Hammam towel at the lake: lawn, changing, drying and packing list
At a swimming lake, many things are different from the seaside: instead of sand there's a lawn, a gravel shore or a wooden jetty, instead of a beach chair a spot under the trees, and you often arrive by bike. A hammam towel at the lake suits exactly these conditions – light in your bag, quick to dry and at the same time a blanket to lie on, a towel and a privacy screen. Here you'll find out how to use your towel on grass and jetty, how changing works without a cabin, how it dries between two swims and what belongs in your bag.
Contents11
- What's different at the lake compared with the beach
- Why a hammam towel scores at the lake
- Hammam towel at the lake on the lawn: staying dry and clean
- On the jetty, gravel and shore
- At the lake with children
- Changing without a changing room
- Drying a hammam towel at the lake: between two swims
- Packing list for a day at the lake
- Evenings at the lake
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
What's different at the lake compared with the beach
| Situation | Swimming lake | What it means for your towel |
|---|---|---|
| Ground | grass, often damp in the morning; gravel or jetty | moisture from below, blades of grass and leaves |
| Getting there | often by bike or on foot | low weight and small pack size count |
| Changing rooms | none or only a few at many lakes | towel as privacy screen or poncho needed |
| Shade | under trees, changing | towel dries more slowly in the shade |
| Swimming | several short dips | towel should dry quickly in between |
Why a hammam towel scores at the lake
- Light: An Ocean beach towel in hammam style at 180 × 100 cm weighs about 400 g and fits rolled into a bike basket or backpack.
- Quick to dry: In our experience at the Meri Sauna, a hammam towel spread out in the sun dries in about 30 minutes. Between two swims it is usually ready to use again.
- Less moisture from below: Thick terry quickly soaks up moisture from damp grass. A flat-woven towel also absorbs moisture, but releases it faster.
- Grass and leaves shake out: Less sticks to the smooth surface than to terry loops.
To be honest: on hard gravel or a wooden jetty, a thin towel offers less padding than a thick bath towel. If you want to lie comfortably, fold it double or put a light sleeping mat underneath.
Hammam towel at the lake on the lawn: staying dry and clean
- Choose your spot: In the morning, grass in the shade is often still damp with dew. A sunny spot dries out faster.
- Use a ground layer: Put a thin tarp or a picnic blanket with a coated underside beneath the towel – then no moisture rises up.
- Keep two towels separate: One towel for lying on, a second for drying off. That way you don't lie down on a wet towel after swimming.
- Shake out before packing: Shake out blades of grass, leaves and picnic crumbs vigorously so they don't end up in your bag and washing machine.
For families or two people, a large towel such as the Coastline XXL beach towel at 240 × 200 cm works well as a shared lying area. At around 1.2 kg, however, it is heavier than a single towel.
On the jetty, gravel and shore
Many lakes have wooden jetties or gravel shores instead of grass. A hammam towel protects you there from warm wood and rough ground, but it is thin. On the jetty, it helps to fold the towel double and weigh down one corner with a shoe or your bag so it doesn't blow into the water. On gravel, water shoes are handy for the walk into the water while the towel stays on the shore as a cover. Don't drag wet fringes over rough ground after swimming.
At the lake with children
Children often go in and out of the water every few minutes. A light hammam towel for the lake dries again quickly and is easy for small hands to carry. A separate colour for each child prevents mix-ups, for example with the six colours of the Ocean beach towel. For the break in between, a large shared towel works as a picnic area.
Changing without a changing room
Many swimming lakes have no cabins. With a towel, changing still works:
- Fold the towel in half lengthways, wrap it around your hips and tuck the end in firmly.
- Change your swimming trunks or bikini bottoms underneath.
- For the upper body, wrap the towel under your arms or put a second towel over your shoulders.
It's more comfortable with a bathing poncho, under which you can change freely with both hands. You'll find a selection in our bathing ponchos collection.
Drying a hammam towel at the lake: between two swims
- Spread it out, don't scrunch it up: Lay the drying-off towel in the sun or hang it over a branch, your bike or your backpack.
- Use the wind: A light breeze on the shore often dries the towel faster than a still spot in the shade.
- Squeeze briefly: After drying off, squeeze gently, don't wring hard.
- Don't pack it damp in the evening: If the towel is still damp when you leave, spread it out as soon as you get home.
If your towel still has lake water or sun cream in it after a day at the lake, a normal wash is usually enough. For our Ocean beach towel and the hammam towels: 30 °C, no fabric softener, air dry.
Packing list for a day at the lake
| What | What for | Our tip |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hammam towels | lying and drying off | Ocean or MAHINA beach towel |
| Thin ground layer | against damp grass | tarp or coated picnic blanket |
| Bathing poncho | changing without a cabin | from our poncho collection |
| Drink | cool all day | IZY insulated bottle, according to the manufacturer cold for up to 24 h |
| Bag | carrying everything together | beach bag with room for two towels |
| Bag for wet items | carrying swimwear separately | so dry towels stay dry |
A good bag is, for example, our blue-and-white striped beach bag measuring 50 × 40 × 15 cm, which according to its description holds two hammam towels, a water bottle and a change of clothes. For drinks, an IZY 500 ml insulated bottle is a good choice; according to the manufacturer it keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours. You'll find a detailed checklist for the beach day in our article on packing a beach bag.
Evenings at the lake
When the sun gets lower, it quickly becomes cooler by the water. Then the dry hammam towel becomes a light wrap over your shoulders. If you stay longer, bring an extra towel as a blanket for your legs. That way a hammam towel stays in use at the lake until sunset – and at home it is quickly spread out and dry and fresh again by the next lake day.
Related reading: Hammam towel at the outdoor pool: lawn, sun lounger, locker and hygiene · Packing a beach bag: the checklist for the perfect beach day · How quickly does a hammam towel dry? Guide values, factors, tips
Conclusion
A hammam towel at the lake is light, quick to dry and versatile: a blanket on the lawn, a towel after swimming, a privacy screen when changing and a wrap in the evening. With two towels, a thin layer against damp grass and a bathing poncho you're well equipped. On hard ground a thin towel offers less padding – then simply fold it double. You'll find all towels in our beach towels and hammam towels collections.
Frequently asked questions
Isn't a hammam towel too thin for the lawn?
As a blanket to lie on it is perfectly adequate. If you want to lie more softly, fold it double or put a thin layer underneath. A tarp helps against moisture from below.
How quickly does a hammam towel dry at the lake?
In our experience, about 30 minutes in the sun if it is spread out or hanging. In the shade it takes longer.
How do I change at the lake without a changing room?
Wrap the towel around your hips and change underneath. It's even easier with a bathing poncho.
How do I get grass and leaves out of the towel?
A vigorous shake is usually enough. Little sticks to the smooth, flat-woven surface.
How many towels do I need for a day at the lake?
Two per person are ideal: one for lying on, one for drying off. For families, also one large towel as a shared area.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.