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Watching the swimmers coming ashore and getting into a dry tube has me wondering if they’re of any use after a wet/cold ride? I’ve had my fair share of getting out of wet clothes in a car park and wondering if these are the solution?
also, there are a million or so on sale on Amazon, any recommendations?
They're great when used for their intended purpose.
Not so great when used filthy as a bit of a pain to clean.
Not at all great when worn by people standing around nowhere near water being a DryRobe ******. A £150 coat is better in every single way for that.lighter, less sweaty, much more compact to pack, easier to clean, more pockets, doesn't have big gaps for draughts etc.
Brother in law has a Passeger one, I've got an Alpkit one, both are great, loads cheaper than DryRobes, and lack the pose value. So a win all round.
I find a changing towel useful so I can change in a car park without flashing anyone. Although something thick and with a hood looks nicer and more cosy, I find having something that packs down smaller and drys more quickly is better. The best way to get warm is to get into your proper clothes as quickly as possible.
They are useful if you need to get fully changed as they have the space inside. Good if the weather is crap and you need to stand around outside too.
I wouldn't get a dryrobe though, way overpriced. As above the passenger ones are great
I was given a real Dryrobe and even though I go windsurfing all year round and get changed either in the open air or in a damp cold shipping container I don't use it. Stand on a rubber mat and use a towel.
Are they still a fashion accessory? A couple of years ago we were in Port Isaac (Portwen) on a very hot day - all day-trippers need to park up the top of a long steep hill - and the place was full of families all in their Dryrobes.
The concept yes... The brand **** no.
We have a Passenger one and a Nyord here.
Great if wetsuits are involved and even round a campfire.
https://www.balenciaga.com/en-gb/balenciaga-towel-skirt-beige-768726TPP919501.html
What the actual f###?
If anyone wants a cheaper version I can do one for £100 posted
I've got a Gorilla Robe one. It's ideal for its intended role as a changing robe, not sure I'd be mooching around in one.
Picking up our grandson from school it seems a favourite item with mummy's waiting to pick up their little darlings 🙄🙄🙄
Wind cuts right through a wetsuit so if you are standing around eating a sandwich or drinking a coffee inbetween sessions in the winter on a cold beach etc then its a good thing to have. I just have a really cheap towling poncho thingy I bought from Decathlon about 20 years ago which does the job but i must admit to looking for an upgrade that is waterproof
I did chuckle when in Abersoch over the summer - literally EVERYONE seemed to be in them, whole families walking down the high street in matching branded robes, or climbing out of new Defenders/T6s with inflatable SUPs on the roof - live the dream guys!
I have a Dryrobe as it's great for warming up after a cold swim. However, for getting changed/dried I use a Decathlon towelling robe. It's better as an actual towel and can be chucked in a washing machine and dries easily.
I also have a cheap microfibre changing robe which is great for walk/swims as it's lighter and does a good enough job in the warmer months.
Mrs bought me one after I’d see a couple of lads wearing them in the car park at Woburn over winter.
irs a great big bulk thing but works great for getting changed under after a cold and wet ride. I get changed, head into the pub for a pint and then drive home - toasty warm the whole time. I get double ****er points as I also wear crocs too.
works better for me than trying to get a wet body into dry clothes, invariably getting another set of clothes dirty as you get changed in the dark, wet and cold.
They are useful if you need to get fully changed as they have the space inside
It really isn't. Like Scotroutes I use a microfibre jobbie which as a bloke with actual shoulders I can get changed in. The dryrobe - not so much. And dries me better too.
I got one for xmas 2012 as I'd see the Brownlee brothers in them (with the logo blacked out) and thought they'd be useful.
Now I only ever really bother with it in the van. Otherwise for me there are better options.
If you want one - I don't know the alternatives above very well but the Red one in much better than the Dryrobe one if you were wanting to pay premium brand money.
My sister got me a towel changing robe* when she came to visit us in NZ and was horrified to see us changing by the car for the beach. Its main use has been for getting in and out of bike stuff though.
Not really sure why there’s such a backlash against the big coat type ones but for my use they’d be a bit bulky and hard to wash.
*it’s a dryrobe branded one although I gather they weren’t such a *thing* back then.
We've all got off brand ones. They're great for after muddy races, sorting kit out, cleaning bikes etc.
I'm sure it would be hard to clean, but since I only use it when covered in mud, I'm not too bothered if it's a bit grubby.
Useful thread as I'm thinking of getting something for post ride changing, rather than posing in. They seem popular in the CX world.
Will check out the alternatives suggested
towel changing robe
There was a chap with a luxuriant beard (?Ed something) who used to feature in the mag and I'm sure had something to do with Booicore?
I got an Osprey one (not the bags people). Seems almost identical to the onbrand version on every way apart from being half the price.
Super warm, almost too much so for the 20 minute drive home from the soggy woods.
God help you!!!
I was given one as a present. it's warm and you can get changed under it....but it's very bulky and heavy. This makes it a bit impractical if all you are going to do is gt changed under it.<br /><br />
For MTB, a changing towel (i.e. a towel you put over your head, with a hood, and that goes low enough to cover your rude bits) is more practical if all you want to do is get dry and get changed.
Large bath towel, fold I half, cut a head size hole and if you can be bothered some up the ends of the cut to stop it ripping more / hem.
I counted 3 people wearing dry robe type garments at a Manchester Giants basketball game last night.
Just for clarification - that's indoors.
We have a Moonwrap, it sees most use by Mrs DB for fetching the eggs, cleaning out the 🐓 🐓 🐓 and taking the dogs into the garden first thing in the morning or last thing at night. I occasionally use if for kayaking.
Dryrobe seems to be the official garment of mountain bike marshalling these days, about 80% of all the pressganged mums were wearing them last time.
I've got a cheapo decathlon one and I've used it about three times, just because it's a pain in the arse to deal with once it's wet and muddy. But I did really appreciate it those 3 times, so it lives in the car and occsaionally makes a horrible ride-end a bit nicer. Not sure I'd buy it again, but, I don't regret buying it. I can definitely see it being better for watersports and the like.
I've had one for a decade. Loooooong before they were fashionable.
Great for getting changed in a car park after kayaking (there's more than enough anti-kayaker stuff out there without giving the whinging barstewards a bare arse to add to their whinging bastarrrd moans. (Though plenty could kiss my arse actually).
Great for changing after open water swims too (again long before it was fashionable).
For after-swims after actually getting changed, the Swimzi versions are better as the cut doesn't billow as much and can be cinched down better to keep the warmth in.
I'd not get worried about those pushing image (or anti-image) over function- plenty of people display that they are much bigger whaankers by the act of driving an Audi or BMW than using a dryrobe.
I have a Charle McLeod one that I love. And when I say I love it I mean I love it to the point where my "I don't know what I enjoy more, the actual swimming or putting on my robe afterwards" joke now has a fair element of truth to it! I'll be wearing it on the beach at Porty in a couple of hours; say Hi if you're around.
Other friends have Red ones which they love too. As for actual Dryrobes the brand, personally I don't like the crinkly material, but each to their own etc.
I've only used it for post-watersports, not sure I'd want to get it covered in manky oil etc post-mountain biking. I'd maybe get a much cheaper one for that.
Only slight caveat is that they are very warm, so mine only really gets used November to March. I have a very cheap Decathlon towel robe that works perfectly well in summer.
Biking I just use a changing towel.
My boys have them for sailing events. They're mostly used for winter training weekends where they come ashore at lunchtime for a briefing and need to keep warm or when we need to stay warm while rigging/ de rigging.
Wouldn't bother for biking if I'm getting into a warm, shower, pub or car quickly after.
If you want something to keep the seat clean to go home in riding kit get a seat cover for a fraction of the price.
Great for after cold wet muddy winter rides. I tend to just put it over my kit and drive home, but have used it for changing under in the past. Also useful staying warm when cleaning the bike off when I get back. Not bothered about it getting muddy, as only use it when I’m muddy. I posted up a psa last week for a nukeproof one from crc at £50
I’ve got one of these - https://rapanuiclothing.com/product/men-s-organic-cotton-surf-towel/
Got it for free years ago and use it on almost every ride. If it gets dirty it just get washed with the rest of my kit
Agreed, great for intended use. Don't wear it to tesco please.
The guy that owns dryrobe worked hard for a long time to get the company and product where it is. Usual story that others try to copy and beat the price. If you are getting one support the original
As above for getting changed a changing towel with hood from decathlon or similar is better as you can wash it easier. My son wears one inbetween kayak races at regattas, or pre race to keep warm once in race kit for which they are great.
Have one of the towel versions, (don't know what brand to be honest) stashed in the back of the motor. Only used it a couple of times to get changed out of mtb stuff (high streets, car parks etc) so it has came in handy when needed. Like others have said I wouldn't like to spend too much on one considering it's occasional use
What i have discovered is that if you check out some of the alternatives mentioned on this thread, your FB feed will swamp you with ads for hundreds more!
What i have discovered is that if you check out some of the alternatives mentioned on this thread, your FB feed will swamp you with ads for hundreds more!
You should use Firefox, it runs FB in a container so it can't snoop on any activity on other pages....
Not at all great when worn by people standing around nowhere near water being a DryRobe ******. A £150 coat is better in every single way for that.
Nope. I love my big passenger dryrobe thing. I wore it loads of times last winter, sometimes if I just want instant warmth around the house. I’ve never experienced the same sort of warm snuggle feeling from a coat.
Ah man, I love that there's a "DryRobe ****ers" group on Facebook! I often see them at the rugby on a Sunday - one guy, wearing a camo Dryrobe was the biggest dickhead I've ever come across at an U15s game. I wish I'd taken his picture to post on there.
I've actually seen a few people walking in them in the Lakes (well Grizedale Forest), and locally at Rivi.
I asked if they'd been for a dip and they seemed a bit sheepish and said no.
Its always those camo ones, so obviously I did the "nearly didn't see you there" gag with them.
Surely the answer is to get the Nukeproof one with 50% off?: https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/nukeproof-blackline-robe
I’ve one - it’s brilliant. Lives in the back of the car. Use it for everything. Easy bumble round the woods with the missus if it’s honking. Getting changed in a car park. Couldn’t care less what people think & I suggest you do the same. Get whichever brand you like & stop worrying about what some total stranger thinks of you.
Do you also ask people wearing football shirts how their last game went?
Why would I hang out with anyone who wears a football shirt anywhere other than watching or participating in a game? 😉
Do you also ask people wearing football shirts how their last game went?<br />Why would I hang out with anyone who wears a football shirt anywhere other than watching or participating in a game? 😉
I absolutely agree, but there are plenty of them wandering about, just like Dryrobe wearers around here. Or, for that matter, people wearing denim away from it's original use, running shoes, beanies indoors....
As much as I dislike Dryrobes, asking a wearer why they aren't using them correctly is a bit of a dickish thing to do. Although it probably didn't actually happen away from a keyboard.
Do you also ask people wearing football shirts how their last game went?
I do tend to make chit-chat with people I meet while I'm out riding, asking where they're walking/riding/swimming and generally being pleasant.
You should give it a try, it's nice.
Very popular with (female mainly) dog walkers round my way.
We have changing towels for changing/drying post ride or when camping and what not.
I picked up a lifeventure changing poncho in a sale a while ago, it has served me very well, if it's just post ride duties you need it for then that style is where i'd be looking.
If you want one with a few more uses then get an OG DryRobe, or like. There's plenty of bellends on this forum who wear normal clothes, so they're not in any position to judge a non-surfing DryRobe wearer.
I love my DryRobes. I bought my original one way back when they were a new thing and there weren't other brands available, it has the original logo on it. The new long sleeve camo one was a gift and it came in very handy yesterday at Saunton car park while I sorted out my stove and made a cuppa before getting changed out of my wetsuit. I'd say yes, get one and use it wherever it will serve a purpose. Sod what anyone else thinks.
Do you also ask people wearing football shirts how their last game went?
I do tend to make chit-chat with people I meet while I’m out riding, asking where they’re walking/riding/swimming and generally being pleasant.You should give it a try, it’s nice.
Nice attempt. That's not what you originally meant. You were being all judgey. 😀
Nice attempt. That’s not what you originally meant. You were being all judgey. 😀
No, that was literally the context of the encounter.
A nice, friendly chat and I asked "so have you been for a dip somewhere round here then?".
Me and my pal did laugh after, but more at them seeming embarrassed than judging them. It's no skin off my nose.
I see a lot of Dry Robes out and about here these days, nowhere near any beach culture. I'd assumed it was a way that many folk had discovered the wonders of pertex+pile without being army surplus or Buffalo outdoor gear types. I loved my old Buffalo belay jacket, used to live in it almost. It's basically a synthetic animal hide like reindeer herders would use so no wonder it's popular. But let's face it Buffalos were never going to get fashionable.
Out of curiosity I just found out the company is ~13 years old and worth £11 million... fair dues, the guy who created it has done way better in that time than I have, damnit 🙂
"That looks warm, what did it cost?"...
"My dignity"
You don't want one. Unless you're in the car park packing away your watersports kit.
We have a mix of Dryrobe that I've had for a while and before there were loads of options, Red Paddle, and just got the 15yr old one of these Lifeventure ones https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7XSYZM6/ref=twister_B0BMY69KFW?_encoding=UTF8&th=1&psc=1 as he grew out of his Dryrobe. The Red ones are softer and lighter but expensive unless you can find them in a sale. The Lifeventure is very similar to my genuine one and I'd struggle to justify the difference in cost
“Out of curiosity I just found out the company is ~13 years old and worth £11 million… fair dues, the guy who created it has done way better in that time than I have, damnit 🙂”
@jameso I actually know him a little bit. Really a nice guy and always seems slightly bewildered by how successful he’s been.
What the actual f***?If anyone wants a cheaper version I can do one for £100 posted
Is the extortionate price for all the clobber, or just the towel? ‘Cos I’ve got a few towels kicking around that I could make quite a profit on!
Sweet baby Jesus, but some people are easily manipulated and conned, aren’t they. 🙄
Just had a look at the Nukeproof one, because I wasn’t sure what people were talking about, and they’re virtually the same as what NFL players wear on the sidelines during really cold, wet games, as far as I can tell.
I can see something like that being handy over ordinary clothes if having to stand around in really shitty, cold and wet weather, where it can be just chucked in the boot of the car, although I’ve used a big military-type poncho, keeps everything dry, and it can be used as a ground-sheet as well.
Never ceases to amaze me on here, how people can be so bothered by other people's clothing choices/habits.
Who cares if someone decides to walk the dog in a dryrobe, rather than a barbour jacket & wellies?
I've got one of the Decathlon changing towel things. It's brilliant & means I don't have to expose my hairy arse to the other inhabitants of the car park I'm getting changed in, after a ride. It's up there with the Dirtworker i bought about 15 years ago for the most useful bike-related purchases.
I'm actually quite tempted to get that Nukeproof dry robe for £50 to wear while watching my daughter at footie training. Sling it in the boot & stick it on if it's raining or just a bit colder than expected. Even better if it makes people all frothy about my clothing choices.
The snobbery around dry robes is really weird
I have one of the originals, bought when wiggle first started doing them - before changimg robes were a thing. I was doing the gorrick enduros and was basically frozen at the end of them, so it was perfect to chuck on, ditch the cold wet lycra and just drive home. no pants needed..... thats got to be at least 10 years ago, as it was pre kids
Its also great for camping, in the evenings when its cold, they are big enough you can have your young kids sat on your lap and zipped up. Then when you go to bed, unzip it and use it as a blanket to sleep under.
I actually don't take it paddling, but thats because I don't paddle when its cold, so a towel is fine.
I wouldn't wear it taking the kids to school, but thats because of the sneering nastiness of some, rather than it wouldnt be lovely and toasty amd dry
For the use the OP describes I would suggest the answer is yes, get one. Sounds like lots of choice
I seriously considered one last year after freezing my backside of watching eldest play football. Ended up with a full length puffer jacker cheap from Cheshire Oaks instead. Too warm to actually walk the dog in but ideal for standing around in. On really wet days I do think a dry robe might have been a better choice though
Dry robe, I have one, I got it for open water swimming, I have since replaced it with a Robie robe (branded towel robe)
Advantages: Dry robes are warm and because of the length keep you legs warm too, easy to throw on, this being a big advantage over a coat in that you don’t have to wrestle your wet arms up clammy sleeves, one big chunky zip or just cover over like a dressing gown, useful when fingers are too numb to mess about with buttons/small zips, easy to get changed in and also because of that easy to move about in when packing gear away.
disadvantages: not great at actually drying you, the fleece lining isn’t that absorbent, a normal towel is usually still required to dry yourself especially hair. If a dry robe gets dirty or just needs a wash it’s a pain, I washed mine and it took three days to dry out, also they are quite bulky, the last two reasons being why I replaced it with a simple towel robe, it doesn’t warm me, but a towel robe will dry you faster and when it gets dirty, throw it into the washing machine and dry it like a towel, easy and takes up a lot less space (basically a normal towel with a hood and sleeves).
as for the brand, people always get snobby about especially expensive brands, see also Orange bikes, Waitrose, VW campers.. to name a few, choose a product that does what you need it to do well, sometimes brands get big because they make a good product…
Must be matched with a pair of Crocs.
Saltrock changing robes are 20-50 quid and useful as a lazy dressing gown on hangover days. Xmas coming, folks.
We bought a Trespass one for my son who races cx, he likes it. Wasn't crazy expensive and seems to do the trick so far.
I got one last month. Its OK but is now in the garage. Feels like I'm in danger of joining the v dub go outdoors look at me group 😆
Love my Dryrobe for post bike warmth when not riding from home - just chuck my dirty outer layer off - chuck it on & drive home. <br /><br />Even the dog now has one...<br /><br /> https://dryrobe.com/collections/dryrobe-dog-robe
I have a cheap alternative by a company called Moonwrap. To be fair it's quite handy and warm. I use it after open water swimming to get changed beneath, It's fine. The whole DryRobe brand has been completely hijacked by the 'active' mum.
Just been to the opera at Glyndebourne. Girl in front of me queuing at the bar before the performance was wearing a cammo dry-robe. Admittedly the bar is outside and it was -2
I love mine, don’t get the snobbery either. Use it a lot for post race or ride changing, lovely warm easy way to get changed in a car park or (like tomorrow) at a freezing cold Gorrick race!
I have one of the osprey knockoffs plus a even cheaper changing towel. The latter sees most use in combination with a proper towel.
Dryrobes dont seem great at the theoretical use of a drying robe but I can see why people use them as a general warm long coat. I know a few people who use them doing bank safety during the winter. Easy to throw off it something goes really badly wrong and they need to take a swim.
Been wearing one around the house the last few days to stay warm. Been a godsend!
Normally essential post-surf winter kit. That said, I have a microfibre Dock & Bay version which is better at actually drying you….best results when I put my dry robe on top of it for warmth when outside.