Towel Buddy is an elastic band that wraps around your towel when you get out of the shower so that you free up your hands to do other things while you’re getting ready. It seems like it would definitely come in handy as long as it works as shown.
Overview
You’ve no doubt experienced your towel coming undone at just the wrong moment. When you’re trying to do several things at once in the morning it’s often too much to have to deal with, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of viable options, so you continue tucking your towel into itself and hoping that it holds on. The system proposed here is rather simple in nature, but see for yourself if they’ve managed to make it work.
The Claim
The makers of Towel Buddy say that this is the solution to having your towel come unwrapped after you get out of the shower. They say that the device securely fastens your towel so that you free up your hands to attend to other morning matters and getting ready tasks. They say it works because it has strong Velcro straps that will keep it in place. They also say that you can take it to the gym and you won’t have to worry about your towel coming undone at awkward moments.
They say that the elastic it uses is super stretchy, so no matter your size and shape you’ll able to use it. They also say that it’s a simple 3 step process to put it on. You simply wrap it around your back first, and then cross it over your chest so the Velcro sticks. When you’re ready to take it off you simply undo the strap and you’re good to go.
The Hype
There is a TV ad for these that will show you how they work, and show how you can get other things done in the morning or whenever you’re getting ready and you don’t have to worry about your towel giving you a hassle. They do a good job of coming up with different tasks that can be done with a towel on, like painting toenails, or doing your hair. These are generally tasks that are done post-shower when the towel can prove to be a nuisance.
The Cost
Towel Buddy is set up so that you get two of them for $26. The price point of $13 each shipping to your door is not bad, but in the case that you want to take them up on their 30 money back guarantee you’ll only be getting back the $10 purchase price and you’ll be out $16. That is not a very consumer friendly pricing structure, and places almost all of the risk on you, not the product. It should really be so that more risk ends up with the company and you don’t have to risk your hard earned money on something that may not live up to expectations. A better way to price it would be $20 for two of them plus $6 shipping, which is fair for both the consumer and the company.
The Commitment
The big draw to this product is that you don’t have to do much to put it in place, and once it’s working it should keep your towel up so that you don’t have to mess with it anymore. Consider getting a spa wrap though too, because this can provide the same benefits, the only drawback is that you will have to keep washing the wrap, whereas these are meant to be used with any bath towel so you can wash the towel and keep your Buddy handy for the next time you need it, just swapping out a dirty towel for a clean one.
Evaluation
Towel Buddy does make sense if you’re always fighting with your towel to try to keep it where you want it. They did a good job of coming up with a way to keep it in place, use any towel you want, and not have to worry about it coming undone right when you’re in the middle of something important. Because it’s using Velcro it’s easy enough to get into and out of. And of course you can wash it as well when the time comes, so you can reuse it again and again without worries.
Final Towel Buddy Review
The idea of Towel Buddy is a smart one, and it does make more sense than using a bathrobe, because a towel is actually the perfect thing to use, as long as it could always stay in place without your involvement. While a spa wrap might prove to be just as useful, it has its own limitations by needing to be washed all the time and sometimes not staying in place because it is not elastic.
Our Recommendation
The 30 day money back guarantee really means nothing here, because it’s not as if you’re going to want to pay to ship these back just to get your $10 back, so it’s a risk you’re going to have to decide to take if you want to try them out. At the same time this functions much the same way that a spa wrap does, and we could only find ones that cost about the same price as these elastic straps, and none of them had impressive enough feedback to recommend them.
Yes this is one of those principle things. It is a very good idea but good ideas go bad when a company thinks of you, the consumer last. As far as the functionality of the thing it is alright as long as you are also the right size. If you are at all chesty or have bulges anywhere in funny places in the upper body then it will roll down and fall off anyway. I have a friend that is a girly gadget nut and is the best test animal for any of this stuff. It is great if you can actually use it for all post-shower activity but for the money i still wouldn’t be bothered. The only thing I do post shower without clothes on is dry my hair and for that I could and do put on a robe so I don’t see the value in it for me. The customer service part of it though is the clincher.
Any product that can make mornings easier gets my seal of approval. The Towel Buddy is an interesting concept, but not well thought out. The price is outrageous for what you receive, the guarantee is weak. You can get spa wraps for the same price, and you can even make your own without any major skills. I’m not sure where washing a spa wrap is an inconvenience…don’t you have to wash the towel that you just used the Towel Buddy on? To me it is no different. Not all spa wraps are big and bulky. I think it would have been promising had the price been much lower. For those wanting to avoid the hefty price tag, simply add Velcro or elastic to existing towels and the problem is solved for a fraction of the cost of a Towel Buddy. So while the result is praiseworthy, the value is not.
I’m glad to see that I am not the only one who feels like the idea is great but that the price is a turn off. Like Claude mentioned, the problem is great for the significant other but not for the one who is using the towel. This is a great alternative that requires less washing but that price tag is just too high. I’d rather buy a cute robe or just keep fighting with the towel instead of putting up the money for the Towel Buddy. And like Dee mentioned, their return policy is unfriendly and not worth the hassle.
So it’s $25 for two elastic bands? Umm, I think I’ll pass. You know, they actually make towels with in-built elastic at the top, which look a little more elegant than wrapping a glorified rubber band around your towel. Also, I’ve seen most people be able to tuck and secure their towel around their waist or under the armpits without much difficulty. I suppose if you’re someone who can’t manage this fairly simple maneuver, then you should invest in this product so you don’t accidentally flash any family members, roommates, or neighbors. That’s probably worth at least $25 to you as well.
Rebecca, I couldn’t agree more. I usually tuck the towel in a certain way so it doesn’t come off, and if it does it takes only about two seconds to redo it. For the price, as you said for Velcro, it is just not worth it. This is one of those products I’d try if someone gave it to me for free, but that’s about it.
On another note, I hate doing business with companies that don’t stand behind their product and this company clearly does not do that, as anyone can tell from their crazy return policy. So personally, I would pass on this product and hope it people are very cautious when considering spending their hard earned money on it.
I agree with you, Rhonda. Products like these really are not necessary at all, especially when there simple and free alternatives already in your home. Purchase a non-bulky bathrobe to use after your shower instead. It will keep you dry and allow you to do everything you need to do to perfect your hair without having to worry about it sliding off all the time. I think products like these are just wasteful, as they probably do not last long at all anyway and people will just end up throwing them out in the end.
The towel buddy is a waste of money. It does work in keeping the towel wrapped around you, but why would you pay twenty six dollars for this. My daughter bought the towel buddy. She has long hair and wanted a way to keep the towel wrapped around her while she did her hair. My advice was put your robe on and save the money. It does work in keeping the towel on you, but you can buy a beach towel that is large enough to go around anyone and tuck it in and it will do the same thing, but at a way cheaper price.
I think I agree with Rebecca on this one. The idea is smart and it is surprising that nobody has thought of this or a similar product yet. My girlfriend often has this exact problem with her towel when she is getting ready in the morning (great for me but inconvenient for her). Also at a gym it would be extremely useful. But I feel like this is a product which could be purchased at a dollar store. $26 is ridiculous and the return policy pushes it to a definite no.
I have to agree with Dee. This does seem like a really good idea. I have really long hair (to my waist) and post shower, this can be tricky. The problem I have is keeping the towel wrapped around my head while I get dry and attend to everything else. I find that I have to use a thin towel for my hair, otherwise it just falls off. The towel buddy could well be the solution. However, the returns policy does give me pause. It seems to me that were they to offer a full refund up front, I would be more inclined to buy, and it would would give me peace of mind enough to not send it back, even if it didn’t work. It’s a strange thing, but simply knowing a service is there makes me less likely to use it!
Wow. Every once in a while a product comes along that really makes me stop and think. Yes, we have learned to make everything in the world more convenient, but my biggest stumbling block with this product is with the price. I would have to be doing major gymnastics in my post-shower towel to pay $26 for Velcro straps! I find that the things I do post-shower (polish toenails, apply lotion every place possible before removing towel if I’m in the locker room at the gym) usually only require one readjustment of the way I have the towel tucked. Maybe I’m just lucky? I think I’ll pass on this convenience.
I think this is a really interesting idea. It is definitely annoying when my towel continuously comes undone while doing different activities post – shower. I used to use the spa towel that has the elastic, but as mentioned above, it’s not as convenient because you have to keep washing it. For that reason, this towel buddy would be great. However I’m a huge proponent of customer service and their return policy is absolutely unfriendly, and greedy on the company’s part. For that reason alone I would not give them my money. Call it harsh but this company clearly does not put their customers first.