SWIM ROBES

Visit any open-water swimming spot during the winter and you’ll see folk congregating like a strange furry-cloak-clad cult. But dismiss the mighty swim changing robe at your peril. If you want to protect yourself from the elements both pre and post-swim (and keep your modesty intact), having one of these is a huge help. But with so many on the market now, which are worth the spend? The robes in our test ranged from £90 to £160 so we judged them on value for money, warmth, extra features, practicality and their environmental impact. Many are now made from recycled materials, but remember that the truly sustainable products will also be recyclable again at their end-of-life. Not that that should be for many years, the 220 team still have one of the original Dryrobes (the trademarked brand) from 2010 still going strong. But with so many new launches available, which is best? On with the testing...

SELKIE ROBE RECYCLED

This striking design instantly won the ‘ooh factor’