The weather-resistant Dryrobes give you plenty of room for changing, have lots of places to squirrel away items, and are among the most trusted brands. People use their robes in all sorts of ways, so all of them are best for something – style, economy, compactness, skin feel, size available or coming in the particular colour you want. 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. However, their prices tend to be higher due to the quality, so if you want a cheaper robe for getting in and out of the outdoor pool or changing after a long bike ride, then you would probably do fine with a more affordable product. Seashell Changing 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. 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. 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.Changing robes are a poncho-like towel which simply pops on over your head so you can get changed while saving your dignity. And the best thing about changing robes is that they are made from towelling, so not only can they help you change discreetly, but you can also dry yourself at the same time. WATERPROOF CHANGING ROBE 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. The two-way zippers make it easy to give yourself more room as you change. The lining is made of synthetic lambswool meant to soak up moisture so you and your clothes can dry faster. The outer fabric is weather resistant. 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.

The materials mean that you can stay protected no matter what the weather, while the interior fleece soaks up any water to dry you off faster. It is more compact than other changing robes, so you can easily store it in a small bag.This one is pretty easy. If you intend to use your changing robe to dry and change simultaneously, you will want something with microfiber, synthetic wool, or towel fabric. For anyone who knows they will most likely be out in the wind and rain, a waterproof, windproof outer shell is necessary. Voited is a brand I’ve only just come across recently. It’s quite a new business set up by Frank Voit, who has been the COO and General Manager at the likes of Billabong, Element, RVCA, Von Zipper and Neil Pryde Waterwear. Their outlook on creating products is all about being as practical as possible whilst finding ways to reduce the impact of manufacturing on the environment, with sustainable sourcing and production. 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. 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.

The lighter weight towel ponchos are perfect for getting dry and changed after any watersport, while the waterproof change robes are great for the cooler months as they will also protect you from the weather and keep you super warm.Another great option with a snug fleece lining and windproof outer layer. Available with long or short sleeves, this is a more affordable but super warm option that will keep you protected on windy beaches. For example, a wetsuit requires a little more wiggling to get in and out of. Brands like Gorilla Robes have taken that into consideration, and they designed several extra zipper seams to make it easier to reach certain areas. 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. Surfing is great fun. But when it comes to getting into your wetsuit in the car park or on the beach, there's always the risk that we might expose ourselves to all the other beach-goers. So what's the alternative? WHAT ARE CHANGING ROBES?

We've got a huge range of change robes from all the top brands including Dryrobe, Northcore, Red Paddle Co and Mystic. The robe feels like it’s made to a really high spec, and all finishes and trims are of the highest quality. 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. Our first impression of the Seashell is that it has a durable outer shell, but does not feel excessively bulky or heavy. I loved this changing robe, Nyord’s cold water roots really show through in the detail of the design, everything about it feels comfortable, practical, and high-quality.This can be one of the more important factors to consider, especially if you intend to be outdoors in colder weather. For anyone living in more temperate climates, this might not be as essential, but it is always good to keep in mind whether you want something that can function as an insulated, warm changing space. 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.