[capta]

And just the jacket at that! Please, educate me. What does a $1000.00 jacket do that my $65.00 jacket (purchased in 1978) doesn't, other than look A LOT cooler? My jacket Guy Cotten is still perfect except for the sleeve elastic; not one tear or water leak (never replaced the velcro or zipper).
I'm just astounded at the thought of spending that kind of money on foulies.

 

[killarney_sailor]

I bought a very expensive set of Henri Lloyd fouiies (not the most expensive they were over $2000) on sail and the damn things did not last. Had to replace them in South Africa and certainly did not spend much in spite of the high prices in SA. Interesting sidelight, my pension plan has purchased Helle Hansen and each year we get a code for buying at 40% off. Have ordered a set of waterproof tops and bottom, more for hiking than sailing. Will have to see how they do.

 

[overbored]

for me, it keeps me warm and dry because I don't have your 1978 jacket. but you spent $65 dollars on just a jacket in 1978?, how could someone spend that much on a jacket in 1978 and why? that would be like a $1000 dollars in 2014

 

[newhaul]

I spent 35 USD in Australia in 88 for a good drover also known as oil skins in the old days still keeps me bone dry just a little mink oil on the seams when they start to leak here's a similar one to mine Outback Trading Company Long Unlined Drover : Cabela's

 

[capta]

for me, it keeps me warm and dry because I don't have your 1978 jacket. but you spent $65 dollars on just a jacket in 1978?, how could someone spend that much on a jacket in 1978 and why? that would be like a $1000 dollars in 2014

Actually, if you'd bothered to use an inflation calculator instead of your imagination, $65.00 in 1978 is $236.36 in today's money, a reasonable (ball park) amount to spend IMO.
But hey, thanks for your opinion.

 

[jackdale]

I got my HH Offshore pants for 1/3 of retail. The regular price was about $750.

I have sailed in all months in PNW staying warm. On my two past deliveries of a Vic-Maui boat back to the PNW, I wore my pants anytime I was on deck. They kept me dry without being warm and they kept me warm while breathing. The best investment I have made in sailing clothing.

 

[tdw]

I confess I've only ever bought foulies on sale and will continue to do so.

Of course if we intend sailing offshore (or even just coastal) in inclement conditions we need the right stuff but for me finding good lightweight breathable gear for warm wet weather has been the hardest ask.

 

[StormBay]

I bought in to the hype 6 years back and bought a Musto MPX jacket. Mostly I liked the collar design, and if something is truly quality I don't mind spending a little extra up front. My Musto jacket unfortunately is not what I would consider quality though. The construction is poor, with stitching that is crooked and wavy, and the cool collar that was the selling point for me is impractical in real life. On top of that, they no longer stay dry. If I had to do it over again I would have spent my money elsewhere, most likely on something marketed to commercial fisherman rather than yachties. You live and you learn..

 

[misfits]

how could someone spend that much on a jacket in 1978 and why?

Because it was leather
Sorry couldn't help myself...

 

[capta]

I confess I've only ever bought foulies on sale and will continue to do so.

Of course if we intend sailing offshore (or even just coastal) in inclement conditions we need the right stuff but for me finding good lightweight breathable gear for warm wet weather has been the hardest ask.

"good lightweight breathable gear for warm wet weather" is what got me to this post. I was seeking the same thing when I came across the astronomically priced foulies. I'm one for quality equipment, especially for professional use, but this seems totally out of hand. And apparently no one can tell me what the $1000.00 jacket does better than my $236.00 (in today's money) jacket, not even last nearly as long!

 

[tommays]

The NIKE gore-tex jacket/tights set in this 2014 picture which was in fact made in the USA and cost 400 something well over 20 years ago

Having just hiked 70K in the poring rain on a 37 degree windy day i by another set

For a NON-MARINE compare price out SIMMS fishing as it easy to go 500 for a jacket

 

[miatapaul]

I bought in to the hype 6 years back and bought a Musto MPX jacket. Mostly I liked the collar design, and if something is truly quality I don't mind spending a little extra up front. My Musto jacket unfortunately is not what I would consider quality though. The construction is poor, with stitching that is crooked and wavy, and the cool collar that was the selling point for me is impractical in real life. On top of that, they no longer stay dry. If I had to do it over again I would have spent my money elsewhere, most likely on something marketed to commercial fisherman rather than yachties. You live and you learn..

Not really what I want to hear, as I have a set on the way to me now. But of course I did not pay anything I got it from a Cruising World give away, I suppose I owe it to them to get a subscription don't I.

 

[Don L]

And just the jacket at that! Please, educate me. What does a $1000.00 jacket do that my $65.00 jacket (purchased in 1978) doesn't, other than look A LOT cooler? My jacket Guy Cotten is still perfect except for the sleeve elastic; not one tear or water leak (never replaced the velcro or zipper).
I'm just astounded at the thought of spending that kind of money on foulies.

It looks better with your $200 sunglasses. Afterall it a tiny pair of sunglasses can be worth $200 a $1000 jacket sounds pretty cheap!

 

[JonEisberg]

I bought in to the hype 6 years back and bought a Musto MPX jacket. Mostly I liked the collar design, and if something is truly quality I don't mind spending a little extra up front. My Musto jacket unfortunately is not what I would consider quality though. The construction is poor, with stitching that is crooked and wavy, and the cool collar that was the selling point for me is impractical in real life. On top of that, they no longer stay dry. If I had to do it over again I would have spent my money elsewhere, most likely on something marketed to commercial fisherman rather than yachties. You live and you learn..

I'm a bit surprised to hear that... Pretty much all of my gear is from Musto, and I've always considered it to be money well spent... Although, I've never bought anything that was not on sale, got a fantastic deal years ago on some HPX that West Marine was discontinuing... And, scored a drysuit on eBay a couple of years ago for $550, that's roughly $1K below retail...

)

If you feel your stuff has lost its water repellant quality, have you tried treating it with ReviveX? Follow the directions carefully, but it should help...

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: McNett ReviveX Wash-in Water Repellent, 12oz

 

[Multihullgirl]

I've had MUSTO MPX stuff for years and have been impressed with its durability. My first jacket must have been 10 years, or close to it, old before it lost its water repellence. Just on the tops of the shoulders, it was weird.

I didn't have any luck getting anything to bring back the water-repellence, so I replaced the jacket. I like my new jacket even better

I also find that I can find very, very good deals on MUSTO on eBay.

 

[tdw]

"good lightweight breathable gear for warm wet weather" is what got me to this post. I was seeking the same thing when I came across the astronomically priced foulies. I'm one for quality equipment, especially for professional use, but this seems totally out of hand. And apparently no one can tell me what the $1000.00 jacket does better than my $236.00 (in today's money) jacket, not even last nearly as long!

Its amusing that last years model (insert brand of your choice) was according to the adverts back then, the perfect foul weather gear. Strangely enough that no longer applies and only 2014 model is appropriate.

Nonetheless, to directly answer your question ..... what does the $1000 jacket do ? Puts Christmas cheer in the boardroom for one. Oh yes and someone has to pay for all those jackets seemingly handed out with gay abandon to the crews of Wild Oats and the like.

 

[StormBay]

I'm a bit surprised to hear that... Pretty much all of my gear is from Musto, and I've always considered it to be money well spent... Although, I've never bought anything that was not on sale, got a fantastic deal years ago on some HPX that West Marine was discontinuing... And, scored a drysuit on eBay a couple of years ago for $550, that's roughly $1K below retail...

)

If you feel your stuff has lost its water repellant quality, have you tried treating it with ReviveX? Follow the directions carefully, but it should help...

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: McNett ReviveX Wash-in Water Repellent, 12oz

Thanks for the tip, i'll give the ReviveX a try.

 

[newhaul]

Because it was leather
Sorry couldn't help myself...

Or made of panda skin :laugher

 

[blt2ski]

Have to say, one of the better rain coats if you will, is a WM branded coat I bought a couple of years ago. Better than the Spider, Marker, Hard Core and a few other long since gone brands of ski coats I have had.........I paid less than $100 for it! Use Tec-Wax on my breathable coats once every fall before ski season, most hang on pretty good thru the season of wet here in the NW, along with skiing in the perverbial "Cascade WET/BIG Flake" weather we have around here!

marty

 

[BarryL]

Hey,

Foul weather gear is a bit strange for me. On one hand, being mostly a day sail and fair weather sailor I don't need it very often. On the other hand, when you do need it, it makes a huge difference in your comfort.

A number of years ago I bought my first set of foulies. West Marine was having a big sale on their stuff, so I bought a decent jacket and matching bib type pants. I wore them every so often and they were OK.

This year I did the Around Long Island Regatta and we had close to 12 hours of rain. The pants worked well but the jacket leaked. By the end of the race I was cold, wet, and unhappy. I decided to upgrade my jacket and bought a nice Henri Lloyd jacket on sale for about $150. In the fall I did the Whitebread race on the east end. The race started in the rain, it rained all race, and rained even harder after the race, when we had to move the boat back to a marina over an hour away. I wore the rain gear for close to 8 hours. At the end of the race I was still warm and dry.

So, I don't know what a $1000 jacket will do, but I do know that having good gear is important enough to me that I will spend enough money to have good gear.

Barry