Portawipes Coin Tissues Review

Overview

Portawipes Coin Tissues are viscose rayon discs about the size of a large lozenge. Add a splash of water and each one unfolds into a roughly 9.5-inch square towelette. They suit hikers who want a gentler, more compact alternative to packaged wet wipes for hands, face and general cleanup. The trade-off is that the 50-count kit weighs 181 g, so most hikers will carry only a tube or two.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	181 g (50 tablets plus 5 cases)
Count	50 compressed towelettes
Material	100% viscose rayon (cellulose)
Fabric weight	54 g/m²
Activated size	9.45 in × 9.45 in
Packed size per tablet	0.81 in × 0.375 in
Cases	5 waterproof tubes, 10 tablets each
Skin profile	Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free
Flushable	No

Performance

Packability. The tablets are the point. Each one measures 0.81 by 0.375 inches before it meets water, so a ten-count tube slips into a hip-belt pocket, a first-aid kit or a bear-canister lid without being noticed. The 50-count kit divides into five of those tubes, which makes it easy to split between a pack, a car and a partner’s kit. Spread across 50 tablets, the 181 g total works out to roughly 3.6 g each, cases included. A single tube lands somewhere near a fifth of that total.

Activation and use. Portawipes’ own instructions call for about a tablespoon of water. A splash from a bottle or a dip in a stream is enough to turn a disc into a full square. That makes the tablets a good fit for a hiker who is already filtering water at camp and wants a towelette without carrying a damp pack of wipes.

Fabric. Portawipes’ pitch is thickness. The company lists a 54 g/m² fabric weight and says it is up to 27% larger than common compressed tissues, with a jacquard weave that avoids the coarse, cheesecloth feel of cheaper coin tissues. The activated 9.45-inch square gives enough material to wash a face, wipe down hands after a meal, or fold into a pad for a more thorough cleanup. Because the fabric is a plain cellulose, it carries no preservatives or fragrance, which matters for hikers who get rashes from conventional wet wipes. The company says the rayon is OEKO-TEX certified.

Reusability. Unlike a packaged wet wipe, the activated towelette can be rinsed and wrung out. In practice that stretches a tube further on a long section, though a damp, used towelette is not something a hiker wants riding in a pack pocket for days. A towelette that has been used for hands and face is best rinsed, dried on the outside of the pack and then discarded.

Owner reception. Buyers rate the product highly. The manufacturer’s storefront shows a 4.8-star average across thousands of ratings on the 50-count listing. A bushcraft reviewer who tested the 500-count box described the tablets as soft and reusable, praised the tubes for carrying and recommended them for pockets, purses and bug-out bags. That audience is more survivalist than thru-hiker, so ultralight backpackers should read the praise as confirmation of quality rather than proof of trail durability.

Waste. The material is cellulose and the company describes it as biodegradable, but the tablets are marked “Do Not Flush.” Anything used for toilet duties should be handled like toilet paper, which in many areas means packing it out in a sealed bag, or burying it in a cathole where that’s allowed. That adds a small weight and a small chore that the marketing doesn’t mention.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Tablets measure 0.81 × 0.375 in, small enough to disappear into a pocket
• Expand to a 9.45 in square with a splash of water
• Thicker 54 g/m² fabric than typical coin tissues
• Fragrance-free, preservative-free and marketed as hypoallergenic
• Reusable after a rinse, unlike conventional wet wipes
• Five waterproof tubes make the pack easy to divide and distribute

Cons

• At 181 g, the full kit is heavy for a hiker who only needs a few days’ supply
• Not flushable; used towelettes must be packed out or disposed of properly
• Needs water, so they are less convenient in dry stretches
• Plain cellulose offers no antibacterial action, so they don’t replace hand sanitizer
• Plastic cases add weight and plastic to the kit

Who Should Buy This

Section hikers, car campers and travelers who want a soft, unscented cleanup option and who will actually use 50 towelettes should buy this. It also suits anyone building a first-aid, glovebox or emergency kit, where the ten-count tubes can live in different bags. Thru-hikers watching every ounce are better off taking a single tube and leaving the rest at home, or choosing a bandana or a small square of microfiber that never needs replacing. Anyone who wants antibacterial wipes for hand hygiene should look elsewhere, since these carry only water.

Verdict

Portawipes Coin Tissues do what they promise: tiny, soft and gentle on skin, with a generous activated size. The 50-count kit is more than most solo hikers need, so the smart play is to split it up and carry only a tube at a time. A solid, practical buy for casual backpackers and emergency kits, but not a gram-counter’s essential.