Australia has almost 12,000 beaches along its 60,000 km coastline. A country with that many beaches is bound to have a lot of beachgoers and, in turn, see beach towels as a necessary commodity.
Given the need for them, Aussie made beach towels are considered some of the best in the world. Companies have diverted significant amounts of money towards research and development to create the perfect beach towels.
There is a wide variety of materials, thicknesses, and sizes to pick from. Read on to find out how to narrow down the choices.
Pick the Right Size
A beach towel is much larger and longer than a bath towel. This is a critical feature because no one wants half of their body to come into contact with the hot sand or pebbles on a beach. The usual beach towel measures approximately 80cm X 160cm or 31 inches X 63 inches.
A large towel can also completely cover a lounge chair while protecting the feet from being burnt by the scorching sand. Moreover, it can help keep sand from getting stuck between the toes.
Know the Thickness
A beach towel is prone to a lot of wear and tear. In addition to acting as a cover-up, tanning bed, and more, it also comes in contact with saltwater, chlorine, sand, and the sun.
Hence the thickness, weave, and GSM are essential factors to consider when buying a beach towel. They do not need to be incredibly absorbent, but they need to be comfortable.
GSM
GSM stands for grams per square metre (g/m2). It is a typical industrial measurement of a towel’s density that refers to the weight of the fabric interwoven into a square metre and determines the thickness and softness of various towels.
Towels can range between 300 and 900 GSM. The softer and thinner the towel, the lower the GSM.
Functionality
A beach towel is created to serve more than one purpose. It must strike that exact balance to provide a comfortable layer between the person and the ground, which is its primary use. Additionally, it needs to:
- absorb water,
- dry rapidly,
- serve as a makeshift sun shade blanket,
- a changing room, and
- be light enough to be worn as a head wrap, or shawl
It has to serve all of these purposes while preventing sand from clinging to its fibres.
Choose the Material Carefully
Picking different materials can serve differently. There are mainly four types of materials that towels are made of, and they all have different features.
- Cotton: They are soft, fluffy, absorbent, and quick to dry, but they tear easily.
- Egyptian cotton: These are the best types of towels as they are soft, absorbent, high quality, and durable. However, they may be slightly pricey.
- Microfibres: These are artificial fibres and are highly durable and absorbent. They are also extremely compact when folded. However, they can feel less plush and luxurious.
- Turkish Cotton: Most likely alluding to the Hammam style, towels produced from Turkish cotton are soft, luscious, absorbent, and light.
Endnotes
Aussie made beach towels come in a variety of designs, materials, and GSM. Therefore it is rare for someone not to find the ideal beach towel for themselves. This article serves as a brief guide that can help anyone make the right choice when picking one.
Hannah Gilbert is a freelance writer who offers to ghostwrite, copy writing, and blogging services. She works closely with B2C and B2B businesses providing digital marketing content that gains social media attention and increases their search engine visibility.
