First and foremost, these towels are plush. They’re 850 grams per square meter (gsm), compared to the 100 gsm of linen or 450 gsm of denim. So yeah, they’re thick. The care instructions warn you about initial shedding, which Sessums found totally founded after the towels covered her other clothes in the dryer with a light-colored fuzz. As of right now, Sessums ranks the towel’s absorbency “somewhere in the middle of the spectrum,” but she says it still dries water off her skin well. Overall, she feels like the towel’s thickness is a big standout. “The thickness and quality of the towel makes me think it will hold up nicely for some time,” Sessums says.

Tester: Rebecca Grambone, social media manager

What really sets the Riley Home Spa Towel apart is the material. It’s not plush terry, but rather thinner and more lightweight feel made of 100% premium fine-combed Egyptian cotton—almost like a light post-shower blanket, with soft fibers that brush across your skin and mop up every bit of water. “These towels definitely have more of a modern, non-traditional look, with [they’re] simple stitching curved corners,” Grambone says. “Personally this is a style I gravitate towards.” Rebecca found the lack of fluff didn’t make the towels any less absorbent, and loved how they made a subtle style statement

Tester: Lizzie Soufleris, visuals editor

When Coyuchi says “Air Weight,” they mean it. These towels are 100% cotton with a twill weave and feel thinner than some of the other options on this list, but visuals editor Lizzie Soufleris can confirm that doesn’t mean they don’t feel overly soft. Soufleris found that, while they might not possess that spa-like sumptuousness as other terry towels, the weightlessness does mean the towels themselves dry off a little quicker. Soufleris did notice two little caveats though.

While the Coyuchi towels generally have good absorbency, they aren’t quite as good at drying her hair as some of her thicker towels. She also noticed a bit of shedding the first few times she used the towel, particularly when she was applying skincare products. “I found that there were tiny cotton fibers stuck to the palms of my hands, imperceptible until they were accidentally mixed with my moisturizer and stuck to my face,” Soufleris says, though the issue seems to have gone away after three washes.

How We Tested the Best Bath Towels

Our editors lived with and used the towels in typical fashion by using them after stepping out of the shower. We also ran a few specific tests to measure factors like absorbency, feel, and how quickly the towels would dry after use. This was especially important when assessing waffle towels, since this specific type of weave is meant to make the towel dry quicker.

Everyone timed how long the towels took to dry off their hands or their body, also noting how wet each towel seemed to get after using. We paid special attention to how well the towels dried off hair. Everyone put a corner of their towels in a bowl of water for 30 seconds, noting how much water the towel absorbed. We then timed how quickly the soaked corner dried off. We also considered the feel and look of the towels, and we factored in any unique features that set them apart from others.

Popular Types of Bath Towels

While the bath towels of your choosing are largely up to your personal preference—especially when it comes to the color and design to match your bathroom—there are several different types on the market. Here are some of the most common:

Waffle Towels: While they aren’t always as soft as a traditional terry towel, waffle bath towels are known for being incredibly absorbent. These towels typically have a weave with a hexagonal pattern that takes water into the individual pockets. The material can vary, but popular materials are cotton and bamboo.

Cotton Towels: We look for organic towels made from Egyptian cotton or long staple Turkish cotton, as these materials are usually both absorbent and plush to the touch because of their long fibers.

Hybrid Towels: Hybrid towels are usually made up of a terry and cotton blend. The Cozy Earth towels are a great example of this: they feature a dual-sided mini waffle weave and a soft ribbed terry to offer a soft and absorbent yet lightweight and quick-drying feel like you’d get in a traditional waffle weave towel.