The concept of Singapore’s first wearable wristband towel came about because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and an increased awareness of germ contamination.

Singaporeans and exercise

Prior to the pandemic, a large percentage of the world’s population spends at least three hours per week on some type of exercise or sport, ranging from brisk walking to high-level athletic training. 

Many Singaporeans work out in enclosed spaces such as indoor gyms, or public areas such as neighbourhood parks. Such environments can possibly lead to surface microbial contamination, which many people became more aware of due to the pandemic.

Some examples of surfaces include cloth hangers, medicine balls, bench presses, pull-up and horizontal bars, treadmill rails and public benches – these may all be potential areas of bacterial presence.

Surfaces are magnets for germs

Yet it is common practice for people to place their workout towels on such surfaces, making them a possible magnet for germs.

Birth of the wristband towel

This thought thereby led to the birth of the wristband towel, the first of its kind in Singapore.

What if we could store our workout towels somewhere to keep it away from surface germs? What if we could have a convenient sized towel that could be flipped into a wrist band or a towel when you are at the gym or doing sports?

A wrap-around wristband towel

Introducing the wristband towel, an anti-microbial, ultra-lightweight and high water absorbent, quick-dry towel with a patent flap design to convert it into a wristband or headband. The wrap-around flap that can be secured with a button is the first in the market.

Yet the towel can also be unfolded into 55cm x 33cm towel, perfectly sized to wipe away sweat after your workout.

Trying out the towels

Intrigued by the thought of this novel product, I was interested to test it out for myself. About a week later, two towels, one white and one yellow, arrived in my mailbox.

Other colours that are also available, include blue, pink, black and grey.

Exercising with the wristband towel

I have since tried the wristband towels out on my exercise sessions. I usually run outdoors, and I have brought the towel along on several of my runs, of varying distances.

My first thought was that it was indeed very easy and convenient to strap the towel on my wrist, meaning that I didn’t need to store it anywhere i.e. in someone’s car or on a bench, thereby reducing its contact with surfaces.

The towel is easy to fold and unfold and there is a set of instructions which can be easily scanned via QR code, regarding on how to store and fold the towel. So you can’t go wrong.

Running with the towel around my wrist, it is very lightweight, and I don’t feel its weight at all when I am running.

However, Singapore is also very humid, so about a quarter way into a 10km run, the wrist where the towel was wrapped was feeling significantly warmer than usual, possibly because the material was trapping heat there.

Super absorbent 

Compared to some other towels that I have used in the past, the wristband towel is super absorbent and wicks away my sweat well. 

The placement on my wrist made it easy to wipe sweat off my face during my run; I only needed to bring my arm up to my forehead or check and swipe once and the sweat would be wiped off. 

Now, I no longer need to figure out how to cart along a towel to wipe myself up after a run, and end up putting it in an awkward place such as tucking it into my shorts. The wristband towel has made this so much more fuss-free and convenient.

Easy to use

After my run, it is easy to unwrap the towel to wipe away my perspiration, before folding it back and restoring it to its place on my wrist.

It is so convenient that now, I don’t even need to bring a bag along when I go running, thanks to the towel. 

I only need the wristband towel, and a pair of shorts containing pockets for my essential valuables, such as my bus card, my TraceTogether token and my phone.

The towel retails at S$7.00 each. 

Find out more about the wristband towel and get one for yourself at https://wristbandtowel.com/shop/.