Beach Oodie review: ideal for your next holiday
IN our Beach Oodie review we take a look at this summer version of the über cosy, oversized hoodie.
Over the past few years, the popularity of dry robes and changing robes has been steadily on the rise and these giant, wearable towels have become a common sight at beaches and swimming pools.
- Beach Oodies from £59 – buy here
The Beach Oodie is made from 100% quick-drying, breathable cotton and it is big enough to pop on after a swim and get changed underneath while avoiding those post-swim shivers (and flashing the entire seafront).
It is also comfy enough to be worn as a simple beach warmer, and big enough to double as your towel for lounging on. The Beach Oodie currently comes in five different colourways including cute avocados, a flower power print and a simple plain charcoal grey with an understated logo. There are also a couple of mini kids-size versions of the Beach Oodie, so the whole family can be matchy-matchy.
Overall rating: 4/5
Pros
- Extremely comfortable
- UPF 50+
- Machine washable
- Quick drying
Cons
- One adult size only
- Expensive
Beach Oodie review: first impressions
- Beach Oodies from £59 – buy here
Our Beach Oodie has arrived and we were delighted to discover that it comes in a very cute little beach bag with beach-ready deckchair-style stripes. It is great for carrying it and will also be handy for chucking damp swimwear and towels in on the way home.
The Beach Oodie itself is made from cotton towelling and although it packs up quite small, once unfolded you realise it is absolutely enormous. Designed to fit everyone and anyone, the Beach Oodie comes in a standard size of 6XL and (as the name suggests) is shaped like a humongous, slouchy hoodie. I am around 5ft 7 and the Beach Oodie comes to just above my knees.
We had a hard time choosing from all the colourful designs, but we eventually opted for a classic blue and white tie-dye Oodie – ideal for summery days on the beach.
How much does a Beach Oodie cost?
All adult Beach Oodies cost £89 and the kids’ Beach Oodies cost £77. This is a higher price point for adult towelling robes, with similar products from Finisterre, Dock & Bay and John Lewis at around £30-50.
Beach Oodie review: performance
- Beach Oodies from £59 – buy here
Picnics, beach games, tents, cool boxes, surfboards, towels; the list of gear required for a seaside visit can be pretty extensive and adding an extra piece of kit could feel cumbersome. Thankfully, despite its size, the Beach Oodie is surprisingly lightweight and easy enough to sling in a beach bag, or simply wear over your swimmers.
Once you’re on the sand, the Oodie is ideal for popping on if the weather turns a bit chilly (unfortunately a pretty common occurrence in the UK) and the cotton is light, soft and breathable so there’s no chance of clingy, sweaty synthetic fabric either. It can also easily be whipped off and used like a towel for sitting either on sand or cushioning you against hard pebbles.
We loved the big front pocket where you can easily store suncream or your phone/wallet if you’re off on an ice cream run. The three-quarter length sleeves are also ideal for beach games or activities such as rock pooling as you don’t have massive droopy sleeves getting in the way or soaking up seawater.
However, it’s once you’ve had a swim that the Oodie really comes into its own. As soon as you get out of the sea you can pop it on for an instant layer of warmth. Unlike a normal towel, the Beach Oodie is really fast drying so you don’t need to worry about getting it soaked and the large size means it’s simple to whip off damp swimwear and pop on dry clothes underneath it – without having to awkwardly hold up a towel while balancing on one leg.
The Oodie is also UP50+ so you don’t need to worry about putting sunscreen on as soon as you’re out of the water.
Can you wash the Beach Oodie?
The care instructions state that you can wash on a cold, gentle cycle after a day at the beach or pool. Like any towel, it takes up a fair bit of space in your washing machine, but we found that it washed well and despite coming out sopping wet, it dried fairly quickly when hung up outside.
Where can you buy a Beach Oodie?
You can buy Beach Oodies from the official Oodie website.
The verdict: is it worth buying a Beach Oodie for your next holiday?
- Beach Oodies from £59 – buy here
The Beach Oodie is a brilliant addition to your summer holiday essentials. It can substitute your towel and be used as a changing robe or snuggly beach warmer if things get a little breezy.
The big front pocket was also really useful for storing things such as sunglasses and sunscreen and we loved how quick drying and soft it was. The fun summery prints are eye-catching and draw a lot of compliments on the beach, plus the kids love them too.
They aren’t the cheapest wearable towel on the market, but the quality of the fabric is good and they can be worn by literally anyone. They are an absolute must-have for beach holidays, particularly UK breaks, when the weather can be a little unpredictable and a cosy layer is very welcome.
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