A common dilemma for a lot of surfers is deciding how to change out of their wetsuits.
When it is time to get changed, it can sometimes be a worry, as you need to get changed so you can travel home comfortably.
Well, in recent years, the surf poncho has become a go-to piece of clothing that helps surfers to change their clothes.
You can buy these surf ponchos in a range of different sizes and different materials.
They are part poncho and part towel. They keep you warm and covered up while you change.
However, it can be difficult to know what makes a good surf poncho.
In this article, we will be going through the 5 best surf-changing ponchos that you should consider.
Best Surf Changing Poncho
Sun Cube Surf Changing Poncho With Hood
The Surf Changing Poncho with Hood made by Sun Cube, and made from 100% microfiber polyester.
This isn’t only a poncho, where you can discreetly change out of your wetsuit while still on the beach or in the parking lot. It also serves as a towel that absorbs the water from your body after being in the water.
This is an oversized poncho that is one size to fit everyone and unisex. The design of this surf changing poncho has wide arm holes and a bottom open for ease of changing of movement.
The Sun Cube Poncho is ideal for all weather conditions and the hood will keep your head warm during more colder and winder conditions. There is also a large kangaroo pocket for you to be able to store your valuables such as your phone and keys in a safe place.
The Sun Cube Surf Changing Poncho with Hood ensures that you will remain covered while changing, while also providing you with warm and comes with a sewn-in handle for easy handling.
Pros
- Made Quality Materials – Customers have raved about the great quality of this poncho. With some saying that it feels incredibly comfortable to wear.
- Easy Movement – This surf changing poncho doesn’t restrict your movement once you have it on. It doesn’t cling to your body, but instead allows you to move and change into dry clothes really easily.
- Waterproof Pocket – This poncho comes with a kangaroo pocket where you can keep your valuables safe. This pocket is also waterproof so you don’t have to worry about anything getting wet or damaged.
Cons
- One size doesn’t fit all – This poncho is one sized and unisex, however some customers have argued that the one size fits all doesnt work for everyone. If you are small in height, then poncho is very large on you and can be difficult to manage all the material. While if you are extremely tall then the poncho might appear a bit shorter on you than you’d like.
Cor Surf Changing Towel Robe with Hood and Front Pocket
The Surf Changing Poncho with Hood and Front Pocket by Cor Surf, are made from a quick-drying microfiber material. This surf changing poncho is available for adults and children.
This poncho claims to make it easy to dry off after getting out of the water and will also keep you warm.
The Cor Surf Poncho comes with a front pocket that allows you to keep your hands warm, but it is also a great place to store your belongings that you don’t want to lose. This isn’t a super large changing poncho, but you do have just enough space to get dressed after being in the water.
This poncho is also available in a range of attractive colors and designs for everyone that won’t fade. Easy to wash and will last you for a very long time.
Pros
- Durable Material – This poncho is made from microfiber material that will absorb water.
- Pocket – The Cor Surf Poncho comes with a pocket on the front, where you can put all your belongings such as keys and phone to keep them safe.
- A range of sizes – This surf changing poncho is available for adults and kids, so there is a poncho that will fit everyone.
Cons
- Uncomfortable – Some customers have claimed that this poncho isn’t very soft to wear and doesn’t absorb as much water as they’d like it to.
Catalonia Surf Poncho Changing Towel
The Surf Poncho by Catalonia is a more oversized poncho that looks simple, but it gets the job done.
This poncho will keep you warm even during the colder winter months, while also blocking out any wind. This surf changing poncho will give you plenty of room to be able to get changed while still on the beach.
Like other ponchos on this list, the Catalonia poncho absorbs water, which helps you get warm quicker and makes getting changed even easier.
The hood even helps you dry your hair quicker than before and never feels heavy after absorbing all that water. This poncho is available in twelve different colors that are suitable for both men and women.
Pros
- Soft – This poncho is soft and comfortable for anyone to wear.
- Oversized – This poncho is quite large but offers the wearer enough room for movement and to be able to change easily.
- Wind Resistance – This poncho will keep you warm in all weather conditions, but it is also wind resistant too.
Cons
- Small Neck Opening – Some customers have claimed that their poncho had a small neck opening, which made putting this poncho on a bit more difficult. Especially if they had a ponytail or a lot of hair to get through it.
- Sticky – This poncho is made from polyester and microfiber. Some customers have said that their poncho felt sticky while using it, which wasn’t a pleasant feeling when trying to dry themselves.
Lost & Leisure Surf Poncho
The Lost and Leisure Surf Poncho is made in Turkey from 100% cotton. This is a super quick drying poncho and doesn’t collect any sand.
This poncho is extremely easy to wash and will stay incredibly soft after every wash. It is incredibly absorbent and yet lightweight so you can carry around it with you with ease.
This poncho will offer you plenty of room for movement and for changing without having to worry about anything being revealed.
The Lost and Leisure Poncho comes with a hood to keep your head warm, short sleeves that makes changing easier and a front pocket that keeps your hands warm and personal belongings safe.
Alongside all of that this poncho also has the Lost and Leisure guarantee that if you aren’t happy with them they will solve your problem.
Pros
- Front pocket – This poncho has been designed with a front pocket to keep your hands warm but also provides you with space to put your valuables somewhere safe.
- Sand Resistant – You don’t have to worry about sand sticking to your poncho, as this poncho has been specially designed to repel sand.
- 100% Cotton- The Lost and Leisure Poncho is made from 100% cotton in Turkey, which provides you with an incredibly soft poncho that just gets softer and softer with each use.
- Lightweight – This poncho is very lightweight, thus making it easy to transport and carry around with you. It can also fold up quite small to be put in your bag.
Cons
- Size – Some customers have claimed that Lost and Leisure should offer a wider variety of sizes for its customers. As some customers have struggled to get the right size. However if they have encountered a problem the support team has been happy to help fix the issue.
Open Road Good Surfing Poncho
The Surfing Poncho by Open Roads Goods has a different design compared to the other ponchos on this list. This poncho has a zippered front pocket which means this pocket will keep your personal belongings even safer.
This poncho has a drawstring hood that keeps your head even warmer than before.
This is an echo-friendly poncho, as Open Road Goods has partnered with SEE Turtles, which is a non-profit organisation. This product not only helps the planet but it is still incredibly soft.
This poncho is made from 100% cotton, making it soft and durable, but it is still water-resistant and absorbs the water off your body while you change.
With large head and arm openings and quite long in length, the Open Road Goods Poncho will make changing in and out of your wetsuit easy. You no longer have to worry about anything being revealed.
Pros
- Eco-Friendly – Money from this sale goes towards the non-profit organization SEE Turtles.
- 100% Cotton – This poncho is made from 100% cotton, making it incredibly soft to wear and water resistant.
- Zipper Front Pocket – The Open Road Goods Poncho has a zipper front pocket, which makes putting your belongings in that pocket a lot safer. Also you don’t have to worry about them falling out and losing them.
Cons
- Small Hood – Some customers have claimed that the hood on this poncho is a bit too small. The hood is still wearable, but instead of all the weight of the poncho on your shoulders, all the weight is transferred onto your head.
Buyers Guide
It can be super annoying when you get out of the water, and your towel keeps falling off your shoulders while you try to change. A surf poncho helps eliminate the chance of you flashing your body for the public to see.
There are lots of surf changing ponchos to choose from as they do help make changing in and out of your wetsuit a lot easier.
However, there are some important elements to consider when buying your surf changing poncho.
Material
The material that your poncho is made from is extremely important. It is the first thing that you should look at.
You want a poncho that is comfortable to wear and that will keep you warm. The material this is used will also tell you about the poncho’s durability and how long it will last.
The poncho is the thing that you want to go straight away as you come out of the water, so making sure that you choose the right material is really important.
The most common materials that you will come across will be pure cotton and microfiber.
From the ponchos you have seen above, these ponchos are made from either of these two materials. This ensures you that the poncho will help keep you warm and absorb some of that water from your body.
There are other materials that do come up like terry cloth. However what material you choose might also depend on where you will be taking the poncho.
Microfiber is quite lightweight so it makes it easy to travel with and carry around. Compared to cotton, which is still light to carry around but it is much heavier compared to microfiber.
Choosing the right material is incredibly important because you need to make sure that you get it right.
Water Absorption
Not only should your poncho be comfortable and provide you with privacy, but the poncho should also be water absorbent. Ponchos are another form of beach towel that keeps you dry while you wear them.
You want a poncho that can absorb most, if not all the water on your skin. This then makes changing even easier. This again comes down to the material of the poncho that you choose.
However, it is something to consider: how absorbent is this poncho?
Size
These ponchos are about helping you change in and out of your wetsuit with ease. Most surf ponchos are one size, but there are some brands that offer sizes.
When it comes to choosing a size for a poncho, you should go for a larger poncho than a smaller one. This is to provide you with plenty of room and space to be able to change easily.
Also, length is important, as you want to make sure that your poncho covers every part of you, even when you are bending over.
This may be something that people forget, but when you are changing, you will sometimes bend over. So you need to make sure that your poncho will still cover everything when you aren’t just standing up straight.
Although if your poncho is naturally very long, try to have one with slits up the sides, this makes taking wetsuits a lot easier. This is because you have more access and more room to pull your clothes on or off.
Design
Ponchos also come in a wide range of colors and sometimes designs, so you’ll always be able to find something that you like. Most surf changing ponchos have a hood, which helps dry your hair and keep your head warm.
Some ponchos will have a pocket. This design choice is quite handy to have as it means you can put valuable belongings in there and don’t have to worry about losing them or them getting wet.
As these pockets are normally waterproof. A pocket isn’t essential, but it is a lot handier than you think sometimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Surf Ponchos for?
A surf poncho is a mixture of a lot of things. They are a towel, clothing, and a changing room all in one. They are wearable towel that helps dry you off once you get out of the water.
They also give you enough room to be able to change in and out of your wet clothes while on the beach. Ponchos are much more reliable and a quicker alternative to beach towels.
What Size Do I Buy For My Surf Poncho?
Finding the right size is important. You’ll find a lot of brands are one size, but some do offer other sizes. You don’t need to worry too much about the perfect fit, because ponchos are meant to be oversized.
You want a poncho that isn’t too large or too small. You need to make sure that our poncho will give you enough room to be able to change in and out of wet clothes with ease.
The idea is that your poncho is large enough to cover your entire body so that nothing can be seen while you are changing.
Conclusion
You may wonder if surf ponchos are really worth it. Well, they are becoming more popular as they help you change in and out of your wet clothes with ease and privacy.
They are more reliable than a normal beach towel. So you no longer have to worry about your towel falling down in public.
They also help keep you a lot warmer and some are even wind-resistant. The material you choose from your poncho is the most important element.
There is a wide range of ponchos to choose from and you’ll find that your poncho will become a part of your surfing gear to bring with you every time you go to the beach.
This article has given you the best 5 surf changing ponchos on the market right now, which will give you an insight of what you need to look for in your perfect surf changing poncho.
