I’m not sure if you’ve ever been to a pantomime, but there are certain moments where the crowd unites in a wall of sound – chants of “oh no you didn’t” and “he’s behind you”.
Unexpectedly, I witnessed something similar last week when Dryrobe invited me to the launch of its new hero product: the Dryrobe nexus. The cause? Pockets.
As someone from the company talked through its new features, they plunged a hand into a familiar fleece-lined pocket. But then, with the click of a couple of poppers, their hand broke through the pocket and appeared on the inside of the robe, triggering a chorus of “oohs” throughout the room. This solves an age-old changing robe issue.
Anyone who has ever changed into their swimming costume on a beach will know the value of these new reach-through pockets. Rather than retracting your arms through the sleeves and wrestling your outfit into submission, you can now simply slide your hands through the pockets and slip out of your lower-half garments. It’s a brilliant solution.
But does the rest of the robe live up to this transformative update? Read on to find out.
Read more: I’m a cold water swimmer – these are the best changing robes I’ve used
How I tested
The Dryrobe nexus launch event saw me wear the product at a chilly rooftop sauna/cold plunge venue. I warmed up in the sauna, dunked myself in an icy tub then emerged into the warming embrace of the Dryrobe.
I was also allowed to take the nexus home, and have spent the week wearing it – once for staying warm around a wild swim, but mainly donning it for dog walks and pops to the local shop for essentials.
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Dryrobe nexus
Outer: Ripstop fabric with PFC-free bionic-finish eco durable water-repellent
Inner: Recycled polyester and 250gsm sherpa
Waterproofing: Up to 30,000mm
Sleeve length: Long
Colourways: Black and camouflage
Why we love it
- Warm and comfortable
- Quick-drying
- Innovative design features including reach-through pockets
Take note
- Expensive
For my sins, I’ve claimed to wear a Dryrobe for years while actually owning a string of competitors. These rival robes are undeniably cosy, with thick fleece linings and tent-like structures that fall loosely around the body. They are often a tad cheaper, too. So what sets Dryrobe apart?
Most notably, the brand was the first to nail the changing robe formula. The original 1983 prototype was an enormous cape made from a waterproof outer and towel lining – the brainchild of Dryrobe founder Gideon Bright’s mum after seeing him and his friends shivering after surfing.
Unlike other changing robes I’ve tried, the Dryrobe nexus also feels like a fitted item of clothing – more so than previous models. It’s a running joke that people are now wearing them further and further from water – I’ve certainly worn it for a few dog walks during testing. And judging from its latest ad campaign (which you can see in the image above), the brand clearly isn’t scared of steering into this identity.
The Dryrobe nexus has a premium feel, too, with a lightweight sherpa fleece lining providing warmth without too much bulk, and a ripstop waterproof outer effectively keeping wear, tear and weather at bay. (The outer now boasts an industry-leading 30,000mm waterproof shell, which will stand up to even the soggiest of British springs.) The robe’s durability is a point of pride for the brand, with founder Gideon Bright telling me he has heard from people who bought early-edition Dryrobes more than 14 years ago and continue to wear them today.
But did these technical upgrades make any difference when I wore the Dryrobe nexus in the real world? In short, yes.
One major bonus I found it had over other changing robes was its breathability. New “fast-drying back2skin” technology wicked water away from my body, which I was thankful for after a particularly chilly February cold plunge, finding myself dry within seconds. The robe quickly took me (a perennially cold person) to a comfortable temperature without being stifling.
This Dryrobe feels lighter and more wieldy than any others I’ve tried, too, fitting like a parka rather than a traditional changing robe. As such, I predict we will see Sunday league football managers wearing them on the sidelines sooner rather than later.
And finally, as is often the case when I review fitness products, my main stumbling block is the price. Retailing at £225, it’s a considerable investment.
For that fee, you get a premium product that performs its role impeccably. Dryrobe also makes a point of remaining a B Corp – businesses verified as having “high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability”. But even so, it’s far from cheap, so make sure you will be getting plenty of use out of it before splashing the cash.
Buy now £225, Dryrobe.com
Is the Dryrobe nexus worth it?
At £225, the Dryrobe nexus isn’t an impulse purchase. I would encourage people to really consider how much they will be wearing it before hitting the buy button.
If you only go to the beach occasionally, and you wouldn’t wear it out and about for fear of being featured on that Facebook page, this is a lot of money to spend on something that will just warm your wardrobe for most of the year.
However, as a fanatical beachgoer born and raised around the South West coastline, I can say that it is a brilliant product and I’ve already fallen in love with mine a little bit.
My usual post-swim shivers were swept away in no time by the warm embrace of its fleece lining. The reach-through pockets are a masterstroke and the new slimline design means I can pop into a waterfront souvenir shop without absent-mindedly sweeping things from the shelves with my bulky sleeves.
The robe has a robust feel that is clearly built to last and, listening to the brand’s founder speak, it certainly appears that the company has a conscience – both environmentally and for the good of its customers.
In short: it’s a great, if pricey, product. If you are bordering on amphibian, it’s my favourite changing robe going, and could be worth splashing on for those who will use it frequently enough to get their money’s worth.
How I tested the Dryrobe nexus
I first wore the Dryrobe nexus at its launch event, held at a chilly rooftop sauna and cold-plunge venue, where I rotated between intense heat and icy immersion in a single evening. I then took it home and tested it over the course of a week in everyday conditions – from standing around after a wild swim to regular dog walks and quick trips to the local shop – to see how it performed beyond the novelty of the launch setting. When testing I looked for the following criteria:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
The IndyBest team reviews countless products each year, subjecting each one to rigorous hands-on testing and only recommending those that impress.
It is made up of specialist writers, each with their own areas of expertise, from tech to beauty to fashion to fitness. So, when you read an IndyBest review, you know it’s based on real-world experiences from someone who has spent years trying similar products.
Harry Bullmore is IndyBest’s senior fitness writer, having spent more than a decade training in a wide variety of ways including strength training, pilates, calisthenics and CrossFit. This has given him the opportunity to try a wide range of fitness products, and pass on his learnings to anyone else in the market for new exercise kit.
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