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Wind shells and light jackets from Helly Hansen and Musto — Mistral, LR Pack and Positano Light windbreakers, plus fleece-lined Snug and seam-sealed Marina jackets for cold or wet days. Click here to read more.

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Sailing Windbreakers: Wind Shells, Fleece-Lined Snug Jackets and Light Rain Jackets

This collection is the light-jacket layer for sailing: wind shells from Helly Hansen and Musto for the breeze you meet on deck, plus the fleece-lined Musto Snug jackets and the Musto Marina rain jackets for days that turn cold or wet. The choice comes down to three things — how much wind you need to block, whether you need real water protection (seam-sealed fabric) or only a water-repellent finish, and whether the jacket should pack away or be worn as a mid-layer.

Jacket Families in This Collection
  • Helly Hansen Mistral Windbreaker (men, navy): the plainest wind shell here. Shell and lining are 100% polyester with recycled content, with elastic cuffs and hem and zipped hand pockets. Helly Hansen sells it for wind protection on breezy spring, summer and fall days. Four colours.
  • Musto LR Pack Windbreaker (unisex, navy): made to fold into a rucksack. Pertex Quantum fabric that is breathable and water repellent for light showers, with a mesh lining, YKK zipped pockets and a chin guard.
  • Musto WB Jacket (unisex, black): a short windbreaker in recycled nylon stretch ripstop with a grown-on hood, contrast zips and cords, and elasticated cuffs and hem for a water-resistant finish.
  • Helly Hansen Positano Light (women, black): a breathable, lightly protective shell that packs down small, with a DWR (durable water repellent) treatment, full front zip with double storm flap, an adjustable drawcord collar and double-entry hand pockets. Helly Hansen rates it 3/6 for waterproofness and 4/6 for lightness. Three colours.
  • Helly Hansen Marine Bomber (men, navy): a regular-fit bomber with a DWR finish, ribbed collar and cuffs and zipped hand pockets. Listed as light wind and water resistance (3/6 windproof, 3/6 waterproof), for everyday wear in spring, summer and early fall rather than sustained weather. Three colours.
  • Helly Hansen Capri (women, navy): a casual jacket in a cotton-rich 4-way stretch fabric with a high collar inspired by Helly Hansen's sailing jackets and zipped hand pockets. The listing makes no wind or water protection claim, so treat it as a shore and dockside layer. Four colours.
  • Musto Snug Blouson Jacket 2.0 (men, navy / carbon; unisex, navy / carbon): Musto Ocean Tech fabric with a Polartec fleece lining, fully seam sealed, with ribbed cuffs and hem and zipped pockets. Musto positions it as a reliable mid-layer in cooler temperatures. Seven colours in the men's cut and three in unisex.
  • Musto Snug Anorak (unisex, navy): the Snug with Polartec fleece lining and fully taped seams in an anorak cut, with an adjustable hood and hem, a zipped chest pocket and a side zip.
  • Musto Snug Shell Blouson (unisex, marine blue): a 2-layer shell made to Musto's Ocean Tech waterproof standard, fully seam sealed, with a mesh lining and zipped side pockets — the waterproof shell option in the Snug family, without the fleece.
  • Musto Snug Diamond Quilt (unisex, navy) and LR Tech Snug (unisex, black): the warm ones. The Diamond Quilt has 60 g insulation, a high collar and PFC-free DWR; the LR Tech Snug has a recycled outer shell and a Polartec fleece lining.
  • Musto Marina rain jackets (Marina Rain Jacket, style 85016, Marina Rain Jacket, style 82462, Marina Rain Mac Insulated, Marina Heritage Waterproof, all women's): the rain end of the collection. Style 85016 is Ocean Tech, 2-layer, fully seam sealed with a mesh lining and PFC-free DWR; the Rain Mac and style 82462 use BR1-rated fabric with sealed seams, adjustable features and a soft lining; the Heritage is a waterproof, taped-seam jacket with a waist drawcord and two cargo pockets.
Wind Shell, Water-Resistant or Waterproof: Choosing the Right Jacket
  • Wind and a few drops: the Mistral, LR Pack, WB, Positano Light and Marine Bomber are light shells with a water-repellent finish. They block wind and shed spray, but none of these listings describe sealed seams, so they are not a replacement for foul weather gear in sustained rain.
  • Cold and damp: the Snug Blouson 2.0, Snug Anorak and LR Tech Snug add a Polartec fleece lining. The Blouson and Anorak are fully seam sealed, so they work as a warm outer layer or as a mid-layer under a heavier shell.
  • Real rain: choose a seam-sealed waterproof — the Snug Shell Blouson or a Marina jacket. For sustained offshore weather see the Henri-Lloyd jackets, built around a 15k or 10k waterproof shell.
  • Packing it: only the Musto LR Pack and the Helly Hansen Positano Light are described as packing small. The rest are meant to be worn.
  • Fit and cut: each cut is listed as men's, women's or unisex in the product title and sold as separate products by colour. Helly Hansen lists the Mistral, Positano, Capri and Marine Bomber as regular fit.
Who It's For

Sailors who want a light layer for the breeze that comes up in the afternoon, a spare shell in the cockpit locker, or a warm Snug jacket for spring and fall. For serious weather, browse the Henri-Lloyd jackets or the Zhik jackets, and read our foul weather gear guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sailing windbreaker?
A light, thin shell that blocks wind and sheds light spray, usually with a DWR finish and elastic or adjustable cuffs and hem. In this collection the Helly Hansen Mistral, the Musto LR Pack and WB, and the Helly Hansen Positano Light are the windbreaker-type jackets.

Are windbreakers waterproof?
No. A windbreaker is water repellent, not waterproof: Helly Hansen rates the Positano Light 3/6 and the Marine Bomber 3/6 for waterproofness. The fully seam-sealed jackets here are the Musto Snug Blouson 2.0, Snug Anorak, Snug Shell Blouson and the Marina Rain Jacket.

Which jackets pack small?
The Musto LR Pack Windbreaker, which is sized to fit in a rucksack, and the Helly Hansen Positano Light, which packs down small per its listing.

Which of these jackets are fleece lined?
The Musto Snug Blouson Jacket 2.0 and Snug Anorak (Polartec fleece lining) and the LR Tech Snug. The Snug Diamond Quilt is insulated (60 g) rather than fleece lined.

When do I need foul weather gear instead of a windbreaker?
When you expect sustained rain, heavy spray or long exposed watches. Our foul weather gear guide explains coastal, offshore and ocean sailing needs, and the essential sailing clothing guide shows where a light shell fits in a layering system.