Replacement for Musto MPX jacket and Salopetts

[Ian_Edwards]

My 8 year Musto MPX wet weather gear is worn out. They'll have been great, but now seep water through the fabric.
Looking the price of a new set I was amazed to see that the cost has risen to £1,350.00 recommended retail price. Hello Hensen equivalent are even more expensive. I know I can find them discounted, but the current discounts I've seen aren't really significant, and fewer chandler's are shocking them.
Does anyone know of a more reasonably priced alternative?
I sail a 46ft boat mainly single-handed, NW Scotland between Shetland and Norther Ireland, with occasional trip to the South Coast of England.
I'm no longer a "spring chicken"!
The wet weather gear needs to be fully waterproof, breathable, and durable. I can no longer afford to get wet and cold on a 12hr passage.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Have you replaced the water repellent coating on the outer surface of the clothing? The goretex membrane works best when the surface cloth doesn't become saturated.

The test is if water still beads up on the outside. If not, it needs re-doing. (Sometimes just tumble drying stuff reactivates the coating).

The process is all laid out on the Nikwax website. https://www.nikwax.com/en-gb/waterproofing

It's worth doing as replacements of any brand are so expensive. (Although a visit to Decathlon near a 'sailing' venue where they stock the complete sailing range, like Southampton or in Brittany, gets you great stuff for several hundred pounds. )

 

[Bobc]

Decathlon. Their 900 series are superb and you'll get a complete set for about £500.

You can buy online if you can't get to a store.

 

[Sandy]

MPX should come under the Goretex lifelong guarantee. Contact Musto and they should send a replacement.

 

[roblpm]

Decathlon. Their 900 series are superb and you'll get a complete set for about £500.

You can buy online if you can't get to a store.

And they seem to not care a jot if you order online. Try it for size and return to local store. Repeat until happy!

 

[Minerva]

MPX should come under the Goretex lifelong guarantee. Contact Musto and they should send a replacement.

Be interested to hear if that would be successful - I would imagine their "lifetime" guarantee would be the lifetime of the jacket, of which 8 years feels a good innings.

Happy to be shown otherwise.

 

[KAM]

Ditched my goretex a few years ago and went back to PVC. Guy Cotten. Completely waterproof. When you've finished sailing just give them a shake and stuff them in a cockpit locker. No requirement to have a soggy mess drying in the hanging locker. The pull on trousers are so much more practical than salopettes. No need to remove lifejacket and jacket to put them on. I've been warmer and drier than I have for years sailing on the west coast of Scotland

 

[Sandy]

Be interested to hear if that would be successful - I would imagine their "lifetime" guarantee would be the lifetime of the jacket, of which 8 years feels a good innings.

Happy to be shown otherwise.

I've had friends get full replacements of 10 year old kit including three years cruising the Atlantic, but that was a few years ago. As my late father used to say if you don't ask you will never know.

 

[KAM]

The other problem with Musto and similar outfits is they have too many pockets. These are fleece lined and have multiple layers of cloth. Once the jacket is zipped up the salopette pockets are useless. You finish up with a bulging mass of unused cloth round the waist all of which gets damp and has to be dried out. Simple pull on PVC waterproofs without too many pockets are much better. Guy Cotten jackets have foam insulation round the shoulders to reduce any condensation which doesent seem to be a problem in northern waters.

 

[Sandy]

Ditched my goretex a few years ago and went back to PVC. Guy Cotten. Completely waterproof. When you've finished sailing just give them a shake and stuff them in a cockpit locker. No requirement to have a soggy mess drying in the hanging locker. The pull on trousers are so much more practical than salopettes. No need to remove lifejacket and jacket to put them on. I've been warmer and drier than I have for years sailing on the west coast of Scotland

I spent my early years in that sort of kit and glad to see the back of it. Cold, ringing wet and sweaty - this was on the west coast of Scotland.

For some reason, I don't know why, breathable kit works for some and not others.

 

[Sandy]

The other problem with Musto and similar outfits is they have too many pockets. These are fleece lined and have multiple layers of cloth. Once the jacket is zipped up the salopette pockets are useless. You finish up with a bulging mass of unused cloth round the waist all of which gets damp and has to be dried out. Simple pull on PVC waterproofs without too many pockets are much better. Guy Cotten jackets have foam insulation round the shoulders to reduce any condensation which doesent seem to be a problem in northern waters.

Never experienced that. Lets think - The jacket, a couple of pouch pockets (where I can stuff my hand warmers), a couple of pockets to pop my hands in that cleverly slide behind the pouch pockets that are lined and toasty warm and an inside pocket for a phone when in the pub. The salopettes has somewhere to stuff my hands at chest level when I am not using a life jacket and a leg pocket for phone and notebook. Feels about right for my needs.

No fleece lining in my kit, that would be a big no, no. The outer bit of kit is for keeping dry, keeping warm is a totally different thing. On the occasional thunder and lightning storm I have been know to sail in full foulies and a pair of shorts.

 

[lustyd]

It’s draining fleece so doesn’t stay wet, but keeps your hands warm without gloves if needed. Use mine all the time to avoid cold hands.

 

[KAM]

I spent my early years in that sort of kit and glad to see the back of it. Cold, ringing wet and sweaty - this was on the west coast of Scotland.

For some reason, I don't know why, breathable kit works for some and not others.

I've had expensive goretex gear for climbing and sailing from the major brands since it was invented. It's never stayed waterproof for much more than 2 years despite washing and reproofing. After an incident trying to free a jammed furler whilst single handing at night where I got completely drenched in my very expensive goretex outfit and was suffering from exposure I swore I would never trust it again. Going back to PVC has been a revelation.

 

[Sandy]

I've had expensive goretex gear for climbing and sailing from the major brands since it was invented. It's never stayed waterproof for much more than 2 years despite washing and reproofing. After an incident trying to free a jammed furler whilst single handing at night where I got completely drenched in my very expensive goretex outfit and was suffering from exposure I swore I would never trust it again. Going back to PVC has been a revelation.

No worries I've always been delighted with mine. Now in its 11th year of use, which reminds me it is time for a wash and reproof before the start of the season.