If you spend any time around beaches, lakes, dive sites, or windswept car parks full of people peeling off wetsuits, you’ve probably noticed the rise of the giant coat you can get changed in.
Some people call them changing robes.
Some call them swim robes.
And quite a lot of people call all of them Dryrobes.
Which is slightly awkward, because Dryrobe is actually a registered trademark. It’s the original outdoor changing robe — the one that started the whole “stand in a freezing car park while attempting to regain feeling in your toes” revolution.
Since then, plenty of lookalikes have appeared. Some are good. Some are… less good. And some seem to have been designed by someone who has never been cold and wet at the same time.
So if they all look vaguely like oversized waterproof coats, why does the original still come out on top?
Let’s have a chat...
The Original Idea (Before Everyone Copied It).
When Dryrobe created the first outdoor changing robe, the idea was beautifully simple: give cold, wet humans somewhere warm to change without having to perform the awkward towel dance of shame in public.
It worked brilliantly. Surfers loved it. Swimmers loved it. Divers loved it. Basically anyone who regularly gets cold outdoors loved it.
And naturally, once something proves popular, other brands appear offering cheaper versions. Suddenly the market was full of robes that looked suspiciously similar. The internet filled up with “Dryrobe-style robes”, “Dryrobe alternatives”, and the occasional suspiciously familiar design...
But while many of them look similar hanging on a rack, the differences become obvious when you’re dripping wet and the wind is blowing sideways.
The Lining That Actually Works.
The real magic of the Dryrobe Advance is the lining.
While many cheaper robes focus on looking fluffy and cosy, Dryrobe spent years developing a fast-drying fleece lining that actually performs when it’s wet. The goal wasn’t just comfort — it was performance.
That lining pulls moisture away from your body, traps heat, and dries quickly so it’s ready for the next cold-water adventure. Some cheaper robes, on the other hand, use heavier fleece that feels nice in a shop but becomes damp and sluggish once it gets wet.
At that point you’re essentially wearing a slightly soggy duvet, hugging yourself tightly, and hoping for the best.
The Speccy Stuff.
This isn’t just clever marketing talk either. Researchers at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport decided to put the Dryrobe Advance to the test after cold water immersion.
Participants compared wearing a Dryrobe with the classic post-swim combo of a towel and a foil space blanket. The results showed that wearing a Dryrobe helped increase skin temperature, lower heart rate more quickly, and improve overall thermal comfort.
In less scientific terms: it helps you warm up faster and feel human again.
Which is exactly what you want when you’ve just involuntarily jumped into cold water.
Built for Real Weather.
Another thing that separates Dryrobe from many cheaper alternatives is that it was designed for the outdoors first, not just for looking good in photos.
The outer shell is properly weatherproof, which means wind and rain are much less of a problem. The oversized design gives you enough room to change inside without performing advanced yoga poses. And the lining continues working even when you’re soaking wet.
This is why you’ll see them everywhere from surf beaches, to triathlon events, to dive boats — anywhere people are trying to warm up after doing something slightly questionable in cold water.
A Dryrobe Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas.
One of Dryrobe’s core ideas is “buy less, buy better.” Instead of making something cheap that needs replacing every year, the focus is on durability and long-term use.
Many of the fabrics used are recycled, the waterproof finishes are PFC-free, and cotton products are made with GOTS-certified organic cotton. The aim is to create gear that lasts for years, not seasons.
Which means fewer replacements, less waste, and one reliable giant coat that becomes part of your outdoor kit forever.
Doing Some Good Along the Way...
Dryrobe also supports a number of organisations through the Dryrobe Warmth Project, helping charities that promote outdoor activity and protect the environments where those activities happen.
They work with groups like Surfers Against Sewage, The Wave Project, A Walk On Water, 2 Minute Foundation, and Surfers Not Street Children, all of which help people access the outdoors while looking after the places we love to use.
So the giant coat is doing a bit of good in the world as well.
So… Are the Cheaper Ones Worth It?
Cheaper changing robes definitely have their place. If you only swim occasionally and mainly need something warm for the walk back to the car, they might do the job.
Companies like Charlie Mcleod actually had a go at the design themselves to produce a more budget friendly robe that still met the mark. It was good... but still not quite as good.
But if you regularly find yourself standing on a windy beach, peeling off a wetsuit while questioning your life choices, the differences become pretty obvious.
Because when you’re cold, wet, and shivering in a car park, you don’t really care about saving a few pounds - you're more concerned about the blue tint to your skin.
And as we've all found, that’s the original Dryrobe.
So if it isn't a Dryrobe, don't call it a Dryrobe!
