i don't understand this sort of post- is this really a "good" question? it's pretty easy to use google...

Maybe you would like microfiber towels that are sold for camping. They are very thin and dry fast. They feel a little strange on the skin, almost sticky, but man do they get you dry in a hurry! LL Bean sells them, including a HUGE one that's bigger than my regular bath towels.

Save up for the Turkish towels. You won't be sorry.

i feel the same way, and i like the ikea frajen towels. they have a nice low nap but still some texture, and they're cheap but decent quality (in my experience). plus they come in a bajillion colors.

Turkish towels fit that bill - available on etsy, ebay, etc. Here's an example:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/104673780/premium-turkish-towel-peshtemal-beach?ref=sr_gallery_5&ga_search_query=turkish+towel&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_min=0&ga_max=0&ga_ref=auto1&ga_search_type=all

Beach towels - not fluffy at all, large and offer lots of pattern options

I like the soft but not thick Restoration "Turkish" towels. Often you can get them from their outlets for relatively cheap.

Offer to buy your mom some new towels and take the old ones off her hands. It will get you the towels you want and make your mom really happy.

I don't like fluffy either, so I use the turkish hamman towels. More expensive than the usual type, so I have two for myself and a few regular towels for guests.

Overstock has some at a pretty good price:

http://www.overstock.com/Bedding-Bath/Roman-Medallion-Collection-Turkish-Cotton-6-piece-Bath-Towel-Set/6610877/product.html

Maybe you can find the fabric and make them yourself?

I like thin towels because they dry do much more quickly. I don't know where you're located, but I got some very nice thin towels at Century 21 in NYC for $3 apiece. I've had some of them for about 3 years and they're still fine.

Have you considered waffle weave cotton towels? They are super absorbent and dry very quickly.

I don't like fluffy towels, either -- the lint drives me crazy. I ended up buying towels from Target's Home Spa line. They are ribbed, they are durable, they are normal thickness, and they don't shed. However, because they are 25% bamboo rayon, they are not super absorbent but they do dry quickly. There's a reviewer on the Target Web site who complains about the quality of these towels, but the ones I bought are holding up just fine -- much better than more-expensive towels I have purchased in the past.

I second the Ikea towels. Not "fluffy" and they still dry really well.

I ordered a set of towels from this Etsy shop recently:
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/88084757

Not terribly cheap, but good quality. It took over a month to receive them, no fault of the seller - the package was held up in U.S. Customs for several weeks.

Here's an eBay search for "Turkish towels":
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=turkish+towels

An eBay search for "Peshtemal":
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Peshtemal&_sacat=0&_odkw=turkish+towels&_osacat=0

Etsy search for "Peshtemal":
http://www.etsy.com/search?q=peshtemal&view_type=gallery&ship_to=ZZ&min=0&max=0&ref=auto1

A friend has ordered from this eBay retailer and has been happy with their purchase:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Bath-/20438/i.html?_ipg=25&_from=&_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ssn=barism3gt

Good luck with your search!

No on microfibre towels. They are really good for cleaning but not drying the body...they have a scratch feeling that kinda creeps me out.
I agree - save for the nice turkish towels you want.

I'm with LemonButter , beach towels are great. Really big and colorful.

I've got my Turkish towels from the shop below and they have the price range from 24.00 USD to 32.00 USD. The quality is extremely good, the towels are very soft and the shop has a wide range of designs and colors. They are very customer friendly too.

www.theanatolian.etsy.com

Cheers,

You should try turkish towels & pestamels from Ella Lou - they are fabulous! http://www.shopellalou.com/

I am the same way with liking them not so fluffy. Just do like KMart or Walmart and go for the low end. I bought four nice ones with pattern at KMart a few years ago for about $12 a piece. One unraveled after the first wash so do hang onto your receipt...don't be afraid to take them back if it happens within the return policy timeframe...I got a new one and now they've lasted years.

Ebay looks like is has a lot of turkish towels for $10 >

I don't know how the quality compares to the more expensive counterparts though.

I third the IKEA towels... and they also have a convenient hanging loop. Love 'em. I don't like thick, fluffy towels either.

Happy to know I'm not the only who love those nasty years old towel with fraying edges!! Boycott FLUFF!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like thick, fluffy towels. I dislike thick, fluffy wash cloths even more.

I also have the Frajen towels from IKEA and I love them... super absorbant http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80159208/ Not crazy about the pattern, but love using them.
I've also had good luck finding nice textured, thin, towels at places like Nordstrom rack, Marshalls and tuesday Morning.

Fourth (or whatever number) on the IKEA frajen!

I can't agree more. I bought cheap department store towels last year but I never touch them because they are still too fluffy. scratchy is what I want. after reading these responses, I'm definitely going to try the ikea. thanks for posting this. yes! it is a good question!!

Coyuchi towels are not fluffy and are 100% organic. They are terrific!

I love IKEA towels for exactly this reason. In fact, they are the only towels I own now. They dry in a snap, they are inexpensive and come in great colors. Get the waffle weave variety. The only con is that if you use anything with benzyl peroxide on your face, be careful. The towels bleach very easily.

Fingerhut towel sets have got to be the thinnest I have ever seen...I am pretty sure thats where my Mom got them, I mean a set for $20...of course they are thin

I'm the same way, I hate thick, fluffy towels. I actually have found that the bath towels at IKEA are amazing- they're thin and a bit rough. They come in several sizes, patterns, and colors: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80159208/#/50159177

Why don't you get the quick-dry kind? They're thinner than regular towels, but still nice and soft.

Indian towels fit this description - they're made of thin, soft, woven cotton, not thick terry like the kind we get here in the U.S. Bonus is that they come with great woven-in patterns like the pricey Turkish ones you linked to. You might be able to find some inexpensive Indian towels online or at an import store.

I've got my Turkish towels from Ella Lou (www.shopellalou.com) and I love them! They have a price range from $38 - $48 with a quality I had never seen before (and I've tried a few :) )

Walmart's Canopy line are my favorite. Soft, thin-ish, and super-absorbent. They're about $5 a pop, so if you can get past the whole Walmart-evil-corporation thing I highly recommend!

Are you or anyone you know heading to asia or africa, get them to ship home some sarongs of the thicker varieties. They're ab 5-10 dollar a piece. On the more exclusive side: Try the Balmuir towels, they're fantastic!

really cheap IKEA towels or from your local superstore (like Walmart?). even if they feel fluffy, they'll loose that within two washes. also, forget about fabric softener. just kill those puppies with high heat and tons of cheap detergent.

Could someone please tell me how Turkish towels differ from regular terry cloth towels?

Up until the turn of the century, I think a lot of bath towels were a flat weave fabric, or maybe waffle weave, but not terry cloth. There are references to "Turkish towels" in literature back then and I'm pretty sure they were talking about terry cloth. Then at some point someone invented a loom that would weave terry and it became the norm for bath towels.

However, it's currently being used as a term for something or other that is supposedly different from other terry bath towels, and I'd like to know what---because the photos I've seen look like terry towels. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

I'm with you on the towel thing, and with everyone else on the Ikea bandwagon. The only issue is that I have these weird bleach marks on my gray Ikea towels, even though I don't use bleach. Maybe the dye isn't so hot and they pick up whatever's left in the laundromat washer?

But wanted to share a trick my grandma taught me (fluffy-hate is genetic): try linen. Just buy a yard of decent, 100% linen (like this: http://www.fabric.com/apparel-fashion-fabric-linen-fabric-kaufman-waterford-linen.aspx) and pre-wash and dry it, then hem it. It's absorbent, pleasantly scritchy, fast-drying, and very stylish-looking. But I would say start with just one yard, in case you don't like it. If you're not a fan you can always make dishtowels or a tote or something out of the fabric.

SCRUTABLES: Your link just brought me to the entire web-site and not the actual linen you are referring to. Can you resend the link?

We are a couple Italian husband and Turkish wife that 3 years ago decided that, just like you, we were tried of boring towels. We started to search for authentic artisans of real handwoven items and after 2 years we have came up with Aquatellus. We have just started to sell our products and we would be happy to make you try them. Our line is made not only by pure cotton but also other blends with bamboo with linen and soon with raw silk. Find us on our Facebook page

I really like GildenTree's waffleweave towels. Thin and they wash and dry like a dream!

You can have my old towels.

If you love white (like I do),Costo has a wonderful line of "commercial" towels & washcloths made by Martex that are perfection! I have loads of them & the prIce and quality (they are thin but not skimpy) is a true find.

Splurge for the Turkish towels, even if you have to buy 2 at a time (but really, how many do you need?). You shouldn't have to pay more than $20 each for quality ones. I bought mine here: http://www.soapsantiochia.com. They get softer with each wash and last forever!

Check out Vermont Country Store. They carry "hotel" towels which sound like what you're trying to find.

www.vermontcountrystore.com

@lyonstill, here is a link to the page with the Waterford Linen: http://www.fabric.com/SearchResults2.aspx?Source=Header&SearchText=WATERFORD+LINEN&CategoryID=1d5f47dc-9991-4088-93f3-26a376046a5e
I just typed "waterford linen" in the search field on the fabric.com homepage to find that fabric.

Awesome answers here!
Yesterday my sister visited me and I gave her two big white fluffy GORGEOUS and expensive bath towels that I just never use because they're too big and fluffy. I now use IKEA towels (like others here), and love them! They're a bit rough, not too fluffy, but dry really well. And I have them in five different colours! :)

I'm really intrigued by the Turkish towel idea though...!

IKEA is great for non-fluffy, and you can do it like the French: don't put dryer sheets in your dryer. Better yet, dry your towels on a line, and then iron them. Fluff bygone!
I buy my towels at Target. Non fluffy forever, and they have great colors.

Dri Soft towels are the answer if you still want a terry cloth towel. They are thin and never get to that crunchy stage the way regular towels seem to. Super soft, super awesome. We only have the bath sheets, and every guest we have comments on how much they like the towels. You can get them at bed bath and beyond.

Continental linen towels are excellent.Huckaback and Waffel towels are available on ebay.co.uk from Thelinenyard.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WAFFER-LINEN-bath-towel-set-of-2-crisp-white-eco-chic-65-x-130-cm-/290772292588?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Bath_Towels&hash=item43b36113ec

OK, never mind, Turkish towels are just terry cloth towels. You can buy thick, fluffy Turkish towels or you can buy thinner ones. To just say a towel is Turkish doesn't guarantee that it's what this person is looking for.

Merriam Webster:

turk·ish tow·el
Noun:
A towel made of cotton terry toweling.

I second the idea of towels from India made by Karyn. FabIndia used to have wonderful woven cotton towels the last time I was there. I don't see them available for international delivery on the fabindia.com website but I found this link to a place that sells them online to give you an idea: http://www.zansaar.com/fabindia-orange-woven-printed-sur-majid-bath-towel-p-FABYEIG18

You can get the Martex "hotel" towels via Amazon as well:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XNB7EO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003XNB7EO&linkCode=as2&tag=shirlkennedys-20

@SPANKY - Turkish hamman towels (or peştemals) are woven cotton cloth - some are flat and some have a bit of a raised weave. They are usually large sheets and get softer with use.

Typical terrycloth (looped) towels can be made with turkish cotton. I think that's where the names get confusing.

I totally get it! My cousin brought me back towels from Sweden that were thin and more like a tablecloth weave. I love them. also to @Laloo I haven't read all the comments but remember that Apt. therapy ask a question maybe several of os thought of but never asked. Like my favorite radio show, they may know the answer to the question but not everyone knows the question so... you ask. it's how media works. think about it!!!

I like a well-used well-absorbing towel too. I would hit up Good Will or other thrift stores for some if you're not a germaphobe and willing to give them a nice washing before using.

Goodwill...nice and thread bare.

@Lyonstill: roops, sorry! Anything 100% linen will do, just search for that. No linen/poly blends.

Try towels that they use at the Turkish bathhouses (Hamam Towels). They are amazing.

Turkish towels actually refer to Peshtemals (or called as hammam towels). I am copying the description of Turkish towels below which I got from the shop (www.theanatolian.etsy.com) where I bought my beautiful Turkish towels;

'Used in the Turkish baths for centuries, 'Peshtemal' is a traditional Turkish towel, absorbs water as fast as towels, dries five times quicker and are extremely lightweight and easy to carry in your bag, luggage or storage.
Peshtemals do not only provide practical, cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions (it consumes less cotton in production, also water and detergent), but also an elegant look as trendy beach towel (sand free!), pareo or sarong. Basically perfect for everyday use at the gym, sauna, spa, yoga centers, hotels, travel, pool, beach or simply on boat. Last but not least, it is unisex.

Our Peshtemals are hand woven from natural famous Turkish cotton with hand-knotted tassels following a centuries-old technique. They come in a huge array of colors, all playful and reminiscent of Spring'.

Cheers,

Tracey

the answer is turkish peshtemal towels - flat-woven, light and cotton towels. super absorbent and so quick dry. can't use any other towels anymore.
www.cottonandolive.com

Laloo, are you OK? Your comments make you seem angry.

I'm so glad I ran across this thread - I thought I was the only contrarian that hates big, soft, fluffy towels! I equate the craze for huge, thick towels with the bloating of American bodies, automobiles and lifestyles. Not only do I prefer thinner, smaller towels, I also don't like "soft" towels. My friends think I'm crazy when I advise them not to use fabric softener on their towels as it is good for removing dead skin and improving blood circulation, then they go ahead and soften their huge, thick towels that take forever to dry! I also prefer to hang my towels on the line, instead of put them in the dryer, but that may be too stiff and rough for most people. They do soften up somewhat if you give them a few shakes when taking them off the line.
I haven't used Ikea towels, but have been lucky with cheap Walmart, Kmart, etc. towels, and have also used the Goodwill route. Thin-towel-lovers unite! LOL!