Those Little Towels Olympic Divers Use Are Actually the Perfect Travel Hack
Courtesy of Amazon
As a competitive swimmer throughout high school, watching the diving team practice filled me with an overwhelming amount of jealousy. But it wasn't because they could throw dives I couldn't even dream of contorting my body into even if I suddenly became Jello — it was because they just looked so warm.
Gazing out from the cold pool to see them under their heat lamps drying off between dives made me wish I too could be part of that world. So, I bought my first shammy on Amazon to get as close to it as I would ever get to it and now I'm still singing the praises of the magically absorbent towel.
Courtesy of Amazon
To buy: amazon.com, $14
Whether you're familiar with the sport of diving or not, chances are you've seen those little towels Olympic divers carry around and often throw over their shoulder. You may have even asked yourself, "what is that little towel?" but never actually Googled it, which in that case — it's called a shammy. It's a super fast-drying towel divers use to dry off in between their dives as quickly as possible. It's important that they dry off every little bit of water so their hands don't slip from their grip on their legs during dives, which include flips and tucks.
Aside from their status as a diving essential and something of a poolside security blanket for many, the lightweight towels also double as the ultimate packing hack. When I first bought one years ago, I started packing it for my swim meets in lieu of one of my usual full-sized towels. I was amazed at how much space it saved in my bag since it efficiently replaced my bulky pool towel and could be used back to back instead. Now, I keep one in my car at all times.
But towels aren't just for swimmers and divers of the competitive nature. Plenty of Amazon shoppers have found this one is ideal for traveling since it packs up so small and is said to be "great for camping and hiking." Another reviewer called theirs, "great for backpacking and traveling light without a bulky bathing or beach towel."
Related: More Than 1,800 Amazon Shoppers Are Obsessed With This Super Absorbent Travel Towel
It's worth noting that if you plan to use your shammy regularly, you'll want to keep the reusable towel damp in the included storage tube. If you plan to use it here and there, instead allow it to dry out completely and when you're ready to use it again, just soak it in water before carefully unfolding it.
While the size you're most likely to see on the deck of the Tokyo Aquatics Centre is nearly sold out on Amazon, you can still get it in this slightly larger size, which works even better for hiking, camping, and travel thanks to its ability to cover even more surface space.
Courtesy of Amazon
To buy: amazon.com, $14
Courtesy of Amazon
To buy: amazon.com, $14
