Sarong or quick dry towel?

[trecile]

I used a PackTowl on my last Camino, which weighs 3.4 ounces, but I'm wondering if the extra weight of a sarong would be worth it on the Norte, since it is more multipurpose. Specifically, since I'd like to try to swim in the ocean as often as possible, and the sarong makes a good beach towel, and cover up. The difference in weight is 3.5 ounces.

 

[Deleted member 39850]

I am taking a foutah on my upcoming camino in August (can be used as a sarong, light blanket, shawl, towel, etc) and consider it completely worth any extra ounces because I so loathed my camp towel last time. Seriously... the pack towel made me hate my life (on an otherwise very rewarding camino).

 

[Deleted member 67185]

I used a PackTowl on my last Camino, which weighs 3.4 ounces, but I'm wondering if the extra weight of a sarong would be worth it on the Norte, since it is more multipurpose. Specifically, since I'd like to try to swim in the ocean as often as possible, and the sarong makes a good beach towel, and cover up. The difference in weight is 3.5 ounces.

I think the sarong would be a good substitute because of its multi-uses. If there is something else beside the towel that the sarong can replace, then that could help offset the weight difference as well; although the weight difference as it stands now is pretty minimal. Maybe carry 3 ounces less water?

 

[trecile]

I am taking a foutah on my upcoming camino in August (can be used as a sarong, light blanket, shawl, towel, etc) and consider it completely worth any extra ounces because I so loathed my camp towel last time. Seriously... the pack towel made me hate my life (on an otherwise very rewarding camino).

I actually don't mind the PackTowl at all. It works much better than the Sea to Summit Pocket Towel that I used on my first Camino.

 

[trecile]

I think the sarong would be a good substitute because of its multi-uses. If there is something else beside the towel that the sarong can replace, then that could help offset the weight difference as well; although the weight difference as it stands now is pretty minimal. Maybe carry 3 ounces less water?

I think the main thing that's stopping me from taking the sarong instead of the PackTowl, is the fact that I'm so happy with the super lightweight of the PackTowl, and proud of myself for finding it in the first place.

 

[nycwalking]

Take both?

Buen camino either way.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I love using a lightweight cotton flannel infant baby bath towel. It's ightweight, packs small, big enough to to the job (but not too big), and dries draped over the foot of the albergue beds before morning when you need to put it away, and oh so comfortable. No polyester fabric towels for me, I dislike them immensely.
I do not understand using a sarong for multipurposes such as after swimming in the ocean and as a beach towel. The sand from salt water will be sticking to your feet and I would not choose to use the towel I dry off with after showering as a multipurpose item to become soiled from other uses.

 

[trecile]

I love using a lightweight cotton flannel infant baby bath towel. It's ightweight, packs small, big enough to to the job (but not too big), and dries draped over the foot of the albergue beds before morning when you need to put it away, and oh so comfortable. No polyester fabric towels for me, I dislike them immensely.
I do not understand using a sarong for multipurposes such as after swimming in the ocean and as a beach towel. The sand from salt water will be sticking to your feet and I would not choose to use the towel I dry off with after showering as a multipurpose item to become soiled from other uses.

I use the sarongs when we go to Mexico instead of beach towels. They dry quickly, and the sand shakes out easily. And the PackTowl really is much different than other camp towels that I've seen. The texture seems a bit weird at first, but it dries well without just moving the water around. That's why I'm torn between the two. And no, I'm not going to bring both!

 

[JennyH94]

I'm a big fan of sarongs and their many uses. For example, my sarong acted as a curtain and barrier last year at an albergue in Rabe where my bottom bunk was one foot away from one occupied by a pilgrim who was extremely, I mean extremely drunk - not good.

We were so close I was concerned that if my room mate vomited in the night he'd lean over and vomit all over me and my sleeping bag so I hung up my sarong as a makeshift curtain between us and relaxed, knowing that if the pilgrim did vomit, the vomit would hit the sarong and not me. I could easily wash the sarong - not so easy to wash a down sleeping bag and get it dried.

It wasn't a good night - I worried for the pilgrim and his health during the night and kept waking up to see if he was OK. In the event the pilgrim was OK - for which I was grateful, as were the others in the room - and he left very early in the morning without disturbing any of us in the room, which was considerate.

My sarong is one of the first things I pack for the Camino - it's an essential for me.

Chris - thank you for the tip about the lightweight cotton flannel infant's bath towel - I'll buy one later this week. It sounds a lovely thing to use on camino - my microfibre yoga towel just doesn't cut it - I think it was waterproofed before I bought it!

Cheers from Oz - Jenny

 

[AlwynWellington]

@trecile , gidday

I elect the sarong.

When walking I wear a lighter weight kilt. As both a towel and kilt substitute in times of need I have a length of muslim sufficiently long to wrap around twice. About 100 gram (?4 ounces)

 

[owms2323]

I am taking a foutah on my upcoming camino in August (can be used as a sarong, light blanket, shawl, towel, etc) and consider it completely worth any extra ounces because I so loathed my camp towel last time. Seriously... the pack towel made me hate my life (on an otherwise very rewarding camino).

What is a foutah? I hated my pack towel too!

 

[Deleted member 39850]

A fourtah is a Turkish, flat-weave cloth.... quick drying, absorbent, not too heavy, and available in loads of attractive patterns and colours. They range from small to very generous. Can be used as a light blanket or shawl when dry.... or as a sharon if you get one of the lighter weaves.

 

[weradln]

I migrated to a piece of thin linen that I bought at a fabric store as my towel. Really soaks up water instead of pushing it around, dries quickly and is light and packs small.

 

[LGLG]

Silk or silk like sarong - multiple uses ,e.g after shower, extra bed liner or sheet when sleeping on a mat, beach, etc. etc. plus a small light travel towel for me ( because it's easier to dry hanging from a backpack e.g.

 

[Northern Laurie]

Take both?

Buen camino either way.

I took both. Wonderful.

 

[ksam]

Cotton turkish towel!! I used a camping towel for the first few Caminos and wondered about all the chatter around sarongs and turkish towels etc. So last year I finally bit the bullet and ordered one on Amazon. And I love it. Def big enough to act as a curtain. Could be used as a light cover to nap. Def dries quickly...both myself and the towel!! And yes it weighs a few ounces more than my original camping towel...but only a tiny bit more. For someone who obsessively weighs every item by the grams, I think that says a lot. Go for the flat weave sarong/towel!! Buen Camino

 

[Maybee]

I took a smallish hiking towel. Used my silk sleeping bag liner as a wrap.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I took a smallish hiking towel. Used my silk sleeping bag liner as a wrap.

I love your idea of using the sleep liner as a wrap when needed...doing 'double duty'!

 

[notion900]

I have heard of many uses for a sarong, but vomit barrier is a new one.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have heard of many uses for a sarong, but vomit barrier is a new one.

What?? Triple duty?

 

[SYates]

Using a sarong since nearly 20 years - as towel, as dress, as skirt, as swimming suit ;-)

Buen Camino, SY

 

[trecile]

I did end up taking the sarong - but then I forgot it in an albergue in Lezama, where I had hung it up to make a curtain on my bunk. I had walked about 45 minutes when I realized that I had left it behind. Fortunately, I was walking through Bilbao that day, where there is a Decathlon store just a couple of blocks off the Camino, so I was able to buy a camp towel there. The Decathlon towel worked fine, but it wasn't as light and didn't work as well as my PackTowl.

 

[camino07]

I take both..

 

[Oravasaari]

I take a shemagh in the warmer months. I've worn it on a few very hot days as a headdress, arab style. Thin cotton square 1m x 1m or so. It soaks up enough water after a shower and dries in about 10 minutes. Easy to wash and dry. Cheap to buy too.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-tie-a-military-style-shemaghkeffiyeh/

 

[Tay and I]

I used a PackTowl on my last Camino, which weighs 3.4 ounces, but I'm wondering if the extra weight of a sarong would be worth it on the Norte, since it is more multipurpose. Specifically, since I'd like to try to swim in the ocean as often as possible, and the sarong makes a good beach towel, and cover up. The difference in weight is 3.5 ounces.

 

[Tay and I]

The sarong I found was great as it is multi purpose . I found the pack towel texture did not dry successfully and took longer to dry over night at the end of the bed

 

[Oravasaari]

I take a shemagh in the warmer months. I've worn it on a few very hot days as a headdress, arab style. Thin cotton square 1m x 1m or so. It soaks up enough water after a shower and dries in about 10 minutes. Easy to wash and dry. Cheap to buy too.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-tie-a-military-style-shemaghkeffiyeh/

Forgot to mention that cotton shemaghs may be factory treated for sales\ presentation purposes. Mine was a bit hydrophobic \ not great at mopping water until after a few washes. Then it was fine. Don't take one when it is brand new without a few washes!

 

[AZ Hiker]

I took a very small PackTowel and a sarong. The combo worked well. Many uses for the sarong. It even kept my neck warm on cold mornings.

 

[Dr Ana]

I used a PackTowl on my last Camino, which weighs 3.4 ounces, but I'm wondering if the extra weight of a sarong would be worth it on the Norte, since it is more multipurpose. Specifically, since I'd like to try to swim in the ocean as often as possible, and the sarong makes a good beach towel, and cover up. The difference in weight is 3.5 ounces.

Quick dry towel

 

[Tay and I]

Definitely worth taking the sarong . It can be a sun shade , bed cover , towel and many other things . Light cotton . Wash heaps before you go to make it soft . Pacifica sarongs or Indian cotton . Cheap too

 

[Enzed]

Turkish towel for me, for home use and for travel.
Plenty of coverage, absorbent, rolls up smaller than a similar size travel micro fibre towel like this type https://www.kathmandu.co.nz/travel/travel-essentials/travel-towels/extra-large-microfibre-towel.html , looks nice, dries quite quickly, can be used as a sarong or a light-weight blanket, feels nicer than micro fibre and doesn't get as stinky as micro fibre over time.