These Splurgy, Soft, Quick-Drying Bath Towels Are Hands Down the Best I’ve Ever Used

Right before I left for college, one of the first items I checked off of my shopping list was towels. In hindsight, I didn’t put enough thought into the kind of towels I should have. I didn’t consider the type — you know, cotton, waffle weave, and so on — or do any research on which kinds were the most absorbent. I didn’t even look into any brands or reviews, instead simply grabbing the first set I came across in Target. (Oh, how times have changed.) Regardless, they ended up getting the job done well enough during school. Well, enough that — I’m totally exposing myself here — I only just got around to replacing them four years later. (I know it was way past due. I was busy!)

But now that I’ve finally upgraded, I’ve realized just how much I was missing out on. Perpetually damp and semi-coarse towels were what I considered the norm until I introduced Pure Parima’s ridiculously soft, quick-drying Egyptian Cotton Towels to my bathroom, and now that I’ve seen the other side, they’re the only towels I’ll ever buy.

I’ll admit, the bar was on the floor compared to my old set of towels, but I had high expectations for Pure Parima’s venture into the bath linen space. The brand is known for their high-quality bedding — in fact, AT’s style editor, Blair, went as far as to say their Egyptian cotton sheets are “the softest [she’s] ever slept on.”  

Like their sheets, their bath towel is certified by the Cotton Egypt Association (which means that it’s 100% authentic and pure Egyptian cotton) and OEKO-TEX (which means rigorously tested against toxic chemicals). It has a high GSM of 800, so you’ll get an extra dense, fluffy feel. Further, Egyptian cotton fibers are typically longer and more absorbent than other materials, so if you’re going for a spa-like vibe, these are a solid bet.

Before I get into even more this towel has to go for it, allow me to set the scene: My bathroom is far from glamorous. It’s a pretty decent size overall, but the shower just might be the smallest, most awkwardly-shaped one I’ve ever seen. It’s cramped into the corner of the room, measures a little less than two-by-two feet, and is curved into a quarter circle shape for seemingly no reason at all. I hit my elbows on the walls at least 10 times every time I get in it.

Why is this relevant, you might ask? I rent my apartment, so, unfortunately, I can’t do a total gut renovation of the poorly designed space. There isn’t much I can do to make my bathroom feel nicer — aside from the small things, like adding a candle or, say, a seriously nice set of towels. Usually, I’m in a hurry to get the heck out of there as soon as I step out of the shower, but since adding these to my setup, I actually want to linger a little longer so I can stay wrapped up in the plush fabric.

The towel is certainly not lightweight, but it’s about as far from suffocating as you can get, and it glides so smoothly on my skin. The cotton felt shockingly soft as soon as I took it out of the package, but after taking it to the laundromat — it washed well, with no strings coming off, shedding, or extra drying time required — it somehow felt even softer. When I finally put it to the test, I discovered that it only took one pass over my skin until I was completely dry. After placing it back on my hook, the towel wasn’t damp in the slightest when I checked back in a few hours (though it likely dried even sooner.)

I had the chance to try out the brand’s full set, which includes hand towels and washcloths in addition to the bath towels, and let me tell you, if you’re looking to do a complete overhaul, the set is worth it. It comes with a handy cotton tote that keeps them all tidy and organized on my bathroom shelf. (Plus, the hand towel makes something as mundane as washing my hands feel luxe!) It goes without saying that this is the best towel I’ve ever tried, and I only wish I’d treated myself sooner.

Buy: Egyptian Cotton Towels, $59