Odds are good you’ve made a special nonslip shoe when country-music crooners are just as eager to buy it as Florida Keys fishermen.

That’s what is happening with the Rogue Wave line from Huk—which is pronounced hook, if you want to sound like the cool kids out there. The South Carolina-based company launched its Rogue Wave line in 2020, and its 6-inch boot remains popular today. Huk just added a lower-profile men’s shoe and a women’s clog, in response to customers from warmer cruising grounds in Florida and the Bahamas, with the company’s Grip-X Slice outsole for traction on fiberglass boats.

Skippers, though, aren’t the only ones who’ve found this footwear. Scott Smith, Huk’s vice president of marketing, says a country-music artist recently spoke on a podcast about doing a sound check in the rain, and he said, “Buddy, these boots ain’t slippin’.” Now the country-music crowd is clamoring to buy them too, as are guys in the pressure-washing business, who are ordering them by the case. “It provides the grip,” Smith says. “It provides the protection they need to do their job.”

The traction in that Grip-X Slice outsole comes from a grid pattern. “Each little pod is a 360-degree traction control,” Smith says. “No matter whether you’re going forward, sideways or backwards, it will rotate with you and really lock you into that fiberglass hull.”

On the men’s shoe, there’s also an 8 mm neoprene kick plate. It flexes down to slide a foot in, then pulls up.

“We talked to a bunch of guys we work with, and one of them was telling me how nice it is to just slip into it when he gets into the truck and heads down to the dock,” Smith says. “Then when he gets to the boat, he pulls it up for stability.”

The whole Rogue Wave line, Smith adds, is meant to handle all kinds of action around the water: “We use a really pliable proprietary rubber. That’s one of the things that makes our boot different. It moves better as you move, without giving up durability.”  

Take the next step: huk.com

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Full wrap. Thin temples. Arched brow. Integrated side shields. Vented adjustable nose pads. Bioacetate frames. Recycled fishing-net frames. Upcycled plastic frames. Tri-Pel lens coating. Bio-based polarized lenses. Sports hinges. Spring hinges.

The list could go on for pages when describing all the features and options available these days for buying sunglasses—with styles now also being made not just for use on the water, but in particular for use on fresh or salt water, and during inland or offshore boating and fishing.

Some brands are going so far as to get species-specific when describing new sunglasses options. Bajio, in announcing its Zapata style, told this story: “This frame was named after the Zapata swamp in Cuba. Felipe, a local legend, lives there, teaching kids to fly-fish in the streets. This swamp is infested with permit, bonefish, snook, tarpon, snapper and barracuda. They are keen to eat anything in front of them, so we made a frame you can feed them in.”

Polarized lenses and ultraviolet protection are standard features in performance eyewear these days, as are hydrophobic and oleophobic lens coatings that repel water, sunscreen and more out on the boat and back at the beach. At the same time, there really are differences between, say, needing the best lens and frame shape for spotting fish in the shallows, and needing the best glare protection at high noon on a flybridge slathered in bright-white gelcoat.

It’s the basics plus the nuances that create a great pair of sunglasses for any activity—all the more reason to have multiple pairs on board.

A Pair for Every Activity

The post Six New Sunglass Options For Boaters appeared first on Yachting.

Sig Sauer Zulu6 HDX

A good pair of binoculars is critical for any mariner, and it’s especially helpful if they’re gyrostabilized to provide a steady image on the water. The Zulu6 HDX 18x50s from Sig Sauer can cut through the glare while also being rock-steady in the hands thanks to its OmniScan stabilizing technology. The IPX7 waterproof and fogproof performance means they won’t let you down in adverse weather conditions, either. A floating neck strap, waterproof Pelican case and rechargeable batteries are all included.

Breitling Superocean Heritage II

Understated and classy, the Superocean Heritage II from Breitling has luminous silver-tone arrow-shaped hands, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and a stainless steel case with an aero classic rubber strap. The case size is 44 mm x 15.5 mm and it’s water resistant to 660 feet.

Shimano Tiagra 

If you’re chasing the world’s toughest pelagics—marlin, swordfish, giant tuna, big wahoo and mahi—you need a reel that can stand up to the challenge. Shimano’s two-speed Tiagras deliver that smooth power when you need it most. Each Tiagra is machined from solid 7mm stock aluminum for strength and perfect alignment even under incredible stress. Features include smooth push-button shifting from high to low gear and A-RB anti-rust sealed bearings.

Costa Fantail Pro

A slimmed-down version of the best-selling Blackfin Pro, the Fantail Pro also has all of Costa’s pro tech, including a vented and fully-adjustable nose pad for a customizable fit. There are also sweat channels and eyewire drains designed to help keep your vision clear plus new stickier Hydrolite and metal keeper slots to help to keep your frames on your face and the sweat and sun out of your eyes.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i

For the adventurer, the latest handheld from Garmin is a rugged GPS and satellite communicator with InReach technology for two-way messaging, interactive SOS alerts and location sharing. It also has mapping to keep you on course virtually anywhere in the world with expanded GNSS support, with 165 hours of battery life in tracking mode and up to 425 hours in expedition mode.

Yeti Loadout GoBox 30

This one’s a jack of all trades that’s perfect for organizing tackle, serving as a camera case or anything else that requires secure stowage. The Yeti Loadout GoBox 30 is dustproof, waterproof and virtually indestructible, and has a removable cargo tray and divider. It can also be accessorized with a tie-down kit, internal gear caddy and a beefy HeftyHauler handle.

Grundens Deck-Runner Ankle Boot

Built for action, the Deck-Runner from Grundens offers the lightweight comfort and support we love from everyday sneakers paired with the waterproof protection and durability of rubber deck boots. Prioritizing 100 percent waterproof construction yet emphasizing performance versatility, the Deck-Runner has a lightweight, high-rebound EVA midsole enhanced with thermo-regulating propertiesp. It also features a razor-siped gum rubber outsole for outstanding traction on wet decks. 

Mustang Survival Automatic Inflatable Life Jacket

Lifesaving gear has made significant advancements in the last few years; among those leading the way is Mustang Survival. The HIT series has hydrostatic inflator technology which has reliable inflation in a low-maintenance design that will only auto-inflate when submerged in four inches or more of water, and never inadvertently inflate in rain, spray or humidity. This lightweight, comfortable PFD allows for maximum mobility.

Grundens Charter Jacket

From tropical squalls to wind-driven rain and angry seas, the Charter Jacket is built for both versatility and durability to keep you dry and comfortable on and off the water. Emphasizing waterproof-yet-breathable performance, it excels as a packable rain shell and has a stowaway design feature that rolls into the jacket’s own hood for compact storage. Other features include zippered handwarmer pockets plus an adjustable hood, hem and cuffs.

Yeti Panga 28L Waterproof Backpack

Anyone who’s been around boats has gotten something wet that wasn’t supposed to be wet at some point in their adventures. The Panga 28L is constructed of ThickSkin material that’s highly puncture resistant, but the key feature is the waterproof and leakproof zipper. This keeps the bag completely dry inside even when submerged underwater. It’s like an impenetrable fortress for your stuff. 

Penn Spinfisher VI

The Penn Spinfisher is one the most recognized and accomplished saltwater spinning reels in the world. The Spinfisher VI series builds on that legacy with a full metal body and sideplates that keep the CNC gear system in precise alignment, while the IPX5 sealed bearing design keeps saltwater out. The premium HT-100 drag washers also keep things cool in the heat of battle. It’s available in nine different sizes and models to match the target species. 

Yachting Magazine

Yachting is one of the marine industry’s most respected boating magazines committed to enhancing dad’s boating experience.Every issue feeds his passion for the yachting lifestyle with extensive coverage of premium yachts, equipment, technology trends, world-class destinations, luxury charters, electronics and more. Subscribe for just $39 for a full 12 issues delivered right to his mailbox, plus instant digital access, weekly email newsletters and more.

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Lucy Davis loves to go to fabric fairs, looking for materials she can use in her role as sailing designer for the UK performance-sailing brand Musto. When she saw what PrimaLoft had to offer recently, she got excited.

PrimaLoft is a type of polyester insulation that mimics down feathers. There are different versions of PrimaLoft, and Davis used several of them to winterize Musto’s BR1 Collection. The result is warmer pieces to go with the uninsulated originals.

The concept with the BR1 Winter Collection is to give casual cruisers an affordable product with qualities similar to what the pros wear out on the water in heavy weather. At the same time, the product design is not wholly sailing-specific, so the pieces can also be worn while walking a dog or doing other things.

“We wanted to offer some midlayer options so people could sail all year round if they want to,” she says. “The casual day sailor can layer up in the same way that our professional sailors might.”

Solent PrimaLoft Insulator Jacket

The big kahuna of the Winter Collection is the PrimaLoft Channel Sailing Jacket. It’s an outer-layer piece (think big coat for winter fun) with features such as fleece-lined pockets, a high collar, a hood, and extra insulation around the body’s core.

The two other jackets are midlayers that can be worn underneath that outer jacket or on their own. The PrimaLoft Midlayer Jacket is waterproof, while the Solent PrimaLoft Insulator Jacket can repel light spray but with breathable fabric, thanks to PrimaLoft’s Utility insulation.

BR1 PrimaLoft Channel Sailing Jacket

“If you’re wearing heavy back straps or you have a life vest on, you’re not losing a lot of the loft on the shoulders,” Davis says. “But it’s also thin insulation, which is preferable when you don’t want bulk. It’s unique in that it’s a genuinely breathable insulated jacket.”

All in all, she adds, the fun is in giving boaters better options: “I love being able to use anything new that I think actually is going to make a difference for how comfortable people are when they are sailing.”  

Take the next step: musto.com

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Boat shows brutalize your feet. Yes, mile after mile of boats looks like a dream come true, but wearing the wrong shoes can make walking the docks a nightmare.

Yachting Editor-in-Chief Patrick Sciacca feared the worst as he placed a brand-new pair of Amberjack loafers into his suitcase when bound for a show earlier this year.

“I was expecting sore feet at the end of a day, maybe even a few blisters, but none of it came to fruition,” Sciacca says. “The shoes have an almost sneaker-like sole and a well-cushioned lining, making the loafers comfortable over the long haul, about 45 miles in my case. Additionally, they easily slid on and off my feet, a benefit when you’re constantly stepping on and off boats at a show.”

None of that is by accident, says John Peters, Amberjack’s CEO. He founded the company in 2019 because, like our editor, he wanted style without pain.

“In dress shoes, you had some really comfortable stuff, but style was an afterthought,” Peters says. “And conversely, you had the handmade beautiful brands, but they hurt your feet. We wanted to combine style and comfort—look beautiful but feel good.”

Read More: Discover 21 Incredible Boating Gifts to Wow Enthusiasts This Holiday Season

The trick, he says, is that Amberjack does extensive testing on the insole, which molds to the individual’s foot over time with every wearing. The company also uses customer feedback and testing to create a fit that works for most men within a given size range.

“Everybody’s feet are different,” Peters says. “If you took a hundred guys at Size 9, you’ll have a hundred different types. That’s the complexity of mass production in getting that fit correct. We try really, really hard to get as many feet as we can into that spectrum.”

Leather is by far the most popular style customers choose, he adds, which is why Amberjack is also “maniacal” about getting that element right.

“Every single batch is different,” he says. “You have to have so much manual filtering and processing [of] the hide that give you a beautiful, natural look. You don’t want it to crease quickly. You want it to retain its structure, but you also want it loose enough to be comfortable.”  

Sustainability

Amberjack places a priority on sourcing its materials from reputable, sustainable tanneries. Lesser facilities do not properly dispose of waste. “They’ll just dump this stuff in the river or the lake,” says CEO John Peters. “We only work with the highest level of certification.”

Tender-Ready

Amberjack’s shoes are non-marking with nonslip soles. Natural leather styles resist water on their own. Suede styles are treated to hold up too. “That’s not to say you can walk underwater with our shoes,” Peters says, “but they are treated with a water-repellent coating.”

Take the next step: amberjack.shop

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Helly Hansen’s original crew midlayer jacket was introduced more than a decade ago. It was based on a shelled fleece that the company made to take a real beating for a Volvo Ocean Race team. Since then, it has become one of the brand’s bestsellers among all kinds of boaters who want to stay warm and dry out on the water. Tweaks have been made to the design here and there, but this year Helly Hansen did a full-on upgrade as part of the new Crew 2.0 Collection.

One of the big evolutions is a main zipper that does a better job of resisting saltwater corrosion. Helly Hansen incorporated Vislon on this element, trying to give an assist to cruisers who can’t always douse their gear with a freshwater rinse before damage from the elements sets in. Vislon is made of injection-molded plastic, not metal, so it also reduces weight a bit.

Also new in the Crew 2.0 Collection is an update to the fleece lining. The styles are now made with Polartec fleece, which is known for being water-resistant in addition to being warm and lightweight. Polartec is further known for being fast-drying, which makes it a real benefit for cruisers who get caught on deck in a squall.

Helly Hansen worked on an improved fit with the Crew 2.0 Collection too. In particular, the company focused on shoulders and sleeves, trying to make the material move as one with the person wearing it. Shoulders are articulated, which means they are made in a way that allows a greater range of movement while pulling up fenders or handling lines.

And fear not, group cruisers: Helly Hansen also made sure there is still adequate space for teams and clubs to add their favorite logos on the chest and back.  

The post Helly Hansen’s Crew 2.0 Midlayer Jacket appeared first on Yachting.

Allied Feather + Down is not a company that most boaters know, but it plays a role in many of the brands that boaters buy. The California-based firm sources the materials that go into products sold by Vineyard Vines, Under Armour, Sail Racing and more. If you like the way a particular jacket stays warm but not too hot, materials from Allied Feather + Down may be at least part of the reason.

Since about 2010, the company has been trying to solve the problem of down having a bad relationship with water. “For boating and water sports in general, down has always been considered not applicable because of the high levels of moisture, from rain to humidity,” says Creative Director Matthew Betcher. “So even with a brand like Helly Hansen, it’s never something we really saw in their boating pieces until recently, where we can start to develop solutions for that problem.”

That solution is called ExpeDry. The idea is that instead of making water bead up on the outside, or shell, of a product, such as a jacket, ExpeDry will fight the water from within.

Think about how a down jacket or blanket has baffles, which are the squares that look kind of like a quilt. Inside each one of those baffles is what Betcher calls an insulation chamber. His team worked with a technology called FUZE to create tiny gold particles that permanently bond to the down inside the insulation chamber, creating an electrostatic barrier that stops, say, humidity from condensing into water.

“What would happen without it in a down blanket, for example, is that humidity would continue to be picked up by the down, and it would grow mold, lose loft, just get gross,” he says. “It will never really have a chance to dry out. What this does is help keep that down dry. It keeps the whole inside of the blanket drier.”

ExpeDry also makes it possible to hang a down product on a line and have it actually get dry without the need for a home-type, heat-based dryer—a boon for boaters who otherwise have no way to dry those products. “In a laundry situation, it helps the product dry over 50 percent faster,” he says. “Those comforters can take hours to dry properly. This saves a tremendous amount of time and energy.”

The post Allied Feather + Down Launches Extreme Foul-Weather Apparel appeared first on Yachting.

Al perkinson spent almost 17 years at the sunglasses behemoth Costa. He left about three years ago, did some consulting, and decided it was time for a new company to enter the market. In April 2021, together with some other industry veterans, he founded the brand Bajío. “We wanted something for the next generation,” he says.

They launched with a catalog of 12 styles and expect to add another eight this year. Bajío glasses are already being sold by about 500 retailers in 35 states, with a heavy focus on Florida, Texas and the Carolinas.

Perkinson says Bajío glasses offer the same kind of polarization and ultraviolet-light protection as other brands—with an added twist.

“The light we’re really focused on is blue light,” he says. “It’s been in the press a lot about people who look at computers a lot, and it’s super-topical with young people. The biggest producer of blue light is actually the sun. When you’re outside all day in the sun, you need to block that blue light as well.”

The company also has built the idea of eco-friendly materials into its entire line. Bajío’s frames are plant-based, created with a resin made from the castor plant. “And our packaging is all recycled paper, our case is made out of cactus leather—all across the board, we’re sustainable. We’re carbon-neutral from inception,” he says. “And we offset any carbon use by planting mangroves.”

Those mangroves are part of Bajío’s business plan to embrace conservation efforts in fish-filled waters.

“We travel and work with scientists and local communities to protect the shallows,” Perkinson says. “That can be a saltwater marsh in Charleston [South Carolina] or the flats in Florida. It involves trash cleanup, planting mangrove trees, doing fish-population work to help the local folks understand sustainable practices—really, everything we’re doing is focused on those shallows.”

All in all, he says, the hope is for Bajío’s glasses and company culture to appeal to old-school anglers and newcomers alike, because no matter the type of fishing or boating, “the quality of that visual experience adds to the quality of the overall experience out on the water.”

The post Bajío Glasses Made with Greener Future in Mind appeared first on Yachting.

A few years ago, when Costa Del Mar entered the research-and-development phase for its Untangled collection, the team realized there was a problem making certain styles of glasses. Costa was designing the first generation of Untangled glasses using material that California-based Bureo creates from recycled fishing nets. It was a great step forward in sustainable eyewear, but because of impurities, the material wasn’t yet able to be shaped into some styles of glasses that many boaters and anglers prefer.

Now, those styles are part of the second generation of Untangled designs. Bureo has enhanced its process, so the recycled material it delivers to Costa is virtually indistinguishable from virgin plastic.

“It’s really enabled Costa to not be as limited in the different kinds of colors and wraps that they were limited with in the first generation of the product,” says Kevin Ahearn, co-founder of Bureo.

Popular wrap-style sunglasses are now part of the collection. Shields can be added to block sun from the side, hooding details can be used to block light up top, and ventilation can be built into the nose piece to reduce fogging.

“We really took a giant leap forward with the 2.0 frames in terms of style and performance,” says Casey Lopez with Costa product development. “These will be glasses that can handle a day out there on the boat.”

Costa’s team says it is proud of not only the quality of the new glasses but also the fact that Bureo is a partner doing more than just providing recycled materials. Bureo is creating a new supply chain and jobs, and is continuing to improve its processes so Costa can offer recycled products of ever-increasing quality.

“It isn’t just the frames,” says John Sanchez, senior vice president of product strategy at Costa. “The logo is made of recycled aluminum. The lenses are glass, which originates from sand. The case is recycled material. This is the whole package. Bureo has a full, vetted process. You’ll see a lot of people saying they make sunglasses out of recycled plastic, but we see only one that’s vetted this way. That’s why we have this partnership and why it’s so special.”  

The post Costa Del Mar’s Eco-Friendly Untangled Series Sunglasses appeared first on Yachting.

Yes, we know. Typically at this time of year, the ritual of putting away the boat for winter is well underway or altogether complete. But 2020 is anything but a typical year, and many yachtsmen are looking to extend the cruising season into the cold-weather months, to continue enjoying socially distant cruising during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Enter Helly Hansen, the Norwegian company that knows a thing or two about cold-weather performance apparel. These are the folks who teamed up with the US Ski & Snowboard team a few years ago as the official provider of base layers, and who partnered with Canada’s alpine-ski team. Helly Hansen is also a longtime favorite of serious sailors, sponsoring the National Offshore One Design Regattas.

Heading into this winter’s extended cruising season, Helly Hansen is marketing jackets made with LifaLoft. It combines the company’s Lifa technology for base layers with Primaloft insulation. The result, according to the company, is apparel that retains more heat while staying 20 percent lighter than other designs and, thus, remaining more comfortable during strenuous activity—say, dropping a hook in a Northeast cove in late November, or manning the lines on a side deck in the Pacific Northwest in early December, all the while being able to see your breath in the air.

There also are more-traditional offerings from Helly Hansen this season, such as the Verglas half-zip shirt and the Pier 3.0 jacket. That jacket is specifically designed for rugged sailing, with features such as double-cuff adjustable seals, high collars and fleece-lined warming pockets.

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