What do I need to leave the pool without getting dried and dressed again?

[CaptainSevenofNine]

I have 2 gym memberships, long story, but both worth it. Trust me as a frugal Scot I get my “money’s worth” from both.

One gym is a corporate private gym. They provide towels at no extra cost. There are single sex changing rooms and shower cubicles meaning I can get completely showered, dried and dressed easily. The single sex changing rooms are open plan with air con so I don’t overheat.

The other gym is a local authority gym. Mixed sex, over heated changing village. Hate it. Love the pool and health suite. Hate the changing facilities.

I’d like to use the local authority pool after classes or the gym and then when I get out. Put something on, drive home and shower there. I don’t even want to rinse off in the showers - they are open plan to the pool and I’ve watched men spit in them. 🤮

But what kit do I need? A towelling robe? A dry robe? Sandals?

Thanks to everyone who has suggested ideas. I’m really grateful and glad that it doesn’t appear to be that crazy an idea! I’m investigating lots of different options.

Oh and to give everyone extra context. I run hot. I’m happy in a T-shirt in -1° weather.

Everyone comments on how warm I am. I’ve never had a hot flush though. I’m just hot. All the time.

I hate it. It’s so much easier to warm up than it is to cool down!

I swim in a lake so theres no shower there. My routine is..
Put on a long microfiber swim poncho after getting out, then take togs off immediately. The poncho dries you. It's cold here so I put a regatta version of the dryrobe on top. Normal shoes and socks.
I wouldn't go into a shop like that but it does for the drive home.

In that case I’d go for this towelling dress.

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-zip-towelling-dress-navy/p4203218

They do have the advantages of avoiding children having to venture into opposite sexed facilities on their own.

Everyone on MN thinks about little girls dignity, nobody seems to give a shit about little boys just 8 year old expected to navigate the men's on their own.

Where i am the changing village have a half roof on the cubicles to stop people standing on the bench and looking over the top.

From someone who regularly drives home from teaching water sport sessions without getting properly changed.

1. Keep your car seat dry. Your suit will hold enough water to make it damp and your seats will get musty.
2. Footwear that you can drive well in.
3. Sythetic is far better than natural material. (Rash vest for me, basic oversized gym t shirt probably ideal for you).

In your position I’d go crocs / flip flops / sandals, oversized sports t shirt, men’s board shorts (elastic waist, easy to get on in sweaty changing rooms), and then a waterproof backed picnic blanket on the car seat.

Some kind of big coat / blanket kept in boot of car in case or road closures.

A sensible design for a public pool is:

1. One large open-plan men's changing room with showers and loos that you go through to get to the pool.
2. One large open-plan women's changing room with showers and loos that you go through to get to the pool.
3. A camera-monitored corridor from reception to the pool that is the staff/non-swimming parent/instructor route to the pool. The corridor is angled such that the reception staff can see down it. Off this corridor are:

• Two family-sized, wheelchair-accessible changing rooms with a curtained shower in the corner.
• A wheelchair-accessible toilet, ideally a Changing Places toilet.

Changing villages are a huge risk to everyone bar adult men. They are especially a risk to women and girls visiting the pool alone.

@Namechangeforthis88 I’m not a swimmer but those dryrobe-but-in-tracksuit-format are genius

Am I the only woman who feels much more comfortable in a changing village with cubicles than an open plan women's changing room?!

Why can’t there be a few family cubicles which are separate from the main ‘village’? Then opposite sexed children wouldn’t need to be in those cha gong rooms. I’ve seen them at other pools.

No need ro buy anything extra… dry yourself well, clothes, shoes, coat back on and drive home. I used to do this and workout really well. Used a towelling bath robe to dry faster btw.

I do like a changing village setup when going with DC.

At swimming lesson times it is total carnage (up to 6 classes of up to 12 in the pool at the same time, changing every 30min), so takes up the full changing capacity. With boys aged 5 - 8, it is awkward otherwise - they don't want to go in the ladies, but it is not ideal sending them on their own. Safety aside, they will take all day and drop their clothes in a puddle.

I hate it during public swimming sessions though. Worst is the men who turn their back then root around in their shorts with soap in the showers. And the smell of piss in the changing cubicles.

Switch to a two piece swimsuit and whip off the bottoms when getting in the car. You could even have a pair of undies to replace them with if you are bothered about driving home knickerless.

I think you’ve missed my comment I can’t dry myself in the changing village. It’s a Sisyphean task.

The changing village is so over heated I pour with sweat.

I have tried. I have rinsed off, dried and changed. By the time I’m in my bra and pants they are both damp from the sweat and general humidity, while my torso is damp all over.

As long as you take your cossie off under the dry robe the car won't get wet. Wrap it in a little microfibre towel and that's it. That's how I walk home after a swim in the sea. My next door neighbour offered me a lift on his quad bike once as I was walking home.. I had no pants on and I'm sure I flashed him! I couldn't think of a reason to say no.

I use a knock off dryrobe and crocs year round!

I do thid at an outdoor pool. The changing rooms are a bit too chilly for my liking so I throw a dry robe and crocs on and go to the car. I do have to say that because I wear swim leggings for warmth when swimming I find I need something in the car seat to protect it. Dry robe have waterproof seat covers but they are super expensive so I suspect there are cheaper options.

Track suit
leisure ware
pjs that don’t look too p jammy
any old top and bottoms

Carrier bag under your bum

No I’m not suggesting you get changed.

All I did in the past is wear my towelling robe from the pool side, by the time get to the locker I’m pretty dry, I give my backside an extra pat to dry it off, keep my swimsuit on, then put on a loose dress that super easy to throw on or a pair of loose joggers and a top then my coat and flip flops.

The whole job takes less than 3 min - I perfected the operation as I didn’t want to spend any time in the disgusting changing rooms. I put my shoes on in the car. I wear flip flops from the car to the pool then get back into my shoes in my car after my swim session.
viola
hope you find a system that works for you.

I would buy a large poncho type dry robe thing. Take swim bottoms off underneath, put some cheap jogging bottoms on and slip on shoes. Go home.

You can leave swim top on under robe as you won’t be sitting on that to drive home. Then just shower and change properly at home

I have one of these for open water swimming, I bought a L and can take my cossie off under it.

Its really thick and heavy so it warm enough to then drive home in, sometimes I throw a pair of tracksuit pants on my bottom half if it’s really cold.

https://dryrobe.com/products/slate-grey-blue-full-zip-organic-towel-robe

I never shower aftwr a swim. Just chuck
on a loose top snd some leggings

Knock off dry robe and crocs here too it has changed swimming from being a real chore to a much more pleasant activity!
I never liked showering at the pool because the smell of chlorine just seems to linger! Changing before and after, especially getting into a bra whilst all hot and bothered and slightly damp was a nightmare.

I refuse to shower in my municipal gym. I tend to do a workout and then go to the steam and sauna. I bring a towel which I use to rough dry after the sauna, put my smelly gym clothes on and then head home for my shower. ETA that my gym top goes on over my bikini top, I take off my bikini bottom and just pull on my leggings. Fleece goes over and then I head off.
All my clothes and towel then go immediately into the washing machine.
Probably a bit gross but I dont care.