Dreaming of a Travel Scarf with Pockets? Meet Your New Favourite Piece of Gear!

I should have been on vacation but I couldn't stop thinking about the next big thing to share with you. If you've dreamed about a travel scarf with pockets, you're going to love this post!

Waypoint Goods provided me with a complimentary infinity scarf with pocket of my choice for review, as well as a scarf for a blog giveaway and I thank them for their support. Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase through said link.

What you see: A big smile while I stay cozy with my hidden pocket scarf in the dining shelter as a rainstorm rages outside. What you don't see: My frantic worry that Ryan left me for some gal with a dry tent when he was late arriving back from a coffee run.

What does summer vacation look like for a travel blogger? Probably a lot like it looks for everyone else! First, there are plenty of indulgent snack foods (hello there, poutine, ice cream, and popsicles). Next, there's a lot of laziness and lounging about in the sun, enjoying the breeze and watching the leaves ripple on the trees. There's even a good amount of time hanging out by the shore, collecting feathers and shells, and generally being thrilled to put social media on snooze. 

Of course, there's also the unexpected rain - but we'll get to that in a moment!

This year, our summer vacation brought us to Craigleith Provincial Park for four nights of southern Ontario camping. Ryan and I stuffed our car with camping gear, beer, extra beach towels (but no pillows.... not our finest moment), a backpack brimming with books, magazines, and board games - and, of course, our dog, Oliver! Aside from the pillows, just one thing was missing and this one was intentional. My laptop was left at home and I couldn't have been happier!

But while I had officially banished work, I couldn't turn off the blogging side of my brain. Case in point: while camping, I was able to try out an incredible travel scarf with pockets, something I've been enamored with ever since I first heard about it. And I couldn't wait to tell you all about it! An infinity scarf with pocket features has been on my travel wish list for a while now. Originally I had visions of cuddling around the campfire in a chic scarf, looking glamorous while keeping my phone and keys safe, but Mother Nature delivered a heck of a rain storm that really let me put things to the test. 

Check out our video showing just how gorgeous Ontario camping at Craigleith Provincial Park really is - on clear days and stormy ones alike! Then read on to learn more about my new favourite travel scarf (and enter to win one for yourself....)

You might have caught a glimpse of me in the video sporting Waypoint Good's Limited Edition Travel Scarf in a beautiful creamy white and bronzey yellow design honoring the topography of Yellowstone National Park. This is no ordinary piece of fabric. It's an infinity scarf, it's a travel blanket, and - my favourite so far - it's a travel shawl. It loops twice around your neck for a classic cozy scarf look or is draped just the once for a looser, shawl-like second layer. As I soon learned, it's just the thing to have on hand when your campground comes under urgent threat from thunderstorms and you're only wearing a tank top!

Waypoint's scarves are beautifully warm yet lightweight, relaxed yet also sophisticated, and the soft, snugly fabric is a delight to wear. All of this makes for a really good travel scarf. But what makes it GREAT? It's a hidden pocket scarf!

The idea of an infinity scarf with pocket integration just blows me away. It's SUCH a savvy travel money belt alternative. You can use the hidden pocket to keep your passport, credit cards, or even cellphone, wallet, and keys safe. When you're flying, it's a great place to stash your ear plugs and eye shades (I love this set) when they're not in use. Not to name any names here but the idea of a travel scarf with pockets has been attempted by other companies before, however they are missing two key things that make Waypoint's design just WORK.

Photo credit: Waypoint Goods via Amazon.

The first is that Waypoint uses a great zipper. It's strong, it does not snag, and the zipper pull is streamlined and understated. In other words, if you fall asleep and it scrunches up against your face, you aren't going to accidentally stab yourself. The second is that the pocket's interior fabric is a contrast to the rest of the scarf, a nice detail that makes it easier to find things. 

This attention to small details carries on to design. The solid color scarves feature gorgeous tones like peacock, hibiscus, and garnet while the neutral-but-not-boring shades include onyx and 'greige'. I love that the colors are so rich and that they appeal to both travelers who appreciate a pop of color as well as those who like things more subdued. I'm absolutely smitten with their limited edition prints inspired by cities, by art, and by national parks. So creative! It was here that I found my dream scarf. No surprises - it was national parks all the way!

Photo credit: Waypoint Goods.

We're not talking just any ol' park. Yellowstone National Park was the first national park in the United States and is generally considered to be the first national park in the world (thanks, Wikipedia!) While I haven't traveled to Yellowstone yet myself, visiting national parks is one of my favourite travel activities. I'm delighted that this scarf honors Yellowstone's legacy, paying homage to the remarkable park that changed travel, tourism, and conservation forever.
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I also think it's fantastic that a national park travel accessory is so beautiful and elegant. While there's nothing wrong with more rustic, rough-and-tumble designs that scream "I'm outdoorsy!", it's nice to have something that declares your park love in a minimalist fashion.  

Oh look! Another storm is rolling in!

Whenever I talk about a piece of travel gear, I try to dig deep to answer the kind of questions that I'd have if I were the reader. I also think about if there are any downsides to the product. Here's what I noticed!

The fabric really IS as soft and buttery as Waypoint claims. It didn't feel heavy in the heat and humidity and it never wrinkled despite me repeatedly putting it on and taking it off as weather conditions changed. As you can tell from our camping video, we had a little bit of everything. When I was shivering in the rain, it came to my rescue. I threw it on for early morning dog walks in the dew. And when the blazing sun came out, it was discarded, crumpled on the sidelines. I'd say I put it through a good amount of use and abuse and it did just fine.

The scarf is meant to be hand-washed and laid flat to dry.  But that didn't exactly happen in my house. The scarf accidentally found its way into the washing machine with the rest of our camping laundry. Thankfully, it survived and was even wrinkle free! So while I would of course recommend following the official washing instructions (especially if your scarf is brightly colored), it's reassuring that no scarves were harmed by our laundry faux pas. 

Tossing car keys in the secret pocket indeed kept them safe, but they were just as annoying there as any other pocket - all awkward angles and random jangling. So if you were at a festival or event, you absolutely could stash your keys in the pocket but you might still be annoyed by them. 

I've realized that some people are frequent scarf wearing travelers, while for others it's a rarity. I'm a scarf gal. I feel naked in an airport without one. I don't just wear scarves because I'm chilly. I wear them for fashion, for versatility, for modesty, for comfort, even (come on, I'm not the only one!) because they're a defacto hand towel at times. But if you think of a scarf as just something you use when the weather is brisk then you should base your purchase decision on loving Waypoint's designs and colors as opposed to the benefits of using the hidden pocket. Using a scarf with pockets for travel security is best for people who wear scarves all the time and are unlikely to leave them behind. If you wear scarves sporadically and are known to forget them in pubs or taxis, then this should not be your primary passport hiding spot!

Itching for your own hidden pocket scarf for travel? You could WIN one of Waypoint Good's gorgeous travel scarves! 

A huge thank you to Waypoint Goods for sponsoring this reader giveaway! Here are some important points that you should know:

• The winner's name and email address will be given to Waypoint Goods so they can get in touch with you and arrange for you to receive your prize - any travel scarf in any design you choose.
• You should allow 8 weeks to receive your prize and note that we are not responsible for any wayward packages or communication problems between the winner and the sponsor.
• This contest is open to those with mailing addresses in Canada and the United States only.

We want to hear from you! To enter, you must leave a comment and let us know what National Park you'd love to see featured in a future Waypoint Goods scarf.  We want to know what park is your favourite!

Good luck to one and all ;-) 

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PS: Love camping and National Parks? You'll like these articles.

Haleakala National Park at Sunrise 
Visiting Fortress Louisbourg National Historic Site
Traveling to Death Valley National Park in Summer