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Best Changing Robes (2023): Swim, Surf, Water Sports

Posted on April 7, 2023

Best Changing Robes (2023): Swim, Surf, Water Sports

  • Photograph: Dryrobe

    Our Fave Changing Robe

    Dryrobe Advance Long Sleeve

    Launched in 2010 by British surfer Gideon Bright, Dryrobe was one of the first sportswear companies to start manufacturing changing robes—and it shows. The Advance Long Sleeve robe is waterproof with a wide range of sizes for both adults and kids. We tested the medium robe, which is aimed at people around 5'8" and comes in a range of eight colorways, including navy and gray, for the exterior and the interior lining. The Dryrobe isn’t as light as other robes, but the overall look and finish feel premium and well tailored (if you don’t mind the large logo on the back). With its synthetic lambswool lining made from pure recycled polyester, this robe feels like it offers the thickest lining of all the brands we tried in our test. Its exterior is made from waterproof and windproof pure recycled nylon fabric.

    The long and short of it: The Advance Long Sleeve robe dried us quickly after we got out of the sea, and it absorbed the water effectively so it didn’t feel too damp after use. The robe hangs nicely on the body, and while it doesn’t feature stretch panels on either side, it felt very roomy, so we could comfortably and discreetly change inside it.

    There are two pockets on the interior: an oversize “poacher’s” pocket for drinks and a zip-up pocket for valuables such as your phone. Plus there’s a nifty opening for your headphones. Two zipped-up exterior pockets feel secure. While there aren’t any toggles on the hood, the zip does come up high enough to keep your face protected from the elements. We also tested the kids’ version, which has the same styling (except that the outer pockets do not have zips) and comes in a great range of colorways, including a camo print with pink lining. The deep fleece-lined external pockets were a hit with our young tester: great for keeping hands warm and collecting shells.

    $195 at Dryrobe

  • Photograph: Red Original

    Sizes for the Whole Family

    Red Original Long Sleeve Pro Change Robe EVO

    Best known for its paddleboards, Red also offers long- and short-sleeve Pro Change EVO robes for men, women, and kids. What we instantly liked about this line is its wide offering of colorways, including a bright “Hawaiian” blue, Parker green, Fuchsia red, and the Teal robe we tried. We tried the medium design that gives plenty of room inside for people who are 5'4" to 5'10". Its exterior is a breathable waterproof fabric, and a moisture-wicking fleece lining inside felt super soft on our skin. The robe has a nice floaty feel to it as it hangs on the body—as opposed to the fabric feeling rigid—and it made us feel nicely warm and dry after our swim without weighing us down. There are two stretchy side panels to make it easier for you to change in, too.

    The robe is in fact compact enough to fit into a 10-liter dry bag. We found it one of the easiest designs to fold, due to its flexible material, which is handy if you're using it on a paddle or a hike. We also liked the toggled hood and long sleeves that could be adjusted at the cuff, which helped to keep the wind out. The Long Sleeve Pro features two inside pockets, one for a snack or water bottle and the other with a zip for your wallet or valuables. An extra zippable outer pocket gives you the option of not having to reach inside and open up your robe when you want to get to your phone, while two magnetic closing outer pockets are deep enough to keep your hands warm. While there is a Red Original logo on the two cuffs and a discreet one on the front, there is no large logo on the back of your robe, which makes you feel less like a walking advertisement.

    We also tried Red Original’s Kids Pro Change Robe, which fits children from 4'2" to 5'0". There’s a choice of five colors with either a red or gray interior. There is one open pocket on the inside of this coat and two magnetic closing outer pockets. There are stretch side panels, which come in useful as children inevitably wriggle and faff around inside. Our young tester found the toggles on the zips easier to pull up and down than a standard zip, especially when they had cold and wet hands.

    $249 at Red Original

  • Photograph: Cosimac

    A Swim Robe for Fashion Fans

    Cosimac Cosi Changing Robe

    There are four adult changing robes in the Cosimac collection, including this eye-catching leopard print design. Its water-resistant and weatherproof exterior is designed to handle all but full downpours. We tried the medium robe—designed to be worn by adults who are 5'3" to 5'7"—and strutted our leopard-print-clad bod on the beach.

    What we instantly noticed when putting on the robe is how light it is, while still managing to make us feel suitably protected and comfy with a very soft fleece-lined interior. The robe comes with long sleeves for warmth, and we found it did well at soaking up the water and keeping us comfortable after we had changed. Its very large fleece-lined hood also kept us cozy and our faces well hidden from the elements.

    We liked how the interior “hot water bottle” pocket was positioned halfway down the robe, instead of at the bottom, which gave the design a good sense of balance. There is also an interior zipped pocket with an opening for headphone cords. Its long sleeves come with Velcro straps that can be adjusted, while there are two fleece-lined zipped pockets on the exterior for convenience. Cosimac also sells a kids’ robe, in a more sober black finish with an “Ocean Blue” interior, designed for those that are 4'2" and under.

    $180 at Cosimac

  • Photograph: Alpkit

    Almost a Jacket

    Alpkit Haven Change Robe

    Alpkit sells a nice range of clothing and equipment for hiking, biking, running, and swimming, including this Haven Change Robe. The unisex robe comes in a simple yet stylish black finish (though with a big logo and slogan on the back), and it’s oversized and lined for convenience and warmth. We tried the Haven Change Robe in small, which is designed for the average 5'2" person. It comes in four sizes (though some are currently out of stock), with a windproof fabric, long sleeves, and a shower-proof PU coating to keep you dry. The polyester insulation doesn’t have the fluffiest feel, but it did well to dry off our testers and keep us warm after use.

    This is the most compact robe that could pass as a standard jacket in design. Inside we found two pockets. One is placed on the lining of the coat, as opposed to on the fleece, and can be zipped up. The other, big enough to carry a bottle, is on the bottom right-hand corner. The two exterior pockets have been left with open entry—as opposed to a magnetic or zip closure—and aren’t as deep as on the other designs we tried, but they are suitably fleece-lined to keep your hands warm. Slightly different in design from the majority of changing robes we tried, the Alpikit has a drop hem in back that is long enough to sit on, with the slides split for more freedom of movement.

    $80 at Alpkit

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