Preparation

Summer weather is finally upon us, and after the year we’ve all had, a relaxing day at the pool or beach where we can sip on an ice-cold drink and read a juicy book is exactly what we need. Second only to sunscreen and said novel, a quality beach towel is the most important accessory in your tote bag.

If you’re in the market for a new beach towel, you’re in luck; we’ve culled together several of our favorites to help you on your search. These aren’t your average boardwalk gift shop iterations—instead, we’re sharing high-quality, beautiful options that will last for years. Before we dive into our top picks, however, we will leave you with this piece of advice from home improvement and lifestyle expert (and fellow beach lover) Kathryn Emery. When it comes to beach towels, size really does matter, she says. “While an average bath towel is 27-by-52 inches, an average beach towel is 30-by-70 inches. Some oversized ones are even larger,” says Emery. “Go big, which will give you nice real estate on the sand.” Ahead, our favorite beach towels to get you through the summer season.

JML Microfiber Beach TowelsMartha Stewart Riviera Geo Beach TowelsSerena & Lily ″Mallorca″ Beach TowelAnthropologie ″Stephanie″ Beach TowelWest Elm Palm Leaf Beach TowelBrooklinen Sunset Beach TowelCoyuchi Mediterranean Organic Towel