Microfibre vs Cotton Gym Towels (and the Microfibre Types Explained)
Most people compare gym towels as cotton against microfibre. Fair enough. But "microfibre" isn't one fabric. The same fibre can be made into a thin, flat sheet or a thick towel with raised loops, and those two handle sweat very differently.
So the weave matters at least as much as the fibre. That's the main thing to take from this guide.
Cotton vs microfibre: the short version
Cotton is familiar. Most of us grew up drying off with it, and it feels soft. It also holds a lot of water, so a cotton towel gets heavier when it's wet and is slower to dry. That's fine at home. In a gym bag, it means carrying a damp towel around.
None of that makes cotton bad. It's made for a different job: drying off after a shower, not lying under you on a bench for a whole session.
Microfibre is a synthetic fibre that can be woven in several ways. Done well, it soaks up sweat and dries faster. On our towel page, we put it simply: our towel dries in 2 to 3 hours, and a bath towel from home doesn't.
Which brings us to the real question: what kind of microfibre?
Not all microfibre is the same
Here are the four types you'll usually see on gym towels, in the same order as on our towel page. They can look alike in a photo. The difference shows up when you lie on them and start to sweat.
Printed suede (flat face)
Printed suede has a smooth, flat face so a pattern can sit on it. It looks great, but it's thin, so there's nowhere for sweat to go.
Plain suede (flat face)
Plain suede is the same flat face without the print. It's soft and quick-drying, but sweat sits on top instead of soaking in.
Waffle weave (open grid)
Waffle weave is an open grid of small pockets. It's light and great for travel. On a bench, though, the open gaps don't hold sweat.
Microfibre terry (raised loops)
Terry is woven into raised loops. Thousands of raised loops make it thick and plush, so it soaks up sweat instead of smearing it around. It's the thickest of the four. Ours is a 300gsm microfibre terry hooded gym towel.
| Type | Surface | On the bench |
|---|---|---|
| Printed suede | Flat face | Thin, so there's nowhere for sweat to go |
| Plain suede | Flat face | Sweat sits on top instead of soaking in |
| Waffle weave | Open grid | The open gaps don't hold sweat |
| Microfibre terry | Raised loops | Soaks up sweat instead of smearing it around |
Illustrations comparing the four microfibre fabric types.
Why we don't print patterns
Printed towels have to use a flat, smooth fabric. It looks good, but it's thin and doesn't soak up much sweat. So we chose thick terry loops instead, in six solid colours: Grey, Navy, Purple, Light Pink, Red and Light Blue. That meant giving up prints. For a towel you sweat into, I think it's the right trade.
It took me at least five prototypes, starting in my garage in 2024, to land on a towel that worked on the bench. Plenty of towels look good. Ours is made to work.
What to look for in a gym towel
Start with the fabric. Raised loops will take in sweat. A flat face won't.
Then look at the size. Ours is 140 x 55cm, long enough to cover a bench, so your skin stays off the vinyl. That makes it a barrier between you and shared equipment.
Last, check it stays put. A hood that hooks over the bench top or headrest stops the towel sliding mid-set. Our guide on how to stop your gym towel sliding off the bench goes into that. There's also a zip pocket for your phone and keys.
If you move between machines, there's a magnet strap upgrade for $10 per towel. It's built in. It grips magnetic steel, which covers most racks, frames and cable stacks. It won't hold on aluminium, plastic or some stainless steel. No steel within reach? Loop the strap over a rail. More on that in are magnetic gym towels worth it.
Looking after it is easy. Machine wash it like a normal towel. If it has the magnet strap, put it in a wash bag first. It air-dries in about 2 to 3 hours.
FAQ
What is microfibre terry?
It's microfibre woven into raised loops. Ours is 300gsm, thick and plush, and made to soak up sweat.
Is suede microfibre good for the gym?
It's soft and quick-drying, but sweat sits on top rather than soaking in. For a bench, that's the wrong way round.
Why no printed designs?
Printing needs a flat, smooth fabric, which is thin. So we use terry loops in six solid colours.
How big is the towel?
It's 140 x 55cm, long enough to cover a bench.
Made to work, not just look good
If you want a towel that takes in sweat and stays on the bench, look for terry loops and a hood. Ours is $55, or $65 with the magnet strap. You can browse all colours.
It comes with our 30-day money-back guarantee, even if you've used the towel. Your refund is paid once the towel is returned to us. Shipping within Australia is $9, or free over $100 or with a 3-pack. We also ship to selected countries, with costs shown at checkout.