Dock & Bay offers quick-dry towels
The company known as Dock & Bay have developed towels from 100 per cent recycled materials. There are two types of towels. The first is the bathroom style, which has waffle weave construction. The second is a smooth weave for the beach. Waffles are for more than breakfast. Waffles can refer to a type of weaving, particularly useful in towels. The waffle pockets help trap moisture as the towel is wiped across a surface. The moisture is captured in the waffle and then released as the towel air dries.
Dock & Bay jumped into the towel business in 2015 when the founders, Ben and Andy, decided that they could make a better towel for travellers as the towels they used in backpacking were too big and bulky. As environmentally friendly guys, they decided that using 100 per cent recycled materials would be imperative. Beach towels have to be smooth so sand doesn’t get caught in the loops or weave. Bath towels need to be softer, and as sand isn’t usually an issue in the bathroom, waffle weave is a great choice.
The bath versions of the Dock & Bay towels are available in softer colours, in two sizes. The bath size is 35-by65-inch and the hand size is 15-by-33-inch, comparable to what you would normally get in cotton loop towels. The towels fold up small for storage or packing and are great for campers and RV travellers.
The beach towels are where the Dock & Bay story started, in the Cabana collection of brightly striped towels. Ponchos were added shortly after, in the same 100 per cent recycled smooth fabric. The beach towels are also 35-by65-inch in size. The ponchos range from child to adult sizes. And they are generous enough that you might be able to wiggle out of your wet suit and change into dry clothes while wearing one.
All the towels, bath and beach, come with their own bag for packing. I like the little bag as it makes a great place to store car keys, phone and sunglasses while on the beach.
Ben and Andy are more than just sustainable product developers as they give back a percentage of their profits to a variety of charities. For 2022, the charities are Smiley and The Rainforest Alliance. Smiley is a mental health charity dedicated to finding hope while offering help for those struggling with mental health issues, and The Rainforest Alliance works to protect the forest and the livelihoods of forest farmers and their communities. It’s a necessary and inspiring thing to see manufacturers and suppliers with charitable goals and attitudes. It gives a dual purpose to purchasing their products as the consumer is satisfying a personal need or want and others are benefiting.
Summer is about enjoying our free time, be it at the beach or in your backyard. Somewhere, towels will be involved, so check out the Dock & Bay brand and feel good about your purchase.