Last Updated on 22/08/2024
What Are the 8 Best Surf Ponchos? Hooded Changing Towels for Wild Swimming and Water Sports
Have you ever struggled to get changed at the beach or when getting out of your wetsuit? Don’t you just hate feeling cold when you get out of the water? Check out these Top 8 Best Surf Ponchos for getting changed after surfing or wild swimming and these top 7 surf changing mats to keep your feet sand-free.
Surfing, wild swimming, and other watersports are some of the best ways to spend your time on a sunny day and are a great way to explore new countries as you travel around the globe. Whether you are down at the beach with a crowd of people or at a geothermic pool with a few friends, the issue of getting changed without people seeing your jiggly bits often arises. Changing rooms and public toilets are few and far between in some places, so keeping your modesty while trying to get out of wet clothes can be challenging to say the least.
-
Stay dry with these 11 Best Rain Ponchos
A towel will work nine times out of ten, but anyone who has had a bad experience knows how embarrassing it can be when this method fails. The best surf ponchos will do everything that a towel will and more. Instead of having to wrap and tuck the towel around your chest or waist, you simply pop the hooded towel poncho over your head, and hey presto! Hooded changing towels keep your hands free and allow you to get dry and change clothes at the same time without the risk of dropping your towel. Another added bonus is that they are warm and dry out fast, so when you get out of your cold wetsuit into the cold wind, you don’t freeze to death.
Top 8 Best Surf Poncho Towels
Dryrobe Advance Adult Changing Robe (Long Sleeve)
- Materials: Synthetic lambswool and nylon
- Weight: 4.41 pounds
- Waterproof: Yes
- Features: Multiple storage pockets and additional MP3 openings for headphones
- Best use: All outdoor purposes
The Dryrobe Advance Adult Changing Robe with long sleeves is an all in one changing robe, towel, and weather protection. This changing robe is designed to primarily keep people warm while changing and should be a great outdoors option. It is quite heavy and bulky, but with all the features it offers, you should endure the weight to keep all your devices protected in the rain.
It is fully waterproof and while it is expensive, it offers great versatility. Wearing it in the sun might not be the best option and it does not really have great ventilation. It is also worth mentioning that you may simply pop it in the washing machine to have it cleaned and ready to use for your next trip.
FCS Changing Towel Poncho
- Materials: Cotton
- Weight: 1 pound
- Features: None
- Best use: Changing clothing
The FCS Changing Towel Poncho is one of the best surf ponchos at an affordable price for you to get dry and change your clothes in. It comes in a sleek black color and while this will keep you warm, it is extremely lightweight and dries out quickly.
As we have mentioned, this poncho is really affordable and should be a great option for someone just looking for something to keep them protected when changing clothes. Unfortunately, it does not have any storage pockets that you will find in the high-end ponchos, but it will be effective at absorbing the water from your body rapidly.
Rip Curl Hooded Changing Robe
- Materials: 100% cotton
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
- Features: None
- Best use: Changing clothing outdoors
Next, we have the Rip Curl Hooded Changing Robe which is really affordable and feels just like a regular soft towel. It has been designed from cotton and while this is great for keeping you warm, it does tend to sag with too much water. The Rip Curl Hooded Changing Robe is only available in one size for all users but is big enough for tall people.
This poncho is really affordable and should be ideal for drying you out on the beach quickly and effectively. We would recommend that it be used at the beach after surfing and then changing your clothing to dry clothing. Fortunately, this towel is also machine washable and dries out quite quickly in the sun.
Manera Poncho
- Materials: Bamboo fiber
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Features: keeps bacteria away naturally
- Best use: Outdoor cold weather conditions
The Manera Poncho is a little different and it is made from bamboo fiber instead of cotton. This enables it to dry out much faster and also keeps any bacteria from setting in. It is extremely lightweight and comes in only one size that should fit virtually anyone. The materials are naturally soft on the skin and abrasion-resistant.
Unfortunately, no additional storage pockets have been incorporated and this means that it is harder to store some of your valuables. On the plus side, it is rather affordable when compared to many of the other models and can be washed at home in your washing machine. We would definitely recommend this to all the wild swimmers out there as well as surfers and divers.
Dryrobe Advance Adult Changing Robe
- Materials: Nylon and synthetic lambswool
- Weight: 4.3 pounds
- Waterproof: Yes
- Features: Multiple storage pockets, zippable mp3 pocket with headphone opening
- Best use: Outdoor adventures, water sports
Here we have the Dryrobe Advance Adult Changing Robe which has been designed from synthetic lambswool and nylon to offer maximum comfort and keep you dry in the weather. It is available in multiple different sizes for adults and kids and comes with waterproof storage pockets to keep all your important devices dry.
The Dryrobe Advance Adult Changing Robe is quite expensive, but it has some great accessories and it can be used to listen to your MP3 player in virtually any weather condition. The headphone opening will easily reach you and the zippable pockets should keep everything out of the weather. We would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting a towel poncho for cold weather conditions.
Winthome Changing Towel Poncho Robe With Hood
- Materials: Polyester and polyamide
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Features: None
- Best use: Changing clothes
The Winthome Changing Towel Poncho with hood is one of the more basic designs on the market today. Designed from polyester and polyamide, it is lightweight, absorbent, fast-drying, but does not include any storage pockets for your mobile devices.
This unisex changing robe is ideal for quickly changing clothes at the beach. One of the flaws might be the durability of the materials, but when used occasionally, it should help you to dry out quickly and keep your body concealed when changing clothes. We would definitely recommend this for surfers or the occasional holiday goers.
FCS Chamois Poncho
- Materials: Chamois
- Weight: less than 1 pound
- Features: Internal storage pocket
- Best use: Changing and outdoors
The FCS Chamois Poncho is the perfect lightweight option to be used for surfing and swimming while backpacking. It weighs less than one pound and the chamois materials are highly absorbent as well as packable. This hooded towel poncho also features an internal storage pocket for your mobile device in and comes in one size that should fit anyone.
It has been made in the US and comes at a really affordable price. We would highly recommend it for the avid outdoor enthusiast as well as to be used for changing your clothing. It is also worth mentioning that it dries out extremely fast and can be cleaned using your washing machine.
Aztec Print Surf Changing Poncho
- Materials: 100% woven cotton
- Weight: 1.8 pounds
- Features: None
- Best use: Changing your clothing
The Aztec Print Surf Changing Poncho is next on our list and it is another well-designed surf poncho that will be ideal for changing your clothing. It is made from cotton and while not waterproof, it dries out extremely fast. It fits both men and women, but it is rather heavy to carry around all day in the sunny conditions of the beach.
This best surf poncho is rather affordable and offers good value to the user. It is machine washable and does not hold back any bacteria. We would definitely recommend it for both men and women to help keep them concealed when dressing and changing clothes in public areas. It can also be worn at festivals or around the house like a dressing gown with some stylish Aztec print.
What is a hooded changing towel/surf poncho used for?
The best surf ponchos are used by surfers, wild swimmers, and other watersports enthusiasts around the world to get dry when they get out of the water, stay warm, and get changed in and out of swimming gear in public places. As the name suggests, hooded towel ponchos are made from the same materials as regular towels but have a hood and slots for your arms. You can put them over your clothes while you change into your swim shorts or bikini and then wear them as an extra layer when it is dry. They are ideal for anyone planning to get wet in windy or cold conditions but are equally as useful to use at home as an outdoor dressing gown.
Key features to consider when buying a hooded surf poncho towel
Not all shops have adult hooded towels and it is not something you find in most inland outdoor shops but along the coast, they are very popular with surfers. Some of the best surf ponchos are designed to be lightweight and backpacker-friendly while others have a waterproof layer and added insulation to keep you warm. The point is that not all hooded poncho towels are created equal. Here are some features to consider when looking for the best-hooded towel ponchos:
Material
When looking at the materials, you need to draw upon your years of experience with regular towels. Do you prefer the softness of a luxury towel or is the size and weight more of a factor? Either way, you need to think about whether you want the most absorbent material or one that has other benefits including softness and wearability. If you choose a poncho that has multiple layers such as waterproofing or a fleece liner then you can expect to pay more and carry more when not in use. With most things in life, there is a happy medium to be found in the blend of materials used in your hooded towel poncho.
Size
Since your changing towel will be used for changing into new clothes, it should be large and comfortable enough for you to do this. Nothing can more frustrating than trying to change when the changing towel is too small. Checking the size should be something you do to make sure you get the correct length and width but bear in mind that changing poncho towels are designed to be baggy.
Weight
The weight of the poncho is something you should consider looking at. The wetter it is, the heavier it will become to carry around after you are done using it. The weight also works in conjunction with the size and should you be heading to the beach, you would probably like to have something lightweight and small to carry around. If you are expecting the temperature to be colder then a thicker towel will help keep you warm. Backpackers may choose to opt for a microfibre material that is lightweight and packable.
Waterproof
Having a waterproof hooded towel is a great benefit and this means that you could wear it in virtually any weather condition. However, this features links to the materials, and depending on the materials you choose, the poncho will remain dry or rather keep you dry in the rain. If you love the outdoors and going on adventures like camping, then a waterproof poncho can also be used to build shelters like you would a camping tarp. If staying waterproof is a concern but don’t want anything too bulky then you can always get a lightweight waterproof poncho separately to wear over the top.
We hope you found this list of the top 8 best surf ponchos useful but feel free to leave your comments below or subscribe here for more like this.
[…] Best Surf Ponchos […]
[…] Best Surf Ponchos […]