British Columbia’s Mustang Survival has featured its Meris line of foul-weather gear since 2018, and like most companies with an established line, they’ve been refining it every step of the way. Whether you’re familiar with the line or not you’ll like what they’ve done.
The biggest change to the jacket is a more relaxed fit. The hem has been eased from the previous model to give a straighter, less V-shape, which is good for layering. That also means it should fit a wider range of body shapes.
Meris Jacket
When I first picked up the jacket, my initial reaction was, “Holy smokes, this thing is really light!” The size L we checked out tipped the scales at only 1.8 pounds, which was around a pound less than a comparable jacket we had on hand. Of course, part of this is the absence of a liner. Interior liners are great for creating a moisture barrier inside the jacket and a bit more warmth, but you can arguably accomplish the same thing with proper layering, and with the relaxed fit, there’s plenty of room to work with various options there. Also, when rolled, it’s much more compact than our lined comparison.
The jacket’s material is constructed with a 3-ply military spec “BP 500 D Cordura,” which is not only waterproof and breathable, but feels rugged and durable.
There are two cargo pockets in front that have waterproof zippers and flaps over the top; although we’d like to see a little velcro to secure the flaps. Also front-side are two zipped, side-entry pockets with fleece lining, which is always a plus. There are no pockets inside the jacket. The front Aquaseal zipper is billed as 100-percent waterproof, so there’s no need for a flap. The wrist openings have a very solid-feeling and comfortable neoprene gasket system that you can cinch with a velcro tab to greatly reduce water ingress. Wrists and shoulders feature reflective material.
The most unique part of the jacket is the hood. Zip the jacket up all the way, and you’ll have a nice fleece-lined collar around your chin and lower face. Pull the hood out, pop it over your head, pull out the stowable face guard and attach, and you’re suddenly cocooned. But this hood extends forward much further than those on other jackets we’ve reviewed. It’s almost like wearing a traditional Sou’wester Hat backwards–your face is really sheltered from the elements. In fact, it’s far enough out that Mustang has added “peripheral-view windows,” which sound a bit odd, but they really work, and in time, you forget you’re actually looking through them.
The Meris jacket is billed for coastal and offshore racing. It’s compact, lightweight and streamlined, just the way we like it. Red or Navy, $699.99
Meris Salopette
Salopettes have become de rigueur for a lot of racers over the years, and for good reason—comfort and flexibility. We’ve checked out a number of salopettes over the years, so we have a pretty good handle on what’s what in that world. Plus, we just plain prefer them over bibs.
The Meris salopette is constructed of the same military spec material as the jacket and includes extra seat and knee reinforcement. The stretch back material and adjustable straps keep it in place and comfortable, even when going back and forth from standing to sitting to kneeling positions, which we tried numerous times. Like the jacket, the salopette has a relaxed fit, so you’ll be able to wear just about whatever base layers you’ll need. The range of adjustment to fit is controlled by waist cinchers as well as Velcro tabs behind the knees and at the ankles that can really taper all the fabric down the leg. All make for a compact, customized fit. The salopette has a waterproof, two-way, front zipper; it’s convenient and eliminates the need for an inner flap.
One detail we liked on the Meris that’s not always found on salopettes are knee pads. Unless we’re at the helm, somehow we always find ourselves kneeling at some point in the race, whether it’s dealing with an issue at deck level, getting better leverage while grinding a winch or just seeking divine intervention for better wind. Always seems to happen. The Meris knee pads are just right—large enough to cover the knees for a wide range of leg lengths and thick enough to provide the comfort you need, but not so thick that they interfere with movement. Don’t need ‘em? On the new Meris salopette, they’re easily removable. But once you try them, we’re sure you’ll leave them in place.
Other features include two zipped thigh pockets, instead of the previous model’s one. The left one has a cell-phone-sized window section that’s perfect for wet notes or anything else you need to be able to see without having to dig it out of a pocket. The right leg now has a tool tie. The idea is that you can separate tools from screens and notes. There’s also an upper chest pocket. Plenty of places to stash stuff.
Like the jacket, the Meris Salopette is designed for coastal as well as offshore conditions. Available in navy, $649.99
