I’ve gone with the Red Robe, more features than the others including hood draw strings which is better for watching football and walks along the beach in the UK winter.
Ordered a smoc smoc in November received in February and I'm very happy with it in cold weather. I love the inside material which really works as towel. I would take it to a lido on a cold rainy day. In warm weather I started using an Arena towelling robe made of very soft cotton. Thus equipped I can really do without changing rooms in all kinds weather. Thanks for the video and for keeping us up to date with the kit.
I'm so thrilled that companies are stepping up and bringing out their own changing robe, there's so much choice now ane plenty of decent features on every one ot them. Doesn't make choosing one any easier, but at least there are different options for every budget.
Thanks for the video. I used your last one to help decide what I was getting. I have been waiting for a smoc smoc for ages as stock was low but just got my hands on there limited edition purple love it. These look nice too. Also your looking fab and a bit of a tan too.
Thanks Alice, nice to hear the wait paid off. I bet you’re snug as a big in a rug! Someone else mentioned the tan, it must be wind burn as I hadn’t noticed myself 😀 Hope the weather is treating you well 🏊♀️😀
I have the Robe from Red and I love it. My swimming mates have DryRobes and Robes from Hut, but when it is bucketing down really heavy rain their material on the outer seems to hold the wet, but it just runs right of mine. Also I find it a lighter weight than theirs, but just as warm. The Gorilla towelling robe looks really nice.
One day, I hope to find an online store near me that sells dry robes, and when I do, I’ll be set to make an informed purchase, thanks to your videos Rachel. Excellent info presented here, fantastic modelling job, and you have highlighted the unique features of each dry robe which is very helpful. I love the beach scene in the background, and also the lovely sound of the lapping waves... very relaxing. Just perfect for this video. Thanks for all the awesome info presented here, great job as always. PS - no pubs or grocery stores near my swimming areas, just beavers, bears, and lots of 🌲🌲🌲. PPS - I also thought you might be interested to know that I FINALLY got the fingers in my canoeing/swimming gloves dried out. What worked the best was to insert tiny tubes that I made from toilet paper rolls into each finger for a few days. I cut each toilet roll in half (length-wise), rolled each half into a mini-tube about the size of a wide pen, and then taped them at each end to hold their shape. Now my gloves are totally dry and I can put them away until the Autumn swimming season is here. I’ll be saving my finger mini-tubes for sure, they were a wee bit fiddly to make... but free!! So... the wet gloves story now has a happy ending 😃🧤
I hope they catch on soon so you can get a look at the phenomenon that is the changing robe. I’m pleased to hear you finally dried out your winter gloves - that’ll avoid a stinky surprise later in the year!
@@EverydayAthleteRach Oops... I’m such a noob... I think I meant to use the term changing robe, but instead I got hung up on the brand name Dry Robe. I’ve actually never even seen a changing robe in real life... there seems to be a lot of brand names coming onto the market in the UK. Here in 🇨🇦 it’s pretty much impossible to purchase any type of fitness or outdoor recreation equipment right now due to the pandemic... there is just none to be had. I’m going to keep looking online for something that eventually becomes available in 🇨🇦, as it’s quite expensive right now to order from The States.
Another great set of reviews! Thanks. I’m liking the look of the gorilla recycled for a summer robe. I treated myself to the fourth element robe a couple of months ago (based on your review - thank you!) I love so much but it’s getting a bit warm to change under.
The Fourth Element Storm Poncho is a lovely bit of kit - with a waterproof rating which eclipses my snowboard jacket! I think you’d like the summer recycled poncho it felt very nice and light and soft too.
Rach I didn't realise how elegantly you could twirl 2:45 i nearly added whilst barefoot on pebbles before realising they're skin jelly shoes :D Lovely little haul there - a good investment as even at pools the reopening of changing rooms could be delayed. To let you into a little secret when I was at lido the other day I just went into corner of wall where nobody was, slipped my shorts off under towel, gave 'down there' a good scrub dry and bared all for a few seconds whilst putting tracksuit bottoms straight on with no underwear to minimise the number of seconds all was visible! Not ideal you'll agree but then you are just across the channel from France so maybe you'd be cool about this :D Thank you for another fab video :)
Great that you can get to a lido, a bit of flashing is almost mandatory in that respect! A towel change robe, like the Decathlon Olaian surf poncho for around £10 could be useful in that situation..
Hi, I’m looking for one of these for my wife. She’s a size 18-20 and I wondered, from your experience, which would be best suited for the “larger lady”. Thanks.
I’m an 18-20 and have the Fourth Element that Rachel has reviewed before and that is so spacious. I almost returned it as it was so big (which rarely happens with swim apparel) but my hubby convinced me it was perfect and he wasn’t wrong. Plenty of room for getting dressed under.
Another great video Rachel. Thankyou. I wondered if you had done one on cheaper camera versions other than the GroPro but still get a good result if you're filming under and above water or if you have any ideas?
Question how tall are you as I'm around 5.10 5.11 and was thinking of getting the red in a M but not sure if I should go for the large reason for asking how tall you are. Thank you
PS in terms of both cossie, footwear (both during and before/after swim) and clothes before and after swim, to what extent might what you wear differ in this hot weather to the cold weather? In the winter we're dealing with air temp being much cooler than water temp and in summer vice versa.
I wear neoprene booties when the water is under about 10 or 12 degrees and light jelly shoes www.decathlon.co.uk/p/aquafun-aquafitness-shoes/_/R-p-190891?mc=8528089&c=BLUE in the summer. I rarely go completely barefoot as I want to protect the soles of my feet from injury or stings, I also find that I'm more torleant of weeds or seaweed touching me if my feet are covered. Having footwear on also means I can get out at any point and walk back if I'm not feeling the swim.
@@EverydayAthleteRach Decathlon will owe you a fortune in commission at this rate! Thanks so much. I totally get you - i cut my toe on a school trip to a watersports lake once when the raft building team (or this girl pretty much leading our team) decided to bare our feet to make us lighter! We came 2nd out of loads so it worked! But left our shoes in minibus a long walk away and I was so embarrassed - "have you cut your toe, young man?" shouted one quite strict scary teacher which quadrupled the humiliation to an unreal level who I failed to hide my cut bleeding toe from. On the flip side connection with nature is enhanced barefoot and older I get the more I just love the feeling of being barefoot :)
I also quite liked the girl in our team so a little jealous she only Hi5d me in celebration but embraced another guy but didn't think too much and looked forward to getting her number somehow until I saw them walk off into the sunset at the end of the day holding hands - not the best day all round! Lol
Hi - You said you were a size 16 and took a M Gorilla - surprised me you were a 16, so I wondered how tall you are and any other indications on sizing/fit - I find Gorillas size chart next to useless. I am not sure whether to get M or L (I am on their height cusp) as I dont want it to be too baggy (it will be used mostly to sit about in on chilly campsite evenings). But also wonder if the M might be too short. I'm 5' 10 1/2" these days, 42" chest 32 waist (i.e. slim, but broadish) so I guess about a size 14 if I was a woman - hense wondering about you being a 16 (i.e. bigger than me) in a M
@@EverydayAthleteRach good point on the length round campsite, very helpful point, thank you. How far below knee did ur medium come, v your height, if you don't mind me asking... they don't have a phone number on website... I have messaged a few times but no replies so far (not impressed by their customer responsiveness tbh)
Hi Rachel Would you be able to comment/advice/suggest the easier/better/quicker changing robe when changing out from a wetsuit on the beach. I'm looking at the gorrila robe £80 in your video, the passenger long sleeved dry robe £100 compared to the robierobe dry series long sleeved robe £140. Many thanks
Hi Alison, I haven’t tried the other two you mention. I guess the best way to compare them is by the armpit to armpit measurement. The gorilla robe was a good size.
@@EverydayAthleteRach I'll let you know which I descide on. Ps loving your videos. I'm a newbie having only been swimming in sea around Cullercoats and Tynemouth. So far I'm loving it though a little afraid at what lies beneath. Perhaps a video on this ? 🙂
So im just curious what brand would best suit me at 6ft 2 have found many brands rather short snd being a man thats not the best on a windy day when i get out the sea 😂🤣
Hi Matt, no one needs the wind nipping at or showcasing their 'bits'! Changing robes tend to be of a similar length, but the longer ones I've tried are Gorilla Robe, Moon Wrap, Sittingsuit (extremely long but not an actual changing robe with an absorbant inner but easily serves as one), dryrobe, smocsmoc.
You should do a video of you shivering after a swim to show the aftermath. I would love to see that! Just a 5-7 minutes of you shivering would be perfect!
Funny you should say that Tyler, I have made a video where I showed what happened to me when I stayed in too long, it's at 5:28 in this video: Acclimatisation th-cam.com/video/-8XOKvwi_N0/w-d-xo.html Enjoy!
@@EverydayAthleteRach that's good! I recommend you should do it again! Like rest the camera somewhere and just film yourself shivering for 5-7 minutes! I would love to see that! Great stuff though!
Invested in an overhead smoc smoc this year, was great to sit out at the riverside pub after a 9k paddle boarding session, really like the look of these too though! 😍
I like the idea of these, but frankly, any time you wash them, you'll be putting microplastics into the water supply. Using recycled plastic doesn't offset the problem of polyester. We should be discouraging clothing manufacturers from using these materials, not encouraging them.
Most people was them less than once a season, preferring to wipe clean any mud. I do understand your concern which is why I’ve advocated the use of the guppy bag for washing a changing robe or other fleecy item in.
Love the blue gorrila robe the hotwater bottle pocket a genius move
I’ve gone with the Red Robe, more features than the others including hood draw strings which is better for watching football and walks along the beach in the UK winter.
Great choice. Stay warm and dry at the footy!
Ordered a smoc smoc in November received in February and I'm very happy with it in cold weather. I love the inside material which really works as towel. I would take it to a lido on a cold rainy day. In warm weather I started using an Arena towelling robe made of very soft cotton. Thus equipped I can really do without changing rooms in all kinds weather.
Thanks for the video and for keeping us up to date with the kit.
Sounds like you are well sorted for swimming year round. It’s nice when you find kit you like! 🏊♀️😀
Thanks for another really helpful and practical review. It’s great to see so many more well made products.
I'm so thrilled that companies are stepping up and bringing out their own changing robe, there's so much choice now ane plenty of decent features on every one ot them. Doesn't make choosing one any easier, but at least there are different options for every budget.
Thanks for the video. I used your last one to help decide what I was getting. I have been waiting for a smoc smoc for ages as stock was low but just got my hands on there limited edition purple love it. These look nice too. Also your looking fab and a bit of a tan too.
Thanks Alice, nice to hear the wait paid off. I bet you’re snug as a big in a rug! Someone else mentioned the tan, it must be wind burn as I hadn’t noticed myself 😀 Hope the weather is treating you well 🏊♀️😀
I have the Robe from Red and I love it. My swimming mates have DryRobes and Robes from Hut, but when it is bucketing down really heavy rain their material on the outer seems to hold the wet, but it just runs right of mine. Also I find it a lighter weight than theirs, but just as warm. The Gorilla towelling robe looks really nice.
I haven’t tried a bad one so far, companies are upping their game. It’s good to see some coming in much lower in price.
Thank you for your changing robe video. I have ordered a Gorilla robe on the strength of your review.
I hope you love it. I thought it was a super piece of kit 😍
One day, I hope to find an online store near me that sells dry robes, and when I do, I’ll be set to make an informed purchase, thanks to your videos Rachel. Excellent info presented here, fantastic modelling job, and you have highlighted the unique features of each dry robe which is very helpful. I love the beach scene in the background, and also the lovely sound of the lapping waves... very relaxing. Just perfect for this video. Thanks for all the awesome info presented here, great job as always. PS - no pubs or grocery stores near my swimming areas, just beavers, bears, and lots of 🌲🌲🌲. PPS - I also thought you might be interested to know that I FINALLY got the fingers in my canoeing/swimming gloves dried out. What worked the best was to insert tiny tubes that I made from toilet paper rolls into each finger for a few days. I cut each toilet roll in half (length-wise), rolled each half into a mini-tube about the size of a wide pen, and then taped them at each end to hold their shape. Now my gloves are totally dry and I can put them away until the Autumn swimming season is here. I’ll be saving my finger mini-tubes for sure, they were a wee bit fiddly to make... but free!! So... the wet gloves story now has a happy ending 😃🧤
I hope they catch on soon so you can get a look at the phenomenon that is the changing robe. I’m pleased to hear you finally dried out your winter gloves - that’ll avoid a stinky surprise later in the year!
@@EverydayAthleteRach Oops... I’m such a noob... I think I meant to use the term changing robe, but instead I got hung up on the brand name Dry Robe. I’ve actually never even seen a changing robe in real life... there seems to be a lot of brand names coming onto the market in the UK. Here in 🇨🇦 it’s pretty much impossible to purchase any type of fitness or outdoor recreation equipment right now due to the pandemic... there is just none to be had. I’m going to keep looking online for something that eventually becomes available in 🇨🇦, as it’s quite expensive right now to order from The States.
Another great set of reviews! Thanks. I’m liking the look of the gorilla recycled for a summer robe. I treated myself to the fourth element robe a couple of months ago (based on your review - thank you!) I love so much but it’s getting a bit warm to change under.
The Fourth Element Storm Poncho is a lovely bit of kit - with a waterproof rating which eclipses my snowboard jacket! I think you’d like the summer recycled poncho it felt very nice and light and soft too.
Hi Rachel, can you just tell me what size red robe you were wearing please? Another great review!
Thanks for the reminder, I’ll change the description! The red is a size M.
Thank you 😁
Rach I didn't realise how elegantly you could twirl 2:45 i nearly added whilst barefoot on pebbles before realising they're skin jelly shoes :D
Lovely little haul there - a good investment as even at pools the reopening of changing rooms could be delayed. To let you into a little secret when I was at lido the other day I just went into corner of wall where nobody was, slipped my shorts off under towel, gave 'down there' a good scrub dry and bared all for a few seconds whilst putting tracksuit bottoms straight on with no underwear to minimise the number of seconds all was visible!
Not ideal you'll agree but then you are just across the channel from France so maybe you'd be cool about this :D
Thank you for another fab video :)
Great that you can get to a lido, a bit of flashing is almost mandatory in that respect! A towel change robe, like the Decathlon Olaian surf poncho for around £10 could be useful in that situation..
@@EverydayAthleteRach so true re mandatory. Oh also I LOVE the multiple pockets - very useful :)
Hi, I’m looking for one of these for my wife. She’s a size 18-20 and I wondered, from your experience, which would be best suited for the “larger lady”. Thanks.
Any of the ones I’ve tried would be fine. They are all pretty spacious. Lovely present- you will be popular
I’m an 18-20 and have the Fourth Element that Rachel has reviewed before and that is so spacious. I almost returned it as it was so big (which rarely happens with swim apparel) but my hubby convinced me it was perfect and he wasn’t wrong. Plenty of room for getting dressed under.
@@kirstymoody8239 thank you I’ll have a look!
@@EverydayAthleteRach thank you 🧡
Another great video Rachel. Thankyou.
I wondered if you had done one on cheaper camera versions other than the GroPro but still get a good result if you're filming under and above water or if you have any ideas?
Hi Sally, I have only ever used GoPros. I might buy a cheap one and test it against the GoPro to give a comparison. How does that sound?
@@EverydayAthleteRach yes that would be great. 😊
Another good video coming into summer I like a changing towel !
Thanks Jamie-Lee, I hope you're training is going well. 🏊😃
Loving the glowing Tan Rach. 🤘😎
No real tan to speak of yet... The camera must have been kind!
Hi, lovely review, I was wondering if you have had any experience with the gul evorobe?
I haven't tried that one yet. I have a playlist of changing robes which I have tried though: th-cam.com/play/PLrBM9GuZgXX6o9Zl_IfPEHQ6HQkR-43WH.html
Question how tall are you as I'm around 5.10 5.11 and was thinking of getting the red in a M but not sure if I should go for the large reason for asking how tall you are.
Thank you
Hi Aaron, I’m 5’6 hope that helps
PS in terms of both cossie, footwear (both during and before/after swim) and clothes before and after swim, to what extent might what you wear differ in this hot weather to the cold weather?
In the winter we're dealing with air temp being much cooler than water temp and in summer vice versa.
I wear neoprene booties when the water is under about 10 or 12 degrees and light jelly shoes www.decathlon.co.uk/p/aquafun-aquafitness-shoes/_/R-p-190891?mc=8528089&c=BLUE in the summer. I rarely go completely barefoot as I want to protect the soles of my feet from injury or stings, I also find that I'm more torleant of weeds or seaweed touching me if my feet are covered. Having footwear on also means I can get out at any point and walk back if I'm not feeling the swim.
@@EverydayAthleteRach Decathlon will owe you a fortune in commission at this rate! Thanks so much. I totally get you - i cut my toe on a school trip to a watersports lake once when the raft building team (or this girl pretty much leading our team) decided to bare our feet to make us lighter! We came 2nd out of loads so it worked!
But left our shoes in minibus a long walk away and I was so embarrassed - "have you cut your toe, young man?" shouted one quite strict scary teacher which quadrupled the humiliation to an unreal level who I failed to hide my cut bleeding toe from.
On the flip side connection with nature is enhanced barefoot and older I get the more I just love the feeling of being barefoot :)
I also quite liked the girl in our team so a little jealous she only Hi5d me in celebration but embraced another guy but didn't think too much and looked forward to getting her number somehow until I saw them walk off into the sunset at the end of the day holding hands - not the best day all round! Lol
Hi - You said you were a size 16 and took a M Gorilla - surprised me you were a 16, so I wondered how tall you are and any other indications on sizing/fit - I find Gorillas size chart next to useless. I am not sure whether to get M or L (I am on their height cusp) as I dont want it to be too baggy (it will be used mostly to sit about in on chilly campsite evenings). But also wonder if the M might be too short. I'm 5' 10 1/2" these days, 42" chest 32 waist (i.e. slim, but broadish) so I guess about a size 14 if I was a woman - hense wondering about you being a 16 (i.e. bigger than me) in a M
I’d give Barney at Gorilla Robes a call and ask for some advice. He’s really helpful. Sitting around on a campsite, I’d want the length!
@@EverydayAthleteRach good point on the length round campsite, very helpful point, thank you.
How far below knee did ur medium come, v your height, if you don't mind me asking... they don't have a phone number on website... I have messaged a few times but no replies so far (not impressed by their customer responsiveness tbh)
Just below the knee I think?
Hi Rachel
Would you be able to comment/advice/suggest the easier/better/quicker changing robe when changing out from a wetsuit on the beach. I'm looking at the gorrila robe £80 in your video, the passenger long sleeved dry robe £100 compared to the robierobe dry series long sleeved robe £140. Many thanks
Hi Alison, I haven’t tried the other two you mention. I guess the best way to compare them is by the armpit to armpit measurement. The gorilla robe was a good size.
@@EverydayAthleteRach I'll let you know which I descide on.
Ps loving your videos. I'm a newbie having only been swimming in sea around Cullercoats and Tynemouth. So far I'm loving it though a little afraid at what lies beneath. Perhaps a video on this ? 🙂
@@alisonbriggs3414 great suggestion, I’ll have a little think 🏊♀️😀
So im just curious what brand would best suit me at 6ft 2 have found many brands rather short snd being a man thats not the best on a windy day when i get out the sea 😂🤣
Hi Matt, no one needs the wind nipping at or showcasing their 'bits'! Changing robes tend to be of a similar length, but the longer ones I've tried are Gorilla Robe, Moon Wrap, Sittingsuit (extremely long but not an actual changing robe with an absorbant inner but easily serves as one), dryrobe, smocsmoc.
You should do a video of you shivering after a swim to show the aftermath. I would love to see that! Just a 5-7 minutes of you shivering would be perfect!
Funny you should say that Tyler, I have made a video where I showed what happened to me when I stayed in too long, it's at 5:28 in this video: Acclimatisation th-cam.com/video/-8XOKvwi_N0/w-d-xo.html Enjoy!
@@EverydayAthleteRach that's good! I recommend you should do it again! Like rest the camera somewhere and just film yourself shivering for 5-7 minutes! I would love to see that! Great stuff though!
I try not to be in long enough to overcook it like this!
Invested in an overhead smoc smoc this year, was great to sit out at the riverside pub after a 9k paddle boarding session, really like the look of these too though! 😍
Sounds like a great adventure and hanging out in your change robe at the pub is the way forward for toasty comfort!
I like the idea of these, but frankly, any time you wash them, you'll be putting microplastics into the water supply. Using recycled plastic doesn't offset the problem of polyester. We should be discouraging clothing manufacturers from using these materials, not encouraging them.
Most people was them less than once a season, preferring to wipe clean any mud. I do understand your concern which is why I’ve advocated the use of the guppy bag for washing a changing robe or other fleecy item in.
Rustling and tiny sheep... hope you're not taking up stealing livestock instead of swimming! 😂
If I did, I would keep them in a beach tent to cuddle up with and warm up afterwards!