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paulsmith

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I'm thinking of buying my wife a Compass offshore 5000 profesional suit. At £230
it appears a good buy.Is it cheap because it s not got the fancy name Henri Loyd Musto etc. or am I getting what I pay for? (Can't afford £500-£700) so she might just have to get wet! We sail in the Bristol Channel /Atlantic So I'm reluctant to buy a lower spec inshore suit albeit at a lower price as when it cuts up rough here we can't just run to the nearest harbour but have to sit it out for at least 12 hours before we can 'get in'.Any thoughts anyone?

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Re good cheap oilies, somebody posted on here, I think it was, details of a french company, available in the UK at budget swindlerys, who manufactured a great set of oilies that bore a remarkable resemblence to a more popular/expensive brand, can anyone remember what the site was.
Rob

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Cant get a much better buy than the one at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/ag/product.asp?dept_id=3&pf_id=AG2007>Allgadgets</A> although personally I like to have a harness in the jacket.

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Are you sure buying clothes for your wife is the right place to save money? Get her the best and bask in the glow!

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I bought their lower spec inshore suit 3 years ago. It does the job and I feel that I got really good value for money. I would go for the better one next time - 'cos I have moved to Bristol Channel too !
Ken

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I have had the Compass suit for two seasons. It is fairly heavy so I tend to use it only when the weather is really bad. As other posters have said, it does the job well. I conclude that the price is lower due a) volume b) own label. I must admit the allgadgets one looks interesting, though

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Bought my girlfriend the allgadgets Yachtmaster suit last year. It looks like good kit and at half the price of my Gill stuff.

The hood isn't great but apart from that I wouldn't hesitate to buy it for myself.


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The important thing is to check that it fits her OK. Try them all for size and make your decision that way, starting with the cheaper ones first of course. The LIBS is a good place to try them all on and then start negotiating with the chandleries at the show. I certainly got a good deal from Purple Marine with my Gill suit.
My friend di the same at the SBS and ended up with the Compass Offshore professional - but not used it in anger yet - but it did fit him nicely unlike some of the others.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... :-) /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
 
Hi Paul
I bought my ollies off ebay the bib and brace being more of a bargin (almost brand spanking new heri's offshore gortex for £36)!!than the jacket XM offshore which set me back £100 (although I feel that some of the material might be a bit flimsey).
It depends weather she wears specs as I found some of the hoods on kit I tried didnt have a good enough peak to deflect spray.
If you are buying her uni sex stuff extra small is up to a small 12, small is about 12-14, medium 16 and large prob about an 18 I am going on my prefernces as I like my oilies to be a bit baggy. But ditchcrawler is right about getting kit at the boat show I felt rarther ill when i saw a musto gortex jacket for £130 cheaper than my shore non branded gortex jacket.
ps mailspeed marine has got a bit of a clearence on at the moment.
hopes this helps cheers
Pip

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Talking about"sitting it out" have you considered buying her trousers with a 'drop seat' option- saves having to get completely undressed every time one needs the heads.

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There must be somthing about the Bristol channel and compas ofshore suites.
Have had mine about 2 years, keeps me dry although the hood is pretty useless! The lower price means I am less concerned about the local water turning them slowly brown.

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Re: Tricky

I've got a set of Pro Rainer non breathables on their 10th season (15k miles). They where cheapish. So obviously cheap doesn't mean crap.

I've got a set of breathable Henri Lloyd's TP2000 in their 5th year They're OK. Nice and light but the hoods rubbish.

I've got a newish Musto Ocean Smock that is very clever and comfortable to wear.

If it's wet enough you get wet in all of them.

When I covered clothing for BYM at the 2003 LIB's I was impressed with Musto for the technology and premium price and Gill who seemed to save a bit on the price by using non branded materials but didn't skimp on the design or manufacture. They both do ladies sizes too.

In your position I'd wait for he LIB's and dpo a touchy feelie on the manufacturers stands. Then do some bargaining on the retailers stands.

If you can get to Bicester Village in Oxfordshire both Musto and Helly Hansen have outlet shops. It's worth phoning them first though. My Ocean smock was £240 in the Musto outlet.

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Re: Tricky

I have an old set of XM's which are now very dirty due to lots of time in the tender. Leaks a bit but acceptable.I purchased a set of JAG gear at Southampton Boat show.
The gear is absolute RUBBISH 10 mins of heavy rain & arms etc are soaked. & that was on 1st day out.
I now accept that top layer wet gear is poor but I wear the musto base layer & mid layer . This wicks the damp away just as it is claimed to. ( brilliantly so in fact)This way poor top gear lets the water through but I dry out faster & the mid layer keeps me warm.

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Re: Your right

Layers really do work.

I use a Trax mid layer and Helly Hansen Lifa base layer. Absolutely top combination.

You can see the condensation inside the none breathable suit I wear but it isn't a problem with the inner layers working.

My Dubarry breathable boots are great too.

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The lower price suits are often made from different fabrics. The Musto and Henri Lloyd stuff is all layered Goretex type fabrics with a protective nylon shell. The cheaper stuff (ie XM) is usually a nylon that's been treated with a hydrophillic (or is it hydrophobic?)chemical.

The more expensive stuff should last longer in theory.....

Also, a rule of thumb: Henri Lloyd for the long and thin, Musto for the short and fat.

<hr width=100% size=1>At the end of the day - Sunset.
 
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