I'm notorious for never putting my oilskins on until after I get soaked. It's because I've always hated wearing them. They're heavy and cumbersome and make me feel like a badly tied parcel - or so I thought. I've realised now that my prejudice is completely out of date.
I suppose it's because a suit of state of the art Ocean oilies costs the thick end of £1,000, and I hate wearing them anyway, that I've put off replacing mine (state of the art an eon ago!) for far too long. So when I finally tried some of the very latest, lightweight and breathable foulies it came as a complete revelation.
Henri Lloyd's Goretex Offshore Jacket and Offshore Hi-Fit Trouser are unlined, which makes them very light and therefore much less restrictive. And they are windproof, so as long as you wear enough layers underneath, they are still just as warm and weatherproof as my obsolete heavyweights.
The hood is impressive. It is constructed from three layer, high-visibility Goretex, which because it is light is also compact, and packs away very neatly into the articulated “ocean hood pod”, for a comfortable fit around the neck.
The high collar is lined with Polartec 200 to provide a very effective and cosy wind shield for the face. And the “extreme” hood, as HL describes it, provides “owl vision” with three adjustments to move with the wearer's head. I 'm not sure what is meant by owl vision: let's just say that the hood offers plenty of protection. And the wearer can see out well, although others might struggle to see who is inside!
The jacket is well equipped with plenty of pockets - chest pockets you can warm your hands in, big cargo pockets for gloves, torch etc, a useful sleeve pocket that could accommodate a knife, torch or a PLB, and a secure zipped chest pocket on the inside.
The jacket is a good length, too, with durable Cordura reinforcement on the seat, And there's an internal back waist adjustment for a close fit, to give maximum freedom of movement. The double ended zip is big and chunky, with a nice big tag you can pull with gloves on.
The Hi-Fit trouser follows the same theme: light and unlined for freedom of movement, but with plenty of thoughtful design features, and reinforcement everywhere it's needed: knees, seat and back hem.
I particularly liked the high bib and back, for extra wind and waterproof protection, and the new touch and close shoulder fastening system. The short braces are comfortably wide, and won't come loose in action. And there is elastic under the arms for a snug, draught-proof fit.
There are hand warmer pockets on the chest, and a big, useful thigh pocket, complete with drainage holes, with internal pockets for knife, Leatherman tool, etc. The leg shape is articulated for ease of movement, and there are bat wing adjusters to trim the waist to fit. The Women's Gore-tex Offshore Hi-Fit Trouser also incorporates a drop seat for convenience.
Altogether, these waterproofs are just what I needed to convince me to get properly dressed before I get wet. I'll miss the built-in harness of my old Oceans, but otherwise there's no comparison. This lightweight gear is so comfortable you hardly know you are wearing it, but it kept me warm and dry beating into a near gale.
The jacket costs £320 and the trousers £220. If they continue to perform according to first impressions, they'll be well worth that money.
My only slight reservation is the colour scheme. Certainly the carbon/light grey jacket is extremely smart and stylish, and the contrast panels on collar, underarms and sides add to its visibility, but I'm still far from convinced that black is the right colour for sailing clothes. You'd be difficult to spot if you did fall in the sea.
However, the jacket is well supplied with reflective patches, and it is also available in a red and carbon colour scheme, as are the trousers.
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The Henri Lloyd Goretex Offshore range has completely changed my attitude to foul weather gear. Light, comfortable, ergonomic and practical, these well-designed garments are ideal for all sailors who want to be kept warm and dry while sitting still, but also to be able to move quickly and freely when they need to - whether cruising or racing.
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For more information visit www.henrilloyd.com
did the steering but I still had to be out of cover to keep watch as visibility was very poor due to the heavy rain and spray. I used both an old style Henri Lloyd (non breathable) Ocean Racer jacket and then the latest Cruiser Racer jacket once the OR was water logged. Although the newer jacket kept me far drier as there was no condensation inside , I found the neck closure to be very inadequate. Water could pour inside down the front of the jacket becasue there is no spray guard storm flap to pull across the front and keep the neck material in close. The kneck material stands upright and acts as a nice scoop for oggin. I think HL have skimped on a vital bit of the design there. Save weight by all means but not by doing away with the spray guard. (The HL Ocean breathable trousers and Extreme Deck boots were however excellent. ) 
