On a summer cruise, the oilskin usually stays in the locker. Only when it actually rains or the weather gets so bad that spray and cold wind dominate is it brought out on board. Then it transforms from a forgotten item of equipment into the most important piece of clothing: it keeps you dry, protects you from the wind and prevents hypothermia. But not all oilskins are the same - there are huge differences between a lightweight inshore model for summer cruising and heavy offshore armour in terms of features, weight, area of use and price. We have tested eleven current oilskin models, from spartan lightweight to maximum protection. The range extends from just under 500 euros for a complete set to more than 1,600 euros.
The test candidates
Which oilskins does the average cruising sailor really need? Eleven sets from seven manufacturers were tested. From the offshore sector: Gill OS1 Ocean, Henri-Lloyd Ocean Pro (with jacket, bib and smock), Helly Hansen Ægir Race 2.0, Skagen Offshore and Pier 4.0 and Slam Ocean. In the coastal and inshore segment: Marinepool Sunderland FL3, Musto LPX Gore-Tex 2.0, Helly Hansen HP Foil Flyer, Slam OD Hooded and Zhik Inshore 400. The manufacturers subdivide their oil-driven vessels into three categories: Offshore, Coastal and Inshore. Some items of clothing also have the suffix Race. Offshore oilskins such as the Helly Hansen Ægir Race 2.0 are designed for extreme conditions on offshore regattas. Very few leisure sailors experience such scenarios.
Nevertheless, offshore oilskins can be useful: Anyone who regularly sails regattas and cannot choose the weather will benefit from maximum protection. Even those who sail out of season - in autumn, winter, in cold water - need more than light summer equipment. Offshore oilskins are heavier, warmer and more expensive. It offers a much higher collar, double cuffs with PU coating, massive knee pads and waterproof pockets. These details cost weight and money, but pay off in tough conditions.
Coastal oilskins are the compromise for the majority of cruising sailors. Solid protection for normal conditions: Coastal sailing, weekend cruising, occasional bad weather. The collar is higher than on inshore models, but not as massive as on offshore versions.
Lightweight and quick-drying
Inshore oil is designed for activity: Regattas, training, summer coastal sailing. Extremely light, thin and breathable. Models such as the Musto LPX Gore-Tex 2.0 or Helly Hansen HP Foil Flyer weigh less than 1.5 kilograms. They provide reliable protection from the rain, but offer little warmth. Perfect for summer cruising, as soon as it rains you can quickly put them on and then take them off again. But inshore oilskins have their limits. There is no protection in spring or autumn. The solution: either a second, warmer oilskin or a coastal model that can do both. The choice also depends on the boat. On an H-boat, where you are constantly sitting in the spray, you need more protection than on a large yacht with plenty of freeboard and a sprayhood. If you sit far above the water and can hide away in the rain, you can get by with inshore oilskins.
Maximum protection
Our offshore test winner: Henri-Lloyd Ocean Pro. The best offshore oilskin in the test. Padded, anatomically moulded knees, hood with transparent inserts for better visibility, removable storm flaps and cuffs. The smock has a neoprene cuff that stays tight even in heavy spray. The fit is close to the body but not restrictive. Every detail has been thought through. The price is high at just under 1,500 euros, but justified for maximum offshore performance.
However, the offshore models are very close together. The Helly Hansen Ægir Race 2.0 (€1,600) also offers top performance with its mouldable visor and four millimetre thick knee pads. The Gill OS1 Ocean is the price tip in the offshore sector: for €1,350 you get reliable offshore armour with an extremely high collar, four heat pockets and an integrated multitool. In the coastal sector, the Sunderland FL3 from Marinepool is a solid choice. It must be taken into account in the assessment that the coastal and inshore clothing has fewer features than the offshore versions.
Nevertheless, the Skagen Offshore is also priced in the coastal segment. The whole set costs as much as just the jacket in the OS1 from Gill. Our inshore test winner: Musto LPX Gore-Tex 2.0, very light (1,230 grams complete), good fit with stretch inserts on the shoulders, wide foot openings for boots. The only criticism: the hood adjustment with plastic fittings is fiddly. For 1,238 euros, a super-light and comfortable oilskin for active summer sailing. Closely followed by the Helly Hansen HP Foil Flyer (800 euros) with a total weight of just 1.2 kilograms and a perfectly rotating spinnaker hood. Inshore price tip: Slam OD Hooded Jacket and Long John. For 630 euros you get a very light, breathable inshore oilskin with a detachable hood and double waist adjustment. The light colour is sensitive to dirt, but the set is perfectly adequate for summer sailing.
Price-performance ratio
The price-performance tip is the Helly Hansen Pier 4.0: The oilskin costs only 500 euros as a set and surprises positively. The hood turns well, the equipment is reduced to the bare essentials, but functional. The reduced inshore oilskins offer advantages: they are extremely space-saving when packed, dry quickly and are not too warm. If it gets cold, you can still fit a midlayer underneath. This is enough for most trips and weather conditions. The differences in price are also due to the membranes used. Musto relies on Gore-Tex. This is the most expensive and most efficient solution. Manufacturers also offer their own designs, which also have very good performance data. The cheapest option is a microporous coating on the inside. It fulfils the same function, seals against water ingress and allows water vapour to escape from the inside, but is not as efficient. The question for cruising sailors is: How actively do I really sail? When phases of very high activity alternate with phases of low activity, breathability is crucial. If perspiration is not wicked away quickly, the oilskin will become damp and cold. This is where a high-performance membrane is an advantage. For many cruising sailors, however, cheaper options are also practical, especially in summer.
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The hood is the crucial detail that is important for weather protection as well as for freedom of movement and visibility. It should turn with you and must be intuitive. Even with cold, wet fingers. The best hoods have double adjustment and turn well. Protection is a priority, especially for offshore oilskins, where visibility is restricted more quickly because the massive collar does not follow the movement of the head as well. Helly Hansen, Henri-Lloyd and Slam solve the problem with viewing windows in the peak of the hood. This is a real added value. All manufacturers offer reinforcements against abrasion. Offshore models additionally reinforce elbows, shoulders and arms. The knee pads from Ægir Race and Slam Ocean are particularly special. They offer real comfort on the knees during foreship work. The Henri-Lloyd Ocean Pro has thinner pads, but they are already noticeably helpful.
Oilskins for female sailors
Most of the models tested are also available in special cuts for women. These are often available in different colours or offer additional functions such as a dropseat function on the trousers, which makes going to the toilet easier. Helly Hansen Ægir Race 2.0, Skagen Offshore and Henri-Lloyd Ocean Pro have this function. The Slam Ocean is only available in a unisex version, while the Slam Foil is also available for women - in pink, for example. The Musto LPX Gore-Tex 2.0 jacket is explicitly available for women, while the trousers are identical. The Marinepool Sunderland is completely unisex. Skagen Offshore and Pier 4.0 have female cuts, some in pink. The fit has to be assessed individually, but the basic rule is: if the men's version works well, the features are right and the hood fits, the women's version will also work very well. Important for the hood: women with long hair should check whether a plait fits in the hood. The adjustment is crucial. If the hood is not easily adjustable, it will slide too far onto the forehead with a plait. We covered this aspect in the test.
After extensive testing, the clear recommendation is: Most cruising sailors sail well with inshore oil. The advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages on summer cruises. The low weight of 1.2 to 1.7 kilograms makes all the difference, it is easy to carry without sweating. The pack size is so small that it hardly takes up any space. After a shower, Inshore oilskins dry quickly overnight. The freedom of movement is excellent and you notice the difference, especially during active manoeuvres. And the hoods usually turn much better, there are no massive collar constructions, but a clear view. The collar of offshore suits is essential in bad weather, but quickly gets in the way in moderate conditions. It's good if it can be removed. Because as soon as it gets really cold or the weather is really bad, offshore oilskins show their strengths. The high collar protects the face right up to the back of the head, fluffy heat pockets keep frozen hands warm and a massive storm flap keeps the spray and cold out. Anyone who sails in autumn or winter, is cold when sailing at night or regularly takes part in regattas needs this protection. For normal cruising sailors, a good inshore or coastal model may be the more practical choice. However, if you start early in the season when it is still cold, you will definitely need to invest in a warm mid-layer (jacket and trousers).
Michael Rinck
Redakteur Test & Technik
