The Dryrobe waterproof changing robe has become a household name over the past 15 years. It has become a big hit with wild swimmers, dog walkers, surfers, and even mums and dads fed up of shivering on the touchline while watching their offspring play football or rugby.
However, Dryrobe garments come with a hefty price tag, usually around £165. But help could be at hand if you want to keep warm on a budget, as Amazon shoppers have found another waterproof jacket that they claim is “just as good” as the big brand, but for a fraction of the price. In fact, at the moment, it’s just £46.99.
The Freespirit Aquarobe Pro Jacket with Hood is a waterproof drying and changing robe, boasting a two-layer waterproof polyamide fabric with a Durable Water Repellent finish. It is designed to keep you dry in all weather conditions.
The jacket’s deep-pile fleece lining, and fleece-lined hood, is perfect for surfers and wild swimmers, instantly warming them up as soon as they’re back on dry land. It’s good for staying dry, too – because dogs have to be walked come rain or shine.
And like the Dryrobe, the Aquarobe Pro jacket comes in a long-length, oversized fit, allowing you to easily keep your modesty as you change on the beach or by the pool.
The jacket also boasts two zipped pockets for storing your essentials, or simply keeping your hands nice and toasty. And it has an internal zipped security pocket, ideal for keeping your mobile phone safe and dry.
The changing robe is easy to fasten thanks to a full-length zip, with a large puller for super-simple use. And the adjustable cuffs have a Velcro tab, to seal in heat and block out cold draughts. What’s more, the coat is machine washable, so it’s easy to keep clean if you have worn it out on a muddy walk.
But the best part is the price. While the Dryrobe will set you back a pricey £165, you can snap up the Aquarobe for just £46.99, saving you more than 70% off the price of the bigger brand.
And Amazon shoppers even say there is “hardly any difference in standards” between the two waterproof changing robes, giving the Aquarobe an overall rating of 4.7 stars out of five. This puts it almost on a par with the Dryrobe, which has a customer rating of 4.8 stars on Amazon.
One satisfied shopper who has tried out the Aquarobe commented: “What a great value. For me, the size and length are perfect. The quality, as stated by reviewers, is excellent.
“Love the colour, and the logo. The weight is like a feather, making it a true unisex dry robe – unlike a top brand which is heavy, bulky, and talk about overpriced. At £46.99 I can buy 4 of these, with hardly any difference in standards to one from the top brand.”
Another wrote: “Saw the Dryrobe being used at the beach this summer as people were using them as changing robes and keeping warm after swimming. This robe is just as good but at half the price. Bought two more as Christmas pressies for my sons. Great for weekends away on cold days, and walking the dogs.”
And a third posted: “Spot on for price. My brother has got one of the most expensive brands, this is just as good if not better, and a third of the price.”
Meanwhile, another review of the Aquarobe read: “It’s 100% waterproof and has huge pockets, so great for dog walking, which is its primary purpose. It’s a bargain compared to its big brand counterparts.”
In fact, there was very little criticism of the Aquarobe, although one shopper called it “much too big”, writing: “These are absolutely massive.”
If you do want to invest in the more expensive Dryrobe, you can buy it from Amazon now. Otherwise, the Aquarobe is a bargain alternative, and is available here for under £50.
Elsewhere, Regatta has slashed its Adult Changing Robe to less than half-price, down from £120 to just £55. And Saltrock also has 50% off the 3-in-1 Recycled Changing Robe, now £75 down from £150.