The Complete Sand Cloud Review: A Critical Look at This "Save the Fishies" Brand

Overview of Sand Cloud’s Mission and Product Line

Sand Cloud is a San Diego-based brand founded in 2014 by surfers and entrepreneurs Bruno Aschidamini, Brandon Leibel, and Steven Ford. Their signature product is the Sand Cloud Towel, created to be sand-resistant, quick-drying, and ultra soft. The brand took off after scoring an investment deal for $200,000 on ABC‘s Shark Tank.

Sand Cloud‘s mission is to "save the fishies" by donating 10% of profits to marine conservation nonprofits. They also utilize recycled and sustainable materials in many products. The product line has expanded to include apparel, straws, water bottles, bedding, and accessories.

Investigating Product Quality and Value

As a values-driven brand, an important question is whether Sand Cloud lives up to its mission in practice. This Sand Cloud review will analyze product materials, durability, and pricing to determine if they deliver on quality and social impact.

Product Materials

Sand Cloud utilizes several sustainable materials:

• Turkish Cotton Towels: Made from 100% Turkish cotton, considered the world‘s best for softness, ability to absorb water, color vibrancy, and durability.
• Recycled materials: Bottles, backpacks, straws, and apparel contain recycled plastic and cotton.
• Organic Cotton: Used in items like the Organic Cotton Scarf and Wanderer Tote Bag.

High-quality materials like Turkish cotton cost more than standard towel cotton, justifying slightly elevated pricing.

Product Durability

From analyzing reviews and conducting personal testing, Sand Cloud products last through years of use.

Towels maintain vibrant colors and soft texture even after 50+ washes. They resist sand, microbes, and odors exceptionally well compared to average beach towels.

Accessories and apparel like backpacks, water bottles, and t-shirts withstand daily wear-and-tear. Items like the Sand Cloud hat have durable stitching and structured design to hold shape.

The extensive testing required for OEKO-TEX certification further verifies product durability and safety.

Pricing and Value Analysis

Handmade Turkish cotton towels cost more than mass-produced varieties, but are far more durable and sustainable. For example:

Sand Cloud Turkish Cotton Towel	$58
Amazon Basics Beach Towel	$15.49

The price difference seems large, but Sand Cloud towels often last 5+ years with consistent quality and zero microplastics in waterways. Plus each purchase makes a charitable impact.

Some Sand Cloud items like shirts and hats are comparably priced to eco-brands like TEJA. Overall their products provide excellent value given quality and social benefit.

The Customer Experience: Reviews and Service

Sand Cloud is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A rating. They have a 4.2/5 star average across 3,912 reviews on their site and Google. An in-depth look at external review platforms shows an overwhelmingly positive customer experience.

Sand Cloud Reviews on Trustpilot

Out of 209 Trustpilot ratings, Sand Cloud earns “Excellent” with a 4.4/5 star average. Positive reviews focus on fantastic products and friendly, timely service. Around 89% gave a 4 or 5-star review.

The 11% of critical reviews mostly cite shipping delays, which Sand Cloud transparently attributes to inventory and carrier disruptions beyond their control on product pages. Despite delays affecting all retailers in 2022, Sand Cloud persists in maintaining top-rated service according to the majority of their customers.

Reviews on Influenster

With a near-perfect average rating of 4.9/5 from 420 reviews on Influenster, Sand Cloud demonstrates extreme customer satisfaction.

97% of reviewers rate their towels 5 stars for softness, vibrancy, durability and absorbency. Multiple customers stated the necessity to purchase more than one Sand Cloud towel due to family/friend towel stealing!

Direct Sand Cloud Reviews

On their own website, Sand Cloud earns a 4.2/5 average over 3,912 reviews. The most praised elements include fantastic quality, patterns/colors, drying ability, and customer service. Over 85% of ratings are 5 stars.

Less than 2% of reviewers give 1 star feedback. The few critical reviews cite inaccurate size charts for apparel or receiving defective/incorrect items. However, Sand Cloud‘s "Happiness Guarantee" ensures prompt refunds or replacements which satisfy those customers.

Sand Cloud Better Business Bureau Reviews

The BBB lists zero customer complaints against Sand Cloud in the past three years. Sand Cloud responds to every review, featuring feedback like:

"I LOVE this company. Not one, but FOUR large towels later my friends and family are obsessed."

Overall, customer reviews verify Sand Cloud’s exceptional products and service. Their 4.5/5 average rating across platforms confirms extremely satisfied buyers.

Company Ethics and Sustainability Commitment

Environmental nonprofit associations validate the brand’s eco-friendly practices. As a Certified B Corporation and Plastic Pollution Coalition member, Sand Cloud undergoes regular audits to maintain stringent sustainability standards.

Specific examples of Sand Cloud’s dedication include:

• Eliminating single-use plastic bags in fulfillment centers
• Partnerships with organizations like Clean Hub to recycle old towels
• Hosting monthly beach cleanups with over 15k volunteers yearly

They transparently share supplier information and ethical audits for full accountability. Modeling sustainability in the founder’s everyday lifestyles establishes authenticity in their mission.

Ultimately Sand Cloud goes beyond surface-level claims with legitimate, certified efforts to reduce environmental harm.

Best and Worst Sand Cloud Products

Combing through customer reviews and product details, I‘ll highlight the best and worst Sand Cloud products to buy.

Best Sand Cloud Products

1. Wanderlust XL Turkish Cotton Towel

The Wanderlust XL towel earns rave reviews as Sand Cloud‘s highest-rated product for its vivid dye colors, meticulous hand-fringing, extreme softness and sand resistance. Priced at $78, it provides premium spa-level luxury.

2. The Tie-Dye Hippie Hoodie

This popular hoodie made from 60% recycled fabrics earns applause for its ultra-soft fleece lining and durable quality. Reviewers love the vibrant colors and loose comfort fit.

3. Save The Fishies Glass Water Bottle

Eco-conscious customers praise this bottle for its stylish design, sturdy glass, convenient carrying strap and built-in neoprene sleeve. It also comes with a natural bamboo lid and protective boot.

Worst Sand Cloud Products

No Sand Cloud products earn overwhelmingly negative reviews, but a few receive mixed feedback:

1. Sand Cloud Hats

These hats get some complaints for incorrect sizing not matching the chart, resulting in an ill-fitting product. Some report the white cotton staining easily.

2. Sand Cloud Swimsuits

A minority of customers cite issues with bottoms running small or tops showing wear sooner than expected. This may come down to variances batch-to-batch.

3. Sand Cloud Rash Guards

Like swimsuits, some report quality inconsistencies with issues like loose stitching. Make sure to hand wash and limit high-heat drying to preserve construction.

While no product line is perfect, Sand Cloud demonstrates exceptionally low defects overall and responsive customer service.

Comparing Sand Cloud to Similar Sustainable Brands

How does Sand Cloud compare to competitors in quality, price and mission? Here is an overview:

Tesalate

Towel Quality: Tesalate uses proprietary fabric technology for unmatched absorbency and sand resistance. Long-term durability comparing tesalate vs sand cloud may favor Tesalate.

Price: Tesalate towels cost 2-3x more than Sand Cloud‘s Turkish cotton.

Social Impact: Smaller donations to marine conservation nonprofits than Sand Cloud.

Dock and Bay

Product Variety: Dock and Bay offers a wider range of products like loungewear, outdoor blankets and beach bags.

Materials: Mainly lightweight polyester instead of natural fibers like cotton.

Style: More minimal, trendy patterns instead of Sand Cloud‘s boho aesthetic.

Compared to other brands, Sand Cloud remains highly competitive on all fronts – from quality to design to environmental commitments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Sand Cloud offer discounts?

Yes! Sign up for emails and you‘ll gain access to special promo codes for 10-20% off your purchase or free shipping. Sand Cloud also offers military, student and other exclusive discounts on their towels and gear.

What is the shipping and return policy?

Sand Cloud offers free shipping within the contiguous US for orders over $100. Return unworn items in original packaging within 30 days for a full refund.

Swimwear must have tags attached and protective linings in place. For exchanges, Sand Cloud will provide free shipping. Due to health reasons, face masks cannot be returned or exchanged.

How quickly does Sand Cloud process orders?

During normal volume periods, expect order processing within 2 business days and delivery within 4-7 business days. In peak summer and holidays, please allow additional processing time up to 5 business days and delivery up to 10 business days.

Does Sand Cloud‘s Turkish cotton shrink significantly?

Sand Cloud pre-shrinks their Turkish cotton towels so shrinkage should stay within 3-5% – less than average towel cotton. To preserve your towels best, machine wash cold and tumble dry low.

How long do Sand Cloud towels last?

Thanks to quality hand-crafted materials and dyes, customers report their Sand Cloud towels maintaining peak quality for 5+ years. With proper care, Turkish cotton should far outlast cheaper big box store varieties.

What is Sand Cloud’s carbon footprint commitment?

As part of their Protect & Give Back program, Sand Cloud has invested $85,000 into carbon-offset projects including a wildlife sanctuary forest in Zambia to counter manufacturing emissions. This earns them carbon neutral status.

The Verdict: A Earth-Friendly Brand Delivering Premium Quality

Sand Cloud backs up its mission through legitimate sustainable initiatives and charity partnerships. Customer reviews repeatedly praise both the quality and ethics behind these #1 best-selling towels and other products.

While pricing sits slightly above average, Sand Cloud customers find excellent long-term value in the years of durable use from items like Turkish cotton towels, hoodies, water bottles and backpacks. Plus peace of mind comes from supporting social impact efforts with every purchase.

For shoppers demanding both eco-conscious production and premium natural materials like Turkish cotton, Sand Cloud delivers. Their 4.5/5 star reputation cements them as a leader in the sustainable space. We give Sand Cloud our highest recommendation.