It is hard to believe that Gill’s OS2 offshore gear has been around for 25 years, but that’s the case, and they keep finding ways to improve it–including the newest offering, the Offshore Jacket and Trousers.
For starters, both are now made of an estimated 98 percent recycled material, something unheard of a quarter-century ago. In case you’re wondering about the remaining 2 percent, it’s basically zippers and reflective material, currently not a recyclable option. Beyond that, there’s a lot to talk about. Both jacket and trousers are made of Gill’s XPLORE two-layer waterproof and breathable fabric with a liner. There’s mesh fabric at the bottom of the jacket, at the wrist on each sleeve, and at the bottom of each trouser leg to allow moisture to escape. I especially like how lightweight both pieces are, even with the lining.
The main standout in the Offshore Jacket is from the shoulders up. The OS2 line has always had tall collars, but this one, at 7 inches, is probably the highest they’ve made. The collar on my loaner jacket came about halfway up the back of my head and at least up to my nose when fully zipped. Inside is a plush, fleece lining. The front of the collar features an integrated face guard that secures the collar around your chin and nose.
Zip the jacket all the way, pull the high-viz, lined hood (another nice touch) up over your head, secure a face guard across the front of the collar, and all that’s exposed are your eyes and perhaps your nose. Warm and dry. Clearly, over-the-deck spray and rain are not going to win this battle. When not in use, the face guard can be folded or rolled out of the way into a dedicated pocket in the side of the collar, and the hood can be similarly tucked into a pocket at the back of the collar.
Is there anything not to like about it? If you’re cool with the size of the collar when wearing the jacket in a more casual mode, the only thing I’d recommend is an inner flap so the zipper doesn’t rest against your facial skin. But maybe that’s not an issue, given the conditions you’d likely be wearing this in would necessitate an inner layer that would come far enough up to provide a buffer between your skin and the zipper.
The jacket has a Velcro-sealed cargo pocket on each side, along with side-entry hand-warmer pockets lined with fleece. Two deep chest pockets have large zipper pulls, making them easy to access even with cold fingers or when wearing wet sailing gloves. A pocket just inside and to the left provides a perfect place for a phone or anything else you want to have with you but not take any risk getting it wet. With all those storage places, there’s more than enough for anything you’d typically need on deck.
Finally, I really appreciated the soft, inner-cuff seals, which are secured with Velcro tabs. Something we’ve seen before, but it always checks a box. Like the whole collar arrangement, if you snug them up, there’s little chance water will penetrate, even when working with your hands above your head, such as when jumping halyards in very wet conditions.
Offshore trousers are one of the most frequently worn pieces of sailing kit, and as such they need to top-shelf. So, when I first saw the modest $260 retail price tag on Gill’s OS2 trousers, I anticipated a middle-of-the-road garment. Boy, was I wrong. Everything about them is primo. I worked hard to find something wrong with them, but I came up empty.
Picking them up for the first time, the fabric feels remarkably durable, yet it’s not stiff or heavy, even with the beefy knee and rear-seat reinforcement panels. Neither feel like you’re wearing pieces of cardboard. A Velcro waist closure keeps them close to your body.
Some details: The men’s model includes a brace system with a comfortable stretch back panel and Velcro adjusters. A two-way zipper in front with a large gusset provides protection, yet enables the user easy access for relief without having to mess with the jacket. The women’s model has a drop-seat function that, as I understand it, can be used without undoing the braces. I imagine that’s a real bonus.
On the front right side is a Velcro tool attachment point, and the convenient front thigh pocket includes a D-ring. At first I questioned the lack of a thigh pocket on the left side, but one is easily enough. Velcro closures finish off the bottom of each trouser leg.
Overall, the OS2 system is a really solid, well-designed offshore kit that should provide most sailors years of good use. Twenty-five years of development can’t be wrong.
