I hate microfiber towels, and super soft velvety towels in general. they never feel like they're getting anything dry enough, even though I never use softener.

I have Ikea towels that have lasted me for over 4 years of constant use and they still look great. There's an occasional loop pull, but its very rare. they're 100% cotton and not super soft -- which I personally prefer. unfortunately Ikea doesn't sell those anymore, but H&M has some that seem the same. I haven't tried that brand yet so I can't totally vouch for them.

Is there something sharp and small catching the thread loops in the washer? Try running an old nylon (if there are such things anymore) around the inside while wearing gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges. Also check your dryer.

The smaller and more tightly twisted the terry loops are, the less likely they are to catch and pull.

I don't think it has anything to do with your washer. Many years ago I got a set of towls from Marshalls and they now have pulls on them (has loops). More recently I got a set from JC Penney and they have zero pulls on them (no loops). Brand Signature, but I called JCP recently and they no longer have the particular style I bought.

My towels are all years used and I have no thread pulls. Maybe the sharp edge is in the dryer?

Ihave never had this happen and I have all kinds of brands of towels . Not sure what you mean by hardly any agitator it either has one or not. BTW I have only had a front load washer and would never go to an agitator type,Are you sure as mentioned thereis not something doing this in the washer or dryer.

The OP's washer presumably is a topload model with an impeller-type agitator. Low-profile, no substantial fins, but still an agitator. Any device or structure within a washer's drum that moves to jiggle or circulate the clothes is an agitator. Westinghouse touted their Laundromat frontloaders as having a "revolving agitator" ... which referred to the entire drum as being the agitator.

I don't think it has anything to do with your washer.

I agree. I've had top loaders and side loaders. So many of my traditional style loopy terry towels would snag, some way more than others. Not just from washing, but from regular use. Seems like my rings were a big culprit. We had some Nautica towels that held up pretty well though.

But like I mentioned before, that other knobby design I got at Ikea held up the absolute best (see comment above). I just realized I have another brand that are just like them that also don't snag. I think it's because the loops are super tiny. So honestly, I don't think price matters as much, but the weave absolutely does.

I have a top loader (LG) with the impeller agitator dadoes mentioned. I haven't had that same problem with towels.

Maybe try a search here for the same problem. I found a couple links...FWIW.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/3670137/washing-towels-is-ruining-them

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2418270/washer-snagging-towels 

My towels have no thread pulls. Some are 10 yrs old from BBB, others about 5 yrs old from Sam's club. Up until about 6 months ago I had a Maytag Neptune washer, now I have a new Maytag front loader. I still have the Neptune dryer.

Maytag Neptune is a frontloader ... unless you had one of the oddball Neptune TL (TL meaning toploader) models which are more aggressive than a frontloader.

I have had great luck with towels from

lands end.

My washer simply has this irregular shape at the bottom to move the water.

If there was a problem with something in the washer catching on the towels, don't you think it would happen to other items I wash? It doesn't. And I wash the towels alone.

I seem to recall that this never happened to towels I purchased decades ago from Fieldcrest. Does Fieldcrest make towels anymore?

Fieldcrest towels are carried by Target and JC Penney.

The Fieldcrest brand has undergone a lot of changes due to buyouts. I hope the new JC Penney arrangement results in far better quality than the Target arrangement.

"If there was a problem with something in the washer catching on the towels, don't you think it would happen to other items I wash?"

I do think you'd notice something on other items, depending on the fabric.

Most of my towels are Charisma, but I can't speak for today's quality....bulk of mine are at least 10 years old. I'm finding tags that read 'Charisma Spa Towel 100% cotton' and 'Charisma Luxury Hygro Cotton'. No snags, a couple are beginning to look a little loose down the side selvage. I'm back to a Maytag top load with old fashioned agitator as of about a year ago, but for a few years was using a Maytag with low profile impeller. I got rid of the washer with impeller, but for annoyances that had nothing to do with the impeller itself.

All the towels for my private bath are pastels, I really don't see noticeable fading, wear or any pulls at all. Warm or occasional hot wash, powdered Original Tide, dryer.