Modern clothing- good, bad, indifferent?

[dralex]

Following on from the post about lee shores and gales, there was a comment about wearing Southern Ocean oilies in the rain in this country.

The advance in modern fabrics have been huge and I have used them over about the last 20 years in moutaineering, climbing and now sailing. I am a great advocate of being comfortable doing your chosen sport, and as such, have no issue with buying " SOuthern Ocean" kit if it means I stay comfortable. I live in my Musto HPX salopettes ( no funny comments) and so I feel even though they cost £300, they are great value in terms of pounds per hour worn. Same goes for my Dubarry boots.

There seems to be an inverse snobbery when it comes to wearing good kit, but it's totally acceptable to spend £1000 on a chart plotter.

SO- I love fleece, modern thermals, Gore Tex, Musto. Good Brands etc

Bring it on- what do you think?

ps Robin - nothing personal

/forums/images/icons/smile.gif



<hr width=100% size=1>Just enjoy it.

 

[ChrisE]

I'm a Musto southern ocean fan. Got two sets from LIBS this year to replace the previous coastal MPX stuff which had given us good service for 8 years. The new stuff is less baggy, fits better and is a bit more bomb proof than the previous which was prone to tear on sharp bits. I've also got Musto middle wear and their new deck boots. All wonderful stuff, if a little over-designed. I wear the DuBarry boots when it really gets cold, again not cheap but super warm and comfortable. As for hats, I wear my hill walking head fleeces by Lowe Alpine, etc, superior in my view to the stuff that the marine clotherers turn out.

Like you, being comfortable comes at the top of my list. I struggled for 30 years fishing in all weathers using ex-MoD and Barbour coats and was glad to chuck the whole lot out when the new lightweight breathables came in. Once you have got to the point where you are comfortable in all weathers then you can enjoy the activity. Same is true for sailing.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[squidge]

Bloody thong dont keep me as warm as my old flannelette's /forums/images/icons/smile.gif







Sorry ad 2 b done

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[dralex]

You need a Polartec Thong- reduces chafing as well.

<hr width=100% size=1>Just enjoy it.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Do you have to correct for dip depending which hemisphere your thong is in?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[alant]

"Do you have to correct for dip depending which hemisphere your thong is in?" - depends upon your point of view surely!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Robin]

It was me wot said it cos it was me wot had dunnit.

Seriously though, for years we had Musto Ocean gear, built in Harnesses and all the furry trimmed neck and pockets etc. It was fine to wear in early and late season gales bashing to windward at night but in summer it was too hot, too heavy, too cumbersome and took too long to dry, especially if we had to wash off the salt first as well. As a result we had a variety of lightweight stuff to wear when it was just bit of rain, not solid green water and when the temperature was around the level when we actually want to sail.

Then we stumbled upon dear Monsieur Guy Cotten's stuff in France, namely his factory shop in Concarneau. Now 20 years or more ago PVC coated nylon oilies were normal, inexpensive, 100% waterproof and long lasting, salt was washed off with a hose and a few shakes and 20 minutes hung outside and they were dry. The downside was that you sweated a bit in them and looked like a deep sea fisherman. Guy Cotten now makes stuff for every purpose from French deep sea fishing boats to climbers via yotties. Now there are several ranges of PVC gear, the yottie one is in white and is a much softer more flexible material than the yellow the trawler men wear. We bought full outfits, jackets plus bib & brace trousers for less than £100, they look OK, they are 100% waterproof and as I said can be hosed off and dried very fast. Guess what - in practice we don't sweat any more or any less than we used to in the Southern Ocean stuff either! If we need extra warmth then that is added by underneath layers. If we need warm hands we have waterproof gloves with removeable thermal liners. If our heads get chilly we wear West Marine lined waterproof hats with fold up/down ear flaps.

As for boots, we bought Aigle shorties from the Guy Cotten shop too, under £20 per pair, very non slip and very comfy.

Now I know we have a much superior boat to everyone else, very fast and very dry to sail, but we do anything up to 2,000 miles per year and this gear has served us well for the last 3 years. I do have a 'smart' jacket in designer white red and blue that I bought for walking to restaurants in if it rains, it cost £25 from the discontinued lines rack at .... Guy Cottens factory shop, but that has been superceded by a £10 pocket roll away suit found at SBS.

If it is only warmth that is required then we have a range of cheap thermal sleeveless jackets from West Marine (play golf in one too) and thermal underwear of various makes from Musto down to M & S.

So there you have it, inverse snobbery at it's best!

Guy Cotten stuff is available in the UK and from all the Cooperative Marine chandlers in most French ports, the Concarneau factory shop is close by the fishing port area and is worth a visit they sell diving and fishing gear as well as shoes and pretty upmarket clothing that you can buy with the money saved from the foulies!

Robin

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

There's no doubt the modern stuff is a quantum leap ahead of even 5 years ago.

I've got some OK pre-Goretex Musto stuff which I never wear anymore. Currently on a Gill Atlantic jacket and Henri's Anaconda trousers - (trousers and jackets never seem to wear out at the same time). Modern kit does seem to be getting smaller tho'!

Most of my underlayer stuff comes from cycling stores, cheaper than chandlers, Tale a look at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again

 

[dralex]

I'm not saying I'm a sweaty lad, but I do find breathable stuff so much more comfortable and warmer, especially the boots. I've tried non permeable fabrics and boots when I first started on big boats and found I was damp and uncomfortable after a few hours- nothing to do with continence issues or excitement!

When it's warmer, I just wear shorts and waterproof my top half. I can find a comfortable combination for all temperatures so far, including Med sailing in summer. The thing to avoid if there is going to be any hint of dampness ,IMO is cotton. NAsty damp cotton.

I have lots of long sleeved thermals and build these up in layers with a fleece on top. Tha tway I can vary the insulation to suit the temperature. BTW- I tried the Musto long sleeved thermal and do not like them very much as there is very little stretch so I go back to my old favourites from Snow and ROck

<hr width=100% size=1>Just enjoy it.

 

[Robin]

Steel toecap boots

I must be missing something on the boots front because if worn at all it is only to stop the water running off the oilies into my socks, or if I'm washing the decks down. I used to wear them in the days when we went to our mooring by dinghy, or taking the dog for walkies on a muddy foreshore but now I doubt we wear boots on board more than 3 or 4 times a season.

With the prices of some of this gear you could buy a new dinghy, outboard or a new sail!

Mind you the Dubarrys do match nice new teak decks....

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: Trousers - Bragging or complaining

Henri's Anaconda or Monty's Python?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BrendanS]

Despite having some expensive Musto breathable salopettes and jacket, and even a Ravenspring breathable drysuit, guess what I spend most of my time wearing...my 15 year old Berghaus gortex climbing jacket and trousers. They are so lightweight compared to yachtie stuff, and easily bundled up into no space at all (designed to weigh bugger all, and take up no space in a rucksac), and yet are still 100% waterproof and windproof.


Yachties tend to look askance at them, and say 'are you going to be OK in that anorak'? I've tried to explain that on top of a mountain in subzero conditions in a gale at night is what they are designed to take, and yes they are quite comfortable and dry thank you, but I don't think anyone ever believes me cos the material looks so thin and lightweight

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[Peppermint]

Re: Is good, bad & indifferent?

Many of the top line brands still have irritating problems caused by repeated poor design. A hand warmer pocket without a drain hole or a hood that lacks adjustment or the prolapsing lining in the Dubarry boot. My sailing outers are the most expensive suit of cloths I own by a long chalk and they're about right but I tried a lot of rubbish, at similar prices, to arrive at them. If you get to hot you peel a layer of but the beauty of this stuff is you rarely feel to hot or to cold.

Mine is a full suit, smock top, of Musto's Southern Ocean offering. It's good, in fact it's very good but you will still get wet wearing it. The advantage the Musto has over my previous HH and HL suits is that when around the neck or the cuffs lets a bit damp it's still not uncomfortable. I've suffered the mind bending effects of cold and wet and as a result I am a bit OTT on having good stuff, layers and everything and then having a dry set to hand. It doesn't matter how good the kit is, if your dumped into a few waves or the cockpit fills with water a few times, you will get wet. If you get wet you will get cold and suffer performance drop. Nothing gets you back fighting fit like a warm drink and some dry kit to start your next stint.

Years ago we went sailing looking like a road gang. That's partially because I'd supplied the crew with their oilies and I ran a road gang. We were in the pub in Fowy with some likewise clad worthies on a wet lunch time, getting on famously. We thought they were a crew from a local boat, they were a crew from a local bin lorry who thought we were asphalting contractors. I don't miss those sets of oilies, you were always wet and cold and your damp wool midlayer made you smell like a wet hound. I do find it mildly amusing that you can see as much HL, HH & Musto on the circle line as you can in a yacht club bar these days.

Along with heaters this new approach to sailing clothing is responsible for the number of boats that stay in year round.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[benjenbav]

Re: Is good, bad & indifferent?

Did you manage to sell the refuse operatives some new drives before they wised up to who you really were?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[dralex]

I agree with you to a certain extent Brendan- BUT- mountain stuff is still modern breathable fabric designed to work hard - I have also worn North Face and Berghaus stuff on the boat and it works well, but doesn't have quite the right seals in nastier weather. I have a Musto HPX smock with the dry suit neck seals- don't wear it very often, but when I do I smile because I'm dry, no matter what. If I wear it at other times, I tend to feel like passing out because of the neck seal, but it's the business in cold wet and waves..

Peppermint- I know what you mean about prolapsing linings, but so far there is no discomfort and my feet stay lovely and warm.

<hr width=100% size=1>Just enjoy it.

 

[BrendanS]

Agree, in real nasty stuff, would take Musto's or drysuit. However, the mountain gear is just so light weight and portable, and far more comfortable and wearable for 99% of the time, that it's what I usually end up wearing. Personal preference, but given that I have a choice, is quite telling

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[machurley22]

Me too. Although I wear the chest-high trews quite a lot I only really needed the ocean-style (Compass) jacket once this season and tend to wear the Berghaus since it's so light. Having said that, on the one occasion referred to above I only had a slight trickle down the neck after four hours when my mate (in regular outdoor gear) was completely soaked to the skin from head to foot in less than an hour. Horses for courses, innit.

Dave

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Shakey]

I notice that many people contributing to this post wear Musto.

I worked for a chandlers briefly, and the rule of thumb was Henri Lloyd for the tall and thin, Musto for the short and fat. It's the way they cut their cloth you see.

So are most contributors to Scuttlebutt of the short and fat variety?

<hr width=100% size=1>It could have been worse - it could have been me.

 

[jimboaw]

Follow the sun. Just dumped our 20 year old Henry Lloyd wet weather gear and have no intention of replacing it.Tropical rain is warm and refreshing. What's the point of having a movable home if you don't move it?.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Peppermint]

Re: Yeah so do mine

It's just the poncing about with the sail batten to get them of that warms me up that bit to much.

<hr width=100% size=1>