A changing robe is a garment worn over your clothing. They often look like an oversized coat and can come in a variety of fabrics and styles. The armholes are usually quite large, making it easy to bring your arms inside and get your clothes on and off without a struggle.

Osprey Adult Changing Robe, Waterproof Changing Robe Black

They are offering 2 different robes styles; the classic Sherpa Fleece design and a unique Quilted Puffer. Both are very well made, have a choice of stylish colours and are sustainability made which is what we love to see. Vivida is a brand created by people passionate about watersports, who know exactly what they want from their gear – Premium quality and classy design.

Finisterre Adelie Robe

The outer layer is also relatively lightweight and the ripstop material looks durable and feels hardwearing. This outer shell is also waterproof and windproof, protecting you from the elements in the cold winter months. Besides the relatively steep price, however, there’s not much fault I can find in the Dryrobe Advance Long Sleeve, and as such it wins our Recommended award. If you’re looking for a versatile changing robe that will keep you warm and dry wherever you choose to wear it, you can’t go too far wrong with the Dryrobe Advance. The Selkie swim robe has extra-long zip pulls for cold fingers and V vented side panels for ease of movement.

Dryrobe alternatives for winter swimming - Paddle Pedal Pace 7 Dryrobe alternatives for winter swimming - Paddle Pedal Pace

This one is pretty easy. If you intend to use your changing robe to dry and change simultaneously, you will want something with microfiber, synthetic wool, or towel fabric. For anyone who knows they will most likely be out in the wind and rain, a waterproof, windproof outer shell is necessary. Vivida is relatively new to the watersports changing robe scene but has seen huge success with their poncho towel robes over the years, so they know what they’re doing! Another small gripe is that the Dryrobe has no loop for hanging it on a hook. That means that you’ll have to use a hanger or the hood to hang it up, and the latter results in it hanging much closer to the floor than you might like. That’s quite possibly a deliberate decision because a hanging loop would be an obvious point of failure on such a heavy item of clothing, but again it’s something to keep in mind.It doesn’t matter what activities you love doing – whether that be water swimming, hiking, or just long walks with the dog– this robe is the perfect companion to help you enjoy more. Instead of dreading the cold, wet and windy weather, you can relish the opportunity to get outdoors more often with this robe protecting in all harsh conditions. The short sleeve robes have the same features, but the arm length is shortened to just below the elbow.

Dryrobe Advance Long Sleeve review: A great way to keep warm Dryrobe Advance Long Sleeve review: A great way to keep warm

Changing robes are perfect for any type of outdoor activity, particularly swimming. They are an oversized poncho/coat, with a waterproof outer layer and soft fleece lining. They are roomy enough so that you can throw it on over your wet clothing, and get changed underneath without exposing yourself to the wind (or to other people). If you are looking for a lightweight towel alternative that’s perfect for summer, you might like to read our blog about the best surf ponchos towels. Why Use Waterproof Changing Robes? The main other shortcoming of the Dryrobe is that it’s a big bulky thing. Dryrobe has done a good job of keeping the weight down to around 1.3kg but, even still, the Dryrobe Advance will take up a considerable amount of room wherever you choose to store it. Indeed, it’s so large that unless you want to bring it in a large bag of its own, your best bet is to wear the Dryrobe whenever possible. However, their prices tend to be higher due to the quality, so if you want a cheaper robe for getting in and out of the outdoor pool or changing after a long bike ride, then you would probably do fine with a more affordable product. Seashell Changing Robe A blustery November day by the river at Farleigh Hungerford swimming club saw Kate Rew, Rosie Nottage and Arron Collins-Thomas test a selection of eco-friendly robes. We selected robes which are readily available in the UK, have solid environmentally friendly credentials and were sent in to our testers. We included our own Red, Fourth Element and dryrobes which showed how older products perform.

7 Dryrobe alternatives

This winter I’m taking part in the Polar Bear Challenge, which means I’ll be swimming in open-water without a wetsuit twice a month between November and March. It goes without saying that the water is going to be very chilly! Whether you are kayaking out on the ocean, paddleboarding, taking part in a triathlon, or training for other sports events, these robes will be useful. Both may have waterproofed exterior materials, but beach ponchos are usually a single layer of towel fabric. These robes are meant to soak up as much water as possible while you get change. SUSTAINABILITY: The Dry-Series has a 100% recycled nylon outer and a 100% recycled polyester lining – all GRS certified, and also use eco friendly DWR waterproofing. Not B Corp but signed up to 1 % for the planet (they’ve committed to donate 1% of sales to support non-profits focused to preserving and restoring the natural environment) and as part of the sustainability of their products they offer repairs for a ‘nominal fee’ to ensure their products longevity.

robes - Eco Kit Review – Outdoor Weatherproof changing robes - Eco Kit Review – Outdoor

While this will protect you from the wind and rain while you are changing, it will not be as warm as the Red Paddle Co or Northcore robes, so it should probably be used only in summer or during light weather. What are Waterproof Changing Robes? But what makes this robe stand out from all the others? Without a doubt, this is one of the cheapest robes on the market, but retains the quality of the more expensive brands; it’s a close match to the beloved DryRobe Advance, but at a third of the price, it doesn’t quite meet the quality, but it’s not far off and is affordable.The materials mean that you can stay protected no matter what the weather, while the interior fleece soaks up any water to dry you off faster. It is more compact than other changing robes, so you can easily store it in a small bag. READ NEXT: Browse the best lightweight, waterproof outdoor shoes for men and women Dryrobe AdvanceLong Sleeve review: What size should I buy?