I Touched Every Sheet and Towel I Could Find at Parachute — These Are the Ones I’d Buy

If you’ve ever purchased furniture online, you know it’s tough — but we really need to talk about how hard it is to buy linens online, too. Without touching and feeling towels and bed sheets in person, you really don’t know what you’re getting until they’re on your bed and hanging in your bathroom. And by that point, it’s usually too late to do anything about it. That’s no small risk — especially when you’re investing in premium, luxe linens from brands like Parachute. 

Parachute has only six stores, so unless you live within driving distance of any of its California, Washington, or New York locations, you won’t be able to touch and feel their linens before purchasing. That’s where I come in. In this special edition of Personal Shopper, I did the fieldwork for you by venturing to Parachute’s SoHo location to test all of its bath towels and bed sheets in person. Now I’m back to share my findings. 

If “quiet luxury” were a brand, it would be Parachute. The Los Angeles-based brand’s high-quality bed and bath linens have developed a cult following among shoppers (and AT editors!) for their relaxed, easygoing look and luxurious softness. Editors have tested tons of Parachute products in their homes over the years — from cloud-like comforters and cozy blankets to soft, absorbent robes and bath towels — but we’ve never ventured into the brand’s store to get a feel for everything as real-life shoppers until now. 

All of Parachute’s bath towels and bed sheets were tested by me, Alexa Casanova. As Apartment Therapy’s shopping writer, it’s essentially my job to test, review, and recommend products, whether it’s easy-to-assemble furniture, the softest linens, or anything else you may be looking for. I’ve covered them all, so I know what makes a piece of furniture worth buying. I was previously the commerce editor at Design Milk and Well+Good. 

I spent the day at Parachute’s SoHo store to touch and feel all of its bath towels and bed sheets, and help you find the right ones for your unique needs. 

I evaluated all the Parachute sheets based on the following criteria to find the best ones for every need, whether you’re looking for crisp bedding to keep you cool through the night or something in the middle you can use all year-round. For more advice on finding the best bed sheets, check out our buying guide here! 

• Material: What are the sheets made of? Are they made using a special weave? How do these affect the way they feel? 
• Appearance: How do the sheets look? Do they have a luxe sheen or do they have a smooth, matte appearance? 
• Texture and weight: How do the sheets feel? Are they airy and cool or rich and cozy? Would they be better for summer or winter use? Hot or cold sleepers? Or are they a suitable year-round option? 

I touched, tugged, and tested all the sheets on display at Parachute to help you find your ideal set. 

What impressed me: If you love the feel of crisp hotel sheets, then you’ll want to go for Parachute’s Percale sheet set. Made of 100% Egyptian cotton, the sheets feel incredibly soft and smooth, but have a crisp matte finish that makes even an unmade bed look finished and put-together. Touching the sheets in-store, I noticed they had a cool, fresh feel (I honestly wanted to rub my face on them after walking blocks in the New York heat), so they’d be perfect for the summer months or year-round use for hot sleepers. Even still, the percale weave isn’t so lightweight that it feels insubstantial. The sheets certainly feel premium and luxe, and I didn’t notice any loose threads on the samples I felt in-store (which are presumably being handled by hundreds of hands a day), which is a great sign! 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 20 options

What impressed me: A Parachute associate told me the brand’s linen sheets were a favorite among its New York customers, and after feeling them for myself, I understand the hype. They have that slubby, textured look that you want in linen, with subtle cross-hatching and muted colors that have a lived-in, rumpled appearance. They also felt fairly breezy, but thick enough to use year-round if you wanted to. I’ll admit that they weren’t the softest compared to the other Parachute sheets I tested, but linen is known for softening with each wash. So expect these to “break in” slightly once they’ve been through a cycle or two. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% European flax
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 17 options

What impressed me: Honestly, I’m not normally a huge fan of linen sheets, but it turns out that all I was missing was a little bit of TENCEL. This Parachute blend contains 58% TENCEL™ Lyocell and 42% European flax, so you get the washed look and airy feel of linen, with the cool softness and drape of TENCEL (it’s the dreamiest combo!). While 100% linen sheets normally soften with time and washing, the Linen TENCEL sheets feel slippy and soft right out of the gate, which I love. They also wrinkle less than traditional linen and have a smoother, more luxurious feel. If you think linen sheets aren’t for you, I think this blend will be the one to change your mind. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 58% TENCEL™ Lyocell, 42% European flax
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 5 options

What impressed me: Not to be dramatic, but I was kind of blown away by how soft the Brushed Cotton sheets are. They’re made of 100% plain-weave cotton, and brushed and garment washed for extreme softness — really, these felt rich and buttery. Imagine sheets that are ever-so-slightly fuzzy yet ultra-smooth; that’s how the Brushed Cotton sheets feel. They’re also more of a mid-weight compared to the other bed sheets I tested, which, combined with their plush cozy texture, makes them perfect for the colder months, or anyone who gets chilly throughout the night. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% cotton 
• Certifications: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
• Colors: 12 options

I evaluated all the Parachute towels on display based on the following criteria to find the best ones for every need, whether you’re looking for something light and quick-drying or plush and lofty. For more advice on finding the best bath towels, check out our buying guide here! 

• Fabric and construction: What is the towel made of? Is it a plain weave or textured jacquard? 
• Weight of the towel (GSM): Does the towel feel heavy and plush or thin and lightweight? What is the towel’s GSM? The higher the GSM, the denser the towel feels. Towels usually range from 300 to 900 GSM, with lightweight options falling between 300 to 450 GSM, and heavier ones reaching 800 or 900 GSM. 
• Absorbency: How absorbent is the towel? Does it effectively absorb moisture or does it require more effort to dry you off fully? 
• Dry time: How long does the towel take to dry after each use?  

I felt all the Parachute towels I could find (and used them to dry my hands after washing!) to help you find the best ones for your bathroom. 

What impressed me: If you want a towel that’s not too thick, but not too thin, and soft but not too soft, Parachute’s Classic Turkish Cotton is your best bet. It’s a classic, everyday towel (while still feeling elevated) and not overly designed. It’s a solid pick for any first apartment, and one I’d feel comfortable offering while hosting guests. At 700 grams per square meter, it feels luxe and substantial, with a medium thickness that feels soft to the touch but not overly fluffy. While testing it in store, I found it to be standard in the absorbency department. It took longer to dry than the other towels I looked at, but that’s to be expected given the heavier weight. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% long-staple Turkish cotton
• Colors: 5 options

What impressed me: The Resort Stripe Towel was the thinnest towel I tested — which isn’t a bad thing! It’s super-lightweight at 450 grams per square meter, so it’s perfect for folks like me who don’t prefer a fluffy bath towel. It also dries lightning fast: I washed my hands in the store’s sink, and the towel’s tactile ribbing took my hands from damp to dry in only a few seconds, all while feeling cottony soft. I hung it up afterwards, and by the time I finished writing my notes, it felt completely dry and ready to use again. Because of this, I think it would be a great option for people who shower twice a day, or anyone who has low ventilation in their bathroom. Plus, the striped motif is stylish and timeless! 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% organic cotton 
• Colors: 8 options

What impressed me: If you want that five-star, luxury hotel experience, the Organic Plush Towel is the best way to get it. It’s Parachute’s thickest, fluffiest bath towel at 750 grams per square meter, with a dense, lofty texture that’s almost cushiony to the touch. Its fluffiness would’ve given me pause at first, but it didn’t just smush water around like other plush towels I’ve tried. The extra-long cotton fibers are highly absorbent and dried off my hands quickly and efficiently. And while it wasn’t as quick-drying as the Resort Stripe, that’s to be expected of a thick bath towel. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% organic long-staple Turkish Aegean cotton
• Colors: 12 options

What impressed me: If you like stripes in theory more than in practice, try Parachute’s Soft Rib towel. The ribbed design gives you a similar effect and adds a bit of modern texture to your bathroom, while the flat-edge binding gives it a more polished appearance. I saw the towels in white while in the store, but the other color options are piece-dyed for a rich, saturated look. 

It’s pretty lightweight at 450 grams per square meter, but it’s a step up from the Resort Stripe towel in terms of softness. The towel looked fuzzy in person, though, and I even noticed that some of its fibers were flying off while I was testing it in the store, so this may shed slightly (at least during its first wash-and-dry cycle). While I’d give it a solid B+ in terms of absorbency, the textured ribbing certainly helps wipe away excess moisture. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% long-staple Turkish cotton
• Colors: 11 options

What impressed me: Parachute’s Cotton Mosaic bath towel once had a waitlist of over 1,000 people, which I didn’t fully understand until I saw it for myself — it’s gorgeous. The hand-woven, checkered jacquard design comes in a bunch of beautiful, yarn-dyed jewel tones (and neutrals, too!) that bring a stylish, decorative touch to your bathroom. And it’s not only about the look; the towel’s checkered dobby pattern also gives it a rich texture that dries you off in a pinch and feels super absorbent. The only caveat being that it does take a little bit longer to dry, but I think it’s well-worth it. 

Specifications: 

• Material: 100% organic cotton
• Colors: 5 options