Practical Boat Owner Lomo Coriolis Offshore Sailing Jacket

I’ve long been a fan of Lomo’s budget-priced watersports gear. By cutting out the middleman and selling directly to consumers, it’s often around half the price of some branded gear without much obvious sacrifice in terms of features or quality. So when it launched its first offshore sailing jacket for a tempting-sounding £149.99, I was keen to see how it compared to its pricier rivals, writes Hugo Andreae.

First impressions were almost universally positive. It looks and feels like a seriously heavy-duty jacket. It may not use any of the branded waterproof fabrics favoured by some, but the three-layer nylon construction is waterproof rated to 20,000mm, meaning even a 20m-tall column of water wouldn’t penetrate it. All the seams are stitched and heat taped to ensure no leaks get through there either, and the heavy-duty plastic zipper is protected by a double storm flap with a channel along the outer edge to funnel water down and away.

The cut is generous (I went for Large to allow for additional layers underneath) and extends below the waist, while the fleece-lined collar is tall enough to come up over your chin when it’s really chucking it down. It’s also remarkably well detailed, with a pair of external chest pockets featuring waterproof zips protected by hoods to stop water seeping in at the top, two big waist pockets for items like handheld VHFs, and fleece-lined handwarmer slots behind them. There’s a welded-on internal pocket for more precious items like phones, wallets or keys.

Extra protection The elbows are protected by an extra layer of Cordura-style fabric to reduce wear, while reflective patches on the cuffs, shoulders and chest aid visibility at night. Lastly, there’s a neon yellow hood stored in the collar that can be tightened around the face and adjusted for depth so it doesn’t obscure your view.

It all does exactly what it says on the tin, and so far it has kept me resolutely dry. The only downsides are that it doesn’t have a mesh interior lining; it only comes in red (which shows the dirt after a while); there isn’t a separate ladies’ cut, and I’m not sure how breathable it will be in warmer weather—the material itself is relatively stiff and heavy. However, if you want a robust, no-nonsense, effective and exceptionally good value for money unisex wet weather jacket, the Lomo Coriolis delivers in spades. Available in sizes XS-2XL.