Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Pros
100% cotton
Soft, all-season fabric
High marks for comfort and breathability
Cons
Testers rated it as less absorbent
Our Lab tests have revealed Parachute’s towels and sheets as top performers time and time again. Made of 100% long-staple Turkish 2-ply cotton gauze, this bathrobe uses fabric designed to be ultra-soft and luxurious. Testers raved at how breathable the robe feels without looking see-through, but found it to not be absorbent. We love that this breezy style can be worn every season, as it’s not too hot or too cool.
Material | 100% Turkish cotton |
Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, 1X, 2X, 3X |
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Pros
Ultimate warmth
Full-length
Monogram only costs $8 extra
Cons
Some reviewers wish the fabric was "fluffier"
This plush fleece bathrobe from L.L. Bean is great for cold weather because it's full-length, so you are totally covered. It's available in standard, petite and plus sizing too. Online reviewers say it's perfect to wear over pajamas in the winter months for added warmth. The fleece is very smooth but some reviewers wish it was fluffier. With six colors and monogram options available, this robe also makes an excellent gift this holiday season.
Material | 100% polyester fleece |
Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, 1X, 2X, 3X (with petite lengths) |
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Pros
Cotton flannel fabric
Lightweight and warm
Monogram is just $8 extra
Cons
Some reviewers note that the fabric is thinner
L.L. Bean is known for their high quality, super soft flannel. For this holiday season, flannel robes are a must-have. With a variety of different shades of plaid, we love that this robe is available in regular, petite and plus sizing. Reviewers especially love the cozy feel and that it's lightweight while being warm, but some wish it was thicker.
Material | Cotton flannel |
Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, 1X, 2X, 3X (with petite lengths) |
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Pros
Cozy sweatshirt-like feel
Duster length
Hood
Cons
Only one color available
This snuggly robe from ThirdLove blew away GH editors for its impressively soft, sweatshirt-like feel. With excellent design elements, GH analysts appreciate that it has snaps at the top to keep this robe closed when wearing. One GH editor even said "I’ve never felt this way about a bathrobe — I can’t stop wearing it at home and it’s so comfy." Note that there is only one color option.
Material | 46.5% cotton, 46.5% Modal, 7% spandex |
Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, 1X, 2X, 3X |
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
How we chose the best robes
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab tests towels in the Lab by evaluating absorbency, drying time, shrinkage and weight loss after laundering. As many brands make bathrobes with the same material as their towels, GH pros used this data to find the best performing bathrobes for women. We also had consumer testers try out some of these styles to give feedback on softness, comfort, fit and more before making these selections.
How to choose the best robe for you
✔️ Use: Before deciding which style of robe to buy, think about how you plan to wear the robe. Lightweight styles made from cotton or linen are best for summer months while thicker, fluffier robes are better in the winter. For robes to wear out of the shower, opt for absorbent styles made from cotton terrycloth or waffle weaves.
✔️ Fabric: Robes are available in a variety of different materials and weaves to suit different preferences. GH fiber scientists explain what the key differences between the most common bathrobe fabrics are:
- Terrycloth is the most common fabric for towels. It's a fabric woven with many protruding loops of thread to absorb water easily. This fabric is usually 100% cotton and is ideal for a robe you want to wear right out of the shower.
- Waffle weave uses a distinct pattern that creates square or diamond shapes. It's also usually 100% cotton and is a popular material for towels, but is lighter weight and less absorbent compared to terrycloth.
- Linen is a natural material made from the flax plant. It's known for its lightweight breathable feel, but is generally not as soft.
- Fleece is the fuzziest fabric made from synthetic materials like polyester — ideal for ultimate coziness when already dry.
- Flannel is a woven fabric (usually 100% cotton) with a napped, brushed finish on at least one side. It's perfect for cold weather and especially popular around the holidays.
- Silk is a natural material with a super smooth feel. Silk robes are great as dressing robes to wear while getting ready.
✔️ Sizing: Most robes are available in a variety of sizes. Check the size chart to confirm if it's women's, men's or gender neutral sizing. Testers generally chose robes in their standard sizing with a few preferring to go up a size for a roomier fit.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Why trust Good Housekeeping
Emma Seymour is a senior textiles product analyst in the Good Housekeeping Textiles Lab for over three years, overseeing Lab and consumer tests for bathrobes and all different types of intimates, including pajamas, bralettes and loungewear. She studied Fiber Science and Apparel Design at Cornell University with research experience in product quality assessment. As a lifetime sewer with previous product development experience, she has a strong fashion background with expertise in proper fit and construction.

Emma SeymourTextiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Associate Director
Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Readers Also Read
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below