Name:	Thomas Peltier II
Age:	30
Gender:	Male
Height:	6' 0" (1.8 m)
Weight:	155 lb (70.3 kg)
E-mail Address:	Thomas@Goldenautomotive.com
City, State, Country:	Bakersfield, California, U.S.A.
Date:	03/10/2004

Backpacking Background:

I have been in the outdoors since I was a toddler. My mother introduced me to backpacking when I was in the backpack. I in good turn joined the Boy Scouts to get away from Mom on the weekend hikes. My first backpack trip with the Boy Scouts was down a dirt road to a park and campsite. That was my last trip with the Boy Scouts. Since then I have been backpacking mostly in the Sierra Nevadas.

I have been a professional river guide and kayak instructor for the last 11 years; however, I currently work at a family establishment in Bakersfield, California. Working a "Real Job" keeps me away from the outdoors a bit more than I would like. My summers are busy between city work and river guiding. Much of my packing is done on the river in the summer. This has driven me to long winter trips and short summer trips for the last several years. I took up snowshoeing to help get into winter packing. I have found that less is often more in my backpacking and my summer trips I find myself as happy in a pair of Chacos carrying my pocketknife as I do with a heavy pack and big boots.

Product information:

Manufacturer:	McNett
Year:	2003
URL:	http://www.McNett.com
Listed weight:	3.5 oz (109 g)*
Actual weight:	3.5 oz (100 g )
Listed Size:	20 by 40 in. (51 x 102 cm)
Actual Size:	20 by 40 in. (51 x 102 cm)
MSRP:	not listed

*weights are as posted by McNett

Field Report:

After two months I'm not sure that I have a lot to say about this towel. I've used it a few times, albeit not as many as I would like. The grab/hang loop is still attached the edges are in good shape and I cannot see through it, and the coloring has not faded. The physical condition of the towel has held up well to this point. I have washed it several times and it is definitely softer than the day I got it. It feels quite nice on my face. I like the size of the McNett towel. While it is not exactly luxurious after a long hot shower at home, it does get me dry. The towel works very well for cleaning up at the side of a river or a washbasin in camp. When size is an issue this towel sure packs a punch. Ounce for ounce the McNett Microfiber Towel may be the best towel I've ever used.

McNett makes several claims about their towel,

At 20 by 40 in. (51 x 102 cm) the McNett Microfiber towel is small. I have never had a problem stuffing the towel in whatever little pocket or crease was available. This little towel is defiantly absorbent. I have no trouble drying off after a shower. This towel will pick up a lot of water for its size. Even better, the towel is soft, and cozy against my skin when I use it. I'm not really sure what to say about the claims that it pulls dirt away from my skin, but the towel feels good against my face. Seems reasonable and seems like it works. I have used the towel to clean my goggles and sunglasses several times. The towel has done a fine job of cleaning the lens. The towel has always left the lenses clean and streak free. At the completion of this test I hope to have a better feel for how well this aspect of the towel worked.

As the season is warming up and the days are getting longer here in California I am looking forward to using this towel more. As the snow melts the mud will begin to appear. This is where I believe the towel will earn its keep. So far during the testing I have spent most my time on frozen water. It has been very cold and even though I was surrounded by lots of water it has mostly been frozen. I have had the towel freeze solid on me several times. The McNett Microfiber towel seems to deal with being frozen very well. I simply hang the towel by its loop in a sunny place and within the hour the towel is dry enough for me to pack away. The towel does not seem to be adversely effected from being frozen. I have found that if I leave it folded up in a mesh pocket, either the original container or an open mesh pocket on my backpack the towel does not dry. It will remain damp or freeze (depending on the outside temps). This has not proven to be more than uncomfortable though. Even when damp the McNett Microfiber towel seems to absorb a lot of water and if it is frozen the towel can be thawed very quickly.

Two months of testing my feeling is that, I am looking forward to the next four months. So far I have only used the towel for a total of about 8 days and most of those were day trips (not including showers at home). The towel has only had the opportunity to spend one night out backpacking with me so far, and all of it's service has been on several feet of snow. The daytime temps have been freezing or better and only once reaching up to near 42 F (6 C) degrees. I like how the towel feels when I use it, however it is always cold to the touch. (Imagine that when snow camping) The towel has not shown any signs of breaking down and has in fact only gotten softer. The towel will dry my body after a shower. All in all, I like the towel and will be glad to have the McNett Microfiber Towel on the trail.

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Field Report

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