Advnture Verdict
This is a slightly shorter changing robe than some of the others we've tested, which makes it easier to stride in. It's a heavy duty hardshell robe, which means it's not lightweight, but it should be very durable. The cozy fleece lining does a great job of keeping you warm after you've emerged from a chilly swim, but it could use a larger phone pocket.
Pros
- +
Shorter length makes it easier to walk in than longer robes
- +
Great price for the spec
- +
Nice logo on the back
- +
YKK two way zips
Cons
- -
Chest pocket is too small for some phones
- -
Hood and cuffs aren't adjustable
- -
No zip garage at neck
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Alpkit Haven changing robe: first impressions
Although changing robes all seem to sit within a fairly narrow price bracket, the difference in spec between them continues to surprise me. The Alpkit Haven lives somewhere in the middle in terms of features, and its price reflects that - it feels like a fair equation. Unlike many other changing robes out there, the Haven has a hardshell outer, and so is well equipped to keep windchill at bay.
However, the mid-range price comes at the cost of a few elements I'm always keen to see in a changing robe. More on that shortly...
Sizing
• List price: £129.99 (UK)
• Materials: Outer 100% polyester shell with PU coating, 5,000mm hydrostatic head; Inner 100% 130gsm polyester fleece
• Gender availability: Unisex
• Sizes: S-XL
• Weight (M): 1.6kg / 3.5lb
• Colors: Black, Reed
Size guides for changing robes are often based on height, as they are all so oversized, but the Alpkit size guide was based on hip and chest measurement so I picked the Large to test.
This fitted me well, with plenty of room for changing in, but I found the length a little shorter than other changing robes I've tested, sitting pretty much on my knee. I'm 5ft 10in tall (1.76m), and with a unisex garment I'd expect it to fit an average man (5ft 9in in the US and UK!) at a longer length than this.
This isn't always a bad thing - changing robes can feel a little clumsy to walk in and a shorter length helps with this. But if you're after a robe with more coverage then you may want to try Red Equipment's Evo Pro robe instead, which I found to be a few inches longer (and in that robe I was testing a Medium). Alpkit adds 2in / 5cm in length per size, so if you're between sizes and want extra coverage, it's worth sizing up. The Haven is a little longer at the back, so that when you are sitting down you still get plenty of bum coverage.
Staying warm and dry
With a hydrostatic head rating of 5,000mm, the Alpkit Haven doesn't have a particularly high level of waterproofing, although its fleecy lining will also repel water to a certain extent. However, what doesn't look so impressive on paper, performed well in practice, and I've never noticed any seepage when I've been wearing it. The fleece lining is chunkier than that used in some other changing robes I've tried recently, and I found this garment to be very warm when I needed it most.
Where the garment is a little let down is in its lack of ability to cinch the hood and cuffs tight - there are no draw cords or velcro tabs to help you here. It also lacks a zip baffle, which would help keep the wind out better. And there's no zip garage at the neck, so do watch up when zipping up not to get your hair or skin caught.
Weight and packability
The Haven is a fairly chunky robe - if you roll it into your dry bag you won't have room for much else. But, like most of the best wild swimming gear, it's not designed with hiking in mind, and so it isn't reasonable to expect it to be very packable. This is a robe to saunter to the beach in. You might call it into action for double duties like walking the dog or doing the school run on a winter's day. I've also taken to wearing my changing robe round the camp fire - just watch out for sparks with all that synthetic fabric!
Weight wise it once again sits in the mid-range of other models - it uses a pretty chunky 130gsm fleece as a liner, but this doesn't seem to weigh it down.
Care
You can machine wash the Haven, although be aware that it will likely lose waterproofing after half a dozen cycles. I honestly don't wash my changing robes more than once a year. You can just wipe any muck off the outer, and in theory you're always going to be wearing layers inside - a bathing suit, a wetsuit, or day clothes if you're using it for other purposes. It takes a long time for a changing robe to get truly dirty.
Storage
The Alpkit Haven comes with two handwarmer pockets, a zipped chest pocket, and also has a large mesh patch pocket on the inside, that's ostensibly for your wet suit, but doubles up well as a hot water bottle pocket.
So far, so standard, except I could not get my phone into the chest pocket completely. My phone is a pretty average smartphone, at 6.5in / 16cm long and 3in / 7.5cm wide. So if your phone is smaller than that you should be fine, but it's worth checking if you're trying this on in a shop. It'll fit your keys and a small wallet, but there's no other pocket with a zip that you can put a phone in.
Getting changed
Getting changed in the Haven was relatively easy. The wide sleeves and double-ended zip meant I didn't have any kind of battle getting out of my bathing suit with my dignity intact. A slightly longer robe is preferable when it comes to getting changed - you're less likely to accidentally flash someone! But it did its job well and has earned a place in my changing robe rotation for colder days.
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