Teema Lilac Labyrinth Towel Review

Colorful, lightweight towel for beach and travel.

Thin, Lightweight

You might think “big and fluffy” when you think of the ideal cozy towel for me when I emerge from the 49-degree lake after a typical December swim workout. You would be quite wrong. The perfect post-swim wrap for me is Teema’s Lilac Labyrinth towel. 

Woven out of Oeko Tex^® Standard 100-certified 100% organic Turkish cotton, the Teema Lilac Labyrinth towel is lovely soft, long, flat, and very thin. It’s highly absorbent, which means when I’m transitioning from wetsuit to dry clothes in freezing air temperatures, I only have to pass the towel over my skin once to feel dry. Speed is essential.

Highly Absorbent

My Teema Lilac Labyrinth towel is the key element in my post-swim routine. First I rub my wet hair with the towel before quickly putting on a warm wool cap. Next I towel off my arms and legs before donning a large t-shirt dress. Then I quickly remove my swimsuit (underneath the dress) while dabbing my torso with the towel. I pull on an alpaca hoody, then I slip into a pair of track pants. Then I toss the towel to the ground while I remove my wet neoprene socks, and I grab some shearling lined mules for my feet. I usually wrap the towel round my wetsuit before putting it into my gear bag so the wetsuit doesn’t soak my bag.

Sometimes I alternate this routine by pulling on the hoody after I don my cap, then I tie the towel around my waist and remove the swimsuit underneath the towel before putting on pants. It all depends on how quickly I find the items in my gear bag. Having a towel that is absorbent and that keeps working even when damp is vital to me getting dry and warm. Once I’m dressed, I put on a large, insulated poncho. (When I forget the poncho, I wrap the damp Teema Lilac Labyrinth towel around my shoulders for the trek to my car.)

Packable, Versatile

I’ve tested a fair number of pack towels made out of synthetic fabrics, but I prefer the Teema Lilac Labyrinth towel because it’s so effective and because its size makes it a versatile towel for lake swimming all-year round. Winter or summer, I always need a towel large enough to wrap around myself for modest changing in public places.

The Teema Lilac Labyrinth towel is so attractive that it’s a shame to limit it to beach use. This towel can also be worn like a scarf or cover up on cool nights. It’s my “go to” for travel because it packs small and it does double duty as my yoga mat.

Unlike my huge looped cotton beach blanket, the Teema Lilac Labyrinth towel is much easier to pack because it doesn’t have the bulk of a typical towel. There’s a lot of neoprene gear in my swim bag, so having a more packable towel helps me lighten my load. This towel is ideal for all sorts of outdoor outings – picnics or beaches – because it’s flat weave prevents sand from clinging to it. I can shake it out with the confidence that I won’t be dragging sand into my car. Because I use the Teema Lilac Labyrinth towel several times a week I wash it fairy frequently. It can be machine washed and dried, but I hang mine up on a rack to dry. Its weave and thinness help it dry very quickly, making it idea for travel. 

High Standards

I care about my health and about the stories behind the products I use, so I appreciate that Teema produces products that are safe for consumers (their materials are Oeko Tex^® Standard 100 certified) and they are committed to safe and fair labor practices (they are also SMETA Sedex certified).

Bottom Line

I love my Teem Labyrinth towel because it’s ideally designed for my swim outings and it’s easy to pack for vacations. It’s also easy to care for, and I appreciate that it dries quickly on the line (so much faster than a traditional towel). This is the perfect gift item for the outdoors person in your life.

Details

The Labyrinth towel comes in seven different colors, all with fluffy tassels at the ends. Mine is light purple with several brightly colored threads woven vertically along the length of the towel (see image at right). It’s a beautiful, well-made towel. Teema makes a nice variety of colorful towels with striped and other design patterns.

Brand site: https://teema.co

$52 some styles current on sale for less. Also available on Amazon.

Images from Teema website