From classic apparel to high-tech gear, these brands have them all

Braving inclement weather during sailing excursions demands very different gear from weekend casual cruising. It’s expected of pleasure boating apparel to be both comfortable and chic, but there is no reason why high-tech gear need not be equally stylish. The best yachting-wear brands create both everyday boating attire as well as equipment for heavier weather, and here are some of the ones we love, in no particular order.

Henri Lloyd

Henri Lloyd was founded in 1963, in the idyllic city of Manchester, England. The brand is named after its founder, who designed the first sailing jacket with Velcro fasteners, which changed the sailing apparel game forever. Its creations blend heritage with modern design to create hybrid styles that are both functional and sophisticated. What’s more, Henri Lloyd’s heritage and expertise is unquestionable. A mere 3 years after it was founded, circumnavigation adventurers Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Robin Knox-Johnson and Sir Ranulph Fiennes choose Henri Lloyd’s apparel to aid in their exploits. Today, the brand is the choice of four-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Ben Ainslie.

For pleasure boating: Mav HL Mid Hood, USD95
For wet weather: X-Plorer Mid, USD440

Sperry

Sperry is the creator of the world’s first boat shoe, and while many brands make boat shoes these days, Sperry makes an icon instead. Shoes from the brand are renowned for reliability, durability, comfort, and timelessness. Paul Sperry founded the brand in 1935 when he slipped and fell on deck while sailing the waters off Long Island. Months of research and development followed in his workshop, where inspiration came in the form of his dog, or more specifically the soles of the feet of his faithful companion. The soles of his shoes are carved to replicate the grooves of a paw, which is a design that he patented. Today, designers worldwide call this biomimicry, where the function of the item follows closely what was designed by mother nature.

For pleasure boating: Original Leather Boat Shoe, USD94.95
For wet weather: Gold Cup Original 2-Eye Burnished Leather Boat Shoe, USD159.95

Musto

Keith Musto founded his namesake brand in 1964, when he realised that the uniform of Guernsey sweaters and flannel trousers were not sufficient as he underwent rigorous training as part of the British sailing team for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in that year. In keeping with this ethos, apparel from Musto are highly practical for moving about on board. Not only that, Musto also partnered with W. L. Gore to create a tough, breathable, and waterproof fabric, which is known today as the Gore-Tex Pro membrane.

For pleasure boating: LPX Sunblock Dynamic LS Tee, GBP60
For wet weather: LPX Gore-Tex Jacket, GBP350

Helly Hansen

Captain Helly Juell Hansen founded this brand after years of battling the harshest elements on the Norwegian Sea. This brand hails all the way back to 1877, and was the original pioneer for the three-layer concept that is so widely used today. With roots like these, Helly Hansen naturally makes some of the best gear for bad weather, but without sacrificing any style.

For pleasure boating: LIFA Merino Lightweight 1/2 Zip, GBP75
For wet weather: Foil Pro Softshell Jacket, GBP280

Dubarry

Galway has a boating heritage that goes back to the founding of the city, and just like the tough city, Dubarry’s products are durable and highly practical as well. The brand first started as a cooperative in Ballinasloe, a neighbouring county to the seaside city, in 1937 to provide comfortable and sturdy footwear for sailors. While the function of Dubarry’s footwear is the same as the more well-known boatshoe, their design execution is different. Casual shoes are called a deck shoe instead, and the brand’s icon are their robust sailing boots.

For pleasure boating: Admiral’s Deck Shoe, EUR129
For wet weather: Fastnet Sailing Boot, EUR329

Zhik

Unlike many of the brands on this list, Zhik’s story only started a couple of decades ago in 2003. The Australian brand goes all in on technology in place of heritage, and their design approach as well as innovation has made them a common sight in many Olympians’ wardrobes. They have since created their own proprietary tech too, like Isotak which is a breathable, waterproof fabric that is four times more durable than equivalent rivals, an ultra-lightweight fabric called Aroshell, and Superwarm which is a four-way stretch, extremely warm and thin neoprene fabric. Innovation is also sustainable, as seen on their range of ECO wetsuits, which are made entirely from plant-based fabrics and recycled plastic bottles.

For pleasure boating: UVActive High Collar 1/4 Zip Top, AUD79.95
For wet weather: Superwarm V Steamer, AUD499.95

Gill Marine

Like many of the stories above, Nick Gill could not find the perfect gear for his requirements, and so the avid dinghy sailor started this company in 1975. Though dinghies have an unfair reputation for being  toyboat, performance dinghy sailing is anything but an easy sport. Gill Marine’s excellent products with their uncomplicated design is certainly both appealing and reliable, as they are used by New Zealand’s America’s Cup championship team.

For pleasure boating: Dart Hoodie, USD105
For wet weather: OS2 Offshore Jacket, USD349

Slam

Slam is a well-known sailing brand in Europe, and was founded on the shores of Genoa, Italy. The brand is almost militant about their passion for sailing, and this pursuit of performance results in great technologies that filters down into their leisure wear as well.

For pleasure boating: Sweatshirt F45 Padded Nylon, USD103
For wet weather: Coat F16 in Heavy Canvass with Double Hood, USD356