The gloves deliver great grip and are comfortable to wear for hours on end, but their weak spot is that they can be tough to don if your hands get wet. (See PS July 2007, March 2009, November 2014, March 2017. While I was initially skeptical, my Hobbit-like feet felt warm and happy in the showroom. There are a dozen good sources of socks, and I mostly wear a lot of Darn Tough, but if you can afford sailing or even just winter camping, Ive found that a pair or two of Dachstein socks have a higher benefit/cost ratio than most of my kit. In terms of insulation, as our testing of other sports undergarmentsespecially socksindicates, cotton isnt such a bad insulator when dry, but, as you point out, it is a terrible insulator as soon as it gets wet.

The cold tourist regions are covered in fleece dandruff.

Pockets are valuable, but some designs are less useful than others (see PS, February 2015). Coated-palm freezer gloves have excellent insulating properties, dexterity, and durability, but they get soaked easily. Better yet, the gloves purportedly deliver move-with-you ergonomics thanks to their pre-shaped pattern. The good for most days referred to odor control properties. Good seals.

Finally, a Gore-Tex lining ensures breathability and count-on-it waterproofness.

Fitting can be difficult for people outside typical athletic body size and shape. Depending on conditions, hats often need to serve double duty by providing warmth and sun protection.

While the gloves are warm, the Aquafleece mittens deliver a wind-cutting polyurethane outer layer thats fleece-lined for extra insulation. In a fleece-lined nylon jacket, this is the inside surface of the outer shell. 3. Dress evenly. Although quite thin, the latex material is very stretchy and provides a perfect seal with minimum pressure. Look for our report on headwear for sailors in an upcoming issue. Dubarrys Ultima sailing boots are, in a word, classic. They are waterproof, provide insulation even when wet, and, importantly to Baltic fishermen, they cost far less that top-of-the-line dry suits or foul weather gear. An insulated jacket, on the other hand, will gradually become sodden, not drying until you get home. Although cotton underwear can be used in cold weather, cotton is a poor choice for outerwearand certainly anywhere you will get wet. Many sailors wear Grundens, a popular brand among commercial fisherman. When conditions allow, stand up, stretch your legs, clap you hands, coil some rope, check sail trim. High-performing winter sailing gloves should provide dexterity for tying knots and working shackles, while also delivering wind-chill protection and warmth. I was finding that a 150-weight t-shirt, 2 or 3 200- to 300-weight shirts, and then a more traditional heavy wool sweater (+ waterproof shell, of course), kept my torso happy. Wool takes too long to dry. Diaper cream.

Drysuits range from $750-$2,100 versus $175 to $480 for an flotation suit. Cold and dry weather can cause the skin to chap, peel, and crack. This is not the most comfortable tactic, but it works. Non-waterproof shells breathe far better than heavy rain gear ever will.

With the exception of a drysuit, you can put together a winter outerwear ensemble for coastal sailing for less than $500-sometimes much less.

Only after youve figured out what it takes to stay warm all day, through a variety of activities, are you ready to look at the pricey stuff that keeps you dry. We all care about different things. Zhiks Superwarm gloves are fleece-lined for additional warmth and feature polyurethane-reinforced palms with a studded pattern for additional grip. Two-piece systems, incorporating an insulated outer shell and an inner liner, are popular with mountaineers because they are easier to dry. Adjustable neoprene wrist and neck seals reduce water ingress, though not as completely as a drysuit. The all-purpose, affordable gloves feature a utilitarian design that includes a double-dipped PVC coating for waterproof protection and a seamless acrylic-pile lining for warmth.

If your sailing itinerary demands count-on-it waterproofness but youd rather contribute your hard-earned coin to the cruising kitty than to your footwear, Helly Hansens Midsund 3 boots could be a contender.

With the right inner layers, this light suit can also provide adequate protection in colder temperatures-provided its not too wet.

Tight seals at the neck and wrists are essential for good drysuit performance, but seals with rough seams that pinch can be irritating over the long haul.

No to be confused with immersion suits (see Immersion Suit Test, July 2007) which anticipate going in the water, flotation suits are insulated, one or two-piece suits designed for occupations where going overboard is a very real probability. Only two pairs we examined passed this test. Over the years, weve tested a wide range of gloves. Sailing gloves are fine for summer, but for winter youll want better repellency and insulation in your winter sailing gloves.

wool trousers and fishermans sweater dry days wool jacket and heavy wool socks the longer the better wet days (if necessary) gortex (or a guest).

Head and toe warmers from top left: Helly Hansens Midsund 3 boot, Outdoor Researchs Peruvian hat, Rooster Sailings Supertherm beanie and West Marines rubber boot. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. In the case of midlayers, a synthetic fleece blend is the economical, practical choice. A drysuit can be reserved for kayaking, dinghy rides in freezing water, and of course, the most horrible days underway. Also, ice-climbing gloves tend to be designed with desiderata we like: toughness, dexterity, effectiveness in cold wet environments. Ski goggles help warm your nose and cheeks by keeping the top half of your face warm. I am happy to dress for cold and work with some physical discomfort, but living in a space that reeks of sweaty polyester takes an enormous amount of fun out of it: why go to the trouble to be near nature if I cant smell nature? Expensive wool socks wont last long unless they contain about 15 percent synthetic fiber for reinforcement, but more than 25 percent synthetic effectively negates the insulating properties.

To keep the knees from wearing through, you can put knee pads over them (see PS August 2018). Synthetics for socks, base layers, and all mid-layers will help keep odor at bay. If youre headed for higher latitudes, comfort is critical, because the best gear is useless if you dont wear it. Footwear for the winter season should be a larger size than summer wear. Fast drying base layers are a first step to keeping out the cold (see PS January 2006). Synthetic base layers are also preferable for the same reason. Sailors have long embraced beanies as noggin covers thanks to their form-fitting profiles that cant easily be blown overboard. The pants must not grab at the knees (a fault in loose pants as well as tight) nor hang down at the crotch or puff out at the hips. Not every boat is a canting keel ocean racer, playing submarine and exposing the crew to frequent green water on deck. You will also need to try the gear wearing only the T-shirt and shorts youll wear in warmer weather. Seems like this should be high on the list for a sailing drysuit, but Ive never tried one of the real ones. In the worst case synthetics might give you a little extra leeway, but many people with a cabin heater and a space to hang things will be fine. Crotch straps are required; no matter how tightly you wear your PFD or harness, they will slide. Yes, you still need ventilation, but you must be able to control it. A high collar and hood that moves with your head is vital to ensuring good peripheral vision. Rooster Sailings Combi fingered gloves accomplish this with neoprene gloves that are reinforced with Super Grip palms and have tuck-away Aquafleece overmittens. Glove liners under neoprene Glacier Gloves offer excellent warmth and protection against the wet. 4. A Gill neoprene winter-rated glove undergoes an immersion test for our report on cold weather gloves in the November 2008 issue. If youve cruised Alaskas magnificent waters, odds are good that youve seen Xtratufs iconic-looking boots adorning the feet of local fishermen and sailors. No jeans or cotton sweatpants. Whatever gloves you choose, dont forget spares. As mentioned, Ive personally sailed many happy miles in my old pair of Ultimas, including countless winter days on Puget Sound, and I always appreciated the boots performance, comfort and stylish good looks. Decades of every-other-day running turned my feet into embarrassing-looking paddles, and while brand loyalty guided me toward a new pair of Dubarry Ultimas, the salesman instead recommended a beamier-looking pair of Musto Gore-Tex race boots. Dexterity is important, especially for deck crew. We also have a pair of deck shoes that are a half-size larger for wearing with fleece socks in cold weather. Smelling nice is less important that staying warm, but if you can keep the boat odors tolerable, it will make life more pleasant for everyone on board. In near-freezing temperatures, however, one-piece outer layers are more efficient than two-piece, jacket and pants.

Neoprene has long been used as a heat-trapping fabric for cold-weather sailing endeavors, and this material gets put to good use in Gills neoprene winter gloves. Foot support comes courtesy of EVA insoles, however cruisers can swap these out for aftermarket orthotics. They generally last the life of the suit, but are not easily replaced or repaired. Forty-eight hours later, I sea-trialed my new nautical armor during an early January blustery sail. Mid-layers. Inner and outer gloves offer flexibility and dry more quickly than thicker, heavier insulated gloves. Traditionally, dive suit seals were black latex and were always supplied too tight, with tapered openings that the wearer could trim to fit snugly, but not too tight. In very cold water, you need either a drysuit or immersion suit for each person, and a drysuit offers an opportunity to save duplication. While Ive long enjoyed winter sailing, I struggle with Raynauds phenomenon, which results in miserably cold hands when Im required to touch metal shackles, stanchions or spars.

Colder temperatures mean drier air, so the chill, rather than dampness is your chief enemy. Water- and wind-tightness are a must. Look for styles that focus on watertight integrity and function rather than pockets and gadgets. For this reason, we like dry suits for extreme conditions and even sustained cold rain. A fleece layer on your legs adds more warmth than a third top layer. For the low-budget daysailor who wants to control odor, cotton tee shirts will work just fine as an underlayerdespite what all the experts say. Mustangs tightly sealed drysuit takes the chill out of 40-degree Lake Superior. This is an important justification for close-fitting under layers accessories; the slimmer the fit under the suit, the less need for excessive bagginess. 2. Many synthetics are treated with anti-bacterial treatments claiming to control odor, but in our experience the treatments fade after a season of washes. Cool weather kit, from top left: Gills OS hat and Helmsman glove, Zhiks Seaboot 900, Mustos race boot and performance gloves, and Zhiks winter cap. Learn to work with gloves. But Gore-Tex is far more heavily marketed.

If youre looking for winter sailing gloves that offer similar levels of performance as your summer pair but with closed fingertips and extra warmth, Mustos Performance winter gloves could be your ticket. Sailing gear works great, but there are often less expensive options available through mountain outfitters. Baseball caps work great in the summer, but shoulder-season and winter sailing usually demand more warmth. On the downside, they are bulky, and if the air temperature rises above about 50F an active person will sweat profusely, since there is little way to reduce the insulation value. A hat conserves more BTUs than adding a second sweater. Top mid-layers are fleece jackets, with an emphasis on a long, slender torso and good freedom of movement in the shoulders. Search for discounts. It doesnt dry quite as fast as synthetics, but several thin-to-moderate layers dry sufficiently quickly. They also offer the best BTU/pound savings. Typically, the odor is most severe where clothing touches skin. In cold weather, baggy isnt warm at all, but in warmer weather you need room for air to circulate.

The needs of mountaineers and other sports are virtually identical to those of sailors.