best in class

The Very Best Men's Bathrobes

Photo: Courtesy Paramount Pictures

One of the most iconic bathrobe wearers was none other than Tony Soprano, who spent a lot of time dealing with "waste management," among other things, and seemed to really appreciate the comforts of a cozy robe (especially paired with boxers). You can't blame Tony — there is something exceptionally luxurious about rocking a robe at the end of a long day after a hot shower or even a dip in the pool. It's one of the most overlooked items in loungewear, something of a wearable blanket, towel, or cover-up that can be worn alone or layered over pajamas or sweatpants for extra warmth. Because bathrobes come in so many fabrics and styles, they can actually be pretty versatile, so we've rounded up the best bathrobes for any occasion.

Best overall | Best less expensive | Best seersucker | Best flannel | Most splurge-worthy | Best lightweight | Best hooded sweatshirt robe | Best blanket robe

Fabric: David Telfer, creative director of the luxury basics brand Sunspel, told us that when shopping for loungewear, one of the most important things to think about is function. Consider how you will wear your bathrobe and when you most like to use it. If you're stepping out of the shower dripping wet and using a robe instead of a towel, you'll likely want a classic terry-cloth robe that is thick and absorbent. If you're looking for something breezier to wear poolside or in the house during the summer, lightweight linen or seersucker are good options. If you're going for softness or extra warmth but don't need as much absorbency, flannel or fleece might be the way to go.

Design details: Many of the stylish people we spoke to mentioned the importance of finding a robe with sizable pockets to carry your phone or even a book as you move around your house or lounge by a pool. We also paid attention to the length of each robe we looked at, as some people prefer a shorter knee- or calf-length robe, while others want a robe that is closer to ankle length. Some robes also have a hood, which can add an extra layer of comfort and warmth.

Sizing: Telfer suggests looking for a robe that is cut generously enough to feel comfortable and close easily without stretching across the front but fits close enough that it drapes well against your body and doesn't make you feel like you're drowning in fabric.

Parachute Classic Turkish Cotton Bathrobe

Sizes XS–3XL | 100% Cotton | Two pockets | Calf-length | 5 colors

Parachute is a Strategist-favorite brand, and its classic Turkish cotton bathrobe is one of its most beloved products. It comes in a wide range of unisex sizes and five different colors, and it's made of absorbent Turkish cotton that's Oeko-Tex certified (meaning it's free of harmful bleach or dye). "It's not the thickest robe I've ever tried, but it's somehow the warmest," says Heather Pearson, co-founder of vegan nutrition company Dande and the Lion. The Parachute robe also comes recommended by yoga instructor Kate Posch, who says it's a stress reliever. It's a very classic-looking robe with two large front pockets, a shawl collar, and an adjustable belt tie.

NY Threads Luxurious Men's Shawl Collar Fleece Bathrobe

Three combined sizes covering S to 3XL | 100% Polyester | Two pockets | Ankle-length | 7 colors

This robe from NY Threads has over 27,000 positive reviews from Amazon customers who praise its affordability and warmth. "The cuffs, together with the collar neatly turned down, gives a nice fashionable look," says one reviewer, who also said the robe exceeded their expectations. It also has two large front pockets, a shawl collar, and an adjustable belt tie, and it comes in seven colors. It's made of polyester fleece, so it's best for keeping you warm but won't be as absorbent as the Parachute or other cotton robes if you are looking for a robe to wear out of the shower.

Vermont Country Store Classic Stripe Cotton Seersucker Robe

Sizes M–3XL | 100% Cotton | Two front pockets and one chest pocket | Calf-Length | 2 colors

Seersucker is the ultimate summer fabric, says Nickel Cobalt, the community manager at menswear resale site Grailed. "The unique puckering keeps the fabric away from your skin, keeping you cool and dry in hot and humid climates," he says. This seersucker robe from the Vermont Country Store has two large pockets, a chest pocket, and a classic adjustable belt tie. Because it's lightweight, it's a great robe for warmer weather. Cobalt says he's a fan of the classic striping that can be worn poolside, and he uses the chest pocket to store his sunglasses while lounging around.

L.L. Bean Scotch Plaid Flannel Robe

Photo: reatiler

Sizes S–3XL | Regular and tall sizes | 100% Cotton | Two front pockets and one chest pocket | Knee-length | 7 colors

"I grew up wearing this bathrobe through cold New England winters, but it's also great after a cold shower," says Cobalt. "The soft cotton flannel is a natural fiber, which means it's able to provide warmth without trapping moisture against your skin the way synthetic fabrics like fleece would." Cobalt isn't the only fan of this robe — consultant Eva Alt told us she borrows it from her boyfriend on occasion because it's so warm. It's especially soft, too; according to L.L. Bean, its cotton fabric is brushed to make it fuzzier in feel. Larger sizes of the Scotch Plaid robe are also available in a tall length, which adds about two inches to the overall length and one inch to the sleeve length.

Tekla Hooded Bathrobe

Sizes XS–XL | 100% Cotton | Two front pockets | Calf-length | 20 colors

Tekla's bathrobe was enthusiastically recommended by three of the stylish people we spoke to. Daniel Brøndt, co-creator of menswear brand Another Aspect, says, "Tekla's robe provides a great absorbency combined with a supersoft feel that makes it great for a relaxing few minutes before you rush out of the door in the morning." Kapil Sehgal, a brand consultant, praised Tekla's cotton fabric and overall ability to make loungewear look and feel chic. Nikolaj Hansson, creator of tennis menswear brand Palmes, has owned the Tekla robe for three years. He says he is strangely addicted to hooded sweatshirts, and the Tekla robe hits the spot while lounging around the house. He describes it as a boxing robe and a bathrobe fused together into one garment. "The material is thick, it's made of organic cotton, and the fit is kind of oversized, but in a great way," he says.

Nautica Men's Long Sleeve Lightweight Cotton Woven Robe

Two combined sizes covering S to XL | 100% Cotton | Two pockets | Calf-length | 7 colors and patterns

The Nautica Cotton Woven robe is popular among Amazon customers for its lightweight fabric. "It's a summer-weight robe, so it's more for people who want coverage. It's not a bulky and warm robe," said one reviewer who went on to praise the feel of the fabric and the robe's great fit. It's a calf-length robe with two front pockets and an adjustable belt tie. It's another robe that will be especially appropriate during warmer times of the year or for someone who likes to wear a robe but tends to run hot.

T-Y Group Boxer Large Bathrobe in Grey

One size | 80% Cotton, 20% polyester | Front Pockets | Adjustable Belt | Calf-Length | 1 Color

Strategist contributor Alyse Whitney loved the hooded sweatshirt–esque T-Y Boxer Bathrobe so much that when she first found it in a Boston hotel, she was almost tempted to steal it. "Normally, bathrobes in hotel rooms are a little scratchy if you're not staying at the Ritz, but this was the complete opposite," Whitney says. "Made of a cotton-poly blend, it's like the softest sweatshirt in bathrobe form, absorbing all wetness as soon as I step out of the shower. It covers me all the way down to my ankles — I'm five-foot-one — and fits basically everyone." Whitney says she wears it all of the time, similar to the way you would wear a college hoodie. And like many a college hoodie, "the more you wash it, the better it actually gets," she says.

Offhours Homecoat

One size | 100% cotton | Two front pockets | Ankle-length | 10 colors

Former Strategist senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson describes the Offhours Homecoat as a weighted blanket that can be worn outside of the bedroom. "The Homecoat robe resembles a quilted duvet with its polyester stuffing and T-shirt-soft cotton exterior," writes Adelson, who immediately made the Homecoat a staple of her loungewear wardrobe after testing. "At five pounds, it's about the weight of a children's weighted blanket instead of a 15- to 20-pound adult-size one, which makes sense in this case since you want to, you know, walk around in it," she explains. "But the hugging, soothing sensation is similar." The Homecoat is about an inch thick, so it's very warm but can also be a bit cumbersome. "Elegance isn't the first word that comes to mind when describing the Homecoat — wearing it, I look like a cross between a Michelin man and a very comfortable bed — but it has its own dignity," Adelson says.

• Karen Iorio Adelson, former Strategist senior writer
• Eva Alt, consultant
• Daniel Brøndt, co-creator of menswear brand Another Aspect
• Nickel Cobalt, community manager at menswear resale site Grailed
• Nikolaj Hansson, creator of tennis menswear brand Palmes
• Heather Pearson, co-founder of vegan nutrition company Dande and the Lion
• Kate Posch, yoga instructor
• Kapil Sehgal, brand consultant
• David Telfer, creative director of Sunspel
• Alyse Whitney, Strategist contributor

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The Very Best Men's Bathrobes