How to find a comfortable spa like robe

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One of the simple joys you can have at home or on the road is to create a spa like environment. Light candles, wash with calming lavender soap, take a warm bath or relaxing shower. An easy way to create this serenity is by wearing a comfortable spa like robe. Do you know how to find a comfortable spa like robe?

Here at Comfort, Leisure, and Joy we asked the same question and looked into what really makes a robe have comfort. We learned about comfy materials and how they are made as well as recommended features and uses. Though there are many types of robe materials and features, we chose to focus on two popular spa like robe types – cotton terry or waffle knit and discuss comfort based on how the robe will be used. We make some comfortable spa like robe recommendations for a great day of cozy relaxation and leisure.

There are many aspects to your personal preference in a robe (short or long; hoods, pockets, colors, thickness, maintenance). We found a few noteworthy factors that make a spa like robe comfortable. It first depends on how you will use it.

How will you use the spa like robe?

What is the outdoor temperature you are wearing it in? Is it cooler, such as winter or hot such as in summer? Is it for home use, such as after a shower or a bath? Or maybe after coming out of the pool in the summer? Maybe you need multiple robes such as for a girlfriend’s spa day or a bachelorette party? Perhaps you have guests, and need something to quickly put on over your sleepwear to quickly go to the kitchen to brew some coffee. Traveling with a spa like robe is great to throw into a suitcase or a gym bag. So based on these uses and more, we can break down our list into a few areas.

• What temperature will you wear it in? What is the temperature outside: Hot/warm; or cold/cool?
• Do you need the robe to be absorbent? Do you need it to keep you dry such as after a shower, coming out of the pool, or a bath?
• Do you need the robe to be lightweight? Will you travel with it? Do you need it to take to a spa or a gym? Do you need a cover up?
• Do you need to buy multiple robes? Will you be buying it for a group, such as a wedding party? to furnish hotel rooms? Do you need it to be budget friendly so that buying a bunch at once is affordable?

What material should the spa like robe be made of?

There is a wide variety of materials that spa robes can be made of (cotton, linen, fleece, silk, satin, etc.,) The appropriate choice really depends on what you will use it for. Refer to the comparison table above. However, here we focus on 2 types of robes based on material blends that we felt most comfortable spa like robes would fall into based on the uses above. Cotton Terry or waffle knit spa like robes.

Best for a thicker, towel like comfort – Cotton Terry based robes

These tend to be your thicker, traditional “towel like” robes. Cotton Terry, also known as Terry Cotton, is known for its ability to absorb water. Terry cotton robes can often have 2 layers. Generally the absorbant layer is on the side facing you. So it is perfect for after a bath or shower or somewhere where you want the water to be soaked up and keep you dry. While the robe may keep you dry, it will also take longer to dry. So it maybe perfect, if you hang it up in a bathroom to take the drying time it needs, but maybe not a great choice, if you need to pack it up to travel or in a bag to go somewhere.

Cotton terry is also very comfortable and the degree of comfort can be based on the type of cotton that is used. For example, high quality combed cotton has impurities from the manufacturing process removed resulting in ultra softness. Cotton terry can be blended with other fabrics such as modal to provide the ultimate soft experience as well as give the material some structure.

Cotton terry is a woven material. The weaving process creates loops which absorb the water inside. Generally, longer loops absorb more water. Since the robes tend to be thicker, it give you that comfy “bathrobe” like feel. You can use it after the pool, but if it is too hot outside you may want to take it off after you are dry or switch to a lighter waffle knit robe. The exterior can often have a texture or pattern and be made of a different material, such as velour.

Best for lighter, airy comfort – Waffle knit spa like robes

Waffle knit spa like robes tend to be lightweight. They also tend to ‘breathe well’ making them airy and comfortable. They usually have a textured, patterned exterior, like diamond, or squares. You may have worn one in a hotel room, in a popular kimono style with a belt. Though not always, they tend to be a better value, which is why many hotels carry them in mass amounts. So if you want to furnish a party for your girlfriends, or provide a treat for your wedding party, buying several can often be affordable. They also travel well and don’t take up a lot of room in a suitcase. After a shower at the gym, if you need a robe that will dry quickly so you can toss it in your bag, then the waffle knit spa like robe is a great option.

Waffle knit robes are also woven usually leaving a square, rectangle, or diamond pattern looking like a “waffle” thus the name. One surprise was that we found that depending on the material, there are some highly absorbent waffle knit robes, despite Terry Cotton getting the most of the absorbency credit. Particularly if you find waffle knit in materials like microfiber. If you ever owned a light microfiber towel in your kitchen, and were surprised by the absorbency, think of the same in a robe. However, if you are in a very cold environment, though they can provide warmth, you may opt for the thicker, comfy, cotton terry spa like robes just for the overall feel.

Note that there are exceptions to the generalizations above about Terry Cotton and Waffle Knit. For example, you can have thin, less absorbent Terry Cotton, or thick absorbent waffle knit. Not all the robes with these two fabrics will be comfortable. There are loads of other fabrics that are comfy and and create leisure. However, what we have described is generally the majority.

Here is a spa like robe comparison chart

Examples of Cotton Terry Robes

Examples of Waffle Knit Robes

Comfort is certainly a personal feeling. Here we make some suggestions but there are so many additional cozy materials and styles to choose from and endless uses. We believe that even making a spa like setting at home can be a simple joy you can easily create by buying a comfortable spa like robe. Hope you find that comfortable spa like robe that leads to that relaxing experience and ultimately gives you a moment of leisure and joy!

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)