Personal Cabana Towels (PCT)

[Mark Sedenquist]

I realized that one of the essential road trip gear items that we carry, was not mentioned anywhere on this site yet....

So, let me introduce: PCT:

Personal cabana towels (PCTs). I can’t believe these things aren’t commercially available, because a PCT is, hands down, the single most useful item I’ve ever taken on a road trip. Fortunately, it’s easy to make one.

Take two beach towels, the thinner the better (if you use thick ones, your PCT will be too heavy). Stitch them together along the edges, leaving an opening big enough for your head at one end and for your arms on the two sides. That’s it! You now have a pull-on terry-cloth garment that can serve as a bathrobe, a beach coverup and, yes, a “personal cabana.” Pull your arms in and you’ve got a private changing room. This is remarkably handy if you come upon a natural hot spring or decide to take a swim at a beach where there’s no place to change. Of course, your PCT is still a perfectly good towel, picnic blanket, tablecloth, horse blanket, superhero cape — well, you get the idea. Megan is modeling one here.

Mark

[RoadTripper Brad]

Isn't this sort of like a Pancho.... only using bath towels?

-Brad

[Mark Sedenquist]

If you ever tried to change your clothes in poncho, in a public place, you wouldn't have asked that question, I bet. And unlike a poncho, a PCT breathes and also doubles as all of those items listed above.

Mark

[crablady]

Growing up, almost all our vacations were spent camping. My Mom would make these for my sister and me. I didn't realize they had such a fancy name!

[Alexa]

If you ever tried to change your clothes in poncho, in a public place, you wouldn't have asked that question, I bet.

Too funny!

This is a great idea! I'm going to buy two new beach towels for my next road trip. The ones I have now are too thick.

Another thing I like is a pareo aka sarong, which are great cover-ups for beachwear or for wearing as a skirt or dress. Men as well as women can use them. They are easy to make, and when you learn how to wrap them, it's a breeze. You can see pictures here and a video shows you how to wrap it.

http://www.pareoisland.com/

All you need is one piece of material. Length of material depends on the length and style you want to wear.

Here's another place with pics and a "how-to" video which also shows the men's style. There are also online instructions on how to wear it, so you can print it out.

http://www.ipolynesia.com/pareo/

Here you'll find a pattern for a pareo that doubles as a Zorro cape!

http://www.fashion-era.com/Coats_his...ng_pattern.htm


And for easier patterns:

http://www.angelfire.com/ca/summers/fiji/sarong.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2066152_make-sarong.html


Great for a tropical or beach vacation, or just hanging out in your backyard or on your terrace.