SUSTAINABILITY: Cape Cove have strong eco-credentials across their range – and the Cape has an outer fabric of 86% and inner fabric of 54% recycled polyester, all GRS certified. With their pending B Corp certification, slow fashion ethic and free repairs pledge, they’re a strong new addition to the changing robe market. 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. The robe looks good enough to wear as an oversized coat and I felt comfortable getting a coffee in it after a recent winter surf.

Deacon’s family own multiple Dryrobes – she bought her first five years ago when she started swimming outdoors regularly after moving from London to Edinburgh. “Dryrobes are incredibly useful,” she says, “It’s quite difficult to get changed on a beach when you’re very cold without dropping your towel and flashing your boobs or your bum. They don’t look great, but they’re practical.” Based in the watersports hub of Devon, this family-run business is all about making equipment that suits their outdoor lifestyle. Dan, the owner, is a passionate surfer and kayaker, which is great to know when buying from a brand that sells outdoor gear. You are looking for something different because Dryrobes are expensive, or you are looking because you don’t want to wear the same thing as everyone else. In the review we give a brief overview of the top brands that offer a great alternative to Dryrobe and the reasons why they could be perfect for you. You’ve probably heard of Red Paddle Co, the brand that really revolutionised the inflatable paddleboard market here in the UK. Along with high-end paddleboards, Red Paddle Co could very well claim the top spot as the best waterproof changing robe on the market. 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.Microfiber or towel-lined waterproof changing robes are designed to absorb water and get you dry faster, while fur-lined ones are not as useful for drying off but can keep you warm while you wait to swim or after you dry off. The outside shell of this recycled changing robe is made of two-layer DWR recycled Nylon, and the inside is made of 100% recycled fleece.

One of the features that set their robes apart is the matching side zippers, which can be found on their leading waterproof long sleeve robes. Their prices are very affordable, and for eco-conscious shoppers, they have changing towels made of 100% recycled polyester materials. 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. It is quite a bit looser than some other changing robe brands, which means you have plenty of space to take on and off multiple layers during colder weather. It can fit into a compression bag. Like the Vivida robe, Red have opted for a stretch fabric outer shell, which means the robe can be more fitted but is also super flexible to get changed in. The fabric is also breathable which helps with regulating your body temperature, and makes you feel less clammy if you ever decide to drive home in your robe.A robe that’s highly rated amongst sport and adventure enthusiasts, Seashell has built a changing robe that is practical and stylish. These robes are also made from recycled materials, so have a small footprint on the earth’s resources. For example, the outer shell is made from 94 plastic bottles and the insulation is 100% recycled polyester yarn.

IMPORTANT UPDATE - At The Wetsuit Centre we always want to maintain the highest level of customer satisfaction. There are many reasons to use a changing robe, but chief among them is the convenience that comes with a hands-free option to help you transition between wet or dirty clothes and clean ones. Boasting a superior 10k waterproof outer shell, that can withstand up to 10,000mm of heavy rain. Our Brobe changing robes will keep you dry in even the worst UK conditions.Tis the season. The season of changing robes, that is. As temperatures wobble and drop, the pursuit of outdoor swimming in the UK becomes less ubiquitous and more, well, brave. Whether it's Parliament Hill Lido, the North Sea or Lake Windermere, you can rest assured there will be people bobbing about in water throughout even the iciest of days. And what do all of these people have in common? Other than a stout constitution, the answer always invariably is this: a change robe. 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. SUSTAINABILITY: Charlie McLeod scores very highly on the eco-credentials. With an outer made of 100% recycled and inner 95% recycled PET plastic (GRS certified) – approximately 110 recycled plastic bottles go into every cloak. All of Dryrobe's weatherproof products use recycled fabrics, so we like the best Dryrobe alternatives to also have an eco-friendly construction. That’s why we love Vivida’s All-Weather changing robe, which features post-consumer recycled polyester. 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.