subject: Tips For Choosing Foul Weather Gear [print this page] When youre looking for foul-weather gear, you want to choose day-sailing, coastal or offshore gear that keeps you warm, dry and safe. Being caught in a storm offshore can leave you dripping-wet, cold and miserable, or downright sick. You dont want to lose your focus or make judgmental errors because youre distracted by your uncomfortable surroundings. You need clothing that protects you from the raging elements and lets you focus on the task at hand. Thats where a great set of foul-weather clothing preferably produced by Grundens Foul Weather comes in. A great set of gear can keep the weather where it belongs away from your skin while you continue to perform at top capacity and have fun in the great, wet outdoors. Below are some of the foul weather gear features you should shop for and some of the ones you should try to avoid.
Material and color. Make sure youve purchased a set of outdoor clothing made out of breathable waterproof fabric like Gortex. And dont get something dark-colored: at sea, the last thing you want is to be camouflaged against a dark and stormy ocean. Make sure you get the brightest colors of offshore gear you can find, preferably a vivid red or yellow jacket with reflector tape on the arms, shoulders and hood. If you do capsize, you want to make sure your rescuers can see you easily.
Pants. Your Grundens Foul Weather pants should feature a bib and suspenders so theyre easy to put on and take off. (Yes, we know its not very glamorous but out there with the fish, who cares?) Make sure the cuffs have
Velcro closures so you can seal them around the tops of your sea boots. Water gets into boots easily, and you dont want to drag yourself home with frozen toes. Lastly, reinforced patches on the knees and seat should guard you against extra wear in those high-friction spots.
Jacket. Your foul-weather jacket is your most important piece of offshore gear: you can get by with a little less in the pants department, but its absolutely vital that you find the right jacket. Make sure your sailing jacket is large, long and roomy big enough to accommodate several warm layers underneath. It should come down below your rear end on the bottom, and extend well above your neck to protect your chin. The fastenings are crucial, too: make sure that the jacket neck includes a Velcro or zipper closure on the outside, plus a neoprene fastening on the inside. (It may not keep all the water out, but it will definitely help.) The bottom of your foul-weather jacket should also include an inner drawstring closure to keep the wind away from your skin. Make sure you have good, sturdy cargo-type pockets with Velcro closures and flaps, and that your jacket has a sturdy mesh inner lining. Dont purchase a jacket with a sewn-in harness: its impossible to check the harness for wear when its hidden in the lining.
