Towel slipping off the lounger? Causes and 6 solutions
You barely get up and it's on the floor: a towel slips off the lounger as soon as the backrest is tilted and the surface is smooth. That's just as annoying by the pool on holiday as in the sauna relaxation room. The good news: there are simple solutions, from tucking it in properly to clips and a towel with a sewn-in pocket. Here you'll find the causes, six solutions compared honestly and a guide to which one suits you.
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Towel slipping off the lounger: the causes
Usually several things come together. If you know the cause, you'll find the right solution faster:
- The tilted backrest: The steeper the backrest, the more gravity pulls the towel down. On a flat lounger almost any towel stays put.
- Smooth surface: Plastic, synthetic mesh or varnished wood offer hardly any friction. On cushions, a towel holds better.
- Movement: When you sit down, turn and get up, your body pushes the towel downwards. After a few times it only half covers the lounger.
- Wind: On the beach and by the pool, one gust is enough to lift a light, loose towel as soon as you're not lying on it.
- Towel too short: A small bath towel doesn't reach over the backrest, so there's nothing holding it at the top.
- Wet towel: A soaked, heavy towel slips more easily than a dry one.
6 solutions compared
Not every solution suits every lounger. The table shows at a glance what works and where the limits are:
| Solution | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lower the backrest | free, works immediately | not everyone likes lying flat |
| 2. Fold the towel over the backrest | no accessories needed | needs a long towel, comes loose when you get up |
| 3. Knot the corners | holds quite well | only on loungers with struts, knots strain the fabric |
| 4. Towel clips | cheap, also help against wind | don't fit every lounger, extra item to pack |
| 5. Bigger towel | more fabric to tuck in | more bulk and weight |
| 6. Towel with a pocket | holds without accessories, quick to fit | needs a backrest |
1. Lower the backrest
The simplest solution first: lower the backrest by one notch. Just a few degrees less incline is often enough to stop the towel from creeping. It's less comfortable for reading, but ideal for a nap in the sun or in the relaxation room.
2. Fold the towel over the backrest and tuck it in
Lay the towel on the lounger so that 20 to 30 cm hang over at the top. Fold this part backwards over the backrest. On loungers with a gap between backrest and seat, you can also tuck the lower end in there. This holds surprisingly well: the towel hardly slips off the lounger any more, as long as you don't move a lot. A long enough towel is important: with a small bath towel there's hardly any lying surface left after folding.
3. Knot the corners around the struts
If the loungers have struts or tubes on the backrest, you can loosely knot the two top corners of the towel around them. This works on many beach loungers. However, the fabric at the corners is put under a lot of strain, and fringes tangle quickly. So don't tie the knots too tightly.
4. Towel clips
Large plastic or metal clamps that hold the towel to the frame or cover are the best-known solution for beach holidays. They're cheap and hold even in the wind. Make sure the opening matches the thickness of your lounger frame, and take them off before you leave – forgotten clips are a classic. In the sauna, clips are rather impractical because relaxation loungers are often upholstered and clamps don't grip well there.
5. Choose a bigger towel
The longer the towel, the more fabric you can fold over the backrest. A 180 × 100 cm hammam towel is a good compromise: long enough to fold over, but light and quick-drying thanks to the flat weave. There are also XXL formats for double loungers or two people, but they are too big for a single lounger.
6. A towel with a pocket for the backrest
The most convenient solution if your lounger has a backrest: a lounger towel with a sewn-in pocket that you pull over the backrest like a pillowcase. The Ocean StayOn hammam towel is made exactly like this: 200 × 70 cm, 100 % cotton, approx. 400 g, with a pocket at the head end and hand-knotted fringes. According to the product description, this keeps it on the lounger even when you get up or turn over. How to fit it step by step and which loungers it suits is explained in detail in our guide to the hammam towel for the lounger.
As the picture shows, the pocket also works on a sauna bench if it has a back board it can be pulled over. Without a backrest or board, however, there is nothing to hold it.
Special case: the sauna relaxation room
In the relaxation room it is particularly annoying when the towel slips off the lounger, because it's meant to be quiet there and nobody wants to keep rearranging their towel. In addition, many saunas expect you to always put a towel down on the lounger so that skin and cushion don't come into direct contact. Two things help in particular:
- A dry towel just for the lounger: If you lie down with the towel you've just dried off with, you'll have a wet and therefore heavy towel. Two towels are better: one for drying off, one for the lounger.
- A towel that holds by itself: Clips are unusual in the relaxation room, while a towel with a pocket doesn't stand out at all.
For exactly this combination there's the Hammam Towel Set Single with two Ocean hammam towels (180 × 100 cm) and one StayOn (200 × 70 cm) for €89.90 instead of €104.70 individually. You can read about the other unwritten rules of the relaxation room in our relaxation room etiquette.
At the pool and on the beach: reserving loungers?
On holiday, a towel on a lounger is often also used as a reservation. Many hotels have their own rules for this, and some remove towels from unused loungers. The problem of the towel slipping off the lounger is a separate issue: even if you're in the water right next to the lounger, you don't want the towel to end up in the sand or on wet tiles. Clip or pocket – take your towel with you if you leave for longer.
Towel slipping off the lounger: which solution suits you?
- You don't want to buy anything: lower the backrest and fold the towel over it.
- You're on a beach holiday with lots of different loungers: towel clips are flexible and cheap.
- You regularly go to the sauna or the pool: a towel with a pocket saves you from constantly readjusting it.
- You need one towel for everything: a classic hammam towel from our hammam towels collection is easy to fold over and also works for drying off and wrapping up.
Related reading: Hammam towel for the lounger: how the Ocean StayOn works · Relaxation room etiquette: the unwritten rules of the sauna break · Hammam towel at the outdoor pool: lawn, sun lounger, locker and hygiene
Conclusion
When a towel slips off the lounger, it's usually down to a tilted backrest, a smooth surface and movement. In the short term, a lower backrest and folding the towel over it help; on a beach holiday, clips are a cheap solution. If you often rest on loungers with a backrest, whether in the sauna or by the pool, a towel with a sewn-in pocket is the most convenient – it holds without you having to think about accessories.
Frequently asked questions
Towel keeps slipping off the lounger – what helps fastest?
Lower the backrest by one notch and fold the top end of the towel back over the backrest. It costs nothing and often helps a lot.
Do towel clips hold on every lounger?
No. They need a frame or edge to grip. On thick cushions or very wide frames they hold poorly.
Does a towel with a pocket also work in the sauna?
Yes, on relaxation loungers with a backrest and on sauna benches with a back board. On benches without a board there is nothing for the pocket to hold on to.
How big should a lounger towel be?
Long enough to lie on completely and tuck a little in at the top. With 180 cm (hammam towel) or 200 cm (StayOn) you're well covered on standard loungers.
Does a thin hammam towel slip more than terry?
A light towel is more easily lifted by the wind, whereas a heavy, wet terry towel slips more easily because of its weight. What matters most is whether the towel is held at the top of the backrest.
Hammam towels for lounger and sauna
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.