The changing game 🥼🩱

Published: Fri, 04/11/25

Updated: Fri, 04/11/25

Dear Swimmer

My mum made my first changing robe in 1985. She stitched together two towels to keep me warm and dry after swimming in the sea on holiday.

Fast forward thirty years, and I bought my Dryrobe® in 2015. It was a bit of a revolution. Waterproof and cosy, it transformed my post-swim warm up, protecting me from the elements and quickly becoming my favourite piece of swim kit.

From the back of a boat to halfway up a mountain, from a layby to an Iron Age fort - I've changed for a swim in some wild, wonderful and weird places. Thanks to this clever invention, getting warm, dry and dressed after a swim is a million times easier and safer - and my son has a Dryrobe® instead of two towels stitched together!

I chatted to Gideon Bright, the founder of Dryrobe® about what makes its changing robe so iconic and how it changed the habits of swimmers around the world since it launched in 2010.

Rowan Clarke, Features Writer

THE DRYROBE® ADVANCE

GAME CHANGING

The first Dryrobe® Advance was built with a simple purpose in mind - to make changing outside in the cold more comfortable. Helping you get changed anywhere while staying warm, dry, and having fun in the process. It was also born out of necessity, as there wasn’t anything else out there like it!

"Right from the start, we built a product we wanted to use ourselves," says Gideon. "Like most new ideas, it took a while before it was understood and eventually embraced by those who saw its huge potential to help them enjoy being active outdoors in the cold."

Its design revolution came down to two factors: a waterproof outer that keeps you dry in the heaviest downpours and a cosy lining that wicks away moisture.

"Unlike most changing robes which use polyester, the outer shell fabric of the Dryrobe® Advance is made from tough, recycled nylon, renowned for its exceptional durability," explains Gideon. "And, in our Back2Skin™ tests, the fleece lining dries 8 times faster than the nearest competitor, meaning you can wear it for multiple dips without feeling damp between swims."

HOW DRYROBE® WORKS

GREEN CREDENTIALS

As swimmers who get so much from the natural world, it's super important that we consider the environment as well as our own health and safety when shopping for any kit.

As Dryrobe® developed its iconic robe, it tried to use materials that help preserve and protect the environment whenever possible - without compromising performance.

"The waterproof outer shell is made from 100% recycled nylon, and the high-performance fleece lining is made from 100% recycled polyester - both approved by the Global Recycle Standard," says Gideon. "The outer is then finished with a plant-based PFC-free water-resistant finish that combines with heat-sealed seams, to create a solid barrier against the elements."

Perhaps most important of all, its changing robes are made to last. The Dryrobe® Advance is designed to be tough enough to withstand extreme conditions over long periods of time. Are you one of the swimmers out there still using their decade-old Dryrobe® Advance on a daily basis?

"We’ve been using this robe for years," says our Gear Editor, Jo Tinsley. "It gets flung into the back of cars, crumpled into kit bags and is frequently left on riverbanks. It has survived all of that with barely any signs of wear and tear."

SUSTAINABLE ROBES

TRIED AND TRUSTED

After 15 years, the Dryrobe® Advance is still consistently among our top-rated changing robes. It's also a favourite among ice swimmers like Barbara Hernandez (pictured), beach and Lido lifeguards and elite athletes to help with training and recovery. Did you spot Team GB at the Olympics?

So, well done Gideon on inventing the most iconic piece of outdoor swimming kit. Here's to another 15 years of getting dressed in weird, wonderful and wild places!

SHOP THE DRYROBE® ADVANCE

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