FAQ

About Our Towel Hoodies

What is a Hooded Towel?

A hooded towel is a wearable towel with an included hood that you can wear at the beach or after a dip in the pool or ocean to dry off and stay comfy. It’s effectively two towels that are sewn together with a hood attached. Our hooded towels are made from 100% cotton - and quality cotton at that!

What is the Use of a Poncho Towel?

A poncho towel offers all the benefits of a classic beach towel but with even more comfortable materials and a design that means you don’t have to carry it around everywhere. These hooded towels also double as comfortable attire for your days out and can be worn like a blanket when you just want to unwind and enjoy the day after getting wet. And thanks to their amazing coverage, they make it easy to change in and out of swimmers in public spaces (such as at the beach).

What Size Should I Get?

When determining the right size for you, there are a few measurements to account for. The key three steps are as follows:

STEP 1:

First, measure your height and weight. Measure your height to the nearest centimetre and your weight to the nearest kilogram.

STEP 2:

With these two dimensions known, you can then determine the hooded towel’s width and length. Start by measuring the width from your right shoulder to your left shoulder - keep in mind that you should account for an additional 10cm on either side for the towel’s sleeves. Then measure the length from the top of one shoulder down to your shin.

STEP 3:

You can refer to our chart on the Sizing page to compare your poncho measurements (shoulder-to-shoulder, shoulder-to-shin) with your height and weight.

Here’s an example to help:

If your height is 165cm, your weight is 60 kg, your shoulder-to-shoulder measurement is 50cm, and your shoulder-to-shin measurement is 120cm, then the best size option for you would be a hooded towel that measures 75cm x 110cm.

What’s the Difference Between a Standard & Pro Hooded Towel?

Our standard line of hooded towels all include a kangaroo pocket on the front where you can put your hands or general belongings.

The Pro hooded towel includes the kangaroo pouch along with an additional zip pocket on the outside split into two compartments and a hidden pocket on the inside where you can securely store your more valuable belongings.

Where Can I Try Your Stuff On?

If you want to try out our hooded towels before purchasing one, you can visit our showroom. It’s located at 12b Kopukairoa Blvd, Papamoa. Our showroom is open on weekdays, from 10 am to 3 pm. Alternatively, you can book an appointment.

Our range is also sold at a number of stockists throughout New Zealand, on both the north and south islands. We are in most towns at the public or private pools. If we are not in your town, demand it!

Can I Customise My Towel Hoodie?

Absolutely! You can add your name or initials through standard embroidery or request more customised solutions for adding things like logos or sports club names. Extensive customisation is popular with retail and corporate sectors, and you can make these requests by contacting us directly.

What Payment Methods Do You Accept?

We accept most major forms of online payment. These include Visa, Mastercard, Afterpay, ZipPay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shop Pay.

All prices listed on our site are in NZD unless you are shopping in another country such as Australia.

I Have a Club, Sports Team or Business - Can You Make Custom Hooded Towels?

We sure can! All you need to do is shoot us a message and we’ll get back with the info you need to get started.

Can a Poncho Towel Be Used as a Blanket?

Of course. Our towels aren’t just for days at the beach or drying off after a dip in the water. They also make for great blankets on cooler nights or for extra comfort when having a nap. They can be a great alternative to bath robes and/or dressing gowns thanks to the soft cotton fabric.

Are Surf Poncho Towels Worth It?

We might be biased, but we certainly think so. With more than 42,000 Noxen hooded towel ponchos out there in the world and over a thousand glowing reviews, we think their value speaks for themselves.

Shipping, Returns & Exchanges

What’s the Deal with Shipping?

When you make an order with Noxen by 12 pm on a weekday, we’ll typically have it ready for shipping by the end of the same day.

For orders going to NZ locations, most should arrive by the next business day for single towels, especially if you have your order shipped to a commercial address.

If you live in a rural part of the country, there could be delays if the package needs to be handed over to a local courier. This can add a couple of days to the delivery time.

Either way, once an order is shipped, you’ll receive a tracking number that will provide clearer timeframes.

What is the Shipping Policy?

Once your order is placed with us, you’ll receive a confirmation email. When your order is fulfilled and sent for shipment, you will receive an email containing the relevant tracking information.

Please note that shipping fees are non-refundable in the case of returns. You can learn more on our Shipping page. 

Do You Ship Overseas?

Yes, we offer worldwide shipping. International shipping costs apply to these orders and will be added to the final price at checkout. For orders to Australia, shipping will usually take up to 7 business days. For other international orders, shipping could take several weeks.

What is Your Return Policy?

We offer one free exchange on all full-priced items, excluding custom hooded towels. The cost to send it back to us and have the new one sent out to you is at your cost.

Refer to our Refunds & Exchanges policy for more details.

Product Care

Help! I’m Covered in Fluff from My Hooded Towel

Don’t worry, this happens sometimes because of the extra cotton used in our warm, fluffy, absorbent towels.

When you first get your towel, it’s a good idea to pop it in the dryer on the airing setting to get rid of any excess cotton until the lint tray is filled up a few times. Then wash it in cold water; do not run it on a warm or hot setting as this could shrink the towel.

If you want to wear your hooded towel straight away, that’s perfectly fine. Just be prepared for some possible fluff. After a few general washes, any excess fluff should be gone.

I Ordered a Custom Poncho…

That’s awesome! The embroidery looks pretty great, right?

If you notice any plastic residue, that’s from the embroidery itself. But don’t worry, it’s completely water soluble and will come off with the first wash.

How Do You Wash a Towel Hoodie?

Washing your towel hoodie is simple. It can be washed In a washing machine It’s fine to run it on a normal or delicate cycle - whichever you prefer.

Simply wash the towel in cold water with minimal detergent. It’s best to let your hooded towel hang dry. If you feel the need to pop it in the dryer, make sure you use an air-only dry cycle. As our towels are made from cotton, a warm or hot cycle could cause shrinkage.

Hooded towels, much like beach towels, do not need to be washed as often as clothes. You should be okay to use the towel a few times in a row before it needs a wash.

Get In Touch


If you have a question that is not answered here, please don't hesitate to contact us.