The best beach towels do more than you think. Sure, they dry you off after splashing around in the ocean, but they're also the mood-setter for your little plot of sand, like a rug you can decorate your seaside living room with for the day. Most important, though, they can take your summer fits from pretty decent to “hubba hubba, who's that devilish fellow?” Because no matter how fresh you look in your camp shirt, swim shorts, and shades, rolling up to a park hang or beach day with a ratty old bath towel really undermines the whole effect.
So, let's be clear here: Bath towels are not the same as beach towels. Beach towels should be large enough to lay out fully stretched, not just to tie around your waist. The best beach towels have enough acreage to accommodate at least one other person's ass, or to fully cover yours while you try to shimmy out of soaking-wet trunks in the parking lot without causing a scene. (Naturally, they should also be also fast-drying and able to shake off sand quickly after a long day on the surf.) But if you're a regular reader of GQ.com, you know that practicality is only part of the story. Yes, the best beach towels should feel great—but they should also look cool.
Which is great news. Because from artisanal Turkish joints to classic cabana stripes to designer terry cloth versions, there's a whole world of towels out there that'll swell your beach style to surf-break-sized proportions. Here are 19 of the raddest for staying dry—and looking hot—all season long.
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