Popular sailing clothing brands offer styles and levels of protection suited to all sailing activities. From one-piece raingear to multi-layered, breathable fabrics, these brands provide unique designs that perform in any weather condition.
Top Sailing Clothing Brands
Whether you’re on a day trip or an extended ocean voyage, the right clothing keeps you safe and comfortable. Here’s a look at some of the best sailing apparel brands out there today.
Helly Hansen is best known for its waterproof high-visibility jackets and trousers, as well as insulated base layers.
Henri Lloyd has a wide range of men’s and women’s clothes perfect for both craze racers and cruising sailors.
Nick Gill specializes in technical sailing wear for men, women, and juniors, designed for use during more intense ocean-going activities.
Similarly, Keith Musto is recognized for their commitment to performance sailing products for a wide range of weather conditions.
Henri Strzelecki focuses on uncompromising fabric technology and features that protect from unpredictable weather elements while keeping sailors comfortable at sea.
Gill Marine provides a comprehensive line of protective gear including footwear, jackets, and trunks made with breathable materials to keep you cool at all times.
North Sails is a U.S.-based company whose roots date back to 1957 when American yachtsman Lowell North developed sailcloth with ventilation techniques that improved aerodynamics. Today its range of apparel includes tops and bottoms designed for general sailing or even extreme conditions such as icy waters or strong wind conditions.
Navis Marine from Italy offers high-performance technical materials that provide insulation from cold weather conditions at sea allowing for greater freedom of movement. A variety of items – polos, shirts, trousers – can be found to suit every sailor’s taste.
Saint James provides style as well as protection with its range of iconic striped marine tops created from soft cotton that resists salt staining and fading from sunlight exposure over time. Furthermore, its garments are machine washable with reinforced seams for extra durability and can easily fold away into small spaces for convenient storage during long voyages at sea.
West Coast Sailing is a well-known sailing clothing brand that offers top-of-the-line competitive sailing equipment. It specializes in apparel and gear designed to enhance your competitive sailing experience. With products that meet stringent safety standards, you can feel confident while racing in the most challenging conditions.
RS Sailing produces reputable sporting apparel for all your competitive sailing needs. From performance wear to technical essentials, the brand takes an innovative approach to create garments that are aimed at providing comfort and protection from outdoor elements during long days of competition or recreational sailing.
Zim Sailing prides itself on providing quality clothing—from drysuits to buoyancy aids—that are essential for any sailor’s closet. The company uses only the highest-grade fabrics and materials to create items that not only last but also deliver optimal performance out on the water. Zim’s products combine style, affordability, and excellence so sailors can have a reliable set of garments when heading out in any type of weather condition.
Types of Sailing Clothing
Sailing Jackets are a must for any sailor, offering superior protection against the elements. Whether you’re sailing inshore or offshore, there is a jacket to suit your needs. Coastal jackets are designed for sheltered waters and offer waterproof and windproof protection.
Inshore jackets are suitable for choppier conditions and provide water resistance as well as breathability. Offshore jackets are made of thicker materials, providing superior warmth and protection when the weather turns foul.
Besides jackets, other pieces of clothing that makeup sailors’ outfits include layers, gloves, hats, and shoes. Base layers give insulation while mid-layers enhance breathability during activities such as hiking through rough terrain or rowing away from shore.
Gloves protect hands against blisters and cold temperatures while hats add an added layer of sun protection to prevent sunburns. Sailing shoes come with a non-marking rubber sole which provides excellent grip on wet surfaces often seen aboard sailboats. Lastly, sunglasses specifically designed for sailing will help reduce the glare caused by harsh sunlight reflecting off the deck or water surface.
By investing in the right sailing clothing items any sailor can not only keep themselves comfortable at sea but safe from harm too!
Key Features of Sailing Clothing
Sailing requires special clothing to keep people comfortable and safe. There are several key features to look for when selecting the best sailing clothing.
Layering is essential when sailing in different climates or during longer trips; pick lightweight, breathable fabrics that will keep you dry and offer flexibility in motion.
Available waterproof fabrics, such as GORE-TEX performance fabric, are perfect for keeping sailors dry and warm, even during downpours. Breathable fabrics can regulate body temperature to keep you cool in hotter temperatures yet still provide protection from wind and rain.
Choose clothing with a full range of motion to ensure a comfortable fit while moving freely in the boat. Look for a wide variety of sizes in all styles of sailing clothing and make sure they offer enough room over your layers while still fitting close enough around your wrists and ankles to prevent excess water from getting inside.
When choosing pockets on a sail jacket or pants, check that they’re not too bulky or violate any safety straps; chin strap performance should be noted for jackets with hoods that adhere securely without being overly loose or tight around the chin.
Handwarmers can add extra comfort in colder temperatures – choose external pockets or fabric piping along seams made specifically for the purpose – internal pockets conversely function better when required intimacy is needed by keeping objects secure away from elements outside the garment.
Lastly, hiking straps often come secured to shorts hems, or waistbands; they should be strong yet lightweight so they don’t bother users while at sea and must be able to attach securely fastened by cord locks if needed.
Sailing Clothing for Different Weather Conditions
For sailing in warm climates, light, breathable materials such as nylon and polyester are recommended to keep you cool. Fast-drying fabrics such as spandex can also be used, helping to wick away sweat quickly.
A wide-brimmed hat with a strap is essential for protecting against the sun, and sunglasses are also important for avoiding eye strain from bright sunlight or glare from reflected water. Loose-fitting tops and bottoms will allow airflow and provide comfort on the deck.
For cold-weather sailing, a lightweight, waterproof jacket should be your first layer of clothing. Additional layers should be added — a polypropylene base layer followed by wool or fleece mid layers for insulation, topped off with another waterproof jacket for wind protection.
Waterproof gloves and vented boots will keep your hands and feet warm but still let in enough air to avoid overheating due to sweaty extremities. A thermal hoodie with plenty of ventilation options is also ideal for use during cold-weather sailing trips.
When heading out in bad weather conditions such as storms or high winds, make sure that you are properly prepared with a sturdy, waterproof rain suit made from materials like PVC or rubberized material coated with PU mesh linings or plastic laminates which will help keep you dry but still allow adequate movement and range of motion on deck.
Fully lined, windproof jackets and pants provide extra warmth when temperatures drop further, as well as helmet liners if needed under any helmets you may be wearing in particularly dangerous conditions. Additional hats or caps are useful to avoid further rain getting into your other layers of clothing too; goggles will protect eyes from flying debris if wind speeds pick up suddenly while out at sea too
In extreme conditions such as alpine sailing kayaking or ocean adventure expeditions where temperatures can reach below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), additional coats made from down material are usually recommended to create an effective barrier against the elements while allowing flexibility and medium-weight mobility when possible should sudden changes arise onboard your boat trip.
Abundant use of reflective strips on clothing can help increase visibility during nighttime hours outdoors beyond simply providing additional warmth required when facing harsh and unpredictable climatic challenges out at sea!
Sailing Clothing for Different Types of Sailing
Sailing clothing needs to be selected based on the type of sailing in order to enjoy a safe and comfortable experience. For casual sailing, comfort and practicality should be the primary considerations. Loose-fitting clothes are best, with lightweight synthetic materials providing good breathability.
A light waterproof jacket should also be worn. Day sailing requires more protection from the elements as conditions can become more extreme; layers of technical fabric that offer insulation while still being waterproof are recommended.
When undertaking offshore sailing trips, it is important to wear heavy-duty waterproof clothing designed for open waters such as foul weather trousers and jackets, along with sun protection such as hats and sunglasses. Professional sailors often wear specialized performance racing gear for pre-launch saltwater preparation and during the race.
This gear includes dry clothing with several layers of fabric or neoprene combined with protective footwear and weatherproof accessories like gloves and beanies. Finally, Olympic sailors need highly refined gear that offers maximum flexibility and functionality, allowing them to move freely while competitively racing a boat across an open water course at high speeds.
The recommended items include thermal base layers, spandex shorts, and vests plus full-length wetsuits made from advanced specialty materials designed to increase speed and reduce drag in the water. Racing boats require maximum flexibility combined with fabrics that ensure safety by guarding against cold waters during intense competition events.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Sailing Clothing Brand and Gear
Choosing the right sailing clothing brand and gear is all about staying comfortable, safe, and stylish on every sailing adventure. Whether you are an avid sailor or just going out for a day of sailing, having the proper gear is essential.
Nautical clothing brands offer a huge range of sizes and marine clothing brands have technical clothing that provides extra protection in worse weather conditions. Sailing gloves are also important for keeping warm and making sure you can grip objects properly.
Hats, sunglasses, jackets, and trousers all play a part in ensuring an enjoyable trip, no matter what the weather might be. When selecting the right sailing gear, choose renowned brands with a long-standing tradition of quality goods built to stand up to the elements, as well as those offering junior sailors outdoor apparel they can enjoy too!
Allan Wilson who in the offline world has an extensive background working in research, analyzing statistics, improving work processes, team leading, and implementing training to improve results and now thanks to more than 3 years dedicated to this site is now also a highly regarded researcher of brands.
Allan has a long history of developing brands online way back before blogging existed creating websites using HTML code in Notepad. Allan established brands in the Info Product Marketing arena such as infoproductmarketing, ebookresellerkit, reprintrightsmarketing, along with many other successful websites (and a few failures along the way). Allan has also authored numerous ebooks, owned and operated membership sites, created eLearning courses, and more.
