Towel for winter swimming
Fast-drying, it dries the towel - not you.
A 100% cotton towel absorbs a lot of water at once, can be wrung out and used again immediately, and won't smell by tomorrow.
OEKO-TEX®.
The 30 seconds after you come up
The wind is picking up. Your fingers aren't working well. You need to get your back, body, and hair dry before you start shivering.
This is not the time to rub three times with something that just moves the water around.
Most people solve this with two towels. One for the upper body. One for the legs.
That doesn't solve the problem. It doubles it. Now there are two wet towels in your bag, in the car, and in a bathroom where three things are already hanging. By Friday, none of them are dry. So you grab a clean one and end up washing four towels a week all winter.
Winter swimming is a routine, not a one-off trip.
That is why it is crucial that the towel can be wrung out. A towel you can wring out and keep using is two towels in one.
Adventure Smart Towel – Quick-Drying, Lightweight & Antibacterial Towel for Travel, Sports and Outdoors
Looking for the best travel towel for outdoor, sports or backpacking? The Adventure Smart Towel is the ideal choice. This lightweight 100% cotton towel is quick-drying, super absorbent and antibacterial - perfect for everything from hiking and camping to fitness and beach holidays.
Designed for adventurers and travelers, the towel combines functionality and comfort. The towel has a beautiful contrasting edge and a smart elastic hanging loop makes it easy to hang up and pack away. We have chosen an environmentally friendly approach without unnecessary packaging - you only get what is most important: a durable, quality cotton towel that will last for years.
Advantages of Adventure Smart Towel:
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100% natural cotton – no synthetic fibers
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Quick-drying towel – perfect for travel and sports
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Antibacterial treatment – stays fresher longer
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Extremely absorbent – absorbs water efficiently
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Lightweight design – weighs only 109g (Small) / 340g (Large)
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Soft and breathable – comfortable against the skin
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Oeko-Tex certified – free from harmful chemicals
Whether you're into hiking, climbing, surfing, fitness or world travel, the Adventure Smart Towel is the perfect choice. It's travel-friendly, quick-drying, durable and antibacterial - the ultimate towel for all your adventures.
best for winter bathing
Why cotton beats microfiber when it's cold
Microfiber dries quickly. That is the entire selling point.
It fails to address two things:
- It absorbs less water per stroke.
- It is synthetic and cold skin is tight skin.
Therefore, the towel slides over the skin instead of absorbing the water. You know the feeling. Rubbery. Worst when you are cold.
Think about the difference between drying a table with a sponge and with a raincoat.
The sponge sucks the water into itself.
The raincoat pushes the water to the edge.
Microfiber is the raincoat. Cotton loops are the sponge.
Adventure Smart Towel is pure cotton. The structure provides a large surface area that absorbs a lot of water at once, and the fibers feel soft and warm against the skin from the very first touch.
Furthermore, cotton releases no microplastics when washed. And there is no unnecessary packaging around the product, only what matters: a durable towel that lasts for years.
A dry towel is not a clean towel
Hanging your towel out to dry doesn't remove the smell.
Odour isn't caused by water. It’s caused by bacteria that thrive on moisture. When the water evaporates, the bacteria remain in the fabric. That is why the towel smells sour the second it gets wet again.
This is why you wash four towels a week. Not because they are dirty. Because they smell.
The mechanism: Polygiene StayFresh. A silver-based treatment that inhibits the growth of the very bacteria it fights, eliminating 99.9% of bacterial growth in the fabric.
The important thing is when it is applied: it is added during the actual production of the textile, not as a spray on top. Therefore, it does not wash out. It lasts for the lifetime of the product and does not need to be refreshed.
In practice:
- Use it for several days in a row.
- Wash it when it has become dirty, not because it has been used.
- Wash at 30 degrees instead of 60.
→ Read more about the StayFresh technology
Most winter bathers end up with two: one for the trip and one for at home.
What you need to know if you are taking it to the bathing jetty
- Weight
109 g (Small) / 340 g (Large) — The large one takes up less space in your bag than a regular bath towel
- Material
100% cotton. No synthetic fibers, no microfiber, no microplastics when washed
- Antibacterial
Polygiene StayFresh, silver-based, lasts the lifetime of the product
- Mounting
Elastic hanging loop — hang on a hook in the sauna, changing room, or at home without a hanger
- Certification
OEKO-TEX® — tested free of harmful substances, also for sensitive skin
- Production
Portugal
- Drying
Hang it spread out, not folded in two. The air needs to be able to reach both sides
care and sizes
Large, if the towel needs to go around your body after a swim — that is what most winter bathers use. Small as a supplement for hair and feet, or if you are packing very light. Many have both: the small one in their bag all year round, the large one for regular swims.
Yes. Please rinse it thoroughly after swimming in saltwater, and hang it out to dry. Salt is hard on all textiles over time, and a rinse will extend its lifespan.
30 °C with similar colors. No fabric softener — it leaves a film on the fibers and reduces absorbency. No tumble drying, no bleach. Because you only need 30 degrees instead of 60, you save water and energy over the season.
There is no fixed rule. Because the treatment prevents odor-causing bacteria from growing, most people can use the towel for several days in a row. Wash it when it is dirty.
It is made to last for years rather than being a disposable item. It typically becomes softer with use, and the antibacterial effect stays with the product throughout its life.
"Finally a towel that doesn't weigh too much and still feels luxurious. The cotton is a clear winner!"
"A relief to find a travel towel that isn't synthetic, but still super functional."
Frequently asked questions
One that absorbs a lot of water at once, can be wrung out and used again, and does not start to smell when it lies damp in your bag between swims. The Adventure Smart Towel in Large is 100% cotton with an antibacterial StayFresh treatment and weighs 340 g.
Microfiber dries quickly, but absorbs less water at a time and often feels rubbery against the skin—especially when the skin is cold. Cotton absorbs more water, feels softer, and does not release microplastics when washed.
Large enough to wrap around your body when you get out. Large (340 g) covers the body while taking up less space in your bag than a regular bath towel. Small (109 g) is a supplement for hair and feet.
The smell comes from bacteria that feed on moisture. The StayFresh treatment inhibits the growth of these exact bacteria, so the towel stays fresh between baths. Hang it spread out and not folded double, so it dries the fastest.
Yes. The elastic hanging loop makes it easy to hang on a hook, and the cotton can withstand both heat and moisture.
Yes. Please rinse it off after exposure to salt water and hang it up to dry — this will extend its lifespan.
It is made to last for years, not a season. The cotton typically becomes softer with use, and the antibacterial treatment does not wash out.
Adventure Smart Towel compared to others
| Adventure Smart Towel | Microfiber travel towel | Standard cotton towel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% natural fiber | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Absorbs a lot of water at once | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Can be wrung out and used again immediately | ✓ | — | — |
| Antibacterial treatment, extends lifespan | ✓ | — | — |
| Can be used for several days without smelling | ✓ | — | — |
| Can be washed at 30 °C instead of 60 | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Soft against cold skin | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Does not release microplastics when washed | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Light enough for the bag | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| OEKO-TEX® certified | ✓ | ? | ? |
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