Foul Weather Gear – So How Much Does Safety Cost?

/ Ben Starling

 
 
 
 
 

Part 2 (of 2) of Foul Weather Gear     


So how much does it cost?

I’m assuming that the deepest markets have the most competitive prices and start from there. So, this short survey samples prices on both sides of the pond, the UK and the US.

Since I’m suiting and booting the Can Opener up with ocean-going assumptions, this is where I’m looking the hardest. But I’ll take a fly by the whole spectrum for good form.

The prices quoted below are for the lowest price I could find at the brand site or at the website of major chandleries. Of course prices change all the time and brilliant seasonal sales timing and scouring of outlet malls can totally change the price value landscape here.

Since sales tax varies by state, sales taxes/VAT not included.

This is just a baseline price trawl for rough budget estimating purposes.

Here we go…


Some Ballpark Price Checks in the USA

Ocean Sailing
Helly Hansen (at redskyatnight.com and shop.hellyhansen.com/US)
  • Ocean Racing Jacket $700 (£443)
  • Ocean Racing Bib Pants $400 (£253)
  • Skagen Offshore Jacket $280 (£177), 20% Off, (Regularly: $350.00)
  • Offshore Bib Pants $200 (£127), 20% Off, (Regularly: $250.00)

Musto (at pineapplesails.com)
  • HPX GORE-TEX® Ocean Jacket $899 (£569)
  • HPX GORE-TEX Trousers $599 (£379)
  • MPX GORE-TEX Offshore Jacket $599 (£379)
  • MPX GORE-TEX Trousers $399 (£253)

Henry Lloyd (at redskyatnight.com and brand site)
  • Ocean Explorer Suit $598 (£378)
  • Ocean Explorer Hi-Fit Trouser $475 (£301)
  • Shockwave Offshore Jacket $425 (£269)
  • Shockwave Hi Fit Trousers $395 (£250)

Gill (at brand site)
  • Ocean Racer Jacket $649 (£411)
  • Ocean Racer Trouser $449 (£284)
  • OS1 Jacket $489 (£310)
  • OS1 Trouser $359 (£227)

Slam (at brand site)
  • Ocean Waves Foul Weather Jacket $399 (£253) (Regularly: $599.95)
  • Ocean Waves SB Trouser $350 (£222) (Regularly: $499.00)
  • Force 3 Foul Weather Jacket $280 (£177)
  • SLAM Force 3 Long Johns (Trouser) $240 (£152)

Commercial Fisher Gear
Grundens (at go2marine)
  • Petrus HD 44 Hooded Jacket, Neoprene Cuff $96.29 (£61)
  • Petrus 82 Hooded Jacket $77.04 (£49)
  • Clipper 116 Bib Pants, Rain Gear, Waterproof Trousers $70.00 (£44)

Guy Cotton (at tackledirect)
  • X-Trapper Jacket $124.99 (£79)
  • X-Trapper Bib Trousers $145.99 (£92)
  • CBD Bib Trouser With Fly $115.99 (£73)

North 66 (at brand site)
In the US, they seem to focus on skiing and climbing clothes. Do they carry sea-going wear in the US? Their brand site does not include it.


Some Ballpark Price Checks in the UK

Ocean Sailing
Helly Hansen (at sailingclothingstore.co.uk)
  • Ocean Racing Jacket £400 ($631)
  • Ocean Racing Bib Trouser £280 ($442)
  • Skagen Offshore Jacket £240 ($379) 20% Off, (Regularly: £300.00)
  • Offshore Bib Trouser £160 ($253)  20% Off, (Regularly: £200.00)

Musto (at sailingclothingstore.co.uk)
  • HPX GORE-TEX® Ocean Jacket £449.96 ($709)
  • HPX GORE-TEX Trousers £324.96 ($513)
  • MPX GORE-TEX Offshore Jacket £316.62 ($500)
  • MPX GORE-TEX Trousers £166.63 ($263)

Henry Lloyd (at sailingclothingstore.co.uk)
  • Ocean Explorer Suit £483.25 ($763)
  • Ocean Explorer Hi-Fit Trouser £324.96 ($513)
  • Shockwave Offshore Jacket £224.96 ($355)
  • Shockwave Hi Fit Trousers £195.79 ($309)

Gill (at brand site)
  • Ocean Racer Jacket £354.96 ($560)
  • Ocean Racer Trouser £245.79 ($388)
  • OS1 Jacket £283.29 ($447)
  • OS1 Trouser £199.96 ($316)

Slam (at brand site)
They have a UK website, but seem to be still recruiting shops to carry their stock. Something to watch for the future.

Commercial Fisher Gear
Grundens
I had a hard time finding a distributor in the UK for this while looking online. Scanning some commercial fishermen’s forums online, it seems I am not alone on this.

Guy Cotton (at Advanced Netting UK):
  • X Trapper Jacket £54.16 ($86)
  • X-Trapper Bib & Brace Trousers £57.86 ($91)
  • Heavy Duty Bib & Brace Trousers £55.31 ($87)

North 66 (at brand site)
  • Baldur Dual Coloured Seaman’s Jacket 115 € (£100 / $1))
  • Baldur Dual Coloured Bib and Brace 115 € (£100 / $159)
  • Odin Seaman’s Jacket with hood 68 € (£59 / $94)
  • Odin Seaman’s Bib and Brace Narrow legs 62 € (£54 / $86)


Observed
  • Ocean gear in this sample is priced at 125% ~ 200+% higher than the offshore gear on both sides of the pond.
  • Commercial fisher foul weather gear is a fraction of the cost of ‘sailing’ gear as expected.

UK/USA price comparison
  • UK gear is cheaper almost every time in this sample. I guess this makes sense – Musto, Henry Lloyd and Gil are UK companies (Helly Hansen is from Norway), so US stores would bear the costs of export taxes, shipping etc.
  • There weren’t too many sales in the online stores, so any advantage in buying in the UK could potentially be wiped out by a really good sale or visit to a US outlet mall – if you can find them/get there.
  • There are sales in the UK too and of course, there’s always Bicester Village.

Doesn’t the US have good sailing gear companies too?
  • Yes. But Gul focuses on the dinghy racing market.
  • Harken is almost exclusively a hardware manufacturer.
  • Slam is worth taking a look at. Their ocean gear is about 40% less than Gill and 55% less than Musto. Does this represent good value or lighter weight/cheaper gear construction? Haven’t seen their products in person, but I’m gonna make a point of seeking them out soon.


Where did you buy your foulies? Would you buy them there again? Any recommendations for good price/value brands?
   


–Captain Cat

(transcribed by the Can Opener)


Safety Gear

Previously: Foul Weather Gear is Safety Gear

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