An Easy Guide to Buying the Best Sailing Jacket
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Updated 15 March 2024
Keeping yourself dry and warm at sea is key to both your enjoyment and wellbeing so the sailing jacket is one of the most essential pieces of clothing you’ll need. And don’t under-estimate how often you may pull this out during summer! Even in warm climates, as soon as the rain hits you’ll be wanting protection — especially if you’re on helm and can’t hide down below.
As with all my clothing recommendations for sailing — purpose, fit and comfort are more important than style (put yourself out in the ocean and tell me how much you think about looking good rather than focussing on survival!). Having said that these days there’s some great looking jackets that fit all your needs — so you can actually have it all.
Along with buying a great pair of sailing pants, wet weather jackets are a worthwhile investment and there’s a wide range on the market. How do you choose the right one? To help you make that decision and spend your money wisely, I’ll answer the common questions about sailing jackets and share the most important features to look for when buying a new sailing jacket.
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What’s the difference between coastal and offshore sailing jackets?
What type of sailing will you be doing?
Can’t I wear a decent quality outdoor jacket or ski jacket onboard instead?
What features should I look for in a sailing jacket?
What’s the best jacket design and size for me?
What’s the difference between coastal and offshore sailing jackets?
Coastal or inshore jackets
Coastal or inshore jackets are the most popular jackets for cruisers worldwide as they’re perfect for day sails, overnight trips and conditions you’d typically find in temperate coastal sailing. They’re fairly lightweight and allow good mobility onboard but provide excellent protection as an outer layer and you can get away with wearing these off-water too (without looking like a sailor who’s lost their boat).
Offshore jackets
Offshore jackets are more heavily built and are typically longer in length with larger storm hoods. They’re designed to provide maximum protection from the elements on multi-day sails. If you’re in colder climates, ocean racing or heading offshore cruising, this would be the best jacket to keep you warm and dry for long periods in extreme conditions.
What type of sailing will you do?
Once you know how often you’ll be sailing, the type of sailing (day sailing or multi-day, casual or serious) and the general climate, you’ll have a good idea about whether the coastal or offshore jacket is best for your comfort level and safety.
For example:
Casual day sailing in California? Go for a coastal jacket
Cruising in Northern Australia? Go for a coastal jacket
Living aboard in Alaska? Consider an offshore jacket
Doing an Atlantic crossing? Get an offshore jacket
If you’re a new sailor, it’s a good option to start out with a coastal sailing jacket for your go-to wet weather gear. If you get into more serious sailing in future then invest in a technical offshore jacket.
Can’t I wear a decent quality outdoor jacket or ski jacket onboard instead?
The short answer is technically yes (you could wear anything!). The longer answer is that it’s not recommended because sailing jackets aren’t just different by name alone – they’re specifically designed as robust protection against harsh ocean elements and made from materials resistant to the saltwater environment. If you’re going to be spending any time at sea it’s best to buy a sailing jacket.
Having said that, I recommend keeping extra warm durable outdoor jackets onboard for the times you’ll be exploring ashore. Outdoor canvas jackets and puffer jackets will keep you warm ashore while we’re doing boat repairs, running errands at dock or hiking. I’ve shown below three versatile styles I wear which are easy to layer up or down depending on the weather.
These 3 jackets are great for keeping warm on shore
Carhartt Women's washed duck Active Jacket
The North Face Women’s Gotham insulated Jacket
Columbia Women's Puffect Color Blocked Jacket
What features should I look for in a sailing jacket?
The best wet weather jackets include these essential features:
A high, warm fleece lined collar
Double cuffs/wrist lined (these inner sleeves have a velcro adjustment which prevents rain and spray entering inside the jacket)
Deep outer pockets to carry and protect extra gear
Inside pockets to keep small items waterproof and safe
Fleece lined hand pockets
Warm breathable lining
Fully taped seams
2-way zippers
Reinforced areas
Good size adjustable neon hood
Reflective panels
Articulated arms for ease of movement (the jacket sleeve will not ride up even when the arm is fully outstretched)
Highly waterproof windproof and breathable protective shell
What’s the best jacket design and size for me?
Most of the best sailing brands offer similar jacket features and protection so the best jacket design is the one that fits and feels comfiest on your body. Choose a jacket size that allows you to move freely onboard so you can actively hoist the sails, crank on the winches or hunker down in the cockpit while feeling comfortable and relaxed in your clothing. Remember that you’ll often have a number of extra layers underneath (thermals, long sleeves, jersey and salopettes (waterproof overalls) which all add to your size. I recommend you try jackets on — sometimes you may need to go up a size, or wear a men’s or women’s style to get the right fit. Or if buying online, most brands list a size chart to help you determine the best fit by shoulder, chest and waist measurements.
Where can I buy a second-hand jacket?
You’ll never regret buying a good quality jacket. If you’re on a tight budget and/or want to reduce how much you buy brand new (high-five!), you can often pick up a near new second-hand jacket by advertising in Facebook groups for buying/selling sailing gear and local Sailing Clubs. Look for jackets by reputable brands such as Helly Hansen, Gill, Musto and Zhik who all produce excellent sailing jackets that wear well for a long time.
Review — The 5 best sailing jackets in 2024
With so many jackets on the market, it can be a bit overwhelming choosing the right one — especially if it’s your first sailing jacket. I totally understand! So I’ve done the research for you and narrowed it down to the five best coastal and offshore sailing jackets available this year.
Aside from great technical features, you have plenty of colour choices here — although if you’re wanting to be most visible at sea then bright red, orange and yellow colours are best. Each of these jackets below have been chosen as they have important features that you need in a coastal or offshore jacket.
Let’s take a look…
Helly Hansen Women's Seven J Jacket
Perfect for: Casual sailing and exploring ashore
The Helly Hansen Seven J jacket is a great all-season rain jacket which is highly waterproof and perfect for casual sailing. The fabric feels soft and breathable — it’s super flexible and comfy to wear, and the minimalist design and terrific colour range makes this a very popular choice for outdoor lovers.
FEATURES
Fully waterproof, windproof and breathable fabric
Durable Water Repellency treatment (DWR).
2-layer construction
Lined for comfort with quick dry lining
Front storm flap and anti-chafe chin guard
YKK front zipper and YKK zipped hand pockets
Adjustable cuffs and bottom hem Cinch cord
2. Navis Marine Inshore foul weather set
Perfect for: Coastal sailing and outdoor rain gear
The Navis Marine foul weather set is an excellent buy that will keep you fully protected when the weather packs in. Great for helming in the rain or staying dry on wet dinghy rides ashore. Plus this set looks awesome on.
FEATURES
3 Layer Nylon PTFE Laminated fabric is lightweight, waterproof, and highly breathable
Zipper closure and fully seam-sealed to keep you dry
The lightweight Women's Waterproof Jacket is for active inshore environments
Fitted hood provides unobstructed peripheral vision
Adjustable wrist cuffs help to keep water out
3. Helly Hansen Pier 3.0 Coastal Jacket
Perfect for: Coastal sailing
Helly Hansen’s Pier 3.0 Coastal jacket is excellent quality (as expected from HH) and ideal for mild winter sailing. This jacket has no shoulder seems and raglan sleeves for freedom of movement. It’s got good deep pockets on the outside, chest warmer pockets and inner pockets to keep all your sailing essentials dry. Designed to be lightweight yet with robust protection, it’s hard to beat this high-performance coastal jacket.
FEATURES
Helly Tech® Performance fabric with Durable Water Repellency (DWR) treatment
Waterproof, windproof and breathable
Fully seam sealed
High protective collar
Adjustable cuffs with PU facing to prevent water entry
Adjustable and detachable neon hood
SOLAS-approved reflective elements
D-ring for kill cord
Machine washable
4. Gill OS3 Women’s Coastal Jacket
Perfect for: Serious coastal sailing
Gill OS3 is a go-to coastal jacket for sailors worldwide (and what I personally wear) — as it’s super warm, protective, durable and has pockets in all the right places. It’s also fantastic that Gill’s OS3 fabrics are more sustainable by using a plant-based finish which is just as waterproof as the DWR coatings used by other industry designers. If you’re after the best coastal wet weather jacket — this is it.
FEATURES
XPLORE® 2-layer fabric construction for waterproof and breathable finish
XPEL® fabric technology to offer incredible levels of water repellency, stain resistance and odor control
Fully taped seams for a waterproof seal. Non-absorbent and quick drying lining.
Fully lined hi-vis hood and 2-way adjustment system
High cut thermal collar and adjustable cuffs with PU inner seals
Internal storm guard
Deep side pockets with velcro closures
Fleece lined pockets to keep hands warm
Nice cut — looks great
5. Gill OS2 Offshore Women’s jacket
Perfect for: Offshore sailing
The OS2 is Gill’s top offshore sailing jacket and is made to keep you warm in dry in the worst conditions. It’s like the Gill Coastal jacket on steroids — with a high-cut collar, longer waist and sleeves, and every feature used to create a waterproof, windproof and breathable sailing jacket. If you’re wanting to invest in the ultimate protection from wind, rain and ocean waves — this is the jacket for you.
FEATURES
98% of theWomen's OS2 Offshore Jacket is made from reclaimed plastic bottles and recycled fibers, from the abrasion resistant outer panels right down to the adjustable shock cord hem.
XPLORE® 2-layer fabric construction for waterproof and breathable finish
XPEL® fabric technology to offer incredible levels of water repellency, stain resistance and odor control
Full lined with mesh drainage panels
Fully lined high-vis hood with dual adjustment for secure and comfortable fit
High cut thermal collar
Reflective accents for 360° visibility
Hand warmer cargo pockets with adjustable PU inner seals, so you have a watertight defence against the elements.
Zippered internal security pockets
2-way anti-corrosion YKK zips with double storm guard
In summary
As the outer layer, your sailing jacket is the first line of defence against the elements. It’s worth every dollar spent to buy the right jacket style so you’re warm, dry, and comfortable when the weather changes for the worse. If you’re looking for the best sailing pants too — there’s the matching bottoms to the Gill jackets here, and plenty more.
Lastly, it’s super important to consider your under jacket layers carefully too, as these will do a lot of the work to build your warmth. Check out my article on the best clothes to wear sailing, as you’ll learn the best clothing fabrics and outfit styles that work well as layers under your wet-weather gear. And don’t forget your footwear — check out the best shoes to wear sailing.
Happy sailing!
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