Racing and Performance Wear Spring/Summer 2022

What You Need Right Now

Poor February. The shortest month, it’s more than just extra flowers and bling before the madness of March. In February, we love getting inundated by press releases from premium performance brands with the latest clothing and gear due out for spring and summer. Technical wear has not been slacking off and there are intriguing new innovations for racing as well as lifestyle.

With age, comes wisdom and Helly Hansen, which originated in Norway in 1877, is a brand we like to feature. Their 2022 Sailing Collection incorporates Ocean Bound recycled plastics into its products. The materials in this collection have been certified as utilizing a minimum 50% recycled material, all PFC-free. The HP Foil Match Jacket, in a range of men’s sizes from XS to XXXL, is an ideal mate for inshore or coastal sailing. Highly water- and wind-proof yet still breathable, this jacket is exceptionally lightweight, even with its 3-layer Helly Tech® Performance fabric. The outer layer features treatments to increase water repellency as well as added reflective capabilities essential for marine search and rescue. Seams are heat-sealed and glued, the YKK zipper is Aqua Guard®, the bottom seam is one-hand adjustable, as are the cuffs. Interior pockets and collar are fleece-lined. The jacket also comes with a detachable, high-visibility hood and kill-cord D ring. The overall design hugs, so you don’t feel hampered in high-wind conditions, making this jacket a performance staple that belongs on every sail.

The brand’s sustainability practices don’t stop at re-purposing ocean refuse. Remember that Nordic populations are the world’s highest consumers of coffee, with Norway ranking second. Their new HP half-zip pullover for men and the W inshore half-zip pullover for women are exceptionally lightweight, ideal for extended days out on the water. Cleverly incorporating S.Cafe® recycled coffee grounds technology into the yarns naturally boosts the UPF. It doesn’t was out as other UPF treatments do, and recycled grounds also provide natural odor control.

Also new for ’22 and inspired by the Aegir collection - The Skagen Offshore Set (bib and jacket, both available in men’s and women’s sizes/styles) incorporates more than 50% recycled Ocean Bound plastics to create the newest Helly Tech® Performance fabric in a 2-layer construction. The bib features adjustable hem, waist, and suspenders, as well as quick-dry mesh lining and inside. It offers PFC-free water repellency, which makes that high protective back perform so well. In addition, reinforcement at the knees and seat of eco Cordura® fabric, plus cargo pockets on both thighs, are welcome features. The weatherproofed right pocket is ideal for stowing your phone. The high-performing jacket incorporates many of the same features as the bib. A high-visibility hood, double storm flap, and double-cuff seals along with a profiled high collar with fleece lining, provide the ultimate protection against wind and waves.

The British brand, Musto, is known for outfitting crews in protective wear through the harshest conditions as well as athletes battling weather extremes on land. Their products are some of the most advanced offshore, dinghy, and keelboat protective wear on the market. Musto works in conjunction with professional sailing teams to ensure that innovations meet and deliver performance expectations.

Their products are not only lab-tested, but real-world approved. In partnership with the British Sailing Team, the sleek yet protective Flexlite Alumin line was crafted for dinghy sailors and was three years in the making. Striking the ideal balance between waterproof and breathable, it incorporates supreme freedom of movement while serving a wide range of needs, particularly in cold water conditions.

The 3.0 New Flexlite Alumin -- particularly the Hikers -- are now four layers of thermally protective neoprene, more lightweight and more flexible even at an increased thickness of 3 mm. Seams have been heat-sealed and glued to protect against water seepage into the interior and maximize skin comfort. Drainage channels at the ankles prevent pooling. High stress areas like the knees, shins, and seat are reinforced with Kevlar. The knee areas feature an extra 3 mm of neoprene padding. Chest and back areas feature thermal quick-dry liners, as does the area at the back of the thigh with fiberglass stays between the Kevlar and neoprene to prevent shifting. For single-handed sailing, these are game-changers.

Besides the hikers, which are only sized for men, there are 3.0 Flexlite Alumin in long johns, which have been updated per Musto’s new Flexlite Vapour Range with styling for both genders. There are also long-sleeved shirts designed without movement-restrictive underarm seams, with pants in men’s and women’s sizes.

X-Yachts, the luxury performance yacht manufacturer, also partnered with Musto to test the stylish BR2 range. The ultimate in foul-weather protection, it’s designed for cruising and racing offshore. Each piece is waterproof, yet breathable. The BR2 Offshore Jacket sports double cuffs and double storm flap with drainage channels in styles for both sexes. An adjustable hem takes allows sailors to perform at their best in comfort, along with those fleece-lined warmer pockets and ultra-protective collar. Assuring additional safety is the roll-away fluorescent hood with prismatic reflectors added to increase visibility in low light. The BR2 trousers were sized and styled for men and women. An entirely new bi-component fabric membrane is both micro-porous and high-functioning in watery conditions. These are easily adjustable at the waist and the hem. Hand warmer pockets at the chest area provide additional functionality, as does the knees and seat areas reinforced with 600D polyester.

Musto’s new LPX Foiling Range was developed in conjunction with the France Sail GP Team for foil sailors. It’s the largest range of performance wear thus far a segment so vulnerable to impact injury. The LPX Foiling Long Johns feature the G Form SmartFlex pads at the hips, knees, and shins which has undergone the same testing as padding used for trail riding, but with TPU coating for waterproofing. The torso is engineered from a single layer of four-way stretch Cordura® making for easier movement. Comfort, protection, convenience, all in one stylish package. The matching Gore-Tex Infinium™ Foiling Jacket features Gore’s most lightweight, breathable bi-stretch fabric to which Musto added a four-way super-stretch material across the seamless shoulders, ensuring maximum flexibility and comfort during sustained activity. The sleeves are curved, and the underarms gusseted for additional freedom of movement. A single layer of 4-way stretch CORDURA® is incorporated into the very long back hem; with the addition of silicone grip elastic tape at the bottom, this is a very protective, yet comfortable garment. The line also features Thermocool Foiling Top and Pants for hotter weather. These pieces incorporate UPF 50 protection and maximize breathability. The ThermoHot Foiling Top and Pants are ideal for icier conditions, performing well singly, or as layers.

One of the most innovative marine technical wear firms, Gill Marine, wins for creative concept in its Aqua Parka paired with wet bag/changing mat, both essential for anyone spending time outdoors. Yes, it’s waterproof with welded seam construction, but it also features oversized length and fit. With a non-restricted arm area, these are ideal for creating one’s own personal “tent” to change into more -- or less clothing -- for whatever requirements are next on your busy agenda. The new, dual-purpose Pilot Jacket is updated with a rollaway hood bearing volume adjustment. Gill’s proprietary XPLORE® fabric ensures water-protection and breathability, with taped seams and zippers featuring internal storm guards. For racing, cycling, or walking the dogs, the jacket is a winner in sizes and styling for both genders.

Not to be outdone come the innovations of Zhik, famed for garbing the Australian Olympic teams and several racing crews. Hoods are essential for wet weather gear, but they’ve never been perfectly protective. Zhik’s new CST500™ Jacket boasts a hood re-engineered with head-lock design, whose unique inner gusset with a 3-point fit system permits the hood to fit snug to the face, facilitating ongoing protection while turning the head. The jacket incorporates a light but 3-ply Aroshell® technology throughout, in addition to new Zithane® fused reinforcement tech, making for highly durable, abrasion-resistant material that surpasses the heavier, bulkier reinforcement panels on knees and rear sections. The higher collar with quick-dry Hydrobase® interior protects the neck, and the exterior provides handy stowage for the new hood. Highly reflective components have been added here to increase visibility in low light, as well as expanded across shoulders and on the front and back of the jacket.

The piece is available in sizes and styles for women and men. The premiere technology has also been incorporated into the CST500™ range’s smock and salopettes, both available in unisex sizing, although we wished the smock at least featured the new hood.

Zhik has been super-busy indeed. We were nearly headed off to print when two releases just came across our screens, including these multi-purpose ZhikMotion™ hooded tops in an extensive range of sizes for both men and women crafted from recycled poly fabric with integrated UP50+ protection. These lightweight tops are intended to be worn alone but work even better as layers. The balaclava hood is even multi-purpose, similar to the hood on the jacket above. It’s adjustable to be worn closely around the face or pushed back to protect the lower face and neck. The second product was even more exciting: Elite Shorts, in a range of sizes for both women and men. These are made with 4-way stretch materials for unrestricted movement, UPF50+ integrated protection like the ZhikMotion™ tops.

They boast a durable water-repellant coating, XWR™, which does the job and is environmentally conscious and PFC-free. Those are wins right there, but these performance shorts certainly go the extra (nautical) mile by also being supremely wear- and tear-resistant, due to the strategic seat placement of Aramid composite material that’s supremely stretchable and withstands abrasion comparable to commercial garb. With a longer front panel for more thigh protection, trim racing fit, and handy zippered front pocket, Zhik’s Elite Shorts bring home the medal.

A few things relatively old do seem to be new again. We’re still fans of Zhik’s INS100™ and INS200™ jackets introduced last year. These are wet weather performance pieces with a streamlined design to take the wearer from the coast to the….street. We prefer bar or café, but wherever these crossover pieces are worn, they are sleek and shaped, but still allow for freedom of movement. Both jackets are crafted from Vecta technology (2 layers in the 100 range, 3 layers in the more “pro” 200 range) that is water-resistant yet extremely breathable and giving to permit movement. Each style comes in a wide range of sizes for both genders.

Zhik’s INS100™

INS200™ jackets

The above pieces are available direct from their respective manufacturers for online order, as well as from their authorized retailers. Due to the high-performance tech incorporated into these fabrics, additional care in laundering, as well as drying, will be required.