Your gym towel is one of those workout essentials you just have to bring to the gym. Aside from being a part of your personal hygiene, the gym towel has a key role in gym etiquette. It is used to wipe the gym equipment after use so that no sweat if left behind, as a courtesy for the next user.
Whether you’re a beginner, a professional athlete, or a trainer, everyone needs a gym towel that caters to his or her needs. When choosing a gym towel, keep in mind these qualities to look out for.
Absorbency – The main reason gym goers need a towel is to absorb the body’s sweat. Working out will definitely make you sweat buckets. And from time to time, you need to wipe the sweat away to keep comfortable and prevent slipping on gym equipment. And admit it, you have to make sure that you look fresh and sweat-free for your next gym selfie! This is why you should pay attention to the towel’s thickness. You can usually tell the quality of the towel just by the density of the strands. An ideal gym towel should be thick enough to absorb sweat but not so much that it’s bulky inside the gym bag.
Quick Drying – It pays to getting a premium microfiber towel for the gym. Aside from being super absorbent, this towel material is actually quick drying. You can air dry it for a couple minutes and be ready to fold and stow it away in your gym bag. On the contrary, cotton towels made of thick fibers may be comfortable and soft but drying them would take hours. In addition, wet cotton towels weigh a lot more, so carrying them around in your bag can be a hassle.
Just the Right Size – One of the first things you have consider when choosing a gym towel is the size. You don’t want to be lugging around a large bath towel but then a face towel is just too small especially if you work out a lot. Aside from drying sweat, you may also want to use the towel for drying off after using the gym’s shower room. With so many towel sizes available, get the one that’s both convenient to carry and also adequate for your needs.
Antimicrobial Properties – A special feature to look for is an antimicrobial towel. As everyone knows, sometimes gyms can be the breeding ground of disease causing germs and bacteria. You don’t want to be going to the gym and then getting sick because that’s just counterintuitive. To fight off these nasty microbes, you can opt to get a gym towel with an antimicrobial agent. These agents are usually non-toxic substances that are harmless to humans, pets, and the environment but are deadly to viruses, bacteria, and other germs.
Softness – You want a gym towel that’s soft against your skin. Remember that you’ll also use the towel to wipe sweat off your face so you need something gentle. Choose a towel made with premium quality materials. Cheap towels with low-quality materials end up with hard strands after washing. Not only are they uncomfortable and harsh on the skin, they also tear and wear out easily.
Excessive Lint – You’ve probably experienced removing towels from the dryer only to find excessive amounts of lint on it. Unfortunately, almost every towel will shed or attract lint in the dryer, but there are some that minimize this tendency. Microfiber towels are known to have the least lint but cotton tops them all. The good news is that you can prevent lint by simply air-drying towels instead of using the dryer.
The next time you shop for a gym towel, remember these factors so you can find the perfect towel for gym workouts. Not only would you be more comfortable sweating it out in the gym, you’ll also promote proper gym etiquette as you wipe that sweat from the equipment.