Towel preference might sound like an odd thing to bring up on an overlanding discussion, but hear me out:
My overland rig is on the small side, and not terribly powerful either. Because of that, I've adopted a backpacker-like mindset regarding saving space and weight in my gear. A while ago, something stood out to me as taking up a surprising amount of space: towels. I know some guys don't bother with a shower on the trail, but I like one if I get the opportunity, and I'd rather not soak my seats or sleeping bag if I wade, swim, or get caught in the rain. After a bit of searching, I found an option that sounded promising, and bought a couple to test at home.
They're called Peshtemal (or Turkish) towels, and they're surprisingly effective. The ones I bought are much larger in area than a beach towel or bath sheet, but take up about half the space when folded. They're plenty absorbent, and they dry out quickly, even if not hung up to dry. The ones I got on Amazon were no more expensive than a nice ordinary towel from Bed Bath and Behind. The only odd thing about them is the texture. They don't feel like a normal towel, more like a slightly coarse sheet. It's not unpleasant, just different. Nevertheless, I totally recommend them for any drying, beach-lounging, or other towel-related needs an Overlander or Intergalactic Hitchhiker might have.
My overland rig is on the small side, and not terribly powerful either. Because of that, I've adopted a backpacker-like mindset regarding saving space and weight in my gear. A while ago, something stood out to me as taking up a surprising amount of space: towels. I know some guys don't bother with a shower on the trail, but I like one if I get the opportunity, and I'd rather not soak my seats or sleeping bag if I wade, swim, or get caught in the rain. After a bit of searching, I found an option that sounded promising, and bought a couple to test at home.
They're called Peshtemal (or Turkish) towels, and they're surprisingly effective. The ones I bought are much larger in area than a beach towel or bath sheet, but take up about half the space when folded. They're plenty absorbent, and they dry out quickly, even if not hung up to dry. The ones I got on Amazon were no more expensive than a nice ordinary towel from Bed Bath and Behind. The only odd thing about them is the texture. They don't feel like a normal towel, more like a slightly coarse sheet. It's not unpleasant, just different. Nevertheless, I totally recommend them for any drying, beach-lounging, or other towel-related needs an Overlander or Intergalactic Hitchhiker might have.
