Though not as soft as cotton bath towels, microfiber towels earn accolades for being conveniently lightweight and incredibly absorbent. The Fina Ultra Absorbent Waffle Weave Microfiber Bath Towel is a popular choice among consumers, though many prefer it as a hair towel rather than a bath towel. We tested the material, texture, and performance. Read on to see whether the Fina Microfiber Bath Towel is worthy of a space in your linen closet.
Material: Incredibly absorbent
Made from 80 percent polyester and 20 percent nylon, the waffle-style weave makes it much more absorbent than standard cotton bath towels. According to the manufacturer, Fina Microfiber Towels can soak up 10 times their weight in water. The towels come in four colors: white, linen, sage, and coffee. While these shades are neutral enough to match almost any bathroom decor, anyone looking for a bolder or brighter color will be out of luck. We ordered ours in linen, which is an off-white, cream color.
Texture: Lightweight and portable but not very soft
Though it does an excellent job of absorbing moisture, it didn’t feel all that nice against our skin. The weave was a bit coarse and the towel had a slight stickiness to it. One of the biggest downfalls of these towels—and microfiber towels in general—is that they don’t glide smoothly over skin. Rather than rub the towel along our skin, we found it more comfortable to pat-dry or blot away the water. When it comes to bath towels, we much prefer the softer texture of cotton. The Fina’s biggest selling point is that it takes much less time to dry. We hung ours over our shower door to air-dry; it was fully dry in less than two hours. We were very impressed, considering it had wrapped soaking wet hair earlier. Fina Bath Towels will also fold up more compactly than a standard cotton towel. Because they take up such little space when folded, they are perfect to take on-the-go. If we wanted to take a shower after a workout, we could easily pack it in our gym bag with plenty of room to spare.
Performance: Worked best as a hair towel
We found that the Fina Microfiber Towel is a great hair towel. After showering, I wrapped my hair in it for about 40 minutes. When I removed the towel, we were pleased to see that it had removed a significant amount of water. We also noticed a slight improvement in the texture—my hair was less frizzy and had slightly more defined waves. Because the towel absorbed so much moisture from my hair, it saved me about 10 to 15 minutes of blow-drying time. This was a big plus since I air-dry my hair as often as possible to avoid heat damage. The only problem with using the Fina Microfiber Towel as a hair towel is its size. Measuring 29 x 55 inches, it’s a full-body towel and not specifically designed for drying hair. Even with thick hair that’s fairly long—well past my shoulders—the towel was too big and cumbersome to wrap my hair up neatly. It came loose several times, and the extra material felt bulky atop my head. We were pleased to see that Fina actually makes this same towel in a smaller version—measuring 19 x 39 inches—which is more ideal for hair drying. However, you can’t buy it separately and can only purchase the hair towels as part of a larger set.
Washing: Machine washable, air-dry
According to laundry symbols printed on the tag, these towels are machine washable in hot water. Avoid using any bleach and fabric softeners. Since there is an “X” through the dryer icon, we decided to err on the side of caution and let them air-dry. We were disappointed that these towels aren’t dryer safe; we were hoping the dryer would soften them up a bit. After a cycle in the washing machine, they did feel a tiny bit softer but not much. After several days of consecutive use without laundering, the towels didn’t pick up any musty odors.
Price: Affordable
The Fina Bath Towels are very reasonably priced—a set of two sells for $14.99. The microfiber material is much more absorbent than traditional cotton towels. We found these towels particularly effective for hair drying. They’re also a great option if you’re looking for a lightweight, compact towel to take on-the-go. However, if you’re in the market for a bath towel that is soft and plush, cotton is worlds apart in terms of texture and feel.
Competition: Consider cotton if softness is a priority
Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towels: Starting at $24 for a set of two, Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towels (view on Frontgate) offer luxuriousness at a reasonable cost. Made from 100 percent Turkish cotton with a GSM of 700, these plush and absorbent towels are an excellent option. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, and many reviewers say these towels last for years. Parachute Fouta Stripe Towels: Retailing for $29 each, Parachute Fouta Stripe Towels (view on Parachute) are more expensive, but still reasonably priced as far as luxury bath linens go. Made from 100 percent Turkish cotton, these lightweight towels have a minimalist style that will work with most bathroom decor. They’re not very plush, but their dual-sided design—a flatweave on one side and a terry texture on the other—is soft to the touch. We found Fina Microfiber Bath Towels were better for hair drying. If we could, we would order them in a smaller size specifically for that purpose. These towels are not plush enough to use an everyday bath towel and prefer softer, more luxurious bath towels that are made of cotton.
