I’ve never loved traditional terry towels—especially the plush “hotel-style” kind, which I find too thick and stifling.
At the same time, thinner Turkish and linen waffle-weave towels either feel too scratchy or don’t seem to absorb enough.
By default, I gravitated to thinner terry towels because they seemed the least bad option, absorbent enough but not too thick.
Then I tried the Onsen Waffle Bath Towel, one of the picks in our towel guide. This towel is soft and plush, like a summery throw, but it’s still very absorbent while retaining the drape and flexibility of a thin towel. It was exactly what I’d been looking for.
Every time someone stays at my house, they ask about the towels.
I’ve tried other, cheaper cotton waffle towels since then, and they’ve been decent. But nothing beats the luxurious feel of the Onsen towel, which I think is worth every penny. I’m always a little sad when I wash my Onsen towels and have to use a different towel.
