Packtowl, Do You Carry One?

[Chair-man]

I recently completed my first section hike and one item I carried was a packtowl (also know as a pack towel) but I never used it.
I read where a packtowl is good for wiping the condensation off your tent in the morning. I just shook my tent real good. Using a packtowl to wipe the condensation off a tent seems like it would just work the water into the fabric.
One other reason I brought it was because if your trying to set up your screen tent in the rain you could get a lot of water in it before you set up the fly and you could use your towel to sponge up the water. It didn't rain on my trip.
I'm thinking about not bringing one on my next hike. Am I missing something? Do you pack a packtowl and why?

[Stink Bug]

Yes, I carry a pack towel and I used mine pretty much every day on my recent AT thru hike; it's a true multi-use tool. I use it for wiping off my tarp-tent, use it for a washcloth (personal and cook pot), use it to wrap up my stove inside my cook pot, for drying out my gear after the days of rain we had this year....

[Sarcasm the elf]

I cut up a sham-wow and bring about a 12inch by 12inch piece, I use it all the time on the trail.

The part about wiping down tents is more important if you have a tent made out of silnylon or a singlewall tent (these are much lighter tents, but have more condensation). The more traditional nylon doublewall tents don't have as much if an issue.

[Chair-man]

use it for a washcloth (personal and cook pot)

I use paper towels (cut into small 6"x6" squares) for everything.
I actually brought 2 bandanas too and didn't use them either. I only use a bandana for when I'm sweating really bad and it was kinda cool.

[Hot Flash]

I carry one because I swim and bathe often.

[Chair-man]

I use paper towels (cut into small 6"x6" squares) for everything

I also bring wipes (wet ones singles) for hygiene.

[moldy]

No towel for me. I never neededon3

[Zipper]

I didn't bring a pack towel on my thru. I used a bandanna for wiping off the condensation in my silnylon tent, and for everything else. I even used the bandanna to dry off in a campground shower since I didn't have a towel. It's not ideal, but it worked!

Some of the pack towels can really hold bad odor. I was hiking somewhere in PA I think and saw a blue pack towel in the trail. I picked it up thinking I would carry it to the next shelter to see if anyone lost it. It smelled so bad like horrible body odor that I had to put it back down on the trail, and I never leave stuff after I pick it up! Just something to consider, but sounds like others have done fine and haven't ended up with smelliness.

[aficion]

I carry a small one and use it all the time. I will happily swim and bathe cold if I can dry off quickly and get dressed.
Would not be without one, but am one of the few who relish my daily outdoor bath.

[Marta]

A bandana worked for me.

[LIhikers]

I carry a small pack towel.
Maybe the most important thing I use it for is to dry things on a rainey day. First I dry the inside of the tent, then I put my things into the tent, then I strip down and dry myself before putting on sleep clothes. I also carry a silnylon sack to put my rain soaked clothes into while I'm in the tent.

[Dogwood]

I don't carry a true "pack towel". I carry a pack towel that's the size of a wash cloth about 8" X 8"(10" X 10") that is either a cut down Sham wow or the smallest Sea to Summit or REI super absorbant pack towel made about that size and it usually stays wrapped up around my iso stove inside my cook pot when on the move. I'll often carry a bandanna as well but in one side mesh pocket of my pack in easy reach. Both are used in a multitude of ways. Ditto washing the super absorbant towels regularly. They can reek quickly.

[rocketsocks]

I bring a bandana for kitchen spills and clean-up, and a pack towel for personal hyjinx.

[fredmugs]

I used to carry a towel and now I just bring a bandana. I sweat a lot and need something to mop up the shaved head from time to time.

[rusty bumper]

I carry 2 small MSR Nano Micro towels. I use one for food and kitchen related stuff and the other for a nightly "sponge bath" and for wiping down my tent if necessary. I rinse out the second one every morning at the first stream crossing.

[tarditi]

I carry one but don't use it much - I see it as an item that is worth it's weight in multipurpose - when you need it it's hard to substitute. If you have a bandanna already or something it may be unnecessary.

[Biggie Master]

image.jpg
Got this in the automotive section at Walmart several years ago, but never used it until recently. I took about one square foot on my last 8 day section hike. It worked great for all of the uses described above. I think the entire "towel" is approximately 3 sq ft. It folds small, and when it's dry it weighs almost nothing. Don't remember the cost, but it was very reasonable - perhaps in the $10 range.

[Rasty]

I use a small size pack towel. I cut the towel in half and use the half with the hanging loop as a towel. The othee half I cut into four pieces and only bring one piece. It's used as a pot holder, washcloth and I cut off tiny pieces to use as a scrub pad if I need one.

[Biggie Master]

Should have added that I will continue to carry/use on future hikes.

[Whack-a-mole]

I carry a small sham wow. I also use a bandana. I sweat a ton, so the bandana is for my head, and the towel is for everything else. Call me a weenie, but I don't care for the bandana to be on my head after it has been used to clean up a bunch of stuff. Also- and this is kind of important, if you sweat a bandana wet, and then use it for a hot pot holder, you are in for a rude surprise!