Light Load Towels do all but sing and dance

From our perch we see a lot of interesting new products. Usually these are pretty focused, "does a job, and does it well," type items. But the other week a new thing marched across our computer screen. "The only towel that is a survival tool!" "It's a towel. A washcloth. A dust mask. A first aid supplement. A fire starter." And on top of it all, it's lightweight, inexpensive, and can even be used as a game board. It's a Light Load Towel.

Imagine a plastic wrapped disk, about as big around as a Kennedy dollar (you do remember those, don't you?) and a half inch thick. Inside the little plastic disc is a compressed viscose towel, said to fully expand to 12 x 24." You've left the RV behind in the park, and you're hiking through the vast expanse of the Sonora Desert. Suddenly, a freak windstorm blows up out of nowhere, carrying tons of dust, ready to choke off your breathing. Quick! Reach into your shirt pocket, pull out a Light Load towel, unwrap it, and clamp it around your face. Instant dusk mask!

Of course the Light Load web site produces other fine suggestions--these highly absorbent wickable towels also make a fine emergency diaper for kids (or perish the thought) incontinent adults. Keep a couple in your first aid kit for use in staunching bleeding. Stuck in a survival situation and don't have dry kindling? A Light Load will light up, and help you start that survival fire.

Our field test revealed that the half-ounce 12 x 24 Light Loads (which come in a handy three pack) weigh only a 1/2 ounce each, and comfortably absorb 5 ounces of fluid. For you who need these for the emergency diaper, be sure to cut fluid intake to the baby! In practice we found that the packaging material, a tightly wrapped plastic outer cover, can be a real bear to open. We were afraid to hit it with a jack knife, lest we cut the towel inside, but with perseverance and good dental work, we were able to horse the little disk out of the plastic and into use.

It may be that if you carefully s-t-r-e-t-c-h the fabric of your towel it will work out to the promised 12 x 24 inches; ours measured out at 12 x 21 after thoroughly soaking it down. Still, they are indeed lightweight and compact, and may be just the thing for RV hiking enthusiasts who get out and away from the rig. You can find them at a host of outdoor recreation dealers, or you can purchase Light Load towels (in a variety of sizes, including beach-towel size) direct from the website at www.ultralighttowels.com. Suggested retail price on the three pack we tested, $5.95.