Ben tests one answer to age-old conundrum of getting changed in the car park before or after a ride, with the dryrobe Advance Short Sleeve.
Marketed as “The World’s most versatile changing robes,” dryrobe produce a range of robes for use, before, during and after sports. The idea is to keep you warm and to help you get changed without flashing some poor stranger in a car park.
Key Features.
- 100% waterproof and windproof outer.
- Synthetic lambswool liner.
- Full-length 2-way reversible YKK zips.
- Sealed seams.
- External, YKK zippered pockets.
- Large internal pocket.
- XS, S, Large and XLarge sizes.
- £99.99 RRP
- dryrobe.com
Originally for surfers getting into and out of wetsuits on cold, UK beaches, dryrobes are now used across a wide range of sports to keep athletes and the public comfortable.
The dryrobe Advance is the top of the line model, starting at £79.99 (model tested is £99.99) offering a showerproof outer shell, a generous hood, pockets and a chunky zip. To keep you warm and cosy it is lined with a synthetic lambswool material that feels nice against bare skin.
I have had the dryrobe for 3 months of winter use and I have used it way more than I expected. I am actually inclined to agree with the marketing hype about how ‘versatile’ it really is. This is a list of all the ways I have used it in 3 months.
• Pre-ride change into riding kit.
• Over my wet riding kit for my mid-ride snack and bike tinkering at the van.
• Post-ride getting changed out of minging kit.
• Getting changed before and after a New Year’s Day dip in the sea that seemed like a good idea at the time. It was 4 degrees and blowing with sleet. The dryrobe made it marginally less emotional.
• Hosing off my stinking riding kit and bike, I just chuck this on with my wellies.
• It also lives in my van as my emergency break down coat in case I am stuck on a hard shoulder in the rain and cold waiting for the AA.
Even though it is a pretty expensive bit of kit, I decided from the outset that I would not be too precious with the dryrobe and that I would just use it and not worry about getting it muddy. If you treat it like this, then it is so handy for getting changed post ride. Just chuck it on over muddy shorts and jersey and you can do a full change under it without being exposed to the elements.
To get your riding kit off under the robe it takes a bit of practice, but after a couple of rides I had my technique dialled and it was pretty easy. It is worth noting that I tested the size large with short sleeves. Both of these features made it easier to do a full change within the robe as you can easily bring your arms inside the robe and have space to move around and get your top off over your head.
Whilst the large size helped with changing, it also means that this is a seriously bulky bit of kit, taking up a large shopping bag worth of space in the car or van. Having said that, if you plan to use it for other sports and maybe fly with it, dryrobe offer other, less bulky models that are better suited to travel. These models offer less protection from the elements but are also cheaper. A compression bag is also available for £25.
What do we think?
To me the dryrobe Advance is a bit of a luxury, but for those of you who are committed to winter riding and don’t have a van to jump in to get changed, then it is a bit of a life saver. All you need is a small rubber mat to stand on and you are sorted, no matter what the weather is doing.
If you also enjoy surfing or other wet/muddy outdoor sports then the dryrobe starts to look like better value as you will get a lot more use out of it. Finally, it seems to be really well made and should last you many years, which makes the £99 asking price seem a lot more reasonable (dryrobe Advanced models start at £79.99).
We love:
- Not flashing strangers in the car park.
- Versatility.
- Synthetic lambswool liner.
- Build quality.
Not so good:
- Change technique needs practice.
- Large size is a bulky item.