Lynx, I'm surprised anyone is wearing anything in your sauna or steamroom. I don't know what the custom is in Switzerland, but every time I visit German spas there are clear signs asking that all footwear, swimsuits and other "outside" items be kept out of the steamroom or sauna. Towels provided by the establishment are permitted, and everyone is expected to soap & shower thoroughly before entering a hot room. The times I have stayed at the Arabella Sheraton in Munich (which has a kickass pool and spa in the basement) I saw this cause quite a bit of confusion with the Americans and Russians, who were used to covering up everywhere. But the Germans, Austrians and Swiss using the facilities made clear to the others that their sandals, trunks and other attire were to stay out of the sauna and steamroom.
Here in the US, it seems people do whatever they want. The younger guys wear board shorts in all wet areas (even to shower! go figure), a lot of guys keep towels around them when walking in the wet area or even when sitting in the sauna/steamroom, and others hang their towels up outside the room. For the most part, I use 2 towels: one to fold and sit on (nude), and another to keep clean and dry for toweling off after showering.
As you can guess, I'm another one who thinks the whole trend of encouraging or enabling younger people to cover up at all times is leading to more societal neurosis. A society not fussed about reasonable social nudity is a society that gets along better.
Here in the US, it seems people do whatever they want. The younger guys wear board shorts in all wet areas (even to shower! go figure), a lot of guys keep towels around them when walking in the wet area or even when sitting in the sauna/steamroom, and others hang their towels up outside the room. For the most part, I use 2 towels: one to fold and sit on (nude), and another to keep clean and dry for toweling off after showering.
As you can guess, I'm another one who thinks the whole trend of encouraging or enabling younger people to cover up at all times is leading to more societal neurosis. A society not fussed about reasonable social nudity is a society that gets along better.