Shinesty is a clothing company that immediately got our attention with their sense of humor. The front of their mailer actually reads, “Sensual. Sophisticated. Not J. Crew.” The apparel definitely appeals to the younger crowd, or at least young-at-heart (which we are!). When we realized that some of their products would be great for travelers, we knew we had to share with you!
DISCLOSURE: Shinesty provided us with their products free of charge for review purposes, but all opinions are our own. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will make a commission with no change in price for you.
Shinesty
Basically, Shinesty is one of those companies that makes you laugh, but they also make really awesome products (much like “Donkey Balls” macadamia nut candy company in Hawaii!). I can see wedding parties buying matching America-inspired outfits, friends buying matching novelty bathing suits for spring break, or couples in matching underwear on their honeymoon.
While every dress, suit, bikini, and pair of underwear comes in bright, tropical, or novelty patterns would look GREAT in your Instagram feed, travelers should take note of the travel-friendly, super-cool Fancho. Just what is a Fancho? In Shinesty’s words, “The illicit lovechild of the fanny pack and he waterproof rain poncho.”
Now, you probably know I love a good fanny pack. Also known as the bum bag or hip pack, fanny packs are incredibly useful during travel, allowing you to carry your absolute essentials in a hands-free way. I love to wear them at Disney World, on cruise ships, and during day trips/shore excursions. So often, I just need a place to stash my money, ID, phone, and lip balm.
See Related: A Review of the Fanny Factory Fanny Pack
Sometimes, depending on the destination, I’ll add one of those super-cheap dollar store ponchos to my fanny pack, and because I’m trying to cut down on waste, I often reuse them. Now, those thin plastic ponchos are lifesavers when you’re caught in a sudden rainstorm and need something to cover your camera and gear, but they’re not the best quality, are very hard to reuse (you ever tried to fold one up?), and aren’t very comfortable (hello, sticky gross plastic). The answer? The Fancho.
Why I Love the Fancho
Shinesty’s Fancho is a poncho that folds up into a fanny pack… or a fanny pack that unfolds into a poncho. However you want to look at it. They come in six different styles, so you can choose your favorite pattern. Each looks great either as a hip pack OR as a poncho, so you know you’ll be fashion-forward.
The poncho is made of 100% polyester that is easy to clean and water resistant. Don’t expect a large plastic sheet with just a hole for your head and a hood; this poncho has hemmed edges, snaps at the neck and arms, and pull-strings to tighten or loosen the hood.
When you receive your Fancho in the mail, it is folded as a poncho. Unfortunately, mine didn’t come with instructions, so I was stuck for a second trying to figure it all out. The front pocket of the poncho has both Velcro and a zippered closure. Once opened, you find the fanny pack inside the pocket. Simply pull it out, and begin stuffing the poncho down inside the pack. The zipper you first unzipped will zip back up to close the poncho inside the pack. It took me literal seconds to make the change.
The hip pack can be used to store a few small items like a phone, room key, small wallet, and lip balm in its outer zipped pocket that becomes an INNER zipped pocket once you’ve flipped the pack into poncho mode.
See Related: 15 Travel Accessories To Up Your Security
The Fancho is a great option to cut down on the use of one-time-use plastic ponchos. It looks better, and it feels better. PLUS, it has storage! Why carry a poncho in your bag when your bag can BE your poncho?!
I think this is a fantastic product, and I can see myself carrying it during my travel adventures, on cruises, for those sudden afternoon thunderstorms at Disney World, and in tropical climates like the Caribbean or Hawaii. It would also be great at outdoor festivals or concerts!
See Related: Mogix Lightweight Portable Charger Review
My gorgeous Fancho is called the “Cruise Ship Casanova”, which is a unisex Hawaiian print with tropical birds, leaves, and pineapples. It practically SCREAMS, “Vacay!” with its bright colors. Fellow travelers will be so jealous.
But YOU don’t have to be jealous! Head on over to Shinesty.com and grab your very own Fancho (or other fabulously hilarious gear) with this exclusive coupon code for our readers: JUSTCHASINGRABBITS10
Having a poncho with you while you’re out adventuring is always a great idea. They’re so much easier to carry than a full umbrella. Lighter, too. I love that the Fancho can literally be carried on your hip (where you won’t even notice it!), can hold a few necessities, and will save the day if the weather gets bad. It’s also fairly compact when in fanny pack-mode, so it’s easy to keep in your luggage without taking up too much room. Great idea, great product!
DISCLOSURE: Shinesty provided us with their products free of charge for review purposes, but all opinions are our own. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will make a commission with no change in price for you.
Do you carry a poncho or fanny pack? Will you be buying one of these travel-friendly ponchos for your next adventure? What do you like about this product? Other thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!
Pin this post for later!
