Beldray XL Pet Drying Towel with Pockets review: "a towel that stays in place while drying a wriggly dog"

RRP: £10 | Buy now from Amazon

How I tested

I used this towel on my two terrier mix dogs, one small and one medium, over a couple of weeks. It came out after muddy and rainy walks to dry their paws and tummies, as well after bath time for a full rub down.

Most of the use was by the back door dealing with wet paws and muddy legs, plus a few proper drying sessions after baths. Both dogs are the sort that would rather be anywhere else than standing still, so ease of use matters.

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My verdict

This is a very simple product, but it’s a noticeable step up from grabbing an old towel.

The first thing that stands out is the design. It’s essentially a flat towel with pockets at each end, so you slip your hands in like a pair of oven gloves. You can actually hold onto your dog and apply a bit of pressure without the towel slipping or bunching up. When my dogs are wet they're desperate to rub themselves against the nearest carpet, so a towel that stays in place while drying a wriggly dog makes a big difference.

The chenille microfibre fabric does most of the heavy lifting. Those soft “noodles” get into muddy fur and lift dirt away rather than just spreading it around. After a wet walk, I found it particularly good on legs and paws. Where a normal towel will just absorb some of the water on the surface, this one actually gets into their fur, loosens mud and absorbs more water.

It’s also properly absorbent. On both dogs, it took off a surprising amount of water quickly, which meant less dripping across the kitchen floor. For the smaller dog, it was enough to get her mostly dry on its own. For the medium one, who has much thicker fur, I still needed a second pass to finish the job.

It’s not a magic fix. You’re not wrapping your dog up and being done with it, especially if they’re bigger or very wet. And while the antibacterial treatment is a nice extra, it’s the sort of feature that fades with repeated washing, so it’s not something I’d rely on long term.

That said, for day-to-day use, it’s genuinely handy. It lives by the door now and gets used far more than any of the old towels.

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Is this better than a regular towel?

Yes, for most everyday situations. A standard towel tends to slide around and doesn’t give you much control, especially with a wriggly dog.

This feels much more practical. The mitt design lets you grip and rub at the same time, which makes a big difference when you’re dealing with muddy paws. The chenille fibres also do a better job of actually lifting dirt and moisture from within the dogs' fur.

For a full post-bath dry on a larger dog, you might still want a regular towel as backup. But for quick clean-ups and general use, this is easier and more effective.

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Is the Beldray XL Pet Drying Towel with Pockets good value for money?

At £10, it’s a fair price. It’s a small upgrade that makes a repetitive job quicker and less messy. You could stick with an old towel, but this works better and takes less effort. If you’re using it a few times a week, it justifies the space it takes up.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials like steam irons, vacuum cleaners and heated throws.

From a highly recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.