New gear

Rupert Holmes previews the latest marine products

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Musto BR3 technical clothing

This range is an addition to Musto’s catalogue, slotting in between the lower-priced two-layer (plus separate liner) BR2 fabrics aimed very much at the inshore and coastal cruising markets and the rather more expensive three-layer Gore-Tex garments. By contrast, with the exception of the Offshore Jacket, the BR3 range is intended to be perfect for active inshore sailing, including racing high performance boats such as J/70s, Cape 31s and SB20s.

Lightweight three-layer foul weather gear is also my preference for inshore and coastal cruising for a number of reasons. Firstly, the lack of a separate lining makes garments incredibly easy to don and doff. It also improves breathability, reducing the risk of condensation on the lining and has the potential to improve insulation in cold weather. But the biggest differences are in comfort and ease of movement-in this domain, additional weight and bulk are no longer synonymous with added protection.

The BR3 Offshore jacket and trousers use a Pertex membrane that Musto says performs similarly to the Gore-Tex products and has a much higher breathability rating than the BR2 products. Other BR3 items, including Sport Jacket, Smock and Salopettes use Musto’s Ocean Tech Pro proprietary membrane, which has four-way mechanical stretch. This helps maximise ease of movement, yet still allows for a close-fitting size to be chosen.

In all cases a durable water-repellent coating is used that’s free of harmful perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). All items are impressively lightweight and pack easily in a kit bag, yet still have a 20K waterproofing rating across the range.

MUSTO BR3

Price: From £150 (BR3 Sport Short) to £500 (BR3 Offshore Jacket)
Contact: musto.​com