Sand-Free Beach Towels: Why a Turkish Towel Shakes Clean
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The closest thing to a sand-free beach towel is a flat-woven Turkish cotton towel. With no terry loops to trap sand, one good shake sends most of it flying, and it dries so fast that wet sand doesn't cake on. Here's how it works, how it compares to microfiber, and how to leave the beach with less sand in the car.
01 / Why regular towels hold on to sand.
A terry towel is covered in tiny cotton loops. They're great at grabbing water, and just as good at grabbing sand. Every grain that falls between the loops stays there, and once the towel is wet the sand turns into a gritty paste that follows you home.
02 / Why a Turkish towel lets it go.
A Turkish towel, or peshtemal, is flat-woven. The surface is smooth and tight, so sand sits on top instead of sinking in. Hold two corners, give it a snap, and most of it falls away.
It also dries in a fraction of the time terry does. A dry towel sheds sand far more easily than a damp one, which is why a Turkish towel that's been lying in the sun for twenty minutes shakes almost clean.
To be honest about it: no cotton towel is completely sand-proof. But a good Turkish towel comes as close as anything we've found, and it does it without plastic.
03 / What about microfiber "sand-free" towels?
Microfiber towels are sold as sand-free because their surface is very smooth too. The trade-off is that microfiber is a synthetic fabric, made from plastic fibers. Many people find it feels slick or squeaky against the skin, and it can hold on to smells.
| Turkish cotton | Microfiber | Terry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheds sand | Very well | Very well | Poorly |
| Feel | Soft, natural cotton | Slick, synthetic | Plush, heavy |
| Dries | Fast | Fast | Slowly |
| Packs | Flat and light | Small | Bulky |
| Doubles as | Wrap, scarf, blanket | Not much else | Not much else |
04 / Six tricks for a sand-free beach day.
- Shake it dry, not wet. Let your towel sit in the sun for a few minutes first.
- Shake downwind. Your neighbors will thank you.
- Snap, don't flap. Hold two corners and give a few sharp snaps.
- Layer up. Lay a beach blanket on the sand and your towel on top.
- Fold it inward. Fold the sandy side in before you pack it, so the sand stays at the beach.
- Rinse at the outdoor shower. A quick rinse and the towel will be dry again before you're home.
Heading to the beach? Our beach bag checklist and local's guide to Santa Barbara beaches will get you there.
05 / Our favorite sand-shedding towels.
- Essential: light, quick-drying and made in about 40 colors.
- Biarritz: classic cabana stripes on a smooth flat weave.
- Diamond: a textured diamond weave that still shakes clean.
- Todos Santos Beach Blanket: room for two, or for the whole picnic.
Every Riviera towel is 100% Turkish cotton, pre-washed, yarn-dyed and finished with hand-tied tassels. Shop them all in our Classic, Premium and Luxe collections.
FAQ
What is the best sand-free beach towel?
A flat-woven Turkish cotton towel is the best natural option. It has no terry loops to trap sand, so most sand shakes off, and it dries quickly so wet sand doesn't stick.
Are Turkish towels really sand-free?
No cotton towel is completely sand-proof, but Turkish towels are very sand-resistant. Their smooth flat weave lets sand sit on top, and one or two good shakes remove most of it, especially once the towel is dry.
Is a Turkish towel better than a microfiber beach towel?
Both shed sand well. A Turkish towel is 100% cotton, so it feels soft and natural against the skin, while microfiber is a synthetic, plastic-based fabric that many people find slick.
How do I get sand out of a beach towel?
Let the towel dry in the sun, then hold two corners and snap it a few times downwind. For terry towels, a rinse and a full dry before shaking helps.
Pick one out in person 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 $76,439.30 donated so far.
