Buyers Guides
Purchasing Technical Sailing Clothing can be a daunting prospect. With so many brands and product designs, together with changes in technology, it can be confusing and hard to keep up! We provide a selection of detailed and updated buying guides to cover each of the main areas of sailingwear.
Meeting Individual Requirements
We cover everything from sailing jackets and marine footwear to those all important Lifejackets. We explain the choice of fabrics available, the pros and cons of all the varying designs and recommend to you the best products on the market. Our expert assistance should help you to find the perfect garments to meet your requirements.
Sailing & Yachting Clothes
There are three key features which any piece sailing and yachting clothing should include. Garments must be waterproof, breathable and durable.
Sailing clothing comprises of a three layer system based on one simple principle - wet skin gets cold thirty times quicker than dry skin. To keep warm in the worst conditions it is vitally important to stay dry. The clothing you wear must:
- Transport body moisture away from the skin
- Hold dry and warm air close to the body
- Keep the rain, wind and snow out
The three layer system meets all of these requirements in lightweight, non-restrictive layers.
How It All Works
Layer 1 - The Base Layer
This layer is worn next to your skin and must transfer (wick) sweat away from your body as fast as possible. Polyester fabrics are best for this. Beware of cotton clothing which can absorb up to 30% more moisture than its weight in water and transfers heat away from your body thirty times quicker than dry air.
Click here for base layers
Layer 2 - The Middle Layer
The main job for the mid-layer is to hold warm dry, insulating air inside the clothing system and close to the body. It must also continue the transmission of water vapour through the clothing system as started by the base layer. Musto's middle layer WINDSTOPPER and middle layer GORE-TEX® garments are ideal for the job.
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Layer 3 - The Outer Layer
The third layer is completely waterproof to the outside elements. It must also stop the wind whipping away the precious warm, dry air that is held inside. However, this third layer must also be breathable to continue the transmission of the water vapour through the outer layer all the way to the outside environment. All of our foul weather sailing gear is designed and manufactured to fit this purpose.
Click here for jackets
Offshore & Inshore Conditions
Ocean and offshore wet weather gear is ideally suited to the professional or experienced sailor looking for a long-term investment. These highly durable garments have full specifications and innovative technology such as Gore-tex is used to offer maximum breathability and comfort.
Coastal and inshore wet weather clothing features highly breathable materials such as TP2 and have specifications ideal for leisure use as well as the odd trip to France! This outer layer offers seriously effective protection against abrasion, whilst remaining light enough to allow for sustained activity on deck.
One final, but easily forgotten point concerns your head, hands and feet. It is easy to forget about hats, gloves and extra warm socks that keep your extremities cosy. After all, up to 40% of your body heat can be lost from these areas. WINDSTOPPER fabrics are well advised for maximum warmth and comfort in even the harshest sailing conditions.
Click here for yachting & marine inshore
Click here for yachting & marine offshore
