Nixy Changing Poncho and Parka Review – A Perfect Paddle Boarding Partner | 2025

Nixy Changing Poncho and Parka: Overview

There are hundreds of different accessories designed for stand up paddle boarding. The vast majority are to modify your board, attach different items, or somehow change your experience on the water.

But one of my favorite SUP accessories doesn’t get used on the water*. A changing poncho is one of those “I didn’t know I needed this until I had one” items that I can’t believe I went so long without.

Paddling on rivers has been a huge part of my life, and, until recently, being wet and mostly naked in the parking lot when getting changed has been the norm.

Thanks to Nixy’s changing Poncho and Parka I’m not only no longer concerned about making sure the towel stays around my waist, but I’m dry and comfortable while changing into and out of my paddling clothes.

Nixy Changing Poncho

The Nixy Changing Poncho is a 100% cotton towel-style changing robe great for warm weather.

The Nixy Changing Poncho is comfortable and easy to use after a long day on the water.
The cotton changing poncho is a lightweight pullover that gives you the ability to easily change clothes at the beach or parking area. The poncho drapes down to just below my knees and the cut is spacious enough to easily change clothes. There’s also a hood with a drawstring, buttons at the neck, and a large kangaroo pocket on the front.

The soft towel-like fabric also makes a fantastic towel for drying off after your paddle session (including your hair with the hood). It’s a very comfortable fabric, and even works well as a cozy sweatshirt at home while writing paddle board reviews with your cat on your lap (not that I’ve ever done that).

Nixy Changing Parka

If you are a year-round paddler like myself, you’ll love the Nixy Changing Parka.

Nixy’s waterproof and windproof Changing Parka is the perfect companion for paddlers in colder climates and paddling through the shoulder seasons and winter. It’s longer through the body, covering well past the knees, and has full-length sleeves to help you stay warm and dry.

The polyester waterproof parka is lined with a thick layer of warm synthetic fleece throughout the entire jacket and hood. The heavy-duty front zipper is double-ended so you can zip up all the way to stay warm, and unzip partway from the bottom to make changing easier.

There are adjustable cuffs on the sleeves and drawstrings on the hood to keep the elements out while you change or get your gear ready to paddle (or head home). Four zippered pockets make it easy to warm your hands and stash your phone and keys.

This parka is seriously warm. I’m lucky to live in a generally warmer part of the world, so I only need to use it a few months out of the year, but when I do I’m so thankful to have one.

Nixy Changing Poncho and Parka Review Summary

Having been “raised” as a whitewater river rat just stripping down to my skivvies behind a car door in the parking lot to get changed, I never really thought about a changing robe. But I am a 100% convert now. These things are so great. I can take my time to dry off and change in comfort and privacy, and if things are chilly out, I can keep them on to stay warm and comfortable while I’m setting up or tearing down for the day.

As I’m writing this review it’s nearing November. I’m getting ready to switch my paddling kit for the season from my Nixy Changing Poncho to my Nixy Changing Parka.

If you’ve ever needed to change clothes before or after paddling, do yourself a favor and pick one of these up. Or, if you have another paddler in your life and you are looking for an amazing gift for the holidays, get one for them! Outside of an electric pump, these changing robes are my most-used accessory.