15 best hooded towels to buy for an Australian summer
The Oodie isn't just for winter, with their hooded beach towel becoming a fan favourite for the beach, camping and everything in between.
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You’ve just come out of the ocean or pool, you’re dripping wet, freezing cold, and looking for the perfect towel to warm you up. Enter the hooded towel.
Popular among children, but now becoming the norm for adults too, a hooded towel is exactly what its name suggests – a towel with a hood on it. Think of it is a big, fluffy poncho that’s designed to keep you feeling dry and warm you up after a cold swim.
A fan favourite at the moment is The Oodie Poncho Towel, with bold designs fans have come to know and love from the brand and UPF 50+ certification for great sun protection. For the kids, the Cotton On Kids Short Sleeve Hooded Towel is a popular choice with heaps of fun prints that they'll love to wear around the pool.
We’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up the best hooded towels on the market right now. See our top picks for both adults and children at a range of different price points.
OUR TOP PICKS
Best hooded towel
The Oodie Poncho Towel, $39 (down from $79) at The Oodie
The Oodie Poncho Towel, $39 (down from $79) at The Oodie
What You Need To Know
Made by iconic hoodie company The Oodie, this hooded towel is a favourite with many bold patterns and comfort oversized fit. It has large pockets to store your sunscreen or snacks for the day and a drawstring bag is included. Even better is its UPF 50+ certification which provides added sun protection.
Sky Grazer Hooded Towel Poncho, $84.99 at THE ICONIC
Sky Grazer Hooded Towel Poncho, $84.99 at THE ICONIC
What You Need To Know
Boasting a five star rating on THE ICONIC, this Sky Grazer Hooded Towel Poncho is a popular choice for good reason. It is made from a unique SandResist fabric trademarked by the brand that prevents sand from sticking and minimises odour and bacteria growth.It also promises to absorb triple its weight in water while drying three times as fast as cotton.
It is also an extremely fashionable option, with a huge selection of colours and designs to choose from as well as a belt waist tie included for added style.
N/Z Towel Changing Robe, $23.86 at Amazon Australia
N/Z Towel Changing Robe, $23.86 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Not only does this affordable hooded towel from Amazon promise to be super soft and absorbent, but it also comes in loads of fabulous colours.
Five star reviews say it is “so handy” for activities like camping.
“Fantastic light weight and super absorbent hooded towel. Have already bought another one!” another shopper wrote.
The hooded towel offers large arm holes and a wide bottom opening for ease of movement, so you can even use the towel as your own personal changing room. There’s plenty of space to keep yourself covered while you dry your body and get changed after the beach.
We also love that it’s super easy to fold and store, so you can just throw it in your bag and hit the beach.
Billabong Hooded Towel, $55.99 (down from $69.99) at THE ICONIC
Billabong Hooded Towel, $55.99 (down from $69.99) at THE ICONIC
What You Need To Know
Billabong is an iconic Australian surf brand, so it's no wonder their hooded towel is one of the best available. This pick is made from 100 per cent microfibre cotton, so it’s going to do an excellent job at keeping you dry after a swim and shielding you from the cool wind.
Best zip hooded towel
Parallaxx All Weather Surf Poncho, 99.99 at Amazon Australia
Parallaxx All Weather Surf Poncho, $99.99 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
This waterproof zipper Parallaxx All Weather Surf Poncho looks similar to a typical winter parka with long sleeves with velcro cuffs for extra warmth. It also has an internal pocket to stow away your keys and phone while heading for the water.
One Amazon buyer raves about the how it feels, saying "From the time you unpack the product you can feel it is made of durable good quality material." They also add "It’s so comfortable that I sometimes don’t even want to get out of it!"
Speedo Women's Fitness Zip Towel, $71.28 at Amazon Australia
Speedo Women’s Fitness Zip Towel, $71.28 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
This Speedo zip towel is made from an absorbent terry cloth for quick drying following a long swim at the local pool. Its 3/4 length sleeve and UV Burn the Block technology adds extra sun protection against UV rays.
One shopper revealed it's different to a traditional towel, saying "It's not the material of a towel (which I was hoping), but it is absorbent. You can throw it on over your wet bathing suit, and it never feels like the robe is wet."
Best bright and stylish hooded towel
Topanga Aruba Hooded Towel, $59.99 at City Beach
Topanga Aruba Hooded Towel, $59.99 at City Beach
What You Need To Know
Add some fun and colour to your life with this fabulous printed hooded towel from City Beach. It’s made from 100 per cent cotton, so you know it will do a stellar job of drying your body, plus it comes with side pockets. Who doesn’t love garments with pockets?
Rip Curl Premium Surf Hooded Towel, $129.99 at Rip Curl
Rip Curl Premium Surf Hooded Towel, $129.99 at Rip Curl
What You Need To Know
Ideal for slipping on post surf session, this Rip Curl towel is described as having a "relaxed fit" with a simple colour block design. What stands out most is how functional and versatile it is, with four built-in pockets: a main pouch pocket with an inner stash pocket and two side pockets.
One buyer loves wearing theirs after a swim to stay warm thanks to its quick drying large size. Giving it five stars, they say it's "so thick and cozy compared to regular surf ponchos."
Roxy Stay Magical Hooded Towel, $89.99 at City Beach
Roxy Stay Magical Hooded Towel, $89.99 at City Beach
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Iconic summer brand Roxy has done it again with their Stay Magical Hooded Towel. It's bold blue pattern will be a fashionable favourite relaxing on the sand or drying off by the pool.
It is also one of the biggest adult hooded towels on the market,with a large pouch pocket on the front and a total length of 151cm. This will make drying faster while providing additional sun protection.
Best kids hooded towel
Cotton On Kids Short Sleeve Hooded Towel, $29.99 at THE ICONIC
Cotton On Kids Short Sleeve Hooded Towel, $29.99 at THE ICONIC
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
If you’re looking to treat your child to an adorable hooded towel (but don’t want to break the bank) head straight on over to Cotton On Kids. This pick is made from a super soft and absorbent cotton terry towelling with an oversized hood. It also comes in a range of cool colours and designs, so they can find the exact pattern they love.
Target Kids Hooded Beach Towel, $18 at Target
Target Kids Hooded Beach Towel, $18 at Target
What You Need To Know
Target are the masters in cute kids fashions, and their kids hooded beach towels are no exception. With five star reviews, this towel made from Australian cotton with an external soft velour plush with a terry drying fabric inside. It is also machine washable, which if perfect for kids who will likely be covered head to toe in sand.
Canningvale Capresi Kids' Hooded Beach Towel, $17.99 (down from $39.99) at Canningvale
Canningvale Capresi Kids' Hooded Beach Towel, $17.99 (down from $39.99) at Canningvale
What You Need To Know
Canningvale knows how to create beautiful towels for the bathroom and for the beach, so it’s no surprise they make a great hooded towel. Their range is exclusively available to children and comes in a variety of beautiful prints and colours.
It’s made from 100 per cent cotton with an absorbent terry side to keep your kids dry.
One five-star rating customer said their kids are “crazy for it … it’s super soft and dries them really well”.
Best baby hooded towel
Bubba Blue Animal Hooded Bath Towel, $23.96 (down from $29.95) at Amazon Australia
Bubba Blue Animal Hooded Bath Towel, $23.96 (down from $29.95) at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Made by Bubba Blue, who have been creating baby and nursery products for over 20 years, this hooded animal bath towel is irresistibly adorable. Measuring 100cm long, it's a great option for new parents to use as their babies start growing into toddlers. Alongside its cute design, it also has pockets on the corners to dry their tiny hands and fingers.
One Amazon buyer bought one for a baby shower, saying "It's soft to the touch, absorbs water like crazy and the little one looks insanely cute."
Econaps Baby Poncho Towel, $41.96 (down from $59.95) at Baby Bunting
Econaps Baby Poncho Towel, $41.96 (down from $59.95) at Baby Bunting
What You Need To Know
Designed in Byron Bay, this Econaps Baby Poncho Towel is perfect for any Australian family beach day. It has open sides to help with dressing and nappy changing and comes with a drawstring bag to fit inside the nappy bag and so you won't forget it or leave it behind.
Cotton On Kids Baby Hooded Towel, $24.99 at THE ICONIC
Cotton On Kids Baby Hooded Towel, $24.99 at THE ICONIC
What You Need To Know
This popular choice from Cotton On Kids is made from 100 per cent cotton - 20 per cent of which has been recycled - with a soft velour exterior with a quick drying toweling inside so they'll get warmer quicker after coming out of the water. Each of the five designs are also available to buy as swimmers.
One parent loved this hooded towel for their little one, saying it is "Super cute, and exactly what I was looking for for my son. The material is also nice and soft."
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A HOODED TOWEL
Material: Hooded towels are typically made of the same materials as traditional towels, including cotton and microfibre. If you have a preferred towelling material, it's best to stick with that when purchasing a new hooded towel.
Style: These towels come in a wide variety of colours and patterns that suit everyone's aesthetic. Find one that you would love to show off in public by the beach or at the pool.
Size: Hooded towels take up roughly the same amount of space in a beach bag as a regular beach towel. Some are larger and heavier, making them more difficult to carry and transport. Check the measurements and weight before purchasing.
HOW WE CHOOSE OUR PRODUCTS
We look through thousands of reviews online to find the best products to include. When looking for hooded towels, we considered materials, size, colour and design and portability to carry to and from the beach or pool.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY IS A HOODED TOWEL BETTER THAN A REGULAR TOWEL?
A hooded towel has all the benefits of a standard towel, but with some added features that make it even more useful.
High quality hooded towels are quick drying and add extra warmth when coming out of the water. You'll also have additional skin coverage and sun protection on your head and neck.
They are easy to roll and fold and are lightweight and compact to easily take to your favourite swimming spot.
To top it off, they are available in a range of stylish and practical designs and often come in at a reasonable price point.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO TAKE TO THE BEACH OR POOL?
When enjoying a day out to the beach or pool, you'll likely be spending a decent amount of time in the sun. Make sure you are sun safe by bringing sunglasses, sun hats and a beach umbrella or beach tent if there is no shade.
If you're going with the family, you'll need to keep the kids entertained. A few beach toys will never go astray. It's also a good idea to bring a beach trolley to help take them to and from the sand.
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Some drinks and snacks are always welcome to keep you going throughout the day, and it's even better when they're kept cool in an Esky. Finally, make sure you've got all your day-to-day essentials like keys, wallet and phone in your beach bag.
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