When Bob and I were planning our RTW trip, we had a very tight budget. We knew if we sacrificed in some areas (expensive hotels), we could add more excursions and adventures. We got really handy at Excel and had weekly meetings discussing where any extra money could or was going to go.

As we were making the final packing list, I mentioned that we might want to bring our own towels because some of the hostels didn’t provide them for free. Yes, towels take up precious luggage space, but would we really want to pay 2-5 dollars for a towel each place we stayed?

After debating for a few days, Bob said we should get one of those quick drying towels from a camping supply store. Remembering that we had used one while studying abroad in Europe, I thought this was a great plan.

Fast forward to the day before we leave for our RTW trip- Bob hasn’t gone to the camping supply store and, while pushing a cart down an aisle at Target, we realize that we simply won’t have time to go the next day.

Then it hits him- ShamWow. Somehow we had wandered down the “As seen on TV” aisle and Bob spotted a big ShamWow that we just had to get. He said if any towel is fast drying and super absorbing, it was the ShamWow. (It was like he had memorized the commercial- he was almost screaming as he re-enacted it.) It was so perfect, he decided, that we only needed one, saving luggage space and money.

Now, I’ll admit- I should have put my foot down right then. I mean, what was I thinking?! Even if the ShamWow dried every car at the Chrysler dealership, it’s still only ONE towel.

The thing is though, when Bob gets an idea in his head, especially when he thinks it’s a really good idea- there is no changing his mind.

We packed one ShamWow for our RTW trip.

I don’t know if you’ve ever felt a Shamwow- but they are gross. It’s like a cross between really dry felt and sticky/tacky paper. It does get you dry- but that’s only after it has sucked every bit of moisture from your skin. You are left drier than a summer day in Joshua Tree! Even after we washed it, it felt drier and sticker than before.

The main flaw in Bob’s reasoning with using ShamWow is that while it may be quick to dry- it doesn’t actually quick dry itself! So, even though you are completely without moisture, the ShamWow is now soaking wet. In fact, the ShamWow takes 2-3 times longer to dry than a normal towel. (Of course they don’t mention this in the commercial!) It made my skin crawl just holding it! And, after one too many times of taking a hot shower and then immediately wanting to cry because I knew I had to dry off with a car wiper, I made Bob choose: Me or the ShamWow.

Let’s just say we may have brought the ShamWow with us, but it didn’t finish the trip!