Regatta Giant microfibre travel towel, berry red, 160 × 90 cm

The Regatta Giant Travel Towel is a large microfibre towel, 160 × 90 cm, that folds into its own storage bag. It is built for situations where a thick cotton towel is a nuisance: a swim before work, a gym bag that needs to stay small, a weekend of camping or a flight with hand luggage only. Microfibre dries much faster than cotton, so you are not carrying a damp, heavy bundle around for the rest of the day.

Who it suits

It is a good fit for regular swimmers, gym-goers who shower at the gym, runners who travel to races and anyone who hikes or camps. The size is generous enough to wrap around your body after a shower, which smaller sports towels are not. If you want to make training easier to stick with, keeping a ready-packed bag by the door helps, and this towel takes up very little room in it. Our guide on how to build a workout habit has more small tricks like that.

Microfibre vs. cotton

Microfibre is made of very fine synthetic fibres. It holds a lot of water for its weight, releases it quickly when you hang it up, and compresses into a small pack. The trade-off is feel: it is thinner and smoother than a fluffy cotton towel and can feel slightly grippy on dry skin. Most people get on with it best by pressing the towel against their skin instead of rubbing hard.

How to use and care for it

• Wash it once before the first use. New microfibre often absorbs better after a wash.
• After a swim, shake out the towel and hang it up loosely as soon as you can, so it dries fully before it goes back into the bag.
• Do not store it wet in the bag for hours. That is the main cause of musty smells with any towel.
• Wash it without fabric softener and separately from cotton laundry, and follow the temperature on the care label.

What to pair it with

For the pool, combine it with a swim cap, goggles and a pair of flip-flops in one small bag. For the gym, a separate smaller sweat towel for the benches keeps this one dry for after the shower.