MUSTO HPX GORE-TEX PRO OCEAN OILSKINS
HPX has long been the top of Musto’s range when it comes to seriously hardcore sailing waterproofs. The company has just spent three years redeveloping its HPX range to bring it up to date and maintain its welldeserved reputation as some of the best ocean oilskins out there. Now, the jacket comes in at an eye-watering £1,200 and the trousers a buttockclenching £1,000, so you’d hope they’re pretty darned good for that price.
So what makes them so good? Well, Musto explains that the Gore-tex Pro membrane, encased in their Ocean Technology fabric, is designed specifically for salt water, and will keep on being both waterproof and breathable, even when lesser membranes have long since given in.
Effort has gone into making them less bulky, too, in both the fit and the fabrics used, although they still feel noticeably heavyweight compared to inshore and coastal waterproofs. These aren’t just for chucking on in a bit of light drizzle. While some of the new HPX range uses Pfc-free and water-repellent coatings, no such claim is made for the outer layer, presumably as too much performance would be sacrificed.
TEST VERDICT There are some really nice design features I found useful when wearing these. As ever, you’ve got a high collar, face protection, deep cargo pockets, and waist and chest-height handwarmer pockets. The hood stowage in the collar is lower profile than it used to be, and I liked the transparent visors at the side of the hood to maximise face protection with minimal impact on peripheral vision. The double cuffs and collar are a game-changer too – the main front zip terminates in a splash jacket-style closure, with soft-feel rubberised fabric Velcroing securely around my neck to keep the drips out.
While the jacket is unisex, the trousers come with a women’s version that features a different fit, as well as a drop-seat thanks to a water- and air-tight drysuit-style zip around the back of the waist. Though I tested the men’s version, both versions come with knife-securing loops, waist adjustment, and knee-impact protection. There’s heavy reinforcement on the heel cuff, knees and seat too.
These are extremely serious waterproofs developed with top offshore race teams. They might be overkill if you’re tootling out for lunch at the pub, but if you want to be ready for the worst the sea can throw at you, then you won’t go far wrong with these impressive oilskins. There’s also a range of base and mid layer clothing to go with them, as well as smock and drysuit versions of the outerlayer. TS www.musto.com