Swimcell Microfibre 2-in-1 Changing Robe and Towel (Blue)

£29.99

Going to the beach has always been one of my favourite activities in the summer, but after spending the day in the sea and getting covered in sand, changing back into normal clothes to go home when you’re damp and sandy is one of the worst feelings. Not to mention, there’s rarely anywhere to change on the beach that is private, and instead, you end up doing a weird dance with a towel to get your wet swimming costume off and some real clothes on without showing anything to the world.

Having seen their popularity among surfers and swimmers alike, I’ve been on the hunt for a changing robe that lets me dry myself off and change clothes whilst protecting some of my dignity. For this reason, I was glad to give the Microfibre 2-in-1 Changing Robe and Towel from SwimCell a go.

Straight away, I noticed just how soft the Changing Robe is, in the lovely microfibre fabric that felt nice against my skin and felt super absorbent. The robe we tested came in size large and in a lovely, deep blue colour. However, if the blue isn’t to your style, it also comes in grey or pink, and in a range of 4 sizes ideal for both adults and kids. Once on, the robe provided plenty of space to manoeuvre around and get changed. Down each side of the robe are popper studs, which help hold the robe together. I did worry these might pop undone as I moved about to get changed, but thankfully, the robe had enough room, so there was plenty of space to get changed without bursting the robe at the seams. Plus, the gaps between the popper studs mean you can put your hands through the side of the robe to manoeuvre your clothing underneath without needing to open the entire thing up.

One of the main advantages of the popper stud edge design is that the robe can be completely undone and transformed into a towel. This means you can dry off as much as possible and then connect the edges to turn the towel into a robe, ready for getting changed with some privacy. However, this also means that the robe can also just function as a towel, and in fact, the last popper has been put in reverse, which means the towel can easily be clipped to a sunbed to help hold it in place and provide a perfect beach towel for sunbathing.

I loved just how fast the robe/towel could dry compared to a typical cotton beach towel. The microfibre suede, whilst absorbing up to 7 times its weight, still took a lot less time to dry than my usual towel. I could hang the towel up for only a few hours after a beach day, and it was dry in no time, and this is thanks largely to its lightweight design. Plus, the lightweight design also means you don’t feel overheated even in the heat, making it the ideal weight and size for a post-swim option. Once you’re done with the towel, you can just roll it up and secure it with the built-in elastic loop that keeps the towel compact. This is great for rolling up and throwing the robe in your bag, ready to take with you on your next swim.

In terms of washing, the robe is super easy and can be thrown in a standard washing machine at 30 degrees. Once washed, you can either hang the robe up to dry or tumble dry it on low, making it a nice low-fuss option when it comes to cleaning. After a wash, the robe still feels super soft and absorbent and will now be an essential item for me for any beach or pool days.

If you love going for a swim and are looking for a solution that allows you to get changed afterwards whilst maintaining your dignity, then the SwimCell Microfibre 2-in-1 Changing Robe and Towel is a great option. Even if you’re just looking for a good beach towel, I think the Changing Robe is a great option to help you dry off thanks to the microfibre material, whilst providing that extra bit of coverage and comfort. Plus, with the innovative popper design, you don’t even need to use it as a robe, and instead can use it as a typical towel, making it super versatile for any beach, pool or open water swimming day.

Pros:

• Large size is ideal for easy changing
• Super soft and absorbent microfibre suede material
• Can be used as both a towel and a changing robe, thanks to the popper side design 
• Quick drying and lightweight

Cons:

• I did note that when the towel is folded flat for putting on a sunbed, the hood and pocket can be a little lumpy if not folded flat underneath, and so might need a little more adjusting than a typical towel to get it flat and comfortable for sunbathing