Casual Apparel Review

Summary

If you are a boater looking for casual apparel, there are as many options as you can imagine. From extremely comfortable to dressier, from specialty clothing to clothes that you could wear on the street, and from the extreme to the commonplace, you can choose your own style and preferences.

In fact, this is the biggest challenge to finding casual apparel for boaters. There are so many options it is hard to know where to start. Here are a few tips for picking out the perfect casual outfit for your next boating outing.

Pros

• Casual apparel is easy to find; casual apparel that is designed for boaters is harder. If you look for this in brick and mortar stores, you are liable to get frustrated. That’s why the best place to start is with the internet. Online stores give you the freedom to compare between as many options as you choose, and to search for boating apparel specifically.
• Some clothing options will work just as well on a boat as on the street. This is especially true if you are on a large craft, such as a yacht. But even then, it is best if you can find something that is made for boaters.
• When it comes to shirts, look for something that will look good even if you get soaked. You never know when there might be a quick storm, so technical shirts or other fast-drying materials work very well.
• For pants, try to find something that you can adjust for temperature. For example, some specialty pants for fishermen have legs that zip off. That allows you to have more warmth if you need it, or wear them as shorts when it gets cold. For ladies, capris work well.
• When it comes to shoes, try to find something that won’t be ruined if it gets wet and that will hopefully still be comfortable.

Cons

• Unfortunately, you may sometimes have to choose between style and utility. This is especially true for pants and shoes.
• There is an advantage to finding clothes designed with boaters specifically in mind. The problem is that you can also expect a higher price. Where possible, see if you can find the same advantages without having to pay a higher price. For instance, many running shirts are the same shirts for boating.

Featured Manufacturers

West Marine, Gill, Columbia, and Guy Harvey

Conclusion

Like every other kind of apparel, you will have to look hard and make a few compromises to find the best casual apparel. The important thing is to find clothing that lets you stay comfortable even if the temperature changes of you get wet. Good options do exist—you just have to find them.