pack towel

None would be the lightest. I have managed to survive and be comfortable without one.

A bandanna can do double/triple (or more) duty.

If you must, a heavy duty handi-wipe is lighter and dries faster.

Shamwow or bandana have served me well for decades.

Shamwow?

What on earth is that?

No infomercials huh Nick. Some super absorbant synthetic towel thingy.

Sigh,

What's an infomercial?

:(

You're on your own at this point Nick. Try Google :)

Shamwow — mixed reviews. I'll stick with my bandanna. Interesting altercation between the Shamwow pitchman and a hooker in Miami reported.

Infomercial — you gotta be freakin' kidding! A 15-30 minute commercial. People actually watch these?

What do you use a "pack towel" for?

A handi-wipe is synthetic, and weighs about 0.2 oz.
A liteload towel is 0.6 oz, 0.3 if cut in half and take that

A bandana is usually worn around my neck and serves all purposes needed, from sunshade, neck warmer, to dust mask, to washcloth, to snotrag, to wiping condensate off tent walls, to hot pot holder.

seems like the responses are more focused on promoting alternate methods than answering my question…

Please, I'd love to hear any recommendations on light weight pack towels…

Bill D

Seriously I don't think you will find anything lighter designed as a pack towel than what you have already. The Shamwow might be slightly lighter though it is essentially what you have now. I have a Japanese golf towel made by Fine Tex that works great but is too lagre and heavy for backpacking. So I've been taking two bandannas with me instead for a very long time like I said. I'm curious too as to what tasks you assign this piece of equipment.

you guys are making this toooooo complicated…

my snot rag is for snot…
I really can't get into rubbing that snot all over my body after washing up…
(I have a prolific production of snot while hiking)
If I wash the snot rags first, then they are wet and won't dry my body.

hence, the logical conclusion of a pack towel…
which method, btw, has worked just fine for me for the past 40 years or so…

the pack towel I have is pretty worn out..
hence looking for new recommendation…

so… if we could get on to giving recommendations for a pack towel, perhaps I could make some progress in that direction…

thanks,

Bill D

Recommendations
More bandannas
Shamwow
Smaller towel by Fine Tex
Handi wipes
New MSR pack towel
Geez.

"So wondering if there is something better out there now."

Guessing no if you don't like any of the above options.

Is all I bring. Works well enough. Multi purpose. Just make a knot in the corner you blow your nose in :).

Try this:

http://www.rei.com/product/830600/packtowl-ultralite-towel

Much more absorbent than a normal bandana (and they dry quicker)

Winner. The small weighs half of what your current one does. At a cost.

indeed, and at .6 oz the Packtowel Nano is half the weight of a bandanna…

http://www.rei.com/product/830567/packtowl-nano-towel

perhaps you bandanna guys should switch to a packtowel for your snot instead of your bandanna for a packtowel???

But, really, I can find these things as well as anyone else on the web… but what I'm looking for is a recommendation for a packtowel by someone who has actually used them…

thanks,

Bill D

But…can I I wear it on my head?

You ask for better, lighter.

You don't like the answers our experiences have given.

A pack towel is a pack towel, is a pack towel. Think outside the box.

My experience is.

Bought pack towel, too heavy
Light load towel. Gimmicy and not long lasting.
Handi wipes. Got hard to find these in the stores some times, but at this point I'd been bringing bandannas anyway.
Golf towel. Found it. OK but too heavy, melts
Bandanna, does not melt. Drys fast enough for me. Readily available. Easy to clean, find, replace.
What have you tried in your 40+ years? I've only got 3+ decades.

Edit: Serious questions added. How many nose rags do you take along? How do you deal with them once loaded? I got a thing about blowing my nose and don't unless it is a last choice option. Fortunately allergies usually bother my eyes.

Who is being snotty here?

I just use my shirt and pants.

Further down on the pants for dirtier stuff, cleaner as I go up and onto my shirt.

This is backpackingLIGHT so you have to expect non-answers to your request for pack towel suggestions

Or Ken will tell you that you're not posting in the right forum : )

Or Nick will ask about infomercials…

I have the towel linked above. I bought an XL and cut it in half. It weighs 2 oz or so. I like to swim at just about any opportunity and I don'tfind the weight obtrusive. My base weight goes between 12 and 17lbs. I'll never be a true UL'r. The towel dries well and I like it

the first and only direct answer to my question…

the others seem to be just out to prove they have a 'better' way…

Bill D

"Can you all tell me what is the lightest / best backpacking towel?"

"So wondering if there is something better out there now."

sigh.

You should have added that it must be marketed as a pack towel. And that you are not open to new ideas or methodology. Old dog, new trick , not happening. I get it.

Also the suggestion given is heavier than your current choice.

I've been using 0.6 oz of AquaDry, a synthetic chamois sold in…Target, I think, in the automobile section. It positively GULPS water off the tent in the morning. And works well for cleaning up the body. One third of an AD chamois is 0.6 oz.