What is a Towel Hoodie?

What is a towel hoodie?

A towel hoodie is a towel you wear. It's cut like a loose, oversized hoodie, usually pull-on with a hood and often a front pocket, but it's made from towelling instead of sweatshirt fleece.

That fabric is the whole point. A regular hoodie is built to keep you warm when you're dry. A towel hoodie is built to dry you off and keep you warm when you're not. Most are made from cotton terry towelling: the same looped fabric as a good bath towel, which soaks up water fast and stays soft against damp skin.

The other difference is the cut. A towel hoodie is roomy on purpose, long enough to cover you well past the hips and wide enough to get your arms inside for a change. Try doing that in your favourite hoodie.

What are towel hoodies called? 

You know the one. Big, soft, hood on top, pulled on over wet togs at the beach while you wriggle out of them underneath. Everyone's got a name for it. Nobody's name is the same.

This is where it gets messy. Depending on who you ask and where you grew up, the same thing goes by: 

• Hooded towel: the most common name, and what you'll usually find it listed as in store 
• Towel hoodie or towelling hoodie: popular when it's cut more like a garment, with sleeves and a pocket
• Terry hoodie: named after the terry towelling fabric 
• Surf poncho: the go-to among surfers, especially for sleeveless or wide-cut styles 
• Beach poncho: same idea, less wetsuit 
• Changing robe or changing poncho: used for longer styles made for getting changed in public 
• Hooded beach towel or kids' hooded towel: the classic version for little ones after the pool 

They're all describing the same idea: a towel with a hood you can wear. The name mostly comes down to the cut (sleeves or no sleeves, short or long) and who's wearing it.

What are towel hoodies used for?

Anywhere you get wet and don't want to stay that way.

At the beach. Out of the water, hood up, straight on. No towel blowing down the sand, no trying to hold it around yourself while you eat a pie.

After a surf. The early morning or late arvo session where the wind's picked up and the carpark's full. Get out of the wettie under cover, stay warm while you pack up.

After swimming. Lake, river, pool, ocean. Throw it on and you're dry and decent for the walk back to the car.

Kids at the pool. This is where they really earn their keep. Kids can pull one on themselves, it stays put, and they're warm while you round up the rest of the gear. Getting changed underneath without a fuss is a win for everyone.

Camping and road trips. Keep one in the car. You'll use it more than you think.

What to look for in a towel hoodie?

Not all towel hoodies are made equal. A few things make the difference between one that lasts a summer and one that lasts years.

Fabric weight. Thicker towelling absorbs more water and feels warmer. Thin towelling dries faster but won't do much after a cold swim. For New Zealand water, heavier is usually better. Look for 100% cotton for absorbency and softness.

Hood size. You want a hood that actually fits over wet hair and sits well, not a token one that falls straight back off. A decent hood keeps the wind off your head and ears, which matters more than you'd expect.

Length. It needs to be long enough to get changed under. For adults, that means well past the hips. For kids, it should give room to grow. Too short and it's just a damp jumper.

Pocket depth. A kangaroo pocket is handy for keys, sunnies, or a kids' collection of shells. Make sure it's deep enough that nothing falls out when you bend down. 

Build quality. Check the edges. Reinforced binding on the hood, sleeves and openings stops the towelling from fraying and stretching out after a season of sand and salt.

Swanndri's hooded towels

We've been making gear for New Zealand conditions since 1913. Our hooded towels are built the same way: made to be used, not just looked at.

The Sumner Hooded Towel for Adults is ultra plush 100% cotton towelling in our woven jacquard check, with a kangaroo pocket for, you know, stuff. The hood, sleeves and opening are all reinforced and bound so it holds up to years of beach days.

For the little ones, the Kids' Corsair Hooded Towel does the same job in a smaller size.

Whatever you call it, you'll use it. Shop the full range of hooded towels here.