According to the manufacturer, Musto’s Nautikos oilskins are primarily aimed at sailors who work outdoors for extended periods in heavy weather. The partner, ThruDark, brings expertise in expedition clothing to the table. Its founders served in British special forces. However, this does not automatically make Nautikos operational clothing for special forces. The collection is explicitly presented as offshore clothing. The fact that the campaign images show people on a high-speed rigid-hulled inflatable boat shapes the visual language.
Gore-Tex Pro and Dyneema
The Nautikos GTX Jacket and the matching dungarees form the outer weather layer. Musto calls Gore-Tex Pro as a membrane material. According to the company, Dyneema is also being used in a Musto collection for the first time. The fibre can make fabrics more resistant to abrasion and tears. The press release does not specify where or to what extent it has been incorporated into the Nautikos oilskins.
For sailors, it is precisely these details that make all the difference: areas subject to wear and tear, such as the knees and seat, benefit from robust material. Whether the new outfit will actually last longer than existing oilskins cannot be determined from the material names alone. In the YACHT comparison of eleven oilskin sets As well as protection from the weather, mobility, visibility from under the hood and comfort at the knees were particularly important.
Pockets, padding, visibility
Removable pockets are designed to be swapped between garments in the range. This is practical when changing layers, provided the fastenings work securely even with cold fingers. Musto specifies D3O padding for the knees. Photoluminescent elements are designed to be visible in low light. It is not possible to assess from the information provided which areas they cover, nor how visible the predominantly dark clothing remains during a man-overboard search. The photoluminescent elements are no substitute for a lifejacket or marine distress light.
In addition to the heavy-duty GTX set, there is a Trident GTX jacket with matching trousers for changeable conditions, as well as a Stormfleece, a T-shirt and a cap. The press release does not specify how the two outerwear combinations differ in terms of weight, weather protection and mobility. The fact that the appropriate clothing depends on the activity is also demonstrated by the YACHT waterproofs test for coastal use: For many sailing crews, full-length offshore oilskins aren’t the most comfortable option.
Nautikos is likely to be of particular interest to crews who regularly face long watches, heavy spray and plenty of work on deck. Those who mainly sail on sheltered coastal trips should weigh up the extra material against the added weight and reduced freedom of movement.
According to Hubertus Jürgens, Nautikos is a limited-edition special collaboration between Musto and ThruDark. The products cannot be ordered via the shop. Anyone interested should send an email to info@frisch.de.
The Nautikos GTX jacket costs 1,699, and the GTX trousers 1,399 euros. The Nautikos mid-layer jacket is available for 519, and the mid-layer trousers for 419 euros. The Nautikos shirt costs 79, and the Stormfleece 259 euros.
Which features do you consider most important in offshore oilskins: maximum protection from the elements, freedom of movement or visibility at night?
Michael Rinck
Redakteur Test & Technik
