Everything else being equal, the greater the number of loops per sq.in., the heavier, or denser, the towel and the better it will dry. Because the weight of a towel is so critical to how well it dries, many manufacturers are starting to quote the weight as a specification the consumer can use to compare one towel to another. The specification is usually quoted in grams per square meter and is the weight of the terry used to produce the bath towel. (Not all towels in an ensemble are necessarily made from the same weight of terry.) A typical weight might be quoted as 600, meaning 600 gr/m2. The bigger the number, the heavier/denser the towel. The other way of specifying the weight is in pounds per dozen. There is a very slight difference between the two methods.

Terry towels for the consumer market are made from either carded or combed cotton. The difference is that combing the cotton yarns (after they have been carded) produces a softer, stronger yarn. A combed cotton towel will definately feel softer than a carded cotton towel. The primary quality cotton used in most of todays towel production is Egyptian cotton. For a complete discussion of cotton qualities, please click here.

The length of the loops (or yarns) is an critical factor in the softness issue, although length affects absorbency as well. A towel made from short, dense loops might have a high weight specification, but will feel more like a carpet than a towel. Conversely, a towel made with long loops of Egyptian cotton is going to be extremely soft, and yet still do a superior job of drying.

Laundering. This is IMPORTANT. All the time you might spend worrying about weight, grams/sq.meter, cotton, yarn length, etc. can be instantly negated if you use fabric softener or dryer sheets. These "additives" dramatically reduce the absorbency of a towel, and should be avoided.

Our towel selection consists of: