Nylon is the preferred base material for sailing shorts: it’s light, it’s tough, it dries fast, and it’s comfortable. Practical Sailor ran field tests on popular sailing shorts, including some of those reviewed here. The cut needs to be loose enough to avoid constraining movement and provide air flow, but not so loose that the shorts easily snag on obstacles.Īnnapolis Performance Sailing has a good introduction to choosing sailing shorts. Again, we sit a lot, often on hard, rough, surfaces. Sailing sort pockets are usually on the sides and thighs, not the back. Pockets have to be designed to avoid spilling while seated. Buttons, often oversized, are the preferred waist closure. Many shorts have belt loops, but some sailors find belts inconvenient, so many shorts also integrate adjustment tabs using velcro or other closure systems. Waist adjustments come in multiple forms. Many sailors prefer shorts cut just above the knee, though many women’s models are cut shorter. Longer cuts provide more protection to your thighs and the backs of your legs. Length is usually above that of a typical short. Sailing shorts typically integrate common design features to enhance on-water performance.
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In most cases, you have to take the shorts off to install the pad. Others integrate a low-profile pocket that accepts a seat pad, usually sold separately. Some shorts integrate the padding into the shorts, which is convenient but may lead to slow drying and can make them awkward for off-water wear. Padded shorts go further and incorporate a physical cushion to prevent impact and abrasion damage to both the shorts and your backside. Reinforced shorts use an extra layer of rugged, abrasion-resistant fabric to protect the shorts from wear from sitting on rough surfaces. Most sailing-specific shorts incorporate some level of seat protection. Waterproof shorts may be hot and uncomfortable in very warm weather or off the water, so many manufacturers use breathable fabrics to make them more wearable in those conditions. If water on your shorts runs off it won’t evaporate, and evaporating water pulls heat from whatever’s near it, a process called evaporative cooling. Many shorts have durable water repellent coatings that encourage water to bead up and drip off.
Water and windproof shorts can keep your butt dry even when sitting on a wet deck and keep spray off your upper legs, which helps keep you comfortable. Shorts are mainly used in warm weather sailing, but the weather can change fast and water is often cold even when the air is warm. Sun protection is also a factor, and many shorts advertise a UPF factor that rates the level of sun protection they provide. Some shorts, especially those designed for sailing in small boats where you’re essentially wet all the time, use neoprene or a Spandex/neoprene blend and are closer to wetsuit shorts than to traditional cargo shorts. Nylon fabrics are often chosen, often with some Spandex, Lycra, Elastane, or other elastic fabrics woven in to provide stretch. Sailing shorts need to be comfortable, they need to dry fast, and they need to have some elasticity to provide freedom of movement. Here are some common features to keep in mind.
Modern sailing shorts are designed to operate and perform within those constraints.
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We need full freedom of mobility but we also can’t have fabric snagging on objects. Who can forget the first time they sat on a cleat? We carry tools and other objects in packets and we need to keep them secure.
There are obstacles on a deck that can get in our way. Those surfaces are often highly abrasive: non-slip deck coatings are critical for safety onboard but they abrade fabrics very quickly. We spend a lot of time sitting, often on wet surfaces. Sailing places unique demands on a pair of shorts. THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING SAILING SHORTS
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