We Tested Five Things to Wear After a Swim. Here's What Actually Works.

You have just got out of the pool. Wet skin, cool air, and the post swim chill arriving faster than you expected. You need something to put on. What do you reach for?

Most swimmers have tried a few different options over the years. Some work better than others. Some barely work at all. We tested five of the most common choices to find out what actually happens to your body in those critical first minutes after getting out of the water.

Option 1: Just a Towel

"Can't I just dry off with my towel?"

A towel is better than nothing. It absorbs surface water quickly and gives you something to wrap around yourself while you figure out what to do next. But it has two problems.

First, it stops insulating almost immediately once it becomes damp, which happens fast when you are using it to dry off after a swim. Second, it does nothing for warmth. A towel moves water from one place to another. It does not hold heat in or protect you from the wind.

Most swimmers who rely on a towel alone are still cold five minutes after getting out. The towel bought them a little time but did not solve the problem.

Option 2: A Changing Robe

"I already have a changing robe. Isn't that enough?"

A changing robe is genuinely useful. It gives you privacy to change, adds warmth and keeps the wind off. For changing, it does exactly what it is designed to do.

The problem is that it goes on over wet skin. The moisture sits underneath while the robe traps warmth on top of it. Warmth sitting on top of damp skin cannot reach the body the way it needs to. The chill continues underneath, often for longer than swimmers expect.

A changing robe also leaves the legs completely exposed while you are changing underneath it. For swimmers, that is where the cold hits hardest.

If you want to understand exactly how a changing robe compares to dedicated recovery clothing, we wrote about it in detail here. 

Option 3: Cotton Joggers or Tracksuit Bottoms

"What about my normal joggers from home?"

Cotton feels soft and comfortable, which is why a lot of swimmers reach for their everyday joggers after training. But cotton has a significant problem in a post-swim context. It absorbs moisture and holds onto it.

If your skin is still damp when you pull on cotton joggers, the moisture transfers into the fabric and stays there. Cotton does not wick moisture away from the skin. It sits against damp skin and keeps it damp. In cool or windy conditions, that accelerates heat loss rather than preventing it.

Cotton joggers are fine for sitting on the sofa. They are not designed for the wet to dry transition after swimming.

Option 4: Nylon or Polyester Tracksuit Bottoms

"What about my normal sports joggers?"

Standard sports tracksuit bottoms in nylon or polyester are better than cotton. They do not absorb moisture in the same way, which means they do not get heavy and damp against the skin. They also add some warmth and protection from the wind.

The limitation is that they do not actively manage moisture. They sit against the skin without doing anything to pull water away from it. The skin stays damp underneath and heat loss continues, just slightly more slowly than with cotton.

For a short walk to the changing room they are adequate. For standing poolside or on a riverbank for any length of time, they do not do enough.

We actually tested DRYRZ against standard nylon tracksuit bottoms in a real-world experiment measuring skin temperature, moisture and warmth retention. The results are worth seeing before you decide.

Option 5: BambooLayer™ Recovery Joggers

"So what actually works?"

The BambooLayer™ Recovery Joggers were designed specifically for the post-swim moment. The bamboo towelling lining sits next to the skin and absorbs moisture immediately on contact, up to 60% faster than cotton. Rather than sitting against damp skin, it pulls the moisture away from it.

The wind resistant outer layer then holds warmth in while the lining works underneath. Both problems, moisture and warmth, are solved at the same time rather than one after the other.

The zip-open leg means they go on in seconds over a wet swimsuit, before you have even thought about changing. By the time most swimmers are ready to get dressed, the BambooLayer™ Recovery Joggers have already done most of their work.

They also cover the legs immediately on exit, which none of the other options do as effectively. For pool swimmers and open water swimmers alike, that matters.

The Verdict

A towel buys you time. A changing robe helps you change. Cotton joggers keep you comfortable later. Standard sports joggers do a reasonable job in a pinch.

None of them were designed for the two minutes after getting out of the water when the post swim chill is at its worst.

The BambooLayer™ Recovery Joggers were. That is the difference.

Shop the BambooLayer™ Recovery Joggers and BambooLayer™ Recovery Top at www.dryrz.co.uk