If you find yourself often getting changed outside in carparks or on beaches, then what you need is something to stand on and something to hold your wet gear. Outdoor swimming expert, Rowan Clarke, tests them out some of the best swim or surf change mats
The best change mat is one that you’ll take with you every time you head out. You can keep it in the back of your car or van ready for action or it can be used to tote your swim gear to and from your swim, to your washing machine and back to action again.
I’ve often cursed myself for standing in a carpark trying to balance on a flimsy plastic carrier bag attempting to avoid getting too much sand on my wet gear, on my wet feet or simply hopping around like a fool trying to remove a wet boot that is vacuumed on. So I set out to find the right change mat that will be ever present and a useful place to store my wet gear after coastal rowing or paddle boarding.
Being outdoors in nature is what makes outdoor swimming a joy and brings so many health benefits. But wild swimming usually means wild changing. And that can leave you feeling exposed, and compromise how easily you warm up post-cold water dip. That’s where having the right kit is so important.
For that post-swim warm-up, your mind goes straight to changing robes. But what about your feet? Having something to stand on while you get changed will help keep your feet warm and dry, which aids your warm-up. It will also protect your feet from rough surfaces and, after you’ve changed, give you somewhere to put your kit to keep it from getting dirty or damaged.
Unless you’ve got a small baby, you’ve probably not given much thought to changing mats. Not unlike baby changing mats, they’re usually designed to have a waterproof element and they often have a soft, warm surface to stand on. Some double up as bags for carrying your kit home too – scroll down to my buying guide for help choosing a changing mat.
At a glance
Best changing mat for warmth: dryrobe Changing Mat
Best changing mat for wetsuit wearers: LOMO Changing Mat Bag – Drysuit and Wetsuit Bag
Best sustainably made changing mat: byBettyBlue The Pasty Wet Bag Changing Mat
1/ LOMO Changing Mat Bag – Drysuit and Wetsuit Bag
Best changing mat for wetsuit wearers
Specifications:
- Tough material
- Comfortable carrying straps
- Wide changing area
- Dimensions: 88cm x 43.5cm (when closed), 88cm x 87cm (when open)
Reasons to buy: Tough and durable, zips up into a bag, carry handle, large changing space
Reasons to avoid: Not particularly insulating against cold ground, no edges to stop stones from getting on the mat
Made from tough material, this changing mat would work on any terrain—plus, you can carry your wet kit home afterwards.
We love the idea of using a changing mat to prevent your kit from getting damaged. Lomo’s offering is super durable and made from thick fabric. It zips open to give you plenty of space to stand—or sit—and change.
The best part is that you can leave your wet kit on the mat, zip it up, and take it home without getting your dry stuff wet. We found it easily carried a swimsuit, wetsuit, hat, and goggles.
I knocked off a star because it doesn’t offer much insulation from the cold ground in winter and without edges, stones get inside – but I was being fussy.
2/ Orca Changing Mat Accessory
Best lightweight changing mat for lots of kit
Specifications:
- Drawstring opening
- Attached carrier bag
- Dimensions: Open, 75 cm in diameter; folded 10 x 10 x 15 cm
Reasons to buy: Tough and durable, packs down small, super lightweight, large changing space, high edges, carries all your wet kit
Reasons to avoid: Not insulating against cold ground
This brilliant changing mat packs down super small – and then opens up to create a large changing area. Perfect if you have lots of kit as you can change out of it on the mat, leave it by your feet and still have plenty of space. You can also fit a wetsuit, swimwear, booties, gloves, hat and goggles inside to take home.
It packs down into a tiny carry bag. But, the payoff for being so lightweight is that there’s very little insulation against the cold ground. The inside gets wet too, but this is easily remedied by putting down a towel.
This was my favourite changing mat for longer swims in a wetsuit. I liked the drawstring closure more than a zip – it was easy to bundle up my wet kit after a swim.
3/ dryrobe Changing Mat
Best changing mat for warmth
Specifications:
- Water-repellent outer shell fabric, made with 100% recycled nylon
- Ultra-soft synthetic lambswool lining, made with 100% recycled polyester
- PFC-free BIONIC-FINISH®ECO water-repellent treatment
- Compact – easily packs away using the attached elastic strap
- Machine washable
- Dimensions: Open, 60cm x 60cm
Reasons to buy: Tough and durable, packs down small, lightweight, warm fleecy changing surface, machine washable
Reasons to avoid: Small changing area
When it comes to post-swimming training, dryrobe knows its business. And this handy little changing mat feels like a luxury for your cold feet.
Changing mats are all about protecting your feet – from rough surfaces and from the cold and wet. This is why I love dryrobe’s changing mat. It’s a simple design, but the water-repellent ground-side layer with the soft, warm fleece to stand on is an absolute winner.
I would like it to be about twice the size. But, the advantage of it being small is that it doesn’t take up much space in your kit bag.
4/ byBettyBlue The Pasty Wet Bag Changing Mat
Best sustainably made changing mat
Specifications:
- Waterproof zipped bag
- Large changing area
- Fully waterproof hard wearing outer canvas
- Warm waterproof Softshell lining with light fleece backing
- Different length straps – choose from 3 lengths when ordering
- Can be personalised with professional embroidery
- Wipe clean or wash at 30 and air dry.
- Dimension: 2m circumference. Folds down to 30cm by 20cm
Reasons to buy: Handmade by an independent seller, tough and durable, zips up into a bag, carry handle, large changing space, waterproof, attractive designs
Reasons to avoid: More expensive, the zip is fiddly
I always search for independent, sustainably-made kit and came up trumps with this gorgeous changing mat. By far the best-looking changing mat on the market, this beauty is functional too.
In a marketplace dominated by the colour black, finding such an aesthetically pleasing changing mat is a delight. Handmade in Cornwall by a sea swimmer, this changing mat is made from three layers – a tough, waterproof canvas, fleece and then a waterproof softshell.
Insulating and tough, it has a large changing area. And, once changed, there’s plenty of space to zip up your kit to carry it home.
You can unzip it completely, but I did find working the zip with cold hands tricky. It’s also a bit pricey, but for such a great item from an independent seller, it’s worth every penny.
5/ Après Plunge Stepping Stone Changing Mat
Best changing mat for drying cold feet
Specifications:
- Polar fleece top layer
- Water resistant backing
- Available in Black Moss Pot: Dark Green or Blue Lagoon: Dark Blue
- Machine washable
- Retro elasticated strap for packing
- Dimension: 47cm diameter
Reasons to buy: Handmade by an independent seller, warm fleece drying surface, packs down small
Reasons to avoid: Long turnaround time because it’s made on demand
I love Après Plunge for its super-cosy limited edition post-swim fleece dungarees, so I was delighted to find that they use leftover fabric to make cosy changing mats.
With a water-resistant soft-shell backing, this changing mat gives good protection against cold, wet and rough ground. But it’s the toasty polar fleece top layer that your feet will appreciate the most. Wicking away moisture, it feels luxurious and warm after a cold swim.
You’ll have to wait 2-4 weeks for your new changing mat to be made, but for a lovely changing mat from an independent maker, it’s totally worth the wait.
Rip Curl Wettie Changing Mat
Specifications: Size: 100cm x 60cm, Large for surf gear, Roll-up design with carry handle, made from neoprene
Reasons to buy: basic neoprene mat, rolls up, small funky graphics, doubles up as a boot liner
Reasons to avoid: this is only a mat and not a bag, you’ll need somewhere to put your wet gear
Some people like to use a dry bag or float bag to stow their wet gear after swimming so a simple neoprene mat to stand on while you get changed is ideal for that person.
The Rip Curl mat rolls up relatively small and comes with a carry handle.
FCS Wet Bag Change Mat
Specifications: Roll-up drawstring design with adjustable straps
Reasons to buy: low cost, basic design, simple and easy to use
Reasons to avoid: dark colour might not appeal to everyone, fully closed change mats/bags can cause wet gear to turn sour if left for too long
The FCS swim change mat is a tried and tested popular design. The simple disc shape has a draw string closure. Stand on the disc, get changed and the draw the string tight so that it contains all of your wet gear. There’s not much else to it.
THE TURTLEBACK BAG
Specifications: insulated mat, drawstring access, waterproof, rucksack straps, 70cm diameter base, 80L capacity approx
Reasons to buy: low cost, basic design, simple and easy to use
Reasons to avoid: dark colour might not appeal to everyone, fully closed change mats/bags can cause wet gear to turn sour if left for too long
The Turtleback bag from Swim Feral is handmade in Lancashire UK from recycled lorry tarpaulin. It comes in a range of bright and easy to see colours.
The bag capacity is enough for a person to sit in the bag as well as stand to get changed. It can also used to sit on the beach or rocky river side before or after changing.
This substantial and well made bag can hold quite a lot of gear and has internal organiser pockets.
It has been well thought out by people who cold water swim. Though you will pay a higher price for the turtleback bag than other simpler designs, you do get what you pay for and we think it’s a great investment for your cold water swimming adventures. There’s a social media channel with people sharing their pictures of them using the bag and a whole group of like minded people to join socially too.
Ocean & Earth Compact Change Mat
Specifications: Roll-up drawstring design with adjustable straps
Reasons to buy: low cost, basic design, simple and easy to use
Reasons to avoid: Reasons to avoid: dark colour might not appeal to everyone, fully closed change mats/bags can cause wet gear to turn sour if left for too long
Ocean and Earth is a recognised brand name that can be seen on a wide range of watersports gear. Their change mat is a simple draw string design with a securing buckle and handles.
The mat part is sturdy tarp material. As with other mats of this style, simply drop your wet gear onto the mat, step aside, pull the draw string and everything is contained.
Fourth Element DryBase Changing Mat
Specifications: 120cm x 95cm, rolls up and secures with elastic loops, PVC
Reasons to buy: extra large surface to change on, rolls away small
Reasons to avoid: may be a little on the large side for some, this isn’t a bag so you’ll need something additional to carry your wet gear in.
The Fourth Element change mat is the biggest of the options I’ve gathered for you in this buyers guide. Though it’s made from PVC and isn’t particularly padded, it does give a large surface to get changed on and it’s pretty certain that you wont get your wet kit dirty. It’s large enough to put dive kit on or any amount of swim kit. In fact it’s probably big enough for two to share. It comes with a bag made of the same material and the mat rolls away neatly into it’s own bag.
Mi Adventure Changing Bucket
Specifications: sturdy flexi bucket style change mat, base diameter 46cm, wall height 38cm.
Reasons to buy: low cost, basic design, simple and easy to use, open top means wet clothes can breath are less likely to go stale quickly
Reasons to avoid: some might find it a bit constricting to stand on such a small spot inside a bucket, if you have bulky wetsuit or towel it might struggle with capacity
The Mi Adventure is a waterproof bucket that is big enough to stand in while you get changed. You simply drop your wet gear into the bucket. If the bucket is too hard to stand in, for example if you are on a really uneven terrain then we recommend teaming it up with a separate change mat. The bright colour options mean you’ll never be confused which bag is yours on the river bag or beach.
Buying guide: How to choose the right cold water swimming changing mat
Your changing mat is one piece of kit where you can be creative. I’ve seen swimmers standing on chopped-up yoga mats, camping rolls and shower mats, or using hand towels or changing mats intended for babies. Any of these will provide you with some protection from cold concrete, rocky beaches or wet, muddy riverbanks. However, if you want tough, waterproof protection, it’s worth investing in a purpose-made changing mat.
Fit for purpose
Whatever you stand on to change post-swim, you need protection from three elements – the cold, wet and dirt or debris. This isn’t just about protecting your feet, but your swimming kit as well. So, you need a changing mat that’s waterproof and big enough to stand or sit on.
As well as covering these essentials, you can also consider:
- Edges: do you want a changing mat that’s flat against the ground or that has raised edges? Consider the trip hazard vs stopping stones and dirt from getting onto the mat.
- Drying: Some changing mats have a top layer made from fleece that’s warm and wicks away moisture.
- Portability: Would you rather pack your changing mat down small and put it in your kit bag or have a changing mat that doubles as a wet kit bag?
Clean and dry
As the layer between your feet and the rough ground, think about how you’ll clean your changing mat. Being able to wipe it clean between swims is very valuable, but if you have a fleecy mat, you may need to pop it in the washing machine. If you prefer something wipe-clean, you can always put a small towel on top of it for that warm, drying layer.
A treat for your feet
Too often, we neglect our feet. But, whether you wear shoes or socks in the water or not, putting a layer between the cold ground and your feet will make your post-swim changing experience so much more comfortable. I find that having warm, dry feet after a cold swim makes a huge difference to how well I warm up.
What to look for in a changing mat:
Material and Durability
Look for changing mats made from durable, waterproof, and easy-to-clean materials. Neoprene or rubberized materials are commonly used and can withstand the harsh surf environment. PVC is easier to wash or brush sand off.
Size and Shape
Ensure the mat is large enough to accommodate your swim, surf or sports gear.
Portability
Consider how easy it is to transport. Look for built-in handles or straps for convenience.
Non-Slip Features
A good changing mat should have a non-slip bottom to prevent it from moving around on the sand or wet surfaces.
Pockets and Compartments
Some mats come with pockets or compartments for storing keys, wax, sunscreen, or other small essentials. This can be a handy feature.
Easy to Clean
Sand and saltwater can be messy. Choose a mat that’s easy to clean and dries quickly. Look for options that are machine washable.
Versatility
Some changing mats can double as wetsuit bags or carryalls. This can be a valuable feature for minimizing the gear you need to carry.
Environmental Considerations
If you’re eco-conscious, look for mats made from sustainable materials or brands that follow eco-friendly manufacturing practices.