Your clothing depends on your boat: dinghies call for a wetsuit and spray top, day sailing and coastal cruising for a waterproof jacket, bibs and a mid layer, and offshore passages for full foul-weather gear with layers underneath. This guide lists each piece, what it does, example products from Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik and Rooster, and the sizing data you need to order.
Clothing by boat type at a glance
| Boat type | Key pieces | Brands in our range |
|---|---|---|
| Dinghy and racing | Wetsuit, spray top, hiking shorts and pads, gloves, boots | Zhik, Rooster, Musto, Spinlock, Harken |
| Day sailing and inshore | Light waterproof jacket, hi-fit bibs, fleece, deck shoes | Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik |
| Coastal cruising | Coastal jacket, trousers or bibs, base layer, deck shoes | Musto, Helly Hansen |
| Offshore and ocean | Offshore jacket and trousers, base and mid layers, boots, gloves, drysuit | Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik |
How do I choose?
Ask three questions: how wet will you get, how cold will it be, and how long will you be out? Then build up in three layers. A base layer sits next to your skin, a mid layer adds warmth, and an outer shell blocks wind, rain and spray.
What suits a dinghy or racing boat?
ILCA, 420, 29er and skiffs. You expect to get wet and you move constantly, so the kit is built around a wetsuit, a spray top and hiking gear.
What suits day sailing and inshore trips?
Daysailers and small keelboats on short outings, where the weather can turn while you are out.
| Piece | What it does | Examples from our range |
|---|---|---|
| Jacket | Lightweight waterproof shell for showers and spray. |
Musto Sardinia Jacket 2.0 - Unisex (Black) Musto EVO Waterproof Crew Jacket - Women (Black) Helly Hansen Sandoy Rain Jacket - Men (White) |
| Hi-fit bibs | High-waisted waterproof trousers with a bib, quick to pull on. | Helly Hansen Pier Bib 4.0 - Men (Grey Fog) |
| Fleece | Warm mid layer to add or remove as the breeze changes. | Musto EVO 200 Pullover Fleece - Unisex (Navy) |
| Deck shoes | Footwear designed for wet decks. |
Musto LPX Pro Trainer - Men (Black / True Red) Musto Dynamic Race Trainer - Women (Navy / Off White) |
What suits coastal cruising?
Cruisers and weekenders on day trips and overnight passages, with longer hours on deck and more spray.
| Piece | What it does | Examples from our range |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal jacket | Shell built for a full day on deck with spray and rain. |
Musto BR1 Solent Jacket - Men (Black) Musto BR1 Channel Jacket - Women (Black) Helly Hansen Pier Jacket 4.0 - Women (Skagen Blue) |
| Trousers or bibs | Waterproof legs for spray and rain. | Musto BR1 Trousers Fw - Unisex (True Navy / Black) |
| Base layer | Comfortable layer next to the skin under your shell. | Helly Hansen LIFA Stripe Crew Long-sleeve Base Layer - Men (Navy) |
| Deck shoes | Footwear designed for wet decks. | Musto LPX Pro Trainer - Men (Black / True Red) |
What suits offshore and ocean passages?
Long watches and days of weather call for full foul-weather gear with warm layers beneath.
| Piece | What it does | Examples from our range |
|---|---|---|
| Offshore jacket | Full foul-weather shell for long watches in heavy weather. |
Helly Hansen AEGIR Ocean Jacket 2.0 - Men (Alert Red) Musto LPX Gore-tex Jacket 2.0 - Women (Black) |
| Offshore trousers | Waterproof trousers to match the jacket. |
Musto BR3 Pertex Offshore Trousers - Men (Black) Musto BR3 Pertex Offshore Trousers - Women (Black) |
| Base layer | Warmth next to the skin on cold nights. | Musto HPX Merino Base Layer Long-sleeve Top - Unisex (Black) |
| Boots | Waterproof footwear for the deck. |
Musto HPX Ocean Boot - Unisex (Black) Musto MPX Offshore Boot - Unisex (Black) |
| Gloves | Hand protection on lines and winches. |
Musto Performance Short-finger Glove 2.0 - Unisex (Black) Harken Sport Sailing Glove Reflex Full Finger - Unisex (Black/Grey /Red) |
| Drysuit | One-piece suit designed to keep water out. | Helly Hansen AEGIR Ocean Dry Suit 2.0 Drysuit - Men (Alert Red) |
How do I adapt to the temperature?
Add or remove layers as conditions change, whatever your boat.
| Conditions | Add this | Examples from our range |
|---|---|---|
| Hot and sunny | UV-protective tops, shorts, sun hat. |
Rooster Quick Dry UVF T-Shirt - Long Sleeved - Unisex (Blue) Zhik Deckbeater X Short - Unisex (Black) Harken - The "Mitch" Cap - Unisex (Charcoal Grey) |
| Mild and changeable | Light shell plus a fleece you can take off. | Musto EVO 200 Pullover Fleece - Unisex (Navy) |
| Cold | Thermal base layers and an insulated mid layer under your shell. |
Musto Thermal Baselayer Pant 2.0 - Men (Alpine Frost) Helly Hansen Crew Insulator Jacket 2.0 - Men (Navy) |
Which brand offers what?
| Brand | Strongest categories in our range |
|---|---|
| Musto | Coastal, inshore and offshore jackets; hi-fit bibs and trousers; fleece, base layers and insulated jackets; wetsuits, rash guards, drysuits; yachting boots and sneakers; gloves. |
| Helly Hansen | Offshore, coastal and inshore jackets; hi-fit bibs; base layers, fleece, softshell and insulated jackets; sneakers; drysuits. |
| Zhik | Dinghy and performance racing; smocks and spray tops; jackets; drysuits; hiking footwear; gloves; hiking straps and layering. |
| Rooster | Wetsuits; spray tops; hiking pants and hikers; gloves; boots; base and mid layers; rash guards. |
| Harken | Sailing gloves in full-finger and three-quarter-finger styles, and caps. |
| Spinlock | Hiking pads. |
Which size should I order?
Brands size differently, so compare your own measurements with each brand's chart. Measure your chest, waist, hips and inside leg, then match them. For reference, here is the chest measurement of a medium in each brand, in centimeters and inches.
Men and unisex
| Brand | Size | Chest (cm / in) |
|---|---|---|
| Musto | M | 99 / 39 |
| Helly Hansen | M | 103 / 40.5 |
| Zhik | M | 99 / 39.0 |
| Rooster | Medium | 97–102 / 38.2–40.2 |
Women
| Brand | Size | Chest (cm / in) |
|---|---|---|
| Musto | UK 12 (M) | 94 / 37 |
| Helly Hansen | M | 94 / 37 |
| Zhik | M | 97 / 38.2 |
| Rooster | M/12 | 96.5 / 38 |
These are the size ranges each brand offers:
| Brand | Men's and unisex | Women's | Junior and kids |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musto | XS to 3XL, plus MB and LB for broader builds | UK 8 to 18 (XS to XXL) | JS, JM, JL (ages 6 to 13) |
| Helly Hansen | XS to XXXL | XS to 5XL, plus plus-size 1X to 3X | Sizes 86 to 176 (1.5 to 16 years) |
| Zhik | XXS to XXXL | XS to XXL | Youth 10, 12, 14; kids 8 to 14 |
| Rooster | X-Small to 5X-Large | UK 8 to 20 (XS to 3XL) | Junior Small to Junior XLarge (ages 7 to 14) |
Helly Hansen publishes its apparel charts in inches, and the centimeters shown on our guides are converted. Full charts for every garment type are in the size guides for Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik, Rooster and Henri-Lloyd.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear for my first day on the water?
Dress for getting wet. A dinghy sailor wears a wetsuit with a spray top, and a keelboat crew wears a waterproof jacket over a warm layer. Bring gloves and shoes made for a wet deck.
How do inshore and offshore jackets differ?
Inshore jackets are lighter and suit short trips close to land. Offshore jackets are built for long watches in heavy weather and usually pair with matching trousers.
What are hi-fit bibs?
Hi-fit bibs are waterproof trousers with a high waist and a bib front, sometimes called salopettes. They keep water out around the waist and are quick to put on over your layers.
What goes under a sailing jacket?
Use a base layer next to the skin and a fleece or insulated mid layer on top. Add or remove the mid layer as the weather changes.
Should I choose a wetsuit or a drysuit?
A wetsuit is made to get wet and works well for dinghies. A drysuit is made to keep water out and suits cold water and long exposure. Both Musto and Helly Hansen make drysuits for offshore use, and Zhik offers them too.
What shoes suit a boat deck?
Choose footwear designed for wet decks. Dinghy sailors often wear boots with grip, while keelboat crews wear deck shoes or yachting boots.
Do I need gloves?
Gloves protect your hands from lines, winches and sheets. Half-finger styles keep your fingers free for knots, and full-finger styles add warmth.
What is a spray top?
A spray top, also called a smock, is a pullover shell that blocks wind and splash. Dinghy sailors wear it over a wetsuit.
How do I measure myself?
Use a soft tape over thin clothing. Measure your chest at its fullest point, your waist at the natural waistline, your hips at their fullest point, and your inside leg from the crotch to the ankle.
Do sizes match between brands?
Not exactly. A medium chest runs from 97 to 103 centimeters across Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik and Rooster for men and unisex pieces. Always check the chart of the brand you are buying.
What sizes are available for kids?
Each brand uses its own scheme: Musto JS to JL, Helly Hansen 86 to 176, Zhik youth and kids sizes, and Rooster junior sizes by age.
How should sailing clothing fit?
Leave room for a base layer and a mid layer underneath, and make sure you can reach, twist and hike without the garment pulling.
Which brand should I pick?
Zhik and Rooster focus on dinghy and performance gear. Musto and Helly Hansen cover coastal, inshore and offshore sailing, and Musto also makes wetsuits.
Can I wear the same gear for different types of boats?
Layers carry over: base layers, fleeces and gloves work on any boat. Shells and footwear are where a dinghy, a cruiser and an ocean boat differ most.
If you have additional inquiries or need help with anything sailing related, don't hesitate to contact our experts! We'll be glad to help.
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Last updated: November 11, 2026.