. It weighs almost twice as much as regular camping towels.

Practically, this towel may not be the best choice for camping, hiking, or any activity in which bulky gear may be an inconvenience.

Odor Resistance

Thanks to Polygiene, this beach towel can resist odor buildup due to bacteria, mildew, and other microbes. It can stay fresh longer than most beach towels, and that matters if you want to use it a few times before throwing it in the washer.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors or at the beach, you will appreciate how Polygiene works. Sea breeze, dust, dirt, and other elements can cause fabrics to develop foul odors, but not with the PackTowl Luxe Towel. Just hang it properly and let it dry for a few hours, and you can use it again.

Environmental Impact

Another good thing about this towel is that it is eco-friendly. It can be composted. However, you don’t want to compost it in your backyard. Seek the help of industrial composting service providers in your area.

Silver salt from recycled silver makes up Polygiene, the odor control treatment integrated into this towel. What does this mean for the environment? It means low impact compared to other odor resistance solutions.

Maintenance

Maintaining the PackTowl Luxe Towel is pretty easy because it is machine washable. You can throw it in the washer with like colors. Since it is quick-dry, you can hang it for just a few hours, and it will be ready for folding and packing.

Conclusion

If you need a high-quality, highly absorbent towel that is quick to dry, this PackTowl towel is an excellent choice. It gives you the benefits of a microfiber towel without the discomfort of using one. In fact, it feels a lot like your cotton bath towel.

We really appreciate how much polygiene stands to revolutionize beach materials. For now that can be seen in a higher price tag, but that also translates into a much better product in terms of quality.

This beach towel is also odor-resistant, and easy to wring out and wash. The only con is that it is heavier than regular outdoor towels. For this reason, more technical, lightweight hiking expeditions might not be the best use of it. But, it fits into our Deuter AirContact Lite mesh pocket for drying without any issues whatsoever.

So it can definitely be used for camping!

Considering its quality, performance, and size, the PackTowl Luxe Towel is best used for beach getaways and glamping adventures though. It is a bit on the expensive side, but you can count on its functionality and durability.