Best Bargain

Winner: Cabana Fish Towel by Bed Bath & Beyond, $8
This terry towel (shown, top left) is “gentle as a summer breeze on bare skin,” said a staffer. It dried fast and shed sand in a snap. Also in green, turquoise, and orange. Size: 30 by 60 inches.
To Buy: www.bedbathandbeyond.com.

Runner-Up: Stripe Beach Towel by Target, $12 for two
Testers loved the “sand repelling” quality of this striped terry towel (shown, bottom left), which is equally soft on both sides. Although it’s the smallest of the bunch (and you can’t buy just one), the price is right. Size: 27 1/2 by 55 inches.
To Buy: www.target.com.

Best Style

Winner: Modern Damask Beach Towel by Christy, $30
“It’s luxuriously plush — perfect for an oceanside nap,” praised one tester of this terry-cloth number (shown, top right), which features a damask design with contrasting striped trim. Size: 39 by 71 inches.
To Buy: 800-261-6326.

Runner-Up: Beach Towel by Studio JCP Home, $28
This reversible velour-and-terry combo (shown, bottom right) has a graphic floral pattern on both sides. And it fared well in the sand-trap test: “Two shakes and no sand remained!” one person exclaimed. Size: 34 by 65 inches.
To Buy: www.jcpenney.com for stores.