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The sea is inherently unpredictable. It demands careful preparation and clothing is no small detail. What you wear impacts everything; how you move, how long you stay focused.
A regular garment gets wet, cools the body, and restricts movement during maneuvers. A technical one, on the other hand, is designed to protect, manage moisture, and allow freedom of movement. This is the main difference.
Since 1979, SLAM has been developing performance sailing gear based on the real-world experience of sailors. Every choice, from fabrics to product design, is conceived to work in real conditions and onboard.
Sailing takes place in an environment that combines multiple factors at once:
Even during the same outing, conditions can change rapidly. Moreover, the body alternates between very dynamic moments and more static ones while onboard. During a maneuver, you quickly move between ropes, the helm, and adjustments. Shortly after, you may be exposed to splashes, wind, and sudden humidity.
This is why technical sailing gear must do multiple things simultaneously; protect, insulate, and follow body movements. And its effectiveness depends not only on the fabrics used but also on how the product itself is designed.
When it comes to technical sailing gear, the synergy between multiple features is key—they must work together within the same system.
Onboard, water is everywhere; waves, wind-driven spray, constant contact with wet surfaces, or rain. This is why waterproofness is one of the most important requirements for technical sailing gear. But it’s not enough just to 'keep water out.' If the garment becomes a sealed barrier, sweat will get trapped inside, creating discomfort.
While sailing, you often move from calmer phases to physically intense moments. During racing maneuvers, the body generates a lot of heat. If sweat isn’t properly evacuated, the internal microclimate becomes unstable, leading to:
Waterproofness and breathability should never be considered as separate technical features. In more advanced sailing gear, they always work together.
Tacks, gybes, position changes, and rapid adjustments. Every movement onboard must remain fluid and precise. A rigid, heavy, or poorly designed garment restricts movement and causes fatigue over time.
Ergonomic fit, stretch fabrics, and product design are always key, especially for faster classes.
Even when the temperature outside doesn’t feel particularly low, wind and humidity can make it feel much colder. Therefore, you need technical apparel that traps heat without becoming bulky and losing effectiveness in a humid environment.
Knees, seat, friction points, and contact with equipment; onboard, wear and tear are a big problem. Good technical sailing gear must be durable and reliable even after intense and repeated use.
At sea, sun exposure is intensified by the reflection off the water’s surface. During longer outings or in warmer months, built-in UV protection in fabrics becomes not just practical, but essential.
At sea, it's not enough to wear 'a good garment.' You need products specifically built to protect from water and wind, even when weather conditions change rapidly. Gear that manages humidity and allows freedom of movement without ever being an obstacle.
All of this, together. Because if even one of these elements fails, you’ll feel it immediately. You lose comfort, energy, and focus.
SLAM Shield 20 is a proprietary technology developed to address one of the most important needs in technical sailing; staying protected from water and wind while maintaining good moisture management inside.
This technology is based on a three-layer membrane structure, fully taped seams, and mechanical stretch fabric. It's designed to combine protection and freedom of movement:
SLAM Shield 20 provides effective protection against heavy rain and wind, even when onboard activities demand continuous movement and effort.
When it’s cold, the problem isn't just retaining heat. You also need to avoid weighing the body down and losing effectiveness as humidity increases.
Primaloft ThermoPlume® is a 100% recycled synthetic insulation designed to offer thermal protection even in humid conditions. It's essential when seeking both warmth and lightness.
The Grid Fleece fabric has a honeycomb structure that helps trap air between fibers and retain body heat without adding weight. This is especially important in winter, when technical layering is used to face cold weather.
The OD Tech fabric family is designed for those seeking technical comfort and protection both while sailing and ashore.
This fabric is designed to dry quickly and offer prolonged UV protection with built-in UPF 50+.
The performance of technical sailing gear doesn’t just depend on membranes and fabrics; it also depends on how the product is conceived.
A concrete example is the design of 1.5mm neoprene wetsuits, developed by SLAM in collaboration with Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti, Olympic champions in the Nacra 17 class. Direct collaboration with athletes who wear the gear in real-world conditions helps improve details that might remain invisible in a lab.
Training, regattas, wind, high speeds, repeated movements, and variable weather conditions all become part of the development process.
To sail at your best, you need to rely on the right gear. When waterproofness, breathability, thermal protection, durability and design work together, technical sailing gear is no longer just a support—it becomes an active part of your sailing experience.
And when everything works as it should, you're not just sailing better—you're sailing with control. That’s where the way you experience the sea really changes.
