Choose women's sailing clothing by the kind of sailing you do, then by the brand's women's size chart: waterproofs for offshore or coastal passages, layers for warmth, and light UV-rated pieces for warm days on deck. This guide lists example products from Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik and Rooster, and compares the women's sizes of each brand.
Women's sailing clothing at a glance
| Need | Key pieces | Brands in our range |
|---|---|---|
| Rain and spray | Jackets, trousers, bibs and salopettes | Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik, Rooster |
| Warmth | Base layers, fleece, softshell, insulated jackets and vests | Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik, Rooster |
| Warm days on deck | Polos, tees, shorts, skorts and light trousers | Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik, Rooster |
| Dinghy and skiff | Skiff suits, wetsuits, rash tops | Zhik, Rooster |
| Feet | Sailing sneakers and sandals | Musto, Helly Hansen |
How do I choose?
Start with where you sail. Offshore and ocean sailing calls for a full offshore jacket and trousers. Coastal and day sailing needs lighter inshore shells. In summer, a UV-rated top and shorts are often enough. Then pick the size from your own measurements, since each brand cuts its women's range differently.
Which jackets and trousers suit offshore sailing?
Offshore pieces use heavier fabrics, higher collars and stronger seams for long watches in rough weather.
What should I wear for coastal and inshore sailing?
Coastal shells are lighter and cooler to wear, and suit day sailing, racing around the cans and cruising near land.
Which layers keep me warm?
Wear a base layer next to the skin, a fleece or insulated layer for warmth, and your shell on top. More detail is in our layering guide.
What do I wear on warm days?
Light tops, shorts and skorts dry fast and move with you. For a UV-rated top, see our sun protection guide.
What about dinghy and skiff sailing?
| Piece | Examples from our range |
|---|---|
| Wetsuit and skiff suit |
Rooster Women SuperTherm 4mm LongJohn - Women (Seagrass) Zhik Skiff Suit - V Microfleece - Navy (Women) |
| Rash top |
Rooster Women Rash Top Long Sleeved - Women (Sea Grass) Zhik Eco Spandex Long Sleeve Top - Women (Black) |
Which footwear is available for women?
Boots are sold as unisex and sized with a US women's column in the brand chart. Sneakers and sandals come in women's cuts. The footwear guide has the full foot-length charts.
| Style | Examples from our range |
|---|---|
| Sailing sneakers and sandals |
Helly Hansen Backshore - Women (Navy / Off White) Helly Hansen Skagen 2 - Women (Navy / Off White) Musto Dynamic Race Trainer - Women (Navy / Off White) Helly Hansen Slide Sandals - Women (Black / Gunmetal) |
Which brand offers what?
| Brand | Women's range in our range |
|---|---|
| Musto | Offshore and coastal jackets and trousers, fleece, softshell, insulated jackets and vests, polos, tees and shorts. |
| Helly Hansen | Pier and Salt jackets and bibs, AEGIR race jackets and salopettes, mid layers, insulators, polos, skorts and sneakers. |
| Zhik | OFS offshore jackets and salopettes, INS inshore jackets, fleece, skiff suits, UVActive tops, deck shorts and pants. |
| Rooster | Shoreline jacket, softshell, fleece tops, hot tops, wetsuits, rash tops and technical polos. |
Which size should I order?
Compare your chest, waist and hip with the women's chart, in centimeters and inches. Each brand names its sizes differently, so match measurements rather than letters.
| Brand | Women's size range |
|---|---|
| Musto | UK 8 to 18 (XS to XXL) |
| Helly Hansen | XS to 5XL, plus a plus-size chart from 1X to 3X; pants also by waist size and in Short, Regular and Long lengths |
| Zhik | XS to XXL for jackets, XS to XL for pants and bottoms |
| Rooster | UK 8 to 20 (XS/8 to 3XL/20), with US and EU equivalents |
Size M compared across brands
| Brand | Size | Chest (cm / in) | Waist (cm / in) | Hip (cm / in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musto | UK 12 (M) | 94 / 37 | 79 / 31.1 | 103 / 40.5 |
| Helly Hansen | M | 94 / 37 | 76 / 30 | 101.5 / 40 |
| Zhik | M | 97 / 38.2 | 77.5 / 30.5 (pants) | 97 / 38.2 (pants) |
| Rooster | M/12 (UK 12) | 96.5 / 38 | 76–81 / 30–32 | not listed |
Helly Hansen publishes apparel charts in inches, and the centimeters shown on our size guide 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 size should I order?
Measure your chest, waist and hips and match them to the women's chart of the brand. Musto uses UK sizes 8 to 18, Helly Hansen uses XS to 5XL, Zhik uses XS to XXL and Rooster uses UK 8 to 20.
Do women's sizes match between brands?
Not exactly. A size M has a chest of 94 to 97 centimeters across Musto, Helly Hansen, Zhik and Rooster, and waists and hips differ more.
Should I buy women's or unisex pieces?
Choose the women's cut where it is offered. Boots, gloves and some accessories are unisex, so use the size chart.
Does Helly Hansen offer plus sizes?
Yes. Helly Hansen publishes a women's plus-size chart from 1X to 3X, and its jackets run up to 5XL.
What is the difference between offshore and coastal jackets?
Offshore jackets use heavier fabrics and higher collars for long watches in rough weather. Coastal jackets are lighter and suit day sailing and racing near land.
How many layers do I need?
Three is a good starting point: base layer, fleece or insulated layer, and a shell. Add or remove the middle layer as the weather changes.
How should my layers fit under a shell?
Close enough to stay warm, with room so the shell closes over them without pulling.
Which pants lengths are available?
Helly Hansen lists women's pants in Short, Regular and Long lengths, and also by waist size.
Are there UV-rated tops for women?
Yes. Zhik offers UVActive tops and polos for women, and Musto offers EVO Crew Sunblock tops and polos.
Which brand should I pick?
Musto and Helly Hansen cover offshore and coastal sailing. Zhik and Rooster focus on dinghy, skiff and performance sailing.
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.
You may also be interested in
- What to Wear Sailing: Clothing Guide by Boat Type
- Sailing Layering Guide: Base Layers, Fleece and Mid Layers
- How to Choose Sailing Footwear: Boots, Deck Shoes and Sandals
- Clothing Guides
Last updated: November 11, 2026.