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. 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.

Protection - Your weatherproofing needs will depend on where in the world you are and what times in the year you swim. Look out for waterproof and windproof materials to keep you toasty in inclement weather. In the summer you might be fine with just a towelling robe, but they don't offer much protection against rain.

It’s expensive, but the Dryrobe Advance is a versatile and well-made changing robe

Gorilla Robes is one of the best DryRobe alternatives UK that you’ll find, it’s great value and has made it this far up my list due to the value for money. It is the best value DryRobe alternative that is made from recycled material.

The short sleeve robes have the same features, but the arm length is shortened to just below the elbow. Vivida is a brand created by people passionate about watersports, who know exactly what they want from their gear – Premium quality and classy design. Of course, there are cases where that might be a perk – you could wear it to and from the beach and leave your other clothes at home – but it’s something worth being aware of nonetheless. Unless you opt for a more basic changing robe made from towel alone, which won’t offer the same level of warmth or waterproofing, this is likely a problem you’ll find with most changing robes. This brand started it all with their creatively designed changing robes meant to provide people with an easy way to get changed outdoors. Because they are of high quality, trusted brand with a heap of useful features in each robe, they can be a little above budget for some. Their current products include the following. Aesthetics - Some simple changing robes look a bit like towelling ponchos, while others are more technical and outdoorsy, and some of the oversized parka designs look undeniably cool and could be worn day-to-day in the colder months.

Finisterre Adelie Robe

Yes I know they’re not an alternative, but they’re the original DryRobe and they set the bar high. So I felt that it’s only right to show you how they compare to their competitors. Robes make the transition from soaked to dry and cosy straightforward. They are great for people who find themselves often out in inclement weather for sport or entertainment (e.g., rugby, hiking, biking, surfing etc.), where staying warm or finding a private place to change might be a challenge. With a waterproof changing robe, your dignity is maintained, and the elements are kept at bay. While changing robes are by no means essential, if you make a habit of submerging yourself in freezing cold water, it's a good idea to have some means of warming yourself up afterwards. 'One of the many great things about outdoor swimming is that the kit needs are minimal,' says Rew. 'You can dry yourself in a standard towel, or make your own changing robe by sewing two towels together. And afterwards you can just wear a coat.' 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? If you find yourself outdoors camping, working, or playing where it is wet and dirty, then the Moonwrap changing robes are perfect. They are one of the warmest on the market, and Frostfire has them in sizes small through extra-large for adults and children.

Voited have taken a slightly different approach to their changing robes, compared to Gorilla, Vivida and Dryrobe. Instead of the synthetic woolly fleece inner lining, Voited have opted to use different materials depending on its placement and use. Your boss might not be happy when you show up to the Christmas party in the robe. At least you’ll stay warm, hey!First favoured by chilly surfers needing somewhere to shelter while changing out of wetsuits and rash vests, they're now also used by wild or cold water swimmers, paddle boarders and general outdoorsy folk. The Gorilla Robe is a good option but do bear in mind – it is space-consuming and bulky, which makes it difficult to transport during long hikes. 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. Using your changing robe is simple — just pop over wet gear after swimming, paddle boarding or surfing and get changed underneath. Then, if you've opted for a parka-style variety, you can stay cocooned inside to stay cosy.

Sealed seams waterproof taped and double stitched. Protection from cold weather and to trap in heat. 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.

RED PADDLE PRO CHANGE EVO

Did you like the look of the Moonwrap Long Sleeve Changing Robes? Take a look at our list of the features and benefits below. With a decent range of colours to choose from, if you want to try something different from a brand that is very sustainability-focused, then you won’t go wrong with trying a Voited Robe. And if your Dryrobe fails because of a manufacturing defect within the first year, the brand will repair or replace it free of charge. Naturally, this excludes instances where user negligence or accidental damage are to blame for the damage.