The $295/£225 Dryrobe Nexus is a new spin on the company’s iconic changing robe and I’ve been testing out one for a few weeks now. It’s not hard to see who the company is aiming at – people who wear Dryrobes as everyday coats instead of people who just want to change on the beach or riverside.
You don’t need to go far to see changing robes being used as winter or spring coats these days; they’re a standard part of the scenery at most sporting fixtures where they adorn substitutes and bored parents. But while
Dryrobe’s standard Advance is excellent and super warm, not everyone needs that level of insulation and toweling ability on a regular basis.
So enter the Nexus – it’s much more like a standard insulated coat and, crucially, it packs down a lot smaller than a standard Dryrobe. It’s a whole lot more wearable for the walk to the café or manhandling the dog down the canal path. Dryrobe also produces the much lighter Tech-lite, too, but it’s best to think of the Nexus as a hybrid coat between worlds, where you don’t have to change coat between doing sport and meeting friends.
In use, I can certainly confirm that it’s fairly light in comparison to my other Dryrobe which is ideal for damp days at the beach. But I don’t wear it as a general coat at all, because it’s just too big – and that’s the market Dryrobe is aiming for with the Nexus; those that would wear it out and about during rainy days.
The branding has been toned down, meaning that it doesn’t seem so overtly outdoor. It also has a bit more of a tailored fit, which suits me well. As such isn’t quite so roomy for changing; I guess you could say this is a compromise, but if you’re doing very occasional outdoor activities, you’ll still be able to use it for that.
The lining is a lighter-weight fleece, but it is still intended to be fast drying and keep you warm after you’ve been in the water. It obviously isn’t going to be the best option for regular surfers or outdoor swimmers compared to a normal robe. You also get the usual Dryrobe quality finish, with things like YKK Aquaguard zips.
The super-durable windproof outer material is tear-resistant and, happily, fully recycled with 30,000mm waterproofing and it’s treated to be water repellent. It’s clearly designed for a long life and it boasts an epic three-year guarantee that a lot of rivals just don’t match.
Dryrobe talks about the Nexus as being at home on the commute, but I don’t quite see that – I’d say it isn’t a coat for the metro or bus. You’re much more likely to wear something lighter for that, I’d argue and the Nexus is probably too casual for a lot of offices.
But if you’re someone who’s in the market for a do-it-all jacket, you’d do much worse than to plump for the Nexus, which comes in just two colour finishes at present – the black I have as well as a two-tone Dual Camouflage/Orange you can see in the main pic above.
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