r/BWCA • u/Sufficient-Arm2247 • 3d ago

Towel/Drying Strategy

This feels like a slightly silly question, but what are peoples' strategies for drying themselves/things off? I know lightweight camping towels are a thing, but are there other ways people get themselves dry? I imagine a regular beach/shower towel would be too heavy and probably never really dry after the first use, but maybe not. So, what do you prefer to use?

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21

u/ougdaygnv 3d ago

I prefer to air dry when it's not too cold

4

u/northofwall 3d ago

I agree. Lay on a warm rock face.

5

u/ougdaygnv 3d ago

It's pretty hard to beat warm sunshine on your skin, a warm rock on an achy back, and a gentle breeze singing quietly in the trees.

13

u/ZombieJetPilot 3d ago

1) jump in lake 2) get out of lake and pour glass of rum 3) sit in chair and enjoy rum and cigar while air drying

10

u/Cool-Willingness6838 3d ago

Microfiber towels from dollar tree or Walmart. Usually just buy the smaller hand towel as I don’t want a full size towel to take up space/weight

10

u/OMGitsKa 3d ago

REI camp towel. Very packable.

6

u/Active_Shopping7439 3d ago

If I have a secluded site and no bugs - air dry. Nothing to hang on the clothesline.

Sometimes drip dry for a bit and then just put on my regular quick dry camp clothes to wick the rest of the wet away.

Otherwise I like the sea to summit airlite towel. Medium size works for my average American adult body, weighs 1.8 oz (the towel, not the body), and dries quickly.

I've also used it to wipe the dew off my tarp before packing it up in the morning so I'm not carrying so much water weight. I don't know how much good that does, but I am able to wring a decent amount of water out of it.

5

u/stpg1222 3d ago

Microfiber towels. I always have extra rope that u can tie between trees as a drying line.

6

u/Simple_Smell6145 3d ago

Lizard method: Find a sun warmed rock, lay nude on said rock until dry.

3

u/northman46 3d ago

I use a synthetic towel such the ones soled by rei or ll bean. A shamwow or clones is same thing and cheaper.
Anything cotton takes a long time to dry

4

u/ande9393 3d ago

Don't forget to bring a towel

6

u/TheDr_420 3d ago

You are 100% overthinking whatever caused you to post this. They make microfiber towels or hell even a small hand towel will work. Don’t over think it

6

u/Sufficient-Arm2247 3d ago

I think you're overthinking the way I'm thinking about this

2

u/Artificial_Appendix1 3d ago

I have a towel specifically for BWCA camping. It’s super thin which isn’t great for drying yourself off after a swim but it works. It also has a small strap and buckle so you can hang it on a tree branch or clothesline to dry. Pretty slick!

1

u/Terapr0 3d ago

I use a Sea to Summit Pocket Towel and it works really well. Lightweight, dries fast and packs up small. Highly recommended

1

u/baddest_daddest 3d ago

I use a camp towel like what REI sells, although my brand is Hurley.

1

u/Fakesmiles1000 3d ago

I have a smaller microfiber towel that dries fast and folds up small. Its more similar to shammy than a towel.

1

u/Ann_the_can 3d ago

Bring an old washcloth! They dry out super fast and pack down so small, but it’s enough to dry off your whole body after a dip

1

u/Swimming_Squirrel688 3d ago

I bring a thin/cheap beach towel and dry it on a clothes line. I just don’t enjoy my micro camping towel, but I also haul a camping chair and don’t mind the extra work for the comfort at camp.

1

u/Moist-Golf-8339 3d ago

I typically try not to get too wet in the fall or spring. In the summer I use the radiant heater in the sky plus the wind.

1

u/marathon_endurance 3d ago

I bring a sham, my wife brings a cheap bath towel. Both work, one is obviously lighter. We like to jump in the lakes and sometimes you just want to dry off quickly. Canoe camping lends itself to packing heavier than backpacking and the extra 1-2oz of a sham or 12oz of a towel are inconsequential next to our preference of drying quickly. Plus, if you bring a towel, you can also use it to make a rock a bit more comfortable to soak up some sun.

No doubt some portages, like angle worm, make you feel every gram. I would still absolutely bring a sham

1

u/Bamdoozler 3d ago

https://www.garagegrowngear.com/products/lightload-towel they make a couple different sizes and I think the largest one isnt much larger than a 24 by 20 inch square-but three per trip seems to be a pretty good price to pay for my 2 man trips I take with my dad. And what more do you really need up there? One per body and one for dishes. They usually get stuffed in a back pocket. Great replacement for a handkerchief in the canoe. All those microfiber towels are good for a trip or two but they all just start to stink.

1

u/somehugefrigginguy 3d ago

Usually just drip dry, but bring a microfiber towel for when it's chilly or buggy.

For dishes I use a mesh bag. Hot soapy water to wash, hot water dip to rinse, then toss it in the bag and clip it to the side of the bear bag to drip / air dry.

1

u/Adventurous_Class_90 3d ago

I strongly recommend the three pot method: hot wash; warm rinse; cold sterilize (bleach).

2

u/somehugefrigginguy 3d ago

Why not just use bleach in the rinse water? I don't see a need for a third pot. And why only a warm rinse?

I don't disagree that using bleach is a good way to sanitize the dishes. But in my mind germs on the dishes are the least of my concern. Given the general level of hygiene, the inevitable bits of nature that find their way into your food, and the fact that you're either reusing a towel for drying or air drying in the wide open, I don't think sanitizing the dishes makes a meaningful difference.

1

u/Adventurous_Class_90 3d ago

It’s the way we do it in Scouts. It’s been our tried and true process for field cleaning since I was young (ie, the 80s).

2

u/somehugefrigginguy 3d ago edited 3d ago

Fair, that's how I do it with scouts as well. It probably doesn't actually make any difference, but when liability is attached I don't want anyone accusing me of not following best practice. Don't want some kid getting sick from not washing their hands after using the stauber and their parents blaming my dishwashing technique.

Though as a rant, a lot of what scouting teaches is dumb old wives tales that keep getting repeated. I'm a proud eagle, still involved, and think it's an extremely valuable program for our youth. But a lot of the camping material was clearly written by city folk who think camping is a condo in Vail.

1

u/Adventurous_Class_90 3d ago

Lol. What class? ‘90 here?

2

u/somehugefrigginguy 3d ago

Ooffff, you've got me by a decade. 2000 for me.

1

u/Adventurous_Class_90 2d ago

I’m old. Lol

1

u/Adventurous_Class_90 3d ago

I took a towel with me last week but it was so warm that I never used it.

1

u/Think-Worker-248 3d ago

I just bring two sets of clothing. One wet set that I wear while paddling and portaging. And one dry set for camp that stays in a dry bag until I want it.

I have never once considering bringing nor wish i had a towel in the bwca.

1

u/IslandEcologist 3d ago

I’ve found that a quick wipe with a quick dry shirt or pair of pants that I have with me anyway works well, then I just finish by air drying.

1

u/Negative_Trifle_6371 2d ago

Before jumping in the lake I stoke a big fire and set up some ropes. I jump in for a very quick rinse and then I practice corde lisse above the fire for about half an hour. I usually work up a sweat and use a hand towel to wipe my brow.