Salty C

Salty C in South Africa

Salty C is a South African beach and swim brand started by Christie, who says it grew out of a love for the ocean and a wish to make drying off and changing on the beach easier. Its original headquarters was in Salt Rock on the KZN coast, and it's now based in Muizenberg, Cape Town. The brand describes itself as 100% local: South African graphic designers, printers and cut-and-sew skills, with locally sourced raw materials. It began with changing ponchos and now covers what you wear and carry to the water and home again, from swimwear and caps to a sweater for the cold drive back.

Changing ponchos

A changing poncho is a wearable towel with room inside to get out of a wetsuit or costume under cover, which is why divers and surfers end up living in them. It comes down to material. The Hooded Towel Changing Poncho is the warm, fluffy one, and it's the pick for a cold tailgate change at an inland dive site. The 100% Cotton Waffle Weave Hooded Towel Poncho is natural cotton with a front pocket. The Quick-Dry Microfibre Towel Poncho is the travel choice: light, easy to pack and, in Salty C's words, dry within minutes of being hung up.

All three have a hood and 3/4 sleeves, so your hands are free for zips and buckles. For size, check the length from shoulder to hem. The towelling poncho comes in Large, at about 105 cm, and Extra Large, at about 115 cm. The microfibre poncho comes in Medium, at about 85 cm, and Large, at about 105 cm, and Salty C says the Large is easier for changing. The waffle poncho is one size, at about 105 cm.

There are two kids' versions, both one size for ages 3 to 11: the Kids Hooded Towel Changing Poncho in towelling, and the lighter Kids Quick-Dry Microfibre Towel Poncho. Salty C notes the microfibre one runs big on a child of almost two.

Towels and the car seat towel

The XL 100% Cotton Towel is 100 x 152 cm of plush cotton, and it does a second job as a bath sheet at home. The Quick-Dry Microfibre Towel is 85 x 150 cm, lightweight, and packs down easily for a dive bag or a dry bag. Pick cotton for size and weight, and microfibre for packing and drying time.

The Waterproof Lined Car Seat Towel solves the drive home in a damp wetsuit. It has a quick-drying towel outer layer over a waterproof raincoat fabric lining, and it zips over the head rest to stay put.

Women's swimwear

Choose by what the day involves. For a day in the water, the Sporty Summer Bikini has a supportive top with removable pads, and the Tie-Up Back V Front Lara One-Piece ties at the cross-over back for a close fit. The Katie Women's Surf Capsule is a long sleeve, all-in-one sun and rash suit in double layer UV polyspandex, for strong sun when a wetsuit is too warm. Bikini tops and bottoms such as the Adjustable Slider Strap Triangle Bikini Top and High-Waisted Brief Bikini Bottoms are sold separately, which helps when your top and bottom aren't the same size. See every brand in ladies and girls swimwear.

Men's swimwear

The Men's Elasticated Board Shorts have an elastic waist with an adjustable cord and no inner. The Essentials Performance Board Shorts are the technical pair, in a lightweight woven stretch fabric that dries fast, with a zipped back pocket and sizes from 28 to 36. The Men's Swim Briefs sit flat under a wetsuit, in a double layer polyspandex with UV protection. See more in men and boys swimwear.

Kids' swim and sun cover

The Kids UV Protected Rash Vest is a long sleeve vest in four-way stretch polyspandex with a UPF coating, sized by age. Pair it with the Kids Swimming and Sport Short Tights for swimming lessons and beach days. For the head, there's the Cotton Baby Sun Hat for ages 6 to 18 months and the Kids Cotton Penguin Cap. See more in swim junior and kids.

Caps and hats

The dad caps are washed look caps with one embroidered design on the front, and the sea life set takes in the turtle, dolphin, penguin and crayfish. A cap leaves your ears and neck in the sun, so for a long boat day move up to a wide brim. The Embroidered Wide Brim Hat is washed cotton, and the Rhino Range Adventure Wide Brim Bucket Hat has a string under the chin for the wind on the ride out. For after the dive, the Textured Knit Tropical Sunset Beanie covers wet hair.

Clothing and slippers

For the trip home, the Classic Printed Unisex Cotton T-Shirt and 100% Cotton Long Sleeve Loose Tee are the light layers, and the Classic Crew Neck Illustrated Sweater is lightly fleece lined for a cold morning at the launch site. The Fluffy Sheep Wool Suede Slippers and Full Slippers are suede leather lined with sheep wool, handmade in Cape Town and in standard UK sizes.

The Rhino Range, with its surfing rhino on the T-shirt and hats, is Salty C's apparel for a cause. It supports The Zululand Conservation Trust.

For the beach and the road

The Old School Wooden Fold-Up Deck Chair has a beechwood frame, a printed seat and three height settings, and it folds flat for the car. The Canvas Beach Tote Bag is 55 cm long and 45 cm high, big enough for a full-length towel and a change of clothes. The Double-Walled Stainless Steel Travel Flask holds 600 ml and keeps a hot drink hot for up to 3 hours, depending on how cold it is outside. The Handmade Wooden Beach Bat Set is repurposed laminated pine, made in Cape Town, for the hours between boat launches.

Prints and how they're made

Salty C's prints are its own, drawn by local graphic designers, with names such as Coastal Botanical, Sea Dreaming and African Florals. Many are applied by sublimation, which the brand chose as a cleaner way to print. Salty C also runs beach clean-ups and gives part of its profits to environmental causes.

Ordering your print or size

Many Salty C options carry a Special Order label, which means we order that print or size in for you. Swimwear is the exception: a size that has run out can't be ordered until it's back. Browse related gear in scuba towels and robes, swim towels and robes, snorkelling towels and robes, freediving towels and robes and gifts for divers.