Dryrobes are the Crocs of triathlon – and I love it!

Oversized, brightly-coloured and everywhere… The humble swim changing robe has exploded in recent years and I don’t mind admitting that I love it.

Go back about 15 years when I first started working on 220 Triathlon and we had two Dryrobes in the office. This was back before they were a ‘thing’ and were available only from the OG Dryrobe brand. They were both XL and black in colour with a grey fuzzy lining and the 220 logo emblazoned on the back in bespoke embroidery.

A gift from the company, we used them for everything. They were worn after swims, after triathlons, after muddy bike or run sessions.

We wrapped models up in them on photoshoots and huddled together under them when reporting from soggy races (they were that big we could get three people inside them!).

They became picnic blankets, car seat covers and extra blankets when camping. Washed now and again when they got whiffy (or when a dog-owner borrowed them) I lost count of how many times we used them and they kept going strong.

What didn’t tend to happen, was that anyone actually chose to wear them because they looked good. Simply a practical choice they were much-loved and hotly fought over (again, we only had two of them) but nobody ever thought they actually looked good.

An increase in popularity

Fast forward several years and the number of choice in the changing robe market has exploded. Partly due to lockdowns and the Covid epidemic when we were all craving comfort and time outdoors (and sartorial elegance took a tumble) the humble changing coat became much sought-after.

Now available in multiple colours, sizes and designs from most brands involved in the outdoors (or fast fashion, but we’ll come on to that) you can have pretty much any colour you like as well as different linings, pocket configurations and logos. There’s even matching covers to turn them into pillows and car seat covers. You can get them for children.

So far so good, but here the backlash starts.

With so many people wearing changing robes to walk the dog, do the school run or visit the supermarket parody accounts started on social media, ‘Dryrobe W****r’ became a common insult (that in a turn of humour became adopted by wearers – I have a car sticker with this very slogan written on it) and Welsh band Goldie Lookin’ Chain even wrote a humorous rap about them including lyrics such as: “I wears it like a normal coat at the football when little Timmy’s in goal, other parents look at me like I’m an a**hole” and “if you don’t like the look you’re a Dryrobe-a-phobe”.

Practicality for the win

Let’s be honest though. The changing robe is never going to be a traditionally-stylish option. They’re big, bright, furry and voluminous. In fashion terms, they’re the Crocs of outerwear. You know what though? I’m totally down for this.

We can use the Crocs as an example. I resisted them myself until quite recently, when a fellow 220 writer loaned some to me after a swim. They were so insanely comfortable and practical (I work part-time as an open-water swim coach) that I never looked back. The thought of wearing ‘real’ shoes now?! Don’t make me laugh.

Admittedly my lifestyle is a little bit feral. I’m always outdoors, writing for this mag in my campervan, training for events or coaching at lakes. Sartorial elegance doesn’t have a place in my world and I tend to gravitate towards warmth, comfort and waterproofing.

I consider myself lucky here though and seeing others adopt ‘ugly’ clothing such as Crocs and Dryrobes and enjoying them for their practicality is a wonderful two fingers to a world which still tries to tell us we should dress to be fashionable and/or acceptable.

As I’ve got older I’ve become passionate about wearing things that are appropriate to my lifestyle and I refuse to dress to ‘minimise’ perceived flaws or enhance a certain feature which is deemed ‘attractive’.

I look back at my younger self who worried about what type of workout clothes would make her bum look smaller or thighs less chunky with fondness, but also a certain amount of sadness.

What clothes like the Dryrobe allow us to do is be unabashed in our activities. To be warm and comfortable. To choose to wear things that will last for decades (those early 220 robes are still going strong!) and not need replacing. To say that we put adventure before restriction, comfort before caring what others think.

Caring for the environment

On this though, I can’t be blasé about the environmental impact. Changing robes are a big item of clothing that should last and I’d really encourage anyone buying one to think about the sustainability of the brand they choose.

Fast fashion is something we are all surely aware of by now and the changing robe is not immune, with many versions available which are cheap and likely made in a way which has a high human and environmental cost and will fall apart much more quickly than a well-made option. This has to be the downside of popularity.

If you’re in the market for a new one, look at the materials your robe is made from, what the ethics of the company who made it are and think about how long you will wear it for. I’ve tested loads over the years which you can find reviews of here. Then when it’s time to wash it (as has to happen now and again!) use a ‘guppy bag’ or similar to keep microplastics out of the water supply.

This done, wear your robe with joy – whether it’s to warm up after a cold wet triathlon or just to pop out with the spaniel. Plus, if you have a pair of Crocs to wear with it for the double-whammy of function over style, then you’re absolutely my type of person…