What makes a towel absorbent?

A towel's absorbency is affected by three things:

1. The fibre used to make the towel - higher quality cottons such as Supima or Egyptian cotton have longer staple lengths which make them more absorbent, softer and more durable.
2. The weight of the towel, known as GSM (grammes per square metre) - a towel with a higher GSM absorbs more water than an equivalent towel with a low GSM.
3. The yarn used to make the towel. Fewer twists in the yarn result in a greater surface area that absorbs more water.

The way you care for your towel will also have an effect - using fabric conditioner will your towel's absorbency, so wash your towels with detergent only.