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The MSR Packtowl UltraLite is a treat for your face, hands or body after a long day on the trail or in a bustling overseas metropolis. Made from a supple non-woven nylon and polyester microfiber, this Packtowl is extremely lightweight, ridiculously supple, and super absorbent. In fact, it will absorb up to 7 times its weight, and it doesn't feel slimy when wet. It will go anywhere you go without weighing you down. Ultralight aficionados, now there's a Packtowl for you.
Bottom Line: Ultralight doesn't have to mean ultra dirty. Pack a Packtowl Ultralite—you'll never even know it's there.
I retired all my other towels when this one hit the scene. The size & weight are minimal & almost as plush & absorbent as the all cotton one @ home. Great for the occasional backpack into the remote hot springs. Get the largest size. The nominal extra weight is well worth what you get in return.
Raivyn,Backcountry Tech Spec's say its 12" X 26".interesting enough, the listed sizes (and masses) of MSR packtowels vary between the EMS, REI, and Backcountry sites, and are not always listed on the MSR site
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!
This towel is awesome. Super light, very quick to dry, and the texture isn't sandpaper-y like I was imagining it would be. Yet another great MSR product.
This is the perfect towel for that light and fast toiletry kit for on the run travel. This little towel bungees to the outside of my pencil case which serves to hold my toothbrush, razors, and such. It's completely dry within ten minute or a good wringing.
Very compact, very lightweight, dries easily. Loved the press stud hook - meant we could hang it from a tree while we swam and from the outside of our backpack for our post-swim hike.
This towel is incredibly light, packs tiny, doesn't bleed when washed and holds up very well. I've tried several other types of light towels and this one has worked the best and held up. The only down side is that it does tend to remain damp and take longer to dry in a damp environment... but then, so do other towels so you are still much better off with this towel.
This product performs as promised, however I have a problem with the texture of the material. Although I like this new material compared to the old chamois-style pack towels, it feels like you're drying off with a shop-weight paper towel. I just wish someone could find a material that actually feels like fabric that has the same performance quality.
The towels packed so small and were perfect sized for my trek on the Inca Trail. But the weather was humid and damp, and the towels just never dried. At home, they dried so quickly, but out on the trail, I had to pack them damp and they stayed that way the entire trek.
I'm amazed at how good this product is, especially for the price. The large size dries me off completely after showers (I'm 5'10"); the small mops up everything else. It dries overnight (the built-in loop is very handy), it feels fine after you get used to it, and very importantly, it's incredibly light and compressible. You will have to wash it periodically, however, to eliminate an odor that develops even when you let it completely dry between uses.
I have a face size one and a body size one. They are both perfect for dirt bagging trips with sink showers and when you crash at a friends place. I love using the face size one in the morning when a shower is a no go, to wash my face and wake up for the day.
These towels are awesome. WE got three sizes, XS (for face), L (for me), XL (for my husband). My only regret is that I didn't get the XL so I could wrpa it around my entire body. Hopefully the guys on the trail didn't mind;)
This towel is light and packs very small. I used it on my last hike to dry off after being rained on for 7 hours. It worked great. It was amazingly absorbent and dried quickly after use. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great performer that doesn't add significant weight to your pack.
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.
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.
First glance i thought there was no way this thing was gonna dry me off and if it did wasn't gonna feel too good doing it ... I was "WRONG" ... This thing is ULTRAlight ... ULTRAthin, highly packable and is really very soft ... Water squeezes out to almost nothing, a slight damp feeling ... dries very quick .... This is yet another great product from MSR.
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!
The guy on the ShamWOW commercials should try this thing. It dries me off magically. Then dries itself out in minutes. Light, small, and performs better than I ever thought it would. Well done MSR.
The most lightweight of all the microfibre towels I've bought. The material is very absorbent and dries pretty quickly. The XL size is also very versatile --- in a pinch I've used it as a picnic mat and a mini blanket. The only quibble is with the texture, which takes a little getting used to, but overall it's a great product for any traveller.
Killer. Worth both pennies. Bought the medium size for a backpacking trip to Mexico and used it a dozen times a day (no exaggeration necessary) -- at least. Great number of uses, great price, and stellar overall buy. I expect you'll be happy with this too.
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.
These towels are so light it's simply amazing. They handle anything you do and dry out pretty quick. They wash great and seem hold up well. No problems with colors running and although seem like they might tear, they are really strong. I give it my highest rating of any ultralight towel I have and I have several brands. This is by far the best.
Extremely lightweight towel- impressed with its pack size! It dries pretty quickly and is very absorbent. We used the towels for the first time on a backpacking trip in Washington. I was able to use it to dry my face and hair and it still was able to dry the inside/outside of our tent before we repacked it. I was pleased with the fast delivery and the service provided. Thanks.
This thing is incredible, you can use it and then its like you havent even gotten it wet. Dont get the small though, unless you just want a hand towel, because it is truly tiny. I would recommend one of the bigger ones, because the weight and space it occupies is virtually nonexistent.
By far, this is the best packtowel out there. A large ultralight can fit in your pocket when its 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.
I really like the towel because it fits in my coat pocket and I take it to the pool. Much better than renting a towel or carrying home a soggy one. It's like the towels they use to dry your car at the carwash, only for people.
True to its description, this towel is lite and wicks fast. My group and I used this on our Grand Canyon hike and all were pleased. I suggest you get the larger sizes since its weight is practically non existent.
Just took these towels to Costa Rica and they came in so handy since they take up so little room compared to normal towels. I'm sure we'll use them a lot for traveling and camping.
Definitely a nice product for taking up NO room! Doesn't feel like a luxurious towel by any means, but great function for the incredibly small and easily packable size.
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?
I bought the large and cut off the end to use as a hand towel. You still have plenty to dry off with and also a washcloth. Doesn't feel like a terry cloth towel, but it does the trick.
I bought the medium size towel. It was average quality and not as absorbant as I thought it would be. It dried my body to a damp state. It needed to be wrung out and could not absorb the water out of my hair. Drying time over an hour. I went to Walmart and bought a slightly thicker,, arcylic blend for $2.99. It worked much better.
Best towel I've ever used. Wring it out twice and it's almost dry. Take this on every trip into the backcountry, just in case you get water in your tent or find a nice stream to swim in.
This is a great pack towel. I have both of the MSR packtowels and I like this one better, although the other version is softer, this towel is lighter and dries faster.
This is what every ultralight packer out there needs! This this is super light weight, super durable, and super absorbent! Also, it packs up super small so it can fit in just about any nook or cranny in your pack. If you backpack, you need this towel!
I went with a size large since it's so light. That was slick for a quick dip (plenty large) but I missed having a small one that would be more convenient for a quick face wash, etc. I loved the little bag it comes in, keeps it separate and compact and the grimy things off of it. I also liked the snap hook that is on it so I could loop it around a tent pole for drying.
I haven't used it in the backcountry yet, but I know it'll perform great. very light and absorbant. the hanger loop is pretty cool. hang it out to dry, or loop it on your thumb to engage in vigorous toweling without fear of losing it to the wind.... if your into that sort of thing. the pouch it comes is in convenient to strap into my pack. keeps it clean, separate, and where I put it.
If you're going a long distance or you'll be out for an extended period of time this towel is awesome. It's extremely light and absorbent. I wasn't timing it but it literally dried out within minutes. It's almost paper towel thin and it will fit in your pocket.
Unbelievably small and absorbent. I bought the large towel, and it's plenty big enough to completely dry off after a shower. This material is really incredibly absorbent. It works great for wiping down the tent in the morning to get it dry before packing it up. You just wring out the towel and keep using it. Washes with other laundry. Great product. Bought a small one to use as a wash cloth as well.
I needed a small, packable towel for swimteam. this does the job wonderfully. It folds up smaller than my swimsuits, soaks up all the water from my hair, body, etc. it dries quickly. it's a dream! now I don't have that bulky cotton towel taking up all the room in my bag anymore. this does the trick! I'm sure it will be great for backpacking too. I just love it for swimteam.
I wish that I bought the biggest size though, the 20x36 isn't quite enough to get that nice warm you up kind of wrap around, but it is certainly enough to dry you off.
dry's pretty quick. everyone needs one. It's a towel, let's not get too crazy here.
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.
The Packtowl definitely packs small, is very light and easy to take care of. The towel will get most of the water off your skin, but your skin will still be slightly damp. The Packtowls run small, and so buying a larger size might make up for any residual skin dampness left by smaller sizes.
Its light it dries out incredibly fast, and it packs into tiny corners of my bag...I live in Quito and I will use it as my shower towel on Friday, let it dry and on Saturday pack it away for my weekend advertures. The only disadvantage is that it feels like paper...oh well I can deal.
Great product. Extremely light and compact, so perfect for backpacking. Need the XL size though to completely dry myself off (6'3"). Dries very quickly afterward as well. Only downside is its price.
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.
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