No matter the season, altitude or the weather, one of my favorite parts of any adventure is plunging myself in a cold body of water at some point along the journey. The benefits of cold water immersion on my immune system, stress levels, recovery speed and mental resilience are so profound that I do my best to muster myself into some every single day (even if it’s just a cold shower).
Once I emerge from any form of cold water therapy, be it a lake, river, ocean or shower, there is nothing quite as calming and comforting as wrapping myself up in a warm, dry, soft towel. Thus, I like to have an ultralight, packable, dependable and quick-drying towel along with me for such occasions.
I was so excited when both the large and small Matador NanoDry Towels arrived at my doorstep on a sunny Monday morning, just in time for a bike ride to the beach and a dip in the Pacific Ocean. I fell in love with both colorways right away, the charcoal grey is the perfect shade to hide stains while the forest green is natural, beautiful and calming. The perfect mix.
At first I felt like the silicone carry cases were unnecessary weight (and if you’re going for ultralight, they are) but they grew on me as they kept my damp towel separate from the rest of my layers inside my pannier bags. Plus the stainless steel key ring with the attached carabiner clips easily and securely to the outside of my bag.
The nanofiber fabric is different from any other travel towel I’ve used, which took me a minute to get used to. I soon found myself wishing all my other towels were just as silky. I was surprised how quickly and thoroughly it absorbed the water off my body considering how thin, light and smooth it is. I was also very impressed when I accidentally dropped the damp towel on the sandy beach and none of the fine grains of sand clung to it. Victory!
I’m short (5’5) with a medium build and I was able to wrap the towel around myself and change out of both my wet bottoms and top without exposing myself to the other beach goers, but if you have a long torso, are taller or have a bigger build, you’ll likely have to cover up your upper and lower sections separately.
I find it easy to shove the towel back into its carry case, but it fits even better if you fold it and roll it nicely first. The snap loop attached to the towel is handy for hanging and I like that it's in the middle of the towel instead of on the end so the towel doesn’t have to hang down as low from a branch, hook or handlebar.
It doesn’t take long for the large towel to dry, granted I’ve mostly been hanging it in direct sunlight or warm, dry conditions after use while the smaller towel dries super quickly due to its very wee size. I like the added touch of the Matador branding embedded in the towel, it’s a little something special and the font is just right.
Technical Specs / Info
Fabric : NanoFiber (absords 2.3x its own weight in water) 85% Polyester, 15% Polyamide
Weight : Large - 5 oz (142g), Small - 2oz (34g)
Towel Size : Large - 47 x 24” (120 x 60 cm) Small - 15 x 15” (39 x 39 cm)
Comes with an aluminum carabiner, silicone travel case, stainless steel key ring, snap loop for hanging and is machine washable (tumble dry low). Made in China.
Pros (Large)
- The fabric is soft like silk and super absorbent
- Sand and grit doesn’t cling to it
- Perfect for wrapping around the body
- Dries quickly
Pros (Small)
- The fabric is soft like silk and super absorbent
- Sand and grit doesn’t cling to it
- Superlight, small and very compact if you bring it without the case
- Dries super quick
Cons (Large)
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Using the case limits packing it down any smaller and is added weight
Cons (Small)
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I like something a little bigger, so I find it’s too small to be worth bringing along Using the case limits packing it down any smaller and is added weight
Bottom Line
I recommend the Matador NanoDry Towel if you are looking for an ultralight, quick-drying, packable travel towel that dries you off quickly, doesn’t hold onto sand, grass and dirt and gives your a good amount of coverage for changing in public or wrapping around your body to comfort you after the chill. While I personally love the large size, the small towel seems like an awesome choice for the pure minimalist.
Ali Becker is a freelance adventure writer and narrative storyteller who shares compelling conversations about personal transformations, overcoming limitations, wellness education and adventurous situations. You can follow her rambling adventures on social at @thisisalibecker or at her blog thisisalibecker.com
