MsGinge would like a Dryrobe type thing for getting changed in at her various running events, and the inevitable pivot to cold water swimming. Having never had one of these before I'm wondering are the pucka Dryrobes worth the extra money over the millions of copycats out there or are they just a marketing label on a fairly generic product?
Opinions on anyone familiar with this would be greatly received, as would any recommendations people have for types/brands they have good experience with.
I've noticed at my wife's outdoor swimming group that there are a lot of Passenger and Orla Kiely ones. Dryrobes not so much.
Got my GF a Regatta one, she loves it.
My DHB one is decent enough but shorter arms, and possibly no longer available.
I would say not much in it, other than the better ones are waterproof (i.e. rain). I would also recommend she tries them on if planning on getting changed under one. My wife is a regular cold water swimmer.
New Polaris one looks good
AXIS CHANGING ROBE - UNISEX – Polaris Bikewear https://share.google/oXBS27kWuNLuZtLCT
I have a passenger one and i find it feels nicer. The dryrobe fleece feels a bit plasticy for me
Aldi have some in at the moment. They're thinner/less bulky than the Dryrobe but might be worth a look.
If it's only for convenience when getting changed, a towelling robe works better and the Decathlon ones are perfect.
Mrs Dubs has got the alpkit one. It does the job.
Getting one with a wolf on would fulfil two stereotypes in one!
Looked into this a while back and had similar conclusion to scotroutes. In the end madame made some toweling robes from old towels and they are excellent. Basically a cross between Obi wan and a druid but cool colours
Big enough to change under, and then dry yourself super quick out of the wind. Plus lots of admiring comments
In my experience DryRobes are good for the following reasons -
Waterproof, weighty & warm with the cosy fleece & they are built to last.
If you can find something of similar quality ideal - the prices have increased massively since I got mine pre pandemic. However despite using it for changing post mtb & it usually living in the van it still looks like new.
These are really nice, you honestly don't need to spend more:
https://www.regatta.com/adult-waterproof-changing-robe-mediterranean/
It really depends what you want it for. If it's shopping at Tesco or standing on the sidelines of a football match, then obviously you need a DryRobe.
If it's for watersport your stuff then any of the thick equivalents are fine. That Regatta one above looks bob on. I've got an Alpkit one, my wife has an Animal one, my brother in law a Passenger one. All warm and waterproof, all about 50 quid when we got them. I quickly realised that they're actually crap at drying (may just be my one) but they're great for keeping warm in wetsuits between surfs/dunkings. Don't know if they're all like this?
So basically if I want to get really warm mid/after activity I use my knock off, if I want to get dry afterwards I use a cheap hooded towel poncho thing. But a non waterproof towel thing is a bit rubbish is the rain is sideways and you're trying to heat up before going back in the water.
I quickly realised that they're actually crap at drying (may just be my one) but they're great for keeping warm in wetsuits between surfs/dunkings. Don't know if they're all like this?
Both ours are like that.
Can't use them to get dry, but brilliant at warming you up after you've got out of a freezing body of water, like this one:
Came here to post the usual advice from Goldie Looking Chain, and the video has been removed from YouTube. This has ruined my year 🙁
how is the sizing on the regatta ones?
Size up rather than down - you should be able to slip your arms inside them (take them out of the sleeves after putting it on) so you can get changed. Other than that the main things are slight improvements in design that are common to all outdoor kit, e.g. quality of hood, how much space is in the cuffs and so on.
how is the sizing on the regatta ones?
Yeah, if you think you're on the cusp, go for the larger one.
https://www.galibier.cc/product/atlantic-changing-robe/
Everything I've had from galibier has been great. No got one of these but saw it on socials somewhere.
After reading through a previous thread on this very subject, and after a bit of digging around on’t interwebz, I found Mountain Equipment were doing one without any logos or spurious designs, nice and long with long sleeves, and reduced by around £100 to about £65.
It’s quite heavy, with a fairly thick Sherpa-type fleece, mine’s plain black, and while I haven’t had a need for it yet, I’m pretty sure when I do, I’ll be very glad of it.
Just for @timmys. Possibly NSFW (haven't listened all the way through since I'm at work).
Phew! All is well with the world. Thanks @colournoise. Must be something to do with my work content filtering, is working for me at home.
The most accurate thing about the dryrobe song os about having to wear it all the time. Because **** me sideways they take alot of space 🤣
We have a couple of Frostfire Moonwraps here - the pro one is fully waterproof and it’s main use is taking the dogs out at night in the pissing rain or going to collect the eggs from the hens. There’s a discount code at the moment. Never actually used for any form of water sports.
I quickly realised that they're actually crap at drying (may just be my one) but they're great for keeping warm in wetsuits between surfs/dunkings. Don't know if they're all like this?
I think they're all like that, it's a polyester pile lining so it doesn't dry like cotton does. Cotton robes like the Booicore will dry you off better. Double dryrobe combo anyone? Like double denim but more Devon and Cornwall.
Warm though, it's basically a re-fitted Buffalo top that fits over a jacket if needed. I have one, Freespirit brand, it's heavy pile and outer fabric and has tab/cinches on the sleeve cuffs and dual-end zip. It's great for sitting out drinking Scotch late when camping and warmer than my big down jacket because it covers my legs too. Since I got it I have been swimming in the sea when it was cold, enjoyed it too. Great addition to the outdoors gear pile. You knows it..
I quickly realised that they're actually crap at drying (may just be my one) but they're great for keeping warm in wetsuits between surfs/dunkings. Don't know if they're all like this?
Oh, they are shit towels. Everyone I know in the outdoor swimming world uses a towel for drying and a dry robe for warmth afterwards. That's why I suggested the towelling robe instead.
The OH has a Cosimac one. Seems to look exactly like a Dryrobe, comes in a variety of patterns/ colours, all good
My Mrs has made herself a drying towel with a hood and long enough to cover your decency - dry robe is to get warm, especially in winter water temperatures.
Gorilla robes are ace!
Trudark shroud. Tactical init.
Our lot like their passenger robes, but they’re not towels
Thanks for all that. I've ended up going with one of the Regatta robes in the end, mostly because of the print/colour.
Trudark shroud. Tactical init.
I couldn't help myself, I had to look it up. I accept I will get a few days of tactical overcoat advertising punted my way but it was worth it for this gem.
"An oversized, hooded, pile fleece lined, Cordura® armoured overcoat (not to be confused with a changing robe) designed to protect against any cold and wet weather. "
Wow. They have been snorting lines of their own hype for this one.
Getting one with a wolf on would fulfil two stereotypes in one!
I saw a whole family out walking in the countryside all in Dryrobes the other week. What a delight! No wolf prints though sadly.
I saw a whole family out walking in the countryside all in Dryrobes the other week. What a delight! No wolf prints though sadly.
A few years ago I met a family walking through Grizedale Forest in them. Before they were quite so common.
I asked (perfectly innocently) if they'd been for a swim. There was a lake in walking distance, probably.
I think they thought I was taking the piss.
Tentbox are giving them away with each tent purchased
Trudark shroud. Tactical init.
I thought this was a joke but I looked.. and Thrudark actually do make a changing robe. For tactical (attack)dog walking and wild swimming that is training for evading capture, really.
This is a Shroud. An oversized, hooded, pile fleece lined, Cordura® armoured overcoat (not to be confused with a changing robe) designed to protect against any cold and wet weather.
Cordura 'armoured'.
I read that in the same voiceover as the guy who used to introduce the latest action blockbusters.
THIS.
IS.
A SHROUD.
"No this aint a dryrobe spa, this is a SHROUD, keeps me safe as F on manoeuvres down to the chip shop like, cos you knows it's tactical.."
I see they make Thru dark socks and ... yes, they really are boxers with a knuckle duster print. For when you really need to feel hard. Erm.
Edit, darn, seriousrikk beat me to a seriously deserved psstake. Cheers rik!
Sport Pursuit
Budget option, nick a xxxl padded hi viz jacket from work
Ive got the Aldi one
cant compare to a Dryrobe but its has been excellent for changing in a car park post ride in some miserable conditions
Budget option, nick a xxxl padded hi viz jacket from work
To be fair with most HiVis jist size up one size.
It was chucking it down yesterday evening, and I had a card to drop around to my cousin, it’s almost impossible to park anywhere near where she lives, so I thought I’d walk around and give my dry robe analogue a try. Absolutely brilliant, it comes down to my ankles, and the sleeves are long enough to completely cover my hands!
The only issue is the pockets are where normal coat pockets are placed, so with my hands in them water will run down and into the pockets, which is a bit of a pain. They’d be better if they were more a kangaroo pocket, or if they had zips on, but so long as I keep my hands out of them when it’s pissing down, they’re ok.
I might try making some adhesive Velcro ‘dots’ about a centimetre across and stick them onto the fabric around the inside of the pockets, to hold them closed.
Other than that, I’m very pleased with it, and as I was wearing shorts and a tee shirt underneath, and all that was wet after a thirty-odd minute walk were the toes of my boots, it’s proved it’s worth. 😁
Trudark shroud. Tactical init.
The irony is an actual sheepskin lined Farwa is likely considerably less than that Hyrox athlete foreskin.
Re the comments above about them being rubbish for drying. I've a Charlie McLeod robe. I love it. As soon as I get the top half of my wetsuit down I chuck Charlie on over the top. He gets me dry very quickly. Only time I use a towel is for my hair (just in winter) and feet.
I don't like the shell material actual DryRobes are made of but each to their own etc etc. My Charlie McLeod robe cost me about £120 five years ago so not cheap. On the other hand I reckon I've used him well over 100 times and there's not a hint of a sign of wear and tear so I'm fairly sure I'll get between 15 and 20 years use. In those terms he was a bargain.
Mrs Kenny reckons I possibly enjoy putting my robe on afterwards almost as much as I love the actual swimming. There's a bit of a Linus thing going on (for those of you who know the Charlie Brown books).
For sheer absorbency per £, the Decathlon Olain (£16), is hard to beat.
Great for home use, but maybe combine it with the warmer dry robes for outdoor stuff.
Getting one with a wolf on would fulfil two stereotypes in one!
theres a Boys Medium green one online in Asda for a tenner.
The most accurate thing about the dryrobe song os about having to wear it all the time. Because **** me sideways they take alot of space
You’re not wrong there, but that’s the thing I like about mine. I have belatedly noticed it does have Mountain Warehouse branding on it, but it’s printed in black on the black nylon, so very subtle, but as a raincoat in foul weather, it’s unbeatable! I went out for a drink with a friend tonight, and it’s a bit of a walk from her house to the pub, and Colerne, where she lives, is a former WW2 air base, now Army Intelligence, so it’s high up, and exposed, so I took it with me in the car. By the time we set off, it was just starting to rain, and it was blowing hard and pissing down on the way back. It’s brilliant in that sort of weather, I was wearing a fleece over a tee shirt and shorts, and the robe jobbie comes down to the tops of my boots, the sleeves cover the ends of my fingers, and unless the wind’s in my face, the hood stays upright and doesn’t obscure my vision.
Bloody brilliant thing, and I’m really glad I bought it.
Perfect for a winter’s afternoon on an RSPB reserve waiting for starling murmurations, too!