Red Equipment EVO Pro changing robe : first impressions
I’ve spent the last few years a little bemused by the trend of people wearing changing robes when walking their dog / doing the school run / stocking up at the supermarket. Changing robes are for serious swimmers, I thought, and must be too expensive and heavy to be a good choice in such domestic settings.
But now I’ve actually tested a few changing robes, I’m beginning to see the logic. Whether you’re sporting a classic camo-print Dryrobe, or one of the many great alternatives now on the market, there’s no doubt that the best changing robes beg to be worn off the beach too.
What’s not to love about a super comfortable cosy coat that is both waterproof and breathable, with a capacious fit that won’t feel too snug, even if you do a Joey and wear your entire wardrobe underneath?
• List price: £159.95 (UK) for S-L, £164.95 (UK) for XL
• Materials: Outer 2-layer 100% recycled polyester, rated 8k waterproof and 3k breathable, with a PFC-free DWR coating; Inner 300gsm Sherpa deep-pile fleece
• Weight (women's size M): 1.59kg / 3.5lb
• Sizes available (men's and women's): S-L in all colors, XL in most colors
• Colors (men's and women's): Coogee sunrise / Icebergs aqua / Navy / Teal / Parker green / Stealth black / Sea mist / Mulberry wine / Grey / Fuschia
• Best use: Wild swimming and water-based adventures
Having said that, some are definitely more suited to the high street than others, and the Red Equipment Pro Evo fits firmly into this bracket, coming in an array of colors that aren’t for the faint-hearted, as well as some more muted shades.
Don’t be fooled by appearances though. This is a technical garment, with a brushed fleece lining that will wick away moisture and then dry fast from your own body heat. In fact, we think it’s one of the best out there right now.
Red Equipment EVO Pro changing robe: in the field
You’re not going to get cold easily in this changing robe. The outer layer is both waterproof and breathable, with a 2-layer EVO outer shell that’s been treated with a PFC-free DWR (durable water repellent) coating. The eco-creds don't stop there. All of the fabric in the robe is fully recycled polyester, including the EVO deep-pile 300gsm Sherpa fleece lining.
The hood, also lined in the same deep-pile fleece, has a toggle draw cord to keep the wind out, but isn’t as deep as on some other robes we tried, although this does allow for good visibility. If you’re wearing a hat underneath it, pop that on first, as once you’ve zipped it up the collar is too high to slide the hood back. The front zip has a poppered wind baffle for extra protection.
Here’s how it performed:
Sizing
I tested the Medium size, which was the recommended size for me at 5ft 10in tall (1.76m), although that puts me at the very top of the range for the Medium. And if I’ve a minor niggle it’s that the sleeves could have been a little longer. Like many serious swimmers, I’ve got wide shoulders, and longer than average arms, both of which mean sleeves often come up a bit short on me. These came to my wrists - just - but I would have liked them a couple of inches longer to protect my hands. I got round this by stuffing them in the cozy pockets, but it was the only thing that really gave me pause.
If you’re long limbed like me, I’d definitely recommend going up a size. Red give the key garment measurements on their website so you can double check this before buying.
Absorbancy and drying capability
I took the Evo on a camping/swimming/hiking trip to the Lake District in the UK and ended up using it constantly. It was ideal for getting changed under after a dip in the River Esk on a sunny but chilly afternoon, with water temperatures of about 46.4°F/8°C. I had dried off a little already using a microfiber towel so it only got a bit wet and I was able to wear it immediately afterwards, my body heat getting rid of the last bit of dampness by the time I’d hiked back to the car.
On colder days when I go wild swimming I just chuck it straight on when I get out of the water and then it does take longer to dry out, but it’s still a fast process. I've found the key is leaving it spread out overnight with the sleeves inside out so that it can dry fully.
As well as using it after swims, while camping I also found myself reaching for it again and again at the campsite - shrugging it on when I needed to make one of those annoying middle of the night forays to the bathroom, and wrapping up in it around the campfire (although, as with all synthetics, you do need to be careful wearing it when the embers are flying around).
I ended up pretty much living in it for five days - even chucking it on top of my sleeping bag at night to add an extra layer of warmth when the air temp got down to 32°F/0°C at night, and choosing it over my usual waterproof/fleece combo several times.
When it rained (which was a fair amount), it did a fine job of keeping me perfectly dry, without getting too hot. The front YKK zip is smooth and easy to use if you need to dump some heat.
Weight and packability
The bulk and weight of this robe initially made me think it wasn’t a good choice for hiking into remote wild swimming spots, when you want to keep heavier kit to a minimum. However, using a compression sack it was reasonably packable, and just about short enough to wear hiking on cold days as long as you’re not trekking for miles on end or through bracken, where it could potentially catch on thorns and branches.
After my chilly swim in the Esk I stuffed my waterproof and fleece into my dry bag and wore the Evo instead for the four mile hike back, as it was early evening and the temperature was dropping fast. Yes, I got a little warm, but I also didn’t experience my usual problem of feeling too cold for a few hours after a wild swim.
Care
Red recommends hand washing this robe in cool water, which isn’t the most practical option, but its bulk means it’s probably not suitable for most washing machines anyway.
Wearing it around the camp fire (not its intended purpose of course) meant that it got smoky, but after a couple of days hanging up the smell was gone. And, despite sitting on the ground in it frequently, the outer seemed to shrug off dirt. All this left me a lot more at peace with the idea of handwashing it, as it seems like I wouldn’t need to bother that often!
Storage
The Evo has plenty of pockets - the outer hand pockets close with magnets, and are lined with a close-pile fleece front and back, to help you warm your hands after a cold swim. Inside there’s a zipped mesh pocket for valuables, and a deep patch pocket in the same close-pile fleece as the hand pocket inners that would comfortably house a hiking flask as long as it’s not on the heavy side, but which Red calls a ‘pants pocket’, presumably for tucking underwear in while you swim. Most winter swimmers would probably use it for a hot water bottle on the coldest days.
The front chest pocket is well-sized for a phone, with a waterproof zip, and on test this stood up to a soaking. The hood has a toggle closure for when the elements get really rough and there are Velcro adjusters to the elastic cuffs for when you want to keep out every scrap of wind.
There is a reflective logo on the lower edge. Red calls this ‘reflective detailing for better visibility in low light settings’, which feels like a stretch - if you’re going to call a garment reflective then in my view it should have piping or reflective patches in more prominent areas and I couldn’t find any others when I shone a torch on it. But as complaints go, this is so minor I wouldn’t have mentioned it if they hadn’t made a point about it!
Getting changed
Overall this is a high quality robe, that should stand up to lots of wear, and will keep you warm and dry when you most need it. Any complaints I have about it really are minor and I would definitely choose it over some other, better known brands. It absolutely does the job it’s meant for, does it well, and can do plenty more besides.
Red also offers a limited edition version of this robe made from a patchwork of surplus fabric that you can find under the Recovered Collection on the Red website.
