Get cosy for your next swimming session. Here are our top picks for the best changing robe for open water swimmers, triathletes, surfers and winter dippers.
Swimming, paddleboarding, triathlon, surfing, sailing – however you love to get out and enjoy the water, when temperatures drop, there’s one thing that can make water sports and swimming more comfortable – the best changing robe.
The best changing robe is, as the name suggests, designed for use on shore, to make wriggling into a wetsuit before a swim or pulling your clothes back on after a surf less of a faff (and to help you avoid flashing the whole car park!).
Changing robes are ideal for warming up fast after cold water swim.
Insulated, waterproof changing robes stop you from losing precious body heat, especially if you’re swimming in ‘skins’ (swimsuit only). They’re a must if you’re an all-year-round swimmer.
You can also find lightweight, towelling-style robes available to take with you when swimming in warmer weather. Use these to for quick changes on the beach or by the lake, or pop them on to dry off with, instead of a towel.
Changing robes come in lots of designs, but some are so smart and stylish you could easily wear them as a coat, which makes a nice versatile option for daily use in the winter. You’ll get more bang for your buck if you invest in one that you can also wear to walk the dog or do the school run when it’s foul outside.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ve included options for every season: lightweight towelling robes, packable waterproof robes and warmer, heavier fashion-forward robes.
Best changing robe options for outdoor swimmers
Gill Aqua Parka
Specifications: Material: 100% polyester shell and lining | Sizes: S-XL | Colours: 3 |Waterproof: Yes | Gender: Unisex
Reasons to buy: very lightweight, roomy, soft high loft thermal lining, storm-safe zipper
Reasons to avoid: runs oversize
The new Gill Aqua Parka feels like a cocoon. It’s roomy, warm, and impressively lightweight. Outside, the shell’s stitch-free, welded seam construction wicks water right off and makes the coat smooth and easy to clean. Inside, the high loft thermal lining keeps you warm even when thrown over wet clothing. Its cut is unrestrictive and offers great ease of movement when slipping out of wet layers or scrambling around. The sleeves are loose enough to pull your arms into, and a two-way zipper makes exposure to cold air minimal. It also has a generous hood and deep, easy-access hand-warmer pockets. Internal compartments give you the option of keeping items dry, safe, and accessible even when you don’t want to unzip the whole garment. This is slick technical kit that won’t look out of place even when you’re in between adventures.
Dryrobe Advance Long Sleeve Robe
Specifications: Material: Recycled nylon and recycled polyester | Sizes: S-XL | Colours: 13 | Waterproof: Yes | Gender: Men’s and women’s available
Reasons to buy: reliably warm and waterproof, soft snug inner lining, lots of colours to choose from
Reasons to avoid: thick and heavy
Probably the best-known brand on the market, Dryrobe’s designs are a big hit with swimmers, surfers and triathletes alike – head to any official swimming event and there’ll be an array of fuzz-lined Dryrobes ready for by the water’s edge for their intrepid owners. Waterproof, windproof and lined with synthetic ‘lambswool’ material, these robes will save you when you get out of winter water and feel the cold bite, and are roomy enough to get changed under in chilly, windy conditions. Our top pick is the Dryrobe Advance Long Sleeve, made with recycled materials – if you want a robe that’ll make you feel instantly snug year-round, this is the design to invest in.
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Red Equipment Pro Change Robe
Specifications: Material: Recycled fabrics | Sizes: S-XL | Colours: 7 | Waterproof: Yes | Gender: Men’s and women’s available
Reasons to buy: warm lining, more breathable than most winter robes, waterproof, packable
Reasons to avoid: too thick for warm water dips, compression bag sold separately
Red Equipment are best known for their popular stand-up paddleboards, and now they’ve taken their water sports know-how and designed a new changing robe. The Pro Change Robe has a great adjustable hood and is fully waterproof and windproof, so it’ll trap body heat even in high wind and bad weather, and it’s also breathable enough to use right into the warm weather of spring. We like that the Pro Robe is more compact than your average waterproof robe, and is designed to pop easily into a dry bag for easy storage on a yacht or on a paddle board, although it’s a pity that Red’s compression stash bag, designed to fit the Pro Robe, is sold separately (£34.95, https://red-equipment.co.uk/products/pro-change-robe-stash-bag-navy)
Zone 3 Heat-Tech Changing Robe
Specifications: Material: fleece | Sizes: XS-XL | Colours: Black | Waterproof: Yes | Gender: Unisex
Reasons to buy: very warm, generous longer length, good pockets
Reasons to avoid: not breathable enough for summer
If you tend to feel the cold when heading out for a swim session, you should definitely add Zone 3’s changing robe to your kit bag. Lined with a generous amount of fleece and designed with a triple-layer construction that really traps in body heat, the Heat-Tech Robe offers instant, welcome warmth when you pull it on after emerging from the water. A waterproof and windproof outer shell cuts rain and wind and keeps you cosy even in stormy conditions, and we like added design elements such as the adjustable Velcro straps on the sleeves and the internal handwarmer pockets.
Vivida All Weather Puffer Changing Robe – Aventurine Green
Specifications: Material: 100% post-consumer recycled polyester | Sizes: S, M, L, XL | Colours: Green, Blue and Slate Grey | Waterproof: yes | Gender: Unisex
Reasons to buy: Stylish, understated, quick to dry, easy to pack
Reasons to avoid: high price point, sleeves might be a little snug for some
If you are looking for something a bit special and don’t mind the premium price tag then have a look at this Vivida All weather Puffer changing robe. It comes in three understated classic colours and has a really thoughtfully designed style with substance. The long sleeves have a good closure at the cuff and the hood will keep your head warm when you have wet hair. It’s stylish enough to wear as an oversized coat during the day when your gadding about town or even for lounging at home and want to save some money on the heating bills because you spent it all buying this coat! It’s made of 100% recycled materials, though it was made in China, so what you save on the planet with recycling, you lose on shipping emissions.
Seasalt Exploring Waterproof Changing Robe
Specifications: Material: recycled polyester, cotton | Sizes: M-XL | Colours: navy, khaki | Waterproof: yes | Gender: women’s
Reasons to buy: great wear-anywhere looks, warm and waterproof, partly recycled materials
Reasons to avoid:very roomy, so consider going a size down
Hey, good-looking – Seasalt’s Exploring stands out from the crowd for its smart, logo-free looks and neutral hues, which make it feel far more like you’re wearing a smart winter coat than most bright changing robes. This Cornish-designed robe is swim-ready, though, with a waterproof outer shell, an adjustable hood and a pleasingly soft quick-dry fleece lining. The Exploring is roomy enough to get changed under anywhere – so roomy, in fact, that we’d recommend ordering a size down from your usual. Our top pick if you want one coat to rule them all for cold weather, that will also come along on your surf and swim expeditions.
Cape Cove Snug Coat
Specifications: Material: recycled sherpa fleece | Sizes: XS-L | Colours: 4 | Waterproof: water-resistant | Gender: women’s
Reasons to buy: fun bright looks, beautiful quality, great hood, recycled fleece lining
Reasons to avoid: expensive, not fully waterproof
Most swimming robes are pretty boring-looking, often in plain black or grey – where’s the fun in that? If you want to shake it up (or even wear your new robe as a winter coat when you aren’t swimming), head to Cape Cove – this female-owned brand make beautiful robes in an array of bright designs, from eye-catching leopard print to this pastel marble coat. There’s substance as well as style here – the Snug Coat is very warm, water-resistant enough to withstand a shower and has an adjustable and removable hood as well as a soft lining made with sherpa fleece. Cape Cove also offer smart ‘changing dresses’ from £95 that make a nice lightweight alternative to a bulky robe in summer (https://www.cape-cove.com/collections/changing-dresses).
Best changing robe options for warm weather
Billabong Salty Hooded Towel Change Robe
Specifications: Material: polyester and polyamide | Sizes: One size | Colours: 1 | Waterproof: No | Gender: Unisex
Reasons to buy: fun bright pattern, quick to dry, easy to pack
Reasons to avoid: limited warmth, not windproof
Here comes the sun – on warm summer days by the shore you can swap your heavy-duty waterproof changing robe for a lightweight hooded towelling number that’s simple to change under and quick to use to dry off. If you’re shopping for something easy and breezy, we rate Billabong’s Salty Hooded Towel Poncho, which is affordable at under £40 and does the job well in warm weather. This hooded towel robe, which is unisex and one-size-fits-all, is easy to pack in a backpack when you’re on the go and comes in a bright striped patter that doesn’t show dirt and sand after a day at the beach.
Zhik Hooded Towel changing robe
Specifications: Material: Polyester and polyamide | Sizes: One size | Colours: 1 | Waterproof: No | Gender: Unisex
Reasons to buy: fun bright pattern, quick to dry, easy to pack
Reasons to avoid: limited warmth, not windproof
Zhik make some really great looking kit and they’ve launched this limited edition colourway changing robe for Breast cancer awareness month. It’s just like their other change robes but more colourful. So the towelling robe is ideal as a light weight option, which can be useful if you are in a sheltered area or warmer weather. You can pack this and take on holiday with you easily so it’s handy for the beach. When you’re not using it to get changed in, you can use it to sit on or lounge on the sand. It has ample space to get changed inside without feeling too constrained.
Not sure where to start shopping for the best changing robe? Here’s what to look for
Fit & Design
Changing robes are designed to be oversized, with plenty of room to manoeuvre underneath. Some are one-size-fits-all, others come in different sizes – and you may find sizing down suits you best if you don’t want to feel swallowed whole in your new robe. Look for large pockets, which are useful for warming up hands or for stashing personal belongings on the beach while you head into the sea. Changing robes usually come with either long or short sleeves – short sleeves are cooler in summer, but we prefer long-sleeved designs, as they’re warm year-round. Sleeves with Velcro closures further help to trap in heat. A well-fitting, adjustable hood is a must, to keep your head warm and help dry wet hair.
Material and thickness
You’ll find changing robes of different thicknesses and materials – as a rough rule, fleece-lined robes with a weatherproof shell are best for winter, and light, breathable towelling ponchos are best for summer.
Waterproofing
Not all changing robes are waterproof, but most designs are aimed at winter use (and often priced at the more expensive end of the market!) will feature a water and wind-resistant outer shell to protect you from the elements, coupled with a softer fleece lining. These are ideal in cold, wet weather, shielding you from the elements and helping you warm up.
Want more gear guides for open water swimming?
Check out our buyers guides to swim floats, swim gloves, swim caps, swim shoes!
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