Introduction

Last year, I witnessed the “highlight moment” of scarves in a desert tour in Morocco. When a sudden sandstorm caused the temperature to drop by 10 degrees, a French girl calmly unfolded the Hermès scarf – first wrapped her hair to prevent sand, then turned it into a mask, and finally became a temporary scarf that the five people in our small group took turns using. This 90×90cm square scarf was as valuable as bottled water in the desert that day.

You may not know that according to a 2023 survey by the Travel Accessories Association, although 82% of female travelers carry scarves, 79% of them only use it as an accessory or simple sun protection. It’s like carrying a Swiss Army knife but only using it to open beer!

Now open your luggage and find the forgotten scarf. I’m going to tell you how it went from “optional” to “must-have for travel.” 5 unexpected functions and uses.

❶Sunscreen shield mode

A more reliable physical defense than sunscreen

In the Kenyan grasslands with strong ultraviolet rays, I needed to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours until the guide taught me the local Maasai method: soak a cotton scarf in water and tie it loosely under the brim of the hat. The evaporation of water brings continuous coolness. The weaving density of UPF50+ is equivalent to permanently reapplying SPF30 sunscreen. Tests show that a double-folded scarf can block 98.7% of UVA/UVB rays.

Three life-saving ways to tie:

• Bedouin style: fold diagonally into a triangle, press the long side against the forehead and tie a knot at the back of the head, suitable for protecting the hairline when hiking
• Mask style: tie the two corners behind the neck, tuck the two sides into the collar, and prevent dust and sun when riding a motorcycle
• Shawl style: fix it to the shoulder line of the shirt with a safety pin to form a dynamic sunscreen layer

Scenes you may not have tried

When snorkeling in the Maldives, I soaked the scarf and wrapped it around my bikini to prevent exposure and avoid sunburn on my back. At the pass at an altitude of 5,000 meters in Tibet, the guide taught me to wrap the back of my neck with a silk scarf – once this often ignored part is sunburned, even turning your head will be unbearable. Try tying the silk scarf to the shoulder strap of your backpack, and you can pull it up to block the sun at any time, which is much more convenient than repeatedly putting on and taking off sun protection clothes.

❷Emergency Warming System

Hidden Skills of Temperature Regulation

The natural temperature regulation properties of silk are amazing. On the bus in Myanmar, the air outlet of the air conditioner blew directly on the back of my neck. I folded the 36-count Momme silk scarf into 8 layers and wrapped it around my neck. After 10 minutes, I no longer had goose bumps. Experiments show that a single-layer wool scarf can keep warm for about 1.5 hours, while a silk-wool blend can keep warm for 2 hours without overheating.

Sandwich Warming Method:

1. Skin-friendly layer: real silk scarf absorbs sweat and is breathable
2. Middle layer: cashmere scarf locks in warmth
3. Outer layer: waterproof nylon scarf blocks wind
   With this combination, I can wait for sunrise in the early morning at -5 degrees Celsius in the Alps without any problems

❸Transformable storage bag

Unimaginable load-bearing capacity

In Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, I saw with my own eyes that the stall owner used silk scarves to pack 5 kilograms of dried figs – tying diagonally to form four handles, and then tying a horizontal one in the middle for reinforcement. After going home and testing, I found that a 70cm square cotton scarf tied in the “Russian bag” method (folded three times on the diagonal line) can hold three 750ml bottles of mineral water steadily.

Anti-theft bag that confuses thieves:

1. Place valuables in the center of the scarf
2. After tightening the diagonal, rotate it in the opposite direction to form a twist
3. Insert the end into the winding gap
   This way, it will not fall apart even if it is cut off. It is effective in Barcelona’s Las Ramblas

The miracle of one scarf with multiple wraps

In a kimono experience store in Kyoto, the boss lady taught me 12 ways to wrap “furoshiki”. The most practical one is the “backpack mode”: two diagonal ties are tied in front of the chest, and the other two corners are crossed from the armpit to the back and then tied back to the front chest to distribute the weight without pinching the shoulders. On the return trip, my carry-on suitcase was overweight, so I used this method to stuff all the heavy sweaters into the scarf bag.

❹Mobile cleaning station

Hygiene emergency expert

When Bangkok was hit by a sudden rainstorm, my suede boots were saved by the silk scarf I carried with me – bamboo fiber absorbs 1.5 times more water than cotton and is naturally antibacterial.

On Indian trains, it is much more hygienic to wet a silk scarf with mineral water and place it on the pillow of the sleeper berth than to use clothes.

Is the camera lens fogged up? A real silk scarf will not scratch the coating and is an ideal lens cleaning cloth.

Material selection guide:

• Water absorption: bamboo fiber > linen > cotton > silk
• Quick drying: silk > synthetic fiber > cotton
• Softness: cashmere > silk > bamboo fiber

Creative hotel usage

In a capsule hotel in Tokyo, I used a hanger to stretch the silk scarf and hang it on the head of the bed as a temporary screen.

The owner of a homestay in Bali taught me to wrap the hair dryer outlet with a silk scarf, and the wet wipes can be dried in 3 minutes – pay attention to choosing breathable materials to avoid the risk of overheating.

This little trick allows my swimsuit to dry quickly every day.

❺Social Icebreaker

Universal Body Language

• In a Berber tent in the Sahara Desert, the hostess taught me how to tie their traditional headscarf – leaving 30cm of drape on the right side means unmarried, and completely wrapped means married.
• In Nice, France, an old lady praised my scarf tying method (the Parisian method of hiding the knot on the inside) and took the initiative to tell me about restaurants that only locals know.

A scarf can trigger a more vivid conversation than any translation software.

Unexpected social currency

• At the weekend night market in Chiang Mai, I used a scarf to tie a Thai “pocket skirt” for my daughter, attracting stall owners to demonstrate more authentic tying methods.
• The most amazing thing was in Venice, when I unfolded the Hermès scarf as a picnic blanket, the French family next door actually recognized it as the “Jungle Love” limited edition, and the two families shared a whole bottle of Prosecco.

You never know what adventures a scarf will bring.

Summary

Now you understand why scarves always come after passports in my luggage list. This piece of fabric, which weighs only 85 grams on average, may be the most functional item in travel gear.

Before your next trip, try the “lightweight scarf challenge”: use it to replace at least three traditional items (such as scarves + sun protection clothes + shopping bags), and you will find that your luggage has suddenly become lighter.

Action time:

1. Find your longest idle scarf
2. Try the 3 most surprising uses in this article
3. Take a photo and check in @ my account

Remember to tell me in the comment area: What is the most difficult travel dilemma you have solved with a scarf? What story is hidden in the scarf that accompanies you on your journey?