Fold a Turkish beach towel in thirds lengthwise, then either roll it from one short end for a bag or fold it in half twice for a flat stack. Its flat weave has no terry pile, so it packs down far smaller than a regular towel. That thin, even fold is the whole reason people travel with them.
Start by shaking the sand out and laying the towel flat. Bring the two long edges in toward the middle so you have a long, narrow strip about a third of the original width. From there you have two easy finishes. Roll the strip tightly from one short end for a compact cylinder that drops into a backpack side pocket, or fold it in half and in half again for a clean rectangle that stacks in a beach bag or linen shelf. The NIXY Palm Turkish Beach Towel ($29) is woven flat in Turkey for exactly this: a soft towel that folds down small and dries fast.
Rolling wins for travel because it resists hard creases and slides into tight spaces. Flat-folding wins at home because the towels sit neatly in a stack and take up almost no shelf. Either way, fold it while it is dry. A damp towel folded tight holds moisture and can start to smell musty, so let it air out first.
Light, flat, and quick to pack, the NIXY Palm Turkish Beach Towel slips into a bag with room to spare.
Frequently asked questions
Should you roll or fold a Turkish beach towel? Roll it for travel, since a tight roll fits into a backpack or carry-on and avoids sharp creases. Fold it in a flat rectangle for storage at home, where a neat stack saves shelf space. Both start with a lengthwise fold into thirds.
Why does a Turkish towel pack smaller than a regular towel? It is flat-woven instead of looped terry, so there is no thick pile to add bulk. The same coverage folds down thinner and lighter, which is why it fits where a bath towel will not.
How should you store a Turkish beach towel? Fold or roll it only when it is fully dry, then keep it somewhere with airflow. Storing it damp or packed tight while wet can trap odor, so air it out after every beach or pool day first.
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