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Not all waffle-style towels are equal in quality, absorbency, or drying time.
The Spruce / Dera Burreson
An awesome feature of these towels is that they come pre-washed, providing increased initial softness and less shrinkage.
They are a standout thanks to theirgauzy, airy feel thats hard to match.
This was another important factor for me as a city dweller.
PHOTO: The Spruce
Like I said, quick-drying towels are a must for stuffy apartment bathrooms.
Luckily, these dry insanely quickly, and I’ve never once noticed a bad smell.
After a year of frequent washes without any shrinking, they remain cozy and absorbent.
The Brooklinen Waffle Towels were surprisingly soft, even after a year of washes.PHOTO: The Spruce
Just note that a thin towel like this one won’t provide the same thickness as other towels.
I always favor a larger towel, and these waffle ones from Cozy Earth are no exception.
Despite their large size, they’re still extremely quick-drying, which I relied on for years.
However, I loved that the towel never shrunk in size after two years of frequent washes.
I can confirm that these effectively get you dry in just one pass.
They also dry completely withinhoursof use.
I’m curious to see if the Brooklinen ones meet the same fate.
One more thingthis bath sheet is prone to wrinkling.
What’s more, they felt spacious, while remaining lightweight and easy to handle.
These high-quality towels are woven from soft, long-staple Pima cotton with a smooth and lightweight feel.
We wouldn’t call them exceptionally soft, but they remained cozy and absorbent even after multiple washes.
TheCitizenry Imabari Waffle Towelsare sold as a set; you’re free to’t buy a single towel.
I love it when it takes minimal effort to dry off, and this towel seems perfect for that.
The cotton construction is soft with a waffle weave on both sides.
Another plus, this towel felt secure when wrapping up after a shower without the risk of it falling.
However, we do wish the towels were a bit longer, especially for taller individuals.
Still, we love the quick dry time, especially for humid and small bathrooms without much ventilation.
TheWest Elm Waffle Towelscome in nine rich colors that won’t fade after multiple washes, in our experience.
PHOTO: The Spruce
Plus, we noticed zero snags or loose threads after months of testing, which is always a win.
you’re free to also personalize them for an extra cost.
This particular waffle towel combats that feeling while remaining soft and thick.
The lightweight Casaluna Waffle Bath Towel looks best when folded, rather than hung on a hook.PHOTO: The Spruce
One thing to keep in mind is that the colors are more faded in person than they appear online.
This became a blessing for us, similar to a pair of worn-in jeans.
We were thrilled that both sides of the towels felt the same after multiple washes.
However, they lacked an additional hook like other towels we love.
Opt for the L.L.
We would compare these to a classic terry towel, just with a bit of extra texture.
They still felt fluffy, but absorbed water faster than a classic plush alternative.
Even on days when we showered in the morning and at night, our towel felt completely dry.
It kept all of these amazing qualities even after multiple washes and months of use as well.
But, overall, theL.L.
Plus, you’ll save money when buying a set rather than individual towels.
And who doesn’t love a quick-drying hand towel as well?
PHOTO: The Spruce
Then, we took them home to see how they fared after weeks and months of washing.
We evaluated each towel for quality, texture, durability, absorbency, dry time, and overall value.
Absorbency and Texture:We performed absorbency, staining, and durability tests in the lab.
We were impressed with the thickness of the Cozy Earth Waffle Bath Sheets.The Spruce
We tried to wear the towels down with a scrub brush and then recorded how the fabrics held up.
We then used a moisture meter to record moisture levels and left the towels to dry unfolded.
We checked the moisture levels at 30 minutes and again at 60 minutes.
The Citizenry Imabari Waffle Towel features tight stitching that’s ideal for quick-drying.PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
With all of the towels we tested, waffle towels were always impressively quick-drying compared to traditional picks.
Some of the towels on this list were used for over two years with daily use and weekly washes.
We noticed any fading, staining, shrinking, or changes in quality.
The Citizenry Imabari Waffle Towel features tight stitching that’s ideal for quick-drying.PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
When Is the Best Time to Buy Waffle Bath Towels on Sale?
Both provide a lot of coverage and are good for bundling up after a shower.
Make it easier on yourself by buying a matching bundle like our best set, theL.L.
Bean Waffle Cotton Towel Set.
Long-staple cotton towels like theBrooklinen Waffle Bath Towelsare also very absorbent and tend to dry faster than regular cotton.
With towels, luxury generally comes from heavier and thicker, explains Young.
So you would generally want heavier.
Denser weaves provide more durability, but they can also be slower to dry.
(Young tells us that the standard weight for terry cloth is just 350 GSM.)
In general, we recommend washing your waffle towels in cold water and drying on low heat.
TheBrooklinen Waffle Bath Towel(our overall best pick) comes pre-washed for increased initial softness and less shrinkage.
Also, after using ourbest bath sheetsfor over two years, we still found them spacious and oversized.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
Staining and Colorfastness
Note that certain makeup and skincare products can leave stains on your towel.
You should treat stains immediately for the best chance of complete removal.
Why Trust The Spruce?
We hung the West Elm Waffle Towels on a drying rack and found they dried completely very quickly.PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
Living in small New York City apartments for years, she knows the value of a quick-drying waffle towel.
PHOTO: The Spruce
We fell in love with the dual-sided design for added plushness on the Lands' End Cotton Waffle Bath Towel.PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
One side of the L.L.Bean Waffle Cotton Towel Set is waffle and one side is plush.PHOTO: The Spruce / Dera Burreson
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All of the waffle towels we tested dried quickly, so we never reached for a soggy towel.The Spruce / Dera Burreson
A tight weave, like on the West Elm Waffle Towel, makes for an absorbent and quick-drying towel.The Spruce / Dera Burreson
