TIL that $10 'travel towel' from a hostel in Thailand is actually better than my expensive one

Some random backpacker named Dave told me to buy this thin microfiber thing at a market in Bangkok for 300 baht. I was skeptical but it dries in 2 hours vs my REI towel taking all day. Has anyone else found a shockingly good cheap item on the road?

2 comments

2 Comments

mitchell.wade1mo ago

Yeah man that's exactly how it goes. I bought a random pair of cheap flip flops from a street vendor in Vietnam for like 50 cents. They lasted me four months of constant walking on beaches and through jungles. Meanwhile my "waterproof" hiking sandals from Columbia fell apart in two weeks. The rubber on those cheap ones was way more flexible too. Never trusting big brand gear again after that.

the_morgan1mo ago

Honestly that's wild to hear about Columbia falling apart like that. Were they the ones with the neoprene lining or the solid rubber sole? I had a pair of their "waterproof" boots that did the same thing, the glue just gave up after a few hikes in wet conditions. Makes you wonder if they're cutting corners on materials now while charging premium prices. Was the rubber on the cheap ones noticeably thicker or just more flexible?