Best Budget Turkish Cotton
Where to buy Bay Laurel Turkish:
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The Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towels are a budget friendly option for those looking for lightweight and sand resistant beach towels. These big, airy towels pack down quite small and only weigh about 11oz, making them a spatially economic addition to your car, gym bag, or beach tote, and their tight weave means quick drying times and little to no odors.

The Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towels come in a variety of trendy colors with a functional, bungee-tie carrying bag. The material doesn’t feel as high quality as some of the other turkish towels we’ve covered, but as far as appearances go, we think this towel looks just as good as its competitors.

These are not the highest performing towels on our list by a long shot, but they do the job at a really accessible price point. These towels are large enough to fully sprawl out on, sand resistant, and quick drying. While they aren’t as soft as some of our other picks, their rougher weave makes them a pretty great option for the hot yoga studio. All in all we thought this towel was pretty average, but had some decent selling points. Let’s Dive In to the full review!

Things we like:
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    Affordable
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    Lightweight
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    Fast drying
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    Sand resistant
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    Come in a variety of colors
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    Comes with a carrying bag
Click to see more
Things we don't like:
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    Not as high quality as other Turkish towels we have tried
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    Susceptible to pilling and tassels fraying
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    Thin material
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    Not as absorbent as other options
Click to see more
Click to see more
bay-laurel-turkish-product

Rating

Outoria Score: 3.8/5
Quality: 3.5/5
Comfort: 3.5/5
Performance: 3.5/5
Price/Quality: 4.5/5

Specs & Features
  • Best for: Beach and hot yoga
  • Material: Turkish cotton
  • Size: 71” x 39”
  • Weight: 11.7oz
  • Design: Stripped, comes in a variety of colors
  • Care: Machine Wash, Tumble Dry OK - For Best Results Air Dry
  • Other: Carrying bag included
Click to see more
See the complete list of the best Beach Towels here!

Okay Product With a Nice Freebie

Our first impression of the Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towel was the striking similarity to the Wetcat Turkish Beach Towel, both in size and design. The Bay Laurel Towel had a really nice, bright color to it that is sure to pop on any beach, and it came with a cute little carrying bag with a bungee tie.

The Bay Laurel towel felt a bit rough out of the package compared to other Turkish towels we’ve seen, and the tassels seemed a bit lower quality than that of the Feshka Towel or the Wetcat towel. We’re hopeful that the material will soften after some use and a few washes, but it is definitely not the most comfortable towel on our list.

We were excited to put this towel to the test on the yoga mat, as the rough texture actually might lend something to our practice, so though we were skeptical, we definitely had hope for this product. Let’s Dive In!

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Material

Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towel is made with 100% Turkish cotton. The fabric is pretty lightweight, about average for a turkish towel. The fabric is significantly thinner than most terrycloth towels, with a shorter pile which aids in quick drying times and sand resistance. It packs down to about the size of a 32oz Hydro Flask, and weighs about 11oz.

This towel is not as soft as some of the other options on our list, but it definitely could soften up after some use and a few washes. It feels a bit more rough than the Feshka or Wetcat Turkish Beach towels, but this can work to your advantage for use in hot yoga. A bit more grip can help with balance and the thin material gives you optimal ground feel.

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Size & Weight

From a distance, the Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towel is barely discernible from the Wetcat Turkish Beach Towel because of the similar size and familiar stripped, tasseled design. These towels are pretty large, measuring 39” x 71”. The paper thin material allows the entire towel to roll down smaller than a 32oz Hydro flask, and it weighs just over 11oz, making this an undeniably travel-friendly towel for your beach bag or to shove in your suitcase on your next tropical adventure.

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Performance

The Bay Laurel Turkish beach towels are only about 11oz, so they may not be as well suited to absorb large amounts of moisture, but your towel should become more absorbent with time. You may not find these entirely sufficient to dry off after the beach or pool, but luckily they dry out fast so you can use them again and again. They should be more than adequate to lay out on the beach or by the pool, as long as you’re okay with a little more air-drying.

While these may not be as well suited for traditional use as a towel, we think this towel is exceptional as a yoga towel. It’s a bit heavier, and a little more rough than the Wetcat Turkish Beach Towel, so it doesn’t move around as much on your mat. This means less time adjusting your towel, and more time focused on your flow.

Typical of Turkish towels, the Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towel is sand resistant and very fast drying, making it fairly odor resistant as well. The flat weave on Turkish towels doesn’t create as many nooks and crannies as the long pile on a terry towel, so sand, moisture and bacteria don’t have anywhere to hang out. As a result, these towels make for a mess-free and odor-free beach commute.

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Value

The Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towel is one of the most affordable options on our list this year ringing in at just $22 on Amazon. That being said, we think the Wetcat Turkish Beach Towel is a similar, but noticeably better product for just a couple dollars more. While the deal here is nice, the quality doesn’t quite justify the purchase for us when there are better options at a similar price point. If the towel was a bit softer and had a bit more structural integrity we would love it, but we are doubtful this towel will last us through the summer.

Great for Yoga, Otherwise Keep Looking

As we have mentioned, it’s hard to recommend the Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towel when there are better options at a similar price point. These towels will do the job, and have all of the wonderful characteristics of a Turkish towel, but we hoped to see more in terms of quality and performance. These are a great option if you are looking for a budget friendly yoga towel, but otherwise, we recommend you keep shopping.

Related Reviews

Things we like:
  • check-mark
    Affordable
  • check-mark
    Lightweight
  • check-mark
    Fast drying
  • check-mark
    Sand resistant
  • check-mark
    Come in a variety of colors
  • check-mark
    Comes with a carrying bag
Click to see more
Things we don't like:
  • check-mark
    Not as high quality as other Turkish towels we have tried
  • check-mark
    Susceptible to pilling and tassels fraying
  • check-mark
    Thin material
  • check-mark
    Not as absorbent as other options
Click to see more
Click to see more
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is so special about Turkish towels?

You may not expect it from the ultra thin weave, but Turkish towels are characteristically absorbent thanks to the tightly-woven, long, cotton fibers. These towels become more absorbent with use, as moisture starts to open up the fibers. They may not be able to soak up as much moisture as a terry cloth towel, like the AmazonBasics Beach Towel, but when you compare their weight vs. the moisture they can hold, the Turkish towels almost always outperform their terry cloth competitors.

Why do you soak Turkish towels?

The tight, flat weave of Turkish towels may require some breaking in before it’s able to achieve its full absorption potential. Soaking your turkish towel overnight can help to open up the long cotton fibers so they can soak up more moisture in the future – and the more you use it, the better it works. Most of the towels on our list, like the Feshka Turkish Beach Towel or the Wetcat Turkish Beach Towel are machine washable, which will also help to open up those fibers over time.

What is the difference between a Turkish towel and a terry towel?

Turkish towels are made from tightly woven 100% cotton, giving us a thin pile, making them highly absorbent, fast drying, sand resistant and packable. This includes towels on our list like the Feshka Turkish Beach Towel, the Wetcat Turkish Beach Towel, or the Bay Laurel Turkish Beach Towel.  Terry towels, like the AmazonBasics Beach Towel, have more of a plush, fluffy texture thanks to their longer pile. The fabric loops on a terry cloth towel make them a bit more functional in the bathroom, as they can quickly absorb any moisture left on the body. By the same token, they also hang on to moisture a bit longer, causing odors and demanding to be washed more frequently.

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