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So if the long road to normality proceeds as planned, from 12th April LittleMissMC will have gymnastics training twice a week and I'll have two hours to kill each night, which usually involves riding my bike.
Sadly, the gym is closed to parents so I can't nip in and change in the loos after the ride like I used to be able to. So rather than a soggy hour in sweaty kit driving home, I was wondering about something like a DryRobe to hide under and get changed in the car park, ideally without too much of the unfortunate situation being recorded on CCTV and the subsequent criminal record.
Any suggestions where to look - no access to a sewing machine to try and cobble something together sadly.
Modesty duvet - just cut some holes in a really cheap single duvet cover.
A towel.
Decathlon have a towelling version or Aliepress if you want fleecy/waterproof version.
I use a decathlon outdoorsy poncho for changing under and a towel for towelling purposes.
Yep, decathlon, mine lives in the boot of the car for the end of bike rides.
Thanks folks
Gorilla robes are also worth a look - https://gorillarobes.com/collections/all-collection
I have the waterproof dry chasing robe and it has proved faultless so far. I also prefer the poncho design to the full front zip of the Dryrobe.
Not as cheap as the Decathlon one but Booicore do a similar product
https://www.thebooicorestore.com/collections/adult-changing-robes
Cheapish dressing gown? just change facing the car to keep your bits out of sight of the cctv😀
Your daughter is going to love leaving Gymnastics and being faced with this:
🙂
My daughter is embarrassed enough if I turn up to collect her in shorts...
What about just seeing your own (or getting whoever uses the sewing machine in your house to knock one up).
My daughter is embarrassed enough if I turn up to collect her in shorts…
No worse than a dad in sweaty lycra....
No access to a sewing machine sadly
MrsIHN, for post open water swimming changing purposes, initially used a massive cheap dressing gown, then bought one of those Rapanui towelling ponchos. She loves it, says it's one of the best things she's bought.
Those Mystic teddy things look awesome lol.
The Gorilla recycled jobs at 30 quid look good.
An old dressing gown for me. if you don't have one I'm sure a George ASDA one can be had for a tenner.
if your arms are in a dressing gown how do you get a t-shirt / jersey off and on, or bib short straps off. Surely has to be a poncho design for that reason
I've bought Mrs OTS a Frostfire Moonrap ( https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B083V59BWD)
£100 vs £150 for the Dryrobe. I want the soft inner with the showerproof outer, although that Decathlon one does look good.
And of course don't forget the Hipster **** solution
If it's literally for just getting changed purposes, then two towels stitched together at the top with a gap for the head and then at the sides with gaps for large arm holes works fine. I have an Oakley towelling poncho but this is far more restrictive for getting changed under than the two towel option (and more expensive).
I thought the dryrobes looked good until I saw the price! I'm surprised how popular they are given the expense. I'm not sure they're that easy to get changed under, most people I know seem to use them to drive home in so they don't have to change at all. I'm sensitive to snail parasites in open water, so i need to towel off asap so not an option for me.
Right, wallet at the ready.
Gorilla waterproof or Zone 3 waterproof.
Vote now !
My cheapest Decathlon poncho is more of less 2 towels stitched together at the shoulders and lower 2/3 of the sides as described above. Didn't have any spare towels at the time and it was cheaper, if more boring being grey, than 2 beach towels.
It's fine for drying myself and keeping the weather off a bit when changing whilst not demonstrating my body to those who are almost certainly best off not seeing it. Also not too bulky when shoved in a bag.
Just strip off next to your car and pretend no one's looking.
Just strip off next to your car and pretend no one’s looking.
In a car park overlooked by my daughters gymnastics squad, and full of the yummy mummies waiting to pick them up?
The Decathlon one is fine, works well & cheap enough not to have to bother fiddling about sowing two towels together.
Google Toncho. I got one and its good for getting changed. Easier than a towel.
If you can sew then you can make one very easily out of two towels.
I live at the coast where these things are everywhere at the minute.
And, funnily enough, my mate sent me this text last night:
Make of that what you will.
just cut some holes in a really cheap single duvet cover.
Your daughter is going to love leaving Gymnastics and being faced with this:
That's only one step from this
2 gorillarobes in this house, they are cracking.
I tried the Alpkit Haven (I really like Alpkit stuff - the main reason I have a Gorillarobe is to get changed in and out of my Alpkit wetsuit) - BUT I found the Haven just isn't a generous enough cut to function as a changing robe. Its basically just a big jacket...
In a car park overlooked by my daughters gymnastics squad, and full of the yummy mummies waiting to pick them up?
You could always pitch a tent* in the car park.
*Stop s****ing, you dirty buggers.
Two towels, press stud kit. Fasten them together around a short side and down the long sides with enough room for your head to poke through. Fasten together when needed, pull apart when needed. No sewing required, just some measuring and a hammer.
I'm sure Alpkit do one. It's in the swimming section.
I got a towelling over the head, with a hood thing from internet. Some faux surf brand. £25 or similar. I made sure I got a cotton one rather than a synthetic as they have a habit of smelling after a while although the cotton ones take longer to dry. Big hood, big armholes, modest length, subtle logos. Job done. In fact, checking google it is a dryrobe towelling one. Off Amazon but must have had a bargain. They’re £35 now.
I just thought these things were two £5 towels sewn together and marked up to £150?
For the 5 minutes that you are going to wear them whilst you change from one set of clothes to another then get thrown into your car boot, a lot of people are suggesting some things at silly prices.
Throw it over your head, get changed. Job done, no fashion show around the car park.
I got one of these (back when they were around £15 though): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232066254314
Plus there are cheaper ones on ebay if you have a search.
I just thought these things were two £5 towels sewn together and marked up to £150?
No, no , no, DryRobes are two of those waterproof-backed picnic blankets you see being sold at service stations for a tenner, sewn together and marked up to £150
Passenger do a couple that look decenthttps://www.passenger-clothing.com/products/escapist-sherpa-lined-change-robe-one-size-black&ved=2ahUKEwj9tvbV2OrvAhWdgf0HHbF8BrMQFjAAegQIBxAC&usg=AOvVaw17iF4X9qLbk3rUDhu6IzK 0">
Lomo does one
We use a Charlie McLeod changing robe. Very warm and roomy, I think we paid about £80, comes with its own dry bag too.
Lomo is great but you struggle to get stuff in stock. Like Aplkit
I went for a Gorilla. I'll post my thoughts when it arrives.
In a car park overlooked by my daughters gymnastics squad, and full of the yummy mummies waiting to pick them up?
Absolutely, if you don't want to see look away now.
Have a look at the lomo one. That's what we have. Fantastic for the money.
https://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/swimming-changing-robe.html
Ah come on everyone, I thought this was STW!
What you need is a van.
Chuck bike in jump in get changed at your leisure. If you are worried what the yummy mummies think, get a VW (or don't).
What you need is a van.
I'm totally on board with this plan, MrsMC less so.
Mrs T’waife has been using a passenger robe recently and is happy with it. She’s an open water loony and has just completed her ice master challenge. All swims just in a swimsuit and below 10’c. Think the coldest was 1.2’ and it was snowing. If it’s warm enough for that it’s warm enough for anything. She’s 6’4” and has no issue changing in it. Apart from her hands not working.
My friends just use these,£6 or thereabouts gets the job done-may even get the job done better being waterproof :
Poncho