Hi all, In my on-going hunt for bargain sailing gear (so far I think I've only bought socks and gloves at more than 50% of the RRP :D) I've come up with a few questions, which I hope some of you can help me with.
1) Jacket vs Smock: why would you choose one over the other? I tried a smock on last weekend, and I couldn't figure out how its supposed to 'interact' with the high colars on fleeces etc. Otherwise I rather like the idea of the giant pocket on the front - I hate trying to stuff wet gloves into the small pockets on jackets.
2) Is there a disadvantage to wearing gear which is higer 'level' than the sailing which you're doing? eg wearing 'ocean' quality kit out on the solent? so if I see some bargain 'ocean' or 'offshore' kit, should I avoid it given I won't be doing 'ocean' level sailing for a few years yet?
3) Does colour matter? Not from a fashion point of view, but a safety one. Red and yellow waterproofs I get, but are the black, blue or white ones any worse? Hypothetically, if I turned up to sail on your boat wearing all-black waterproofs (eg the musto MPX or HPX ones), would you let me on board? As I see it, if you fall in only your head and shoulders would be visible, so a flourescent hood and life jacket would be all that is seen, making the colour of the waterproofs largely irrelevant?
4) Are the fancy shelled/windproof/waterproof 'mid layers' a waste of time? The idea of not having to wear heavy outer layers when the weather is good but still a bit damp is quite appealing, but the cost is offputting.
Jacket vs. Smock? Well really it is personal preference. When it is wet and warm and you want the waterproofing aspects of a garment, but down want to enclosed so you have better ventilation; a jacket is better. Also, from my experience, they tend to be more geared up to work along side your midlayers in cut of collar, etc. making them slightly more versatile. But in all honesty there’s not a lot init. What every works best for you.
The higher the level the better. Inshore stuff doesn’t tend to have the same waterproofing and wicking ability as offshore stuff. Usually the garment are not breathable or durably. High end offshore ocean kit tends to have climate control built into them so they keep you cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold. I would always say buy the best your budget can afford as it will save you upgrading at the end of the season. If you buy quality – your oilies should last 5 years or more if properly looked after. A good set should take you from the river right up to the ocean without the need to change.
Red and yellow are good for safety, and white isn’t too bad. I personally wouldn’t purchase a black or blue set of waterproofs in case I went over board and wasn’t visible to the search and rescue. If you were wearing all black, I don’t know of a single skipper who wouldn’t let you aboard. Florescent hoods and reflective patches are required as standard on all ocean racing equipment, so even if you do for black, as long as you go for the ocean stuff you should be just as visable.
I have never bothered with the fancy mid layers myself, but have been very envious of other crew member wearing them at time. You can have the most fantastic waterproofs in the world, but if you are sporting a crap mid layer, then it is unable to perform to its highest standard. This could leave you damp and cold from condensation build up within the jacket. The shelled mids work well as they keep you warm and in warmer weather, make a good substitute for costal oilies. If you find them cheap – get them, if not you can just as easily go down to one of the cheap sports shop and buy cheaper alternatives that work just as well.
Jacket vs smock? Depends on your sailing activities - and the weather you go out in ....I race round the cans most Sunday mornings throughout the year - always on mast or bow. I've worn a musto mpx smock for the last 2 years and its been brilliant - its got room to move, the collar and hood are great for keeping you warm and dry. There's room inside to wear a T-shirt in warm weather and all the layers when its snowing - and of course nothing hanging around like jacket sides to get cought in winches/ guardrails, etc. But most of all, when its really wet and you need to move fast around the boat, nothing beats the smock for keeping the water out !!!
If you're a fair weather sailor (or a helmsman in any weather :-), and want a stylish jacket you can wear around the marina, then get the jacket.
As for colour of gear ....anything goes. Yes in the winter you might look good in yellow or red, but in the summer if you fall in weraring a t-shirt and shorts then it doesn't matter what colour gear you bought as its in your bag below deck!
I have black musto race salopette trousers and a red musto smock for bad weather. In medium weather I often wear a black lightweight zip front (Henry Lloyd) racing jacket.
This year the "fashion" colours are definitely white, grey or black (according to Gill, Musto and Henri Lloyd) which seems wrong in visibility terms, but you are right that if you do fall in, what counts is the colour of the hood, lifejacket and those reflective strips. So it's a case of personal choice. As to weight, I am a recent convert from Ocean to offshore. I always instinctively felt that Ocean was better, but it is heavier: I now find that I put my offshore oilies on sooner, because they are more comfortable, and therefore they protect me better! But it's a case of finding what suits you. The expensive three later system certainly works extremely well: minimum weight and bulk means maximum comfort and freedom of movement. But you can achieve the same effect without the designer labels. You do need microfibre trousers (much better than jeans as they dry in no time) and thermals/fleece. Good hunting!
If your looking for bargain technical clothing, you can try surfsnowsail.com - they have quite agood range of 'cheaper' stuff and got a 20% discount at the mo and free postage. (discount code is MAD20) As for colours, as long as the jacket/trouser has reflective/high vis strips, high vis hood I'd let you on board from a safety perspective - so the choice of overall colour is really a personal one!! Make sure you read all the garment descrptions thoroughly, in many cases £100 difference boils down to an extra label/patch. Happy Shopping.
Yup, only the hood and any reflective patches on the arms and shoulders matter if you fall in the piss! So go for any colour you like.
Also, what are you wearing in the summer when (if) its dry and warm? Not your wet weather gear – probably a t-shirt or rash vest ….much less reflective than your waterproofs.
Mid layer is great in winter/ spring series racing/ cruising ….dry out fast and give you options when/ if the weather is changeable. The cost for good stuff is maybe a bit high, but if you look after your kit it will last many years …..so divide lifespan by cost and you are suddenly looking at good value for money.
High visability is important when you are on deck just as much as when you are... floating.
In rough weather, being able to glance down deck and see your crew is very good in terms of spotting when they are... no longer on deck.
If you are wearing black I would struggle to keep an eye on you and wouldn't notice if you went overboard or had a problem, compared to if you were wearing bright colours.
Wearing yellow especially, makes a huge difference. Personally, I wouldn't wear black!
I would choose red rather than yellow oilies for coastal sailing otherwise you can find you are the "wasp decoy" if you are the only person on the boat in yellow. :-)
If you're looking to build up your sailing gear gradually then I'd go for simple fleeces for your midlayers before you start looking around for windproof gear. This is because a windproof is less warm per gram of weight than a fleece, as the fabric focuses on keeping the wind out rather than focusing on insulating you. That's a really good thing if you're wearing the garment as an outer layer in spring/summer, but if you're wearing it under a pair of oilies in the winter then it's better to go for pure insulation (and the latter's also cheaper).
I do really like windproof stuff and wear it myself when I can - it feels softer and less sweaty than waterproofs - but I'd put it lower down your list of must-buys than good old thermals and fleeces.
As for colours, my preference is for brighter ones but if I had the choice between some dull-coloured gear at half price or some bright red gear at full price, I guess I'd go for the budget option! Just buy a luminous yellow hat, maybe?!
