Ocean & Earth Ladies V-Neck Hooded Poncho Apparel

A poncho solves what a towel solves badly: changing in a car park or on the beach without a performance and without exposing yourself. The loose cut lets you peel off a wet wetsuit and put dry clothes on underneath, covered the whole time.

Terry towelling absorbs more than waffle and is noticeably warmer after cold water — the price is drying time: a long pile holds water for hours. If you surf twice a day, a terry poncho will still be damp for the evening session.

The V-neck isn't styling: a round neck on a terry poncho is hard to pull over your head with wet hair, and a V opens the neckline enough to fix that.

The women's fit differs from the men's in length and shoulder width — buying unisex a size down isn't the same thing.

Who it isn't for. Terry is bulky and slow-drying for one-bag travel; waffle is better there. And a poncho isn't insulation for cold days — it's a changing garment. Check the length against your height.