My husband always says I have an internal solar battery—I absolutely thrive at the beach. I spend a lot of time at beaches around my hometown of Los Angeles, and I travel to beachy destinations like French Polynesia and the Mediterranean whenever I can. In the process, I’ve learned that a great beach towel can make or break a day by the water.

The best ones strike a balance: they’re absorbent, quick-drying, sand-resistant, and easy enough to pack without taking over your entire bag. For this story, Travel + Leisure tested 35 beach towels, evaluating each one for design, functionality, portability, durability, and value. Testing is ongoing over a six-month period to see how each towel holds up over time. I also drew on my own experience with the soft and lightweight Patagonia beach towel on our list.…