MSR Packtowl Ultralite

I have seen many packtowels that claim to be the lightest, but to put it bluntly this thing is ridiculous. There are other chamois style towels out there but this one combines absorbency and very low weight with an incredibly fast drying time. Seriously, I have been using it to dry off when I get out of the shower (to soften it up a bit), I will use it to dry off my entire body including getting my hair (which is shoulder length) nearly dry. I hang it up and by the time I'm dressed it is dry enough to fold up and put away without worry about mildew.
The only thing to consider is the choice between the MSR ultralight and the MSR personal. The personal is softer, being a microfiber vs. the ultralight which is more of a chamois style synthetic. But again the ultralight is lighter, I'm not readily sure about the drying time of the personal (my girlfriend has one, but she hasn't used it yet). But again if you are looking for a packtowel, put the MSR ultralight and personal models on your list to look into!

By far, this is the best packtowel out there. A large ultralight can fit in your pocket when it’s folded up, and it has the ability to dry you like a regular beach towel. The only reason I give it a four - and probably unfairly - is I'm the kind of person who likes to be *absolutely* dry before getting dressed, and I'm still somewhat damp after using this towel. However, the same is so if I use another towel (including big beach towels), so considering the size of this packtowel, I'd say I've come out on top and am kind of being tedious. Next time I'll probably get the XL size, though. In short, still the best packtowel out there, period.

Not just for backpacking anymore, the 2 XL ultralight Packtowls just toured around Georgian Bay with us on our motorbikes. Super small pack size and light weight are what bike touring is all about, so these towels were a positive boon to us! comes in a small mesh-backed nylon bag that fits in a pocket and has a loop for attachment or hanging, the fast drying properties and water absorption are excellent, and the XL size is just big enough to use as a bath/shower towel (even for a 5'8" woman with a decidedly not dainty waist!). Will be ordering a smaller one at some point to use for doing dishes as well. Colors are crap, but who cares?

The Packtowl is great. I have several. I carry one in my Jetboil between the canister and cup to keep the steel canister from rust and staining the cup and to use for cleanup. I use two mediums in my cook set to protect the nonstick coating on the pots and lids. Again they are used to cleanup. One to wash and one to dry. I had thought about the recommendation of an earlier post, buy a larger one and cut it. I decided I wanted to have the strap on every piece and I think that is the way to go. It is nice to be able to hang it in a tree or on your pack.

This towel is fantastic! I've tried two other microfiber towels and this one is by far the best. It takes up very little space and dries every inch of me completely. I only have to hang it out to dry for a few minutes before it's stowed for it's next use. During the first week or two of use If your skin is dried out it does feel a bit scratchy for a moment or two, but as soon as it gets a tad damp it feels very soft (I've only noticed this on my overworked hands). I will be buying another!

This towel has been awesome on backpacking trips because it's so small and works well. The ribbon with the snap works great for hanging it from a tree to dry, and it dries super fast. The only thing is, I have a large, and it's a bit too short to wrap fully around my waist like a normal towel (backcountry says its 36inches but I have a 30inch waist so I don't know if their measurements are accurate). So, I might go with the XL in the future for the purpose of changing out of boardshorts or whatever.

I love the fact that my pack towel folds up to an almost ridiculously small size. I often go to hot yoga after work and need a way to dry off afterwards without taking up a large amount of room in the bag I carry to work with me. The ultra-light pack towel takes up no more room than a couple of folded sheets of paper...yet it is absorbant enough to dry off my entire body after a shower. Furthermore it takes only an hour or two to fully dry!! Love it. Love it.

This is a great towel for backpackers and travelers. It's lightweight, compact, and super absorbent. I do wish the towel was a little bigger (I bought the large) because it doesn't quite wrap around me and I'm small. Next time I might think about investing in the x-large. The texture also isn't great; it feels more like paper than a towel. But this towel definitely does the job. It wrings out well and dries super quick, which is that I really care about in a lightweight towel.

I have used this towel at home and on the trail. This is the lightest towel I can find. It works superbly. Additionally, buy the large size, custom cut it to your liking, leaving the drying loop on your favorite part. Use the rest as a hanky, washcloth, or hot pad. Works like a multipurpose cloth. I cut it into bandana size to dry my face. Works great. Get the Apricot color and use it as an emergency signal as well.