Wear It With Pride: Cool Wearables that Combine Form and Function
Published: Thursday, November 14, 2019
By: Zuzana Prochazka
I’ve had the privilege to test out some cool gear recently and I chose to make it all something I could wear. Here are some highlights of what I found.
Gill Marine OS2 Offshore Women’s Jacket - $349
For serious time on the water, whether cruising or in a regatta, I tested Gill’s OS2 Offshore jacket and was impressed with its function and styling. Although a true foulie jacket, this outer layer has enough pizzazz to have a life beyond the boat.
This versatile jacket features Gill’s 3 Dot 2-layer laminated fabric that creates a waterproof, windproof, and breathable protective shell. The fully taped seams, YKK anti-corrosion zippers, and composite fabric that wicks moisture away from the skin kept me 100% protected from the elements and very comfortable. The high-cut thermal collar has a fleece lining that kept my face from chafing and the flap can be rolled back and secured with the outer Velcro to keep it open and away.
The cuffs have inner seals that are watertight and there are secure cargo pockets with lined hand-warmer pockets behind. The jacket is fully lined with mesh drainage panels and has heat-formed reflective materials on the back, front, and sleeves for enhanced visibility.
I like that the front zipper has a Velcro strip running the length of the jacket. In gusts, I just tab it together in the middle with one hand instead of using the zipper. It’s a quick way to keep the jacket sides from flying around and provides just enough warmth.
The latest version of the OS2 women’s style includes three colors: black, red, and a combination blue/white, which I chose. Before you get scared off by white, know that most of the bottoms of the cuffs are blue, making them a little easier to keep clean. Also, this particular combination takes a true piece of foulie gear and makes it downright fashionable. I’ve gotten many compliments on this jacket on the dock and the street.
Gill Marine works on UK sizing so their 10 is a US 6. If you want room for layering, step up a size from your usual. You don’t have to cross oceans to get full use from this jacket - just rest assured that it can take on the middle of Lake Michigan in a blow and keep you warm and dry. Adding to its versatility, the jacket is chic enough to wear around town so you no longer need two outfits when cruising.
Helly Hansen HP Racing Mid-Layer Jacket - $225
There’s a lot of technology with funky names behind Helly Hansen’s new HP (high performance) jacket. Developed in collaboration with professional solo sailor Thomas Coville - the first person to solo-circumnavigate on a trimaran in less than 50 days - the new jacket is lightweight and durable and most importantly, it allows for full freedom of movement.
The key to the jacket is HH’s LifaLoft synthetic insulation, which is a combination of their LIFA and Primaloft materials. I’m not sure what that means but I do know that it translates to complete comfort when I’m active and can’t be weighed down. The LifeLoft insulation is 20% lighter than standard polyester and quite a bit thinner although it presumably has more air pockets that hold heat. The outer layer is 
wind and waterproof but breathable so I don’t feel like I’m wearing a plastic bag.
This jacket has all the things I love: a comfy fleece collar, fleece-lined, zippered hand-warmer pockets, and adjustable cuffs so I can cinch them down and keep the wind out even as I hold the wheel in a headwind. One outer and one inner pocket (both zippered and on the left chest) keep my small stuff, like phone and keys, safe and dry. The jacket is hip length and has a one-hand adjustable hem that I really never use.
The HP jacket comes in both men’s and women’s cuts in sizes S-XXL. Helly Hansen runs true to size. Colors include Cherry Tomato, Olympian Blue, Navy, and Ebony. I chose Navy because I’m partial to the color and because it’s dark enough to not show dirt. However, I must admit the Olympian Blue is eye-catching.
The jacket is very simple with the HH logo on the right chest, and the Helly Hansen full name in contrasting white across the back of the collar as well as down the right sleeve. It’s practical enough to keep in my go-bag but also street-friendly so I can wear it to the party after sailing.
You don’t have to be a racer and you don’t have to think about this jacket as a mid-layer. It’s just a great, lightweight standalone piece that has a lot more tech in it than it lets on.
UGO Signature Collection Tablet - $159
If you’re heading out on a kayak or a SUP and no jacket is required, a good way to keep your phone, keys, and even your tablet dry is with a UGO soft case. Different from a dry bag or a waterproof case, the UGO pouch is nicer looking and more user friendly.
The two women who started the company, created a new solution to keep their phones dry and now have introduced a larger version that will hold a tablet and more. The UGO Tablet is the only small-profile dry pack with uZIP zipper technology that uses injection-molded polymer teeth for a 100% waterproof solution.
One side of the pack is clear so you can access apps, sign a document, read a book, or watch a movie without opening it. Inside, you’ll find pockets for your phone, business cards, chargers, and more. The exterior has Hypalon anchors that hold adjustable hand and shoulder straps for hands-free management. The best part is that it floats and stays waterproof to 20 feet below the surface, so if you drop the pack as you’re handing it from kayak to kayak, nothing will sink or get soggy.
The dimensions of the UGO Tablet are 12” x 9” x 1.25” and it weighs just 12 ounces. An XL version is available for $20 more.
About the Author
Zuzana is a freelance writer and photographer with regular contributions to over 18 sailing and power boating publications. A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana is the founder of a flotilla charter company called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations around the world.
Zuzana serves as an international presenter on charter destinations, safety issues, and technical topics, and she's the Chair of the New Product Awards committee for innovative boats and new gear. She is a member of the American Society of Authors and Journalists and a board member of Boating Writers International.
This article first appeared in the Year End Issue (Nov/Dec) 2019 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Clothing & Shoes, Gift Ideas
