Dryrobe- What's All The Hype?

• Posted on 4 January 2022
• By Izzy Sibley
• Posted in Boylos Watersports, Changing Robe, Dryrobe, Open Water Swimming, Paddleboarding, Watersports, Wild Swimming, Wing Foil
• 0

Dryrobe has taken the world by storm over the last two years and has become one of our bestsellers, but why the increased popularity? Are they worth the hype?

The worlds warmest, most versatile change robe…

The first Dryrobe was stitched together with love by UK surfer Gideon Bright’s mum. Surfing all year round, he needed something to keep him warm and protected while he changed. She stitched a towel lining into a waterproof cape and it soon became an essential piece of kit. 

Jump forward a few years and Gideon was experimenting in his shed with prototypes, materials and designs. This led to the first Dryrobe being sold online in 2010. Yes, 2010! Its been over 10 years since Dryrobe first began, but like me, you may have noticed they suddenly seem to be everywhere! 

The popularity of Dryrobe is down to their effective design. Take the Dryrobe Advance. Its 100% recycled synthetic lambswool lining wicks away water without compromising on warmth and insulation. The outer shell of the Dryrobe is waterproof up to 10’000mm. Made from 100% recycled nylon, its heat sealing seams create strong protection against the wind and rain. 

Now let’s talk about its smaller features. The wool lined hood on the Dryrobe may be huge, but is designed to be oversized to keep off the worst of the driving rain. The two way YKK Zip allows you to get changed inside easily, enabling you to open or close it from the inside. Finally, the giant internal and external pockets are ideal for keeping your valuables in while you head out into the water. 

You may have seen Dryrobe’s efforts to be more sustainable. While on a journey to become a B Corp, Dryrobe are not only carbon neutral they are also introducing plastic free deliveries from their website. Their nylon and polyester is recycled. They also use organic cotton. Finally, they work in a trusted trade supply chain to ensure safe and fair working conditions in their factories.

As mentioned earlier, you may have noticed the rise in Dryrobe’s popularity over the last two years, specifically since the pandemic. At Boylos we have seen a significant rise in the amount of people enjoying the water whether its paddle boarding for the first time, sea swimming or trying a more rigorous watersport such as wing foiling. This has led to more of a demand in Dryrobes especially in Lyme Regis where it seems like 1 in 5 people are now wearing them. 

One of our local wild swimmers/surfers said;

'I didn't realise how necessary a Dryrobe was for cold water swimming until I purchased one. The hardest part of the cold swimming practice is the changing after you come out and restoring your body back to a healthy temperature.
A Dryrobe literally does that for you, by surrounding your body with such insulated warmth that you can continue to be outdoors if you wish to and go grab a hot drink, socialise or whatever you feel you want to do, rather than make your way back quite quickly to a premises with a hot shower.'

After many enquiries we now stock Dryrobes at Boylos. If we don’t have a colour you want we can also do special orders. If you are regularly in and out the water, especially over the winter, its well worth considering the investment in a Dryrobe.