How to Select a Beach Towel

The selection of the humble beach towel should no longer be an afterthought. Beach towels have come a long way from simply being oversized pieces of terrycloth. Buying a beach towel that suits your particular needs and sense of style can be a worthwhile and fun activity.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Secure your comfort, especially after a long day of ocean swimming, by selecting wonderfully soft, 100-percent terrycloth towels or extra-plush velour versions.
2. Buy a towel with absorbency in mind. In general, the thicker the towel, the better drying ability it will possess. Remember to keep weight in mind, however, as you will be carrying it to and from the beach.
3. Select a durable towel that is made of top-quality materials, so it will last many summers and withstand countless washings. Egyptian cotton and cotton velour are heavy-duty materials that make for very plush towels.
4. Insist on buying a double-sided beach towel, as this will be of better quality and provide much more in the way of comfort and absorbency than the inexpensive, printed-on-one-side beach towel commonly found in many stores.
5. Select fiber-active beach towels that have super-bright colors and are fade resistant.
6. Enjoy a beach towel with pockets. Some towels, such as those available from Theitsa.com, now have this feature, giving you a great place to stash sunscreen and a paperback (see Resources below).
7. Choose an oversized towel for use when lying on the beach. You will keep more sand off while enjoying the extra room.
8. Search for beach towels that make an impression and have special meaning to you. Select a towel on which your favorite sports team or musical group is embossed or one with a graphic of your favorite animal or flower.
9. Buy a game beach towel, such as "Twister" and "Tic-tac-toe." These are equipped with accessory bags containing the tools necessary to play.

Tips & Warnings

• Personalize your beach towels by having your name embroidered on them by a seamstress, or do it yourself with a sewing machine equipped with an embroidery function.
• It is a good idea to take an extra towel or two on a trip to the beach, ensuring that you will have replacements if your towel gets too wet or sandy.
• Don't get so comfortable lying on your beach towel that you fall asleep and leave yourself vulnerable to sunburn.

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