The best beach towels are the ones that shake off sand, dry quickly, and fold small enough to fit in your tote, and that is exactly why we reach for Turkish towels. Their flat cotton weave does not trap sand the way terry loops do, it dries fast between swims, and it packs nearly flat. Below, we share why they work so well, a few of our favorite Santa Barbara beaches to take them to, and the towels we grab first.
What makes a great beach towel?
A beach towel has a different job than a bath towel. It has to be a blanket, a dryer-offer, a windbreak, a sarong, and sometimes a pillow. Here is what we look for:
- Sand shakes off easily, so you do not carry half the beach home.
- Dries fast, so it is ready for the second swim and does not sit damp in your car.
- Packs light and flat, leaving room in your bag for snacks and sunscreen.
- Big enough to lie on, with room to share.
- Looks good, because let's be honest, beach towels end up in a lot of photos.
Turkish towels vs. terry towels at the beach
Classic terry beach towels are thick and plush, which is lovely in a bathroom but less ideal at the beach. Here is how the two compare where it counts.
| Turkish beach towel | Terry beach towel | |
|---|---|---|
| Sand | Smooth flat weave, sand shakes right off | Sand gets caught in the loops |
| Drying | Dries quickly in the sun and breeze | Stays damp and heavy |
| Packing | Folds flat and light | Bulky, fills a beach bag |
| Extra uses | Wrap, sarong, scarf, picnic blanket | Mostly a towel |
If you are curious about the full story behind the weave, read Turkish towels vs. regular towels.
A few favorite Santa Barbara beaches for your towel
Santa Barbara's south-facing coastline gives us a lot of beautiful options. Conditions, parking, and rules change, so check with the city or county before you go. Here are a few spots we love and the kind of day each one suits.
Butterfly Beach
Tucked along the Montecito shoreline, Butterfly Beach is a local favorite for a slow afternoon and a sunset. It is a narrow, scenic strip of sand, so a lightweight towel you can spread out in a small space is perfect here. Bring a wrap for when the evening breeze picks up.
East Beach
East Beach is the wide, classic city beach near Stearns Wharf, with plenty of room to spread out and the beach path running alongside. It is a great choice for a long day with friends or family. Pack a couple of towels, or one big blanket, so everyone has a spot.
Leadbetter Beach
Near the harbor and below Shoreline Park, Leadbetter is often a go-to for families and for anyone getting into paddling or surfing. A quick-drying towel makes life easier when you are in and out of the water all day.
Arroyo Burro Beach (Hendry's)
Known to locals simply as Hendry's, Arroyo Burro is a relaxed beach on the west side of town with a creek, bluffs, and a lot of happy dogs. Low tide is fun for exploring, and a Turkish towel doubles as a wrap for the walk back up the sand.
Want more of our hometown? Read Santa Barbara: the American Riviera.
Our beach towel picks
These are the towels we see most often on our own beach days. You can browse them all in our beach collection.
The everyday favorite: Essential Turkish Towel
Our best seller for a reason. The Essential Turkish Towel ($29.98) is a lightweight flat weave that dries quickly and comes in more than 20 colors, so everyone in the family can have their own. It is an easy towel to keep in the car for spontaneous swims.
For Santa Barbara pride: LOVE from Santa Barbara
The LOVE from Santa Barbara Beach Towel is our love letter to this town. It is made for locals and for visitors who want to bring a piece of the coast home. For a more classic take, the Santa Barbara Embroidered Towel is a subtle, beautiful option.
Riviera stripes: Amalfi and Biarritz
Our coastal stripes are inspired by beach towns we love. The Amalfi Coast Turkish Towel and the Biarritz Turkish Towel bring a little Mediterranean and French Atlantic style to the Pacific.
Make a statement: Neapolitan Rainbow
If you want to be spotted from the lifeguard tower, the Neapolitan Rainbow Turkish Towel is cheerful, bright, and very hard to lose on a crowded beach.
For cool evenings: Whistler Fleece Wrap Throw
Santa Barbara evenings can get chilly, especially when the marine layer rolls in. The Whistler Fleece Wrap Throw is a cozy addition to your beach bag for sunset bonfires and late picnics.
How to choose your beach towel
All of our Turkish towels work at the beach, but a few questions can help you land on the right one.
Lightweight or heavier weave?
A lightweight flat weave, like the towels in our Classic collection, is the easiest to pack and the fastest to dry. It is ideal if you walk or bike to the beach, travel often, or like to keep a towel in the car. A heavier weave has more body and texture, which some people prefer for lying on the sand. It takes a little longer to dry but still dries much faster than terry.
Solid, stripe, or statement?
Solids are easy to mix and match across a family. Stripes are timeless and photograph beautifully against the sand. A bold pattern or a Santa Barbara design makes your towel easy to spot and turns it into a souvenir.
One towel or two?
Because Turkish towels are so light, many people bring two: one to lie on and one to dry off with and wear as a wrap. Two towels still take up less room than a single thick terry towel.
Beach day packing tips
- Bring one towel to lie on and one to dry off with, or use a larger towel as both.
- Shake your towel out downwind of your neighbors.
- Hang it over your bag or umbrella between swims to dry.
- Carry everything in a roomy beach tote.
- Rinse salt water out at home and skip the fabric softener to keep your towel absorbent.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best type of beach towel?
For most beach days, a Turkish towel is hard to beat. Its flat cotton weave sheds sand easily, dries quickly, and packs flat, while still being large enough to lie on and absorbent enough to dry off with.
Do Turkish towels really keep sand off?
Sand does not get trapped in a flat weave the way it does in terry loops, so a quick shake removes most of it. You will still get some sand on any towel, but it is much easier to get off.
Are Turkish towels big enough for the beach?
Yes. Turkish beach towels are typically long and generously sized, so you can lie on them, wrap them around you, or share one on a picnic.
Where can I buy a Santa Barbara beach towel?
You can shop our Santa Barbara towels online or visit our shop at 17 W. Gutierrez St. in downtown Santa Barbara. Favorites include the LOVE from Santa Barbara Beach Towel and the Santa Barbara Embroidered Towel.
Which Santa Barbara beach is best for a beach day?
It depends on your plans. East Beach has lots of room for groups, Leadbetter is popular with families and paddlers, Butterfly Beach is lovely at sunset, and Arroyo Burro is a relaxed favorite with dog owners.
Heading to the beach? Stop by our shop at 17 W. Gutierrez St. in Santa Barbara or call 805-560-1571. We offer free shipping on orders over $95, and 5% of our net profits go to organizations that heal and protect the ocean we all love, with $75,000 donated so far.
