Top Sailing Gear Essentials 2025: The Ultimate Guide
Sailing gear essentials are the things you really can’t be without when sailing, whether that’s clothing, safety gear, or gadgets.
We’ve narrowed down the sailing gear we think is absolutely essential to pack for days out on the water, but some of it will depend on the type of sailing you’re doing and where you’re doing it!
You might need to adapt this sailing gear essentials list slightly to suit your own personal needs, but hopefully this has covered most of the basics!
What we haven’t delved into is the sailing gear you’ll need on the boat itself – things like navigational equipment etc. We’re assuming the boat you’re sailing is already equipped with the things you need to get the boat from A to B. We’re just covering personal items that you’ll need!
If you’re looking for a quick checklist then you can download our sailing gear essentials checklist here, free to store on your computer or print off as you wish!
Quick Guide To Sailing Gear Essentials
- Sailing gear essential clothes
- Sailing gear essential accessories
- Essential sailing safety gear
- Essential sailing documents
- Sailing gear supplies
Sailing Gear Essentials: Clothes
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When people think of essential sailing gear their first thoughts normally go to clothes. What you wear sailing can be what determines an awesome day or a nightmare. You’ll want to make sure you’ve got the sailing clothes essentials sorted before heading out to sea!
We’ve put together what we feel are the real sailing gear essentials when it comes to clothes, so extras like sailing gloves haven’t made the list. We’ve also got you sorted if you’re looking for a more comprehensive sailing packing guide.
Sailing Jackets Are A Sailing Kit Must Have
🏆 Our favourite sailing jacket
A decent, all-weather sailing jacket is one of the most important sailing gear essentials. Sailing jackets are designed to keep the water away and the heat in, and this is really all you can ask for on a cold day out sailing!
It’s a good idea to get a jacket that designed for sailing if you’ll be going often, but if it’s just a one-day sailing trip you’re heading off on then you can get away with a decent waterproof.
Sailing-specific jackets are designed to stand up to the constant marine environment and have other safety features such as reflective strips and hoods to help in an emergency situation, so they really are an essential piece of sailing gear for anyone wanting to take the sport seriously.
We’ve reviewed some of the top sailing jackets to help you find the perfect coastal or ocean sailing jacket for you. Helly Hansen does a fantastic range and delivers quickly to a range of countries.
✅ Shop Helly Hansen sailing jackets
Sailing Trousers: Sailing Gear Essentials
If you’re going to be sailing in colder climates, or you’re planning on heading out sailing often, then sailing trousers are an essential sailing gear item!
Trousers designed for use by sailors are rugged, waterproof, and windproof. You can buy sailing trousers in bib form that are more protective (like waterproof dungarees!), or you can get them just as trousers – especially good for going to the toilet, but not as warm and protective!
You might want to consider things like whether your trousers have adjustable ankle cuffs, reflective strips, and pockets. These small details can make a rough day sailing that little bit more comfortable.
✅ Shop Helly Hansen sailing trousers
✅ Shop sailing trousers on Amazon
Lovely Layers Should Be An Essential Part Of Your Sailing Gear
Anyone heading out sailing, whether casually or more seriously, is going to want layers! The weather can change quickly out on the water, and what might look like a lovely hot day on land can be surprisingly cold when the wind gets up.
Be prepared with at least a few layers. A base layer and a fleece layer should be enough sailing gear to keep most fair-weather sailors warm, coupled with your waterproof jacket for foul weather. The Odin insulated layer from Helly Hansen is a great choice for colder climates as it’s highly breathable, warm, and super comfy.
Make sure you keep your layers accessible throughout your sail. The last thing you want when the weather turns is to be rummaging through your bag down below!
✅ Shop layers from Helly Hanson
Shoes Are Essential Sailing Gear
Shoes are an essential sailing gear piece of clothing to consider. You might not need shoes specifically designed for sailing, but if you don’t want to be slipping and sliding all over the decks or leaving behind big black streaks wherever you walk, then think carefully about which shoes you’re going to wear.
You sailing gear shoes should be super grippy with white soles! If you’re sailing in bad weather then you might prefer a pair of sailing boots, which are waterproof and will help keep the warmth in.
We’ve narrowed down the best sailing shoes out there to help you find the perfect pair for days out on the water.
✅ Shop sailing shoes at Helly Hansen
Pack Your Swimwear
This is only essential sailing gear if your cruising grounds are warm – sorry! Obviously one of the huge highlights of sailing life is being able to dive off the boat into beautiful ocean waters. Don’t forget your swimwear!
We would recommend you take a long-sleeved swimming costume or rash vest. Sun cream is only effective for so long, and if you’re snorkeling or doing water sports off the boat then you don’t want to limit your enjoyment in the sun (or come out looking like a strawberry!)
Sailing Gear Essentials: Accessories
These are sailing gear essentials you won’t want to be without. Most of these accessories will protect from the sun, wind, rain and spray, and they tend to be small and cheap so they’re well worth investing in!
Sailing Hat
🏆 Our top pick
Helly Hansen Ocean Race
Sailing hats are essential gear when you’re spending time on the open water. When you’re sailing you’re really exposed to the elements. Literally whatever the weather wants to throw at you!
A sailing hat will protect you from the sun and/or the cold. It doesn’t matter if you’re sailing in warm climates or cold ones, you’re going to experience both! Get yourself at least one hat for sailing, but preferably you’ll want two.
A hat that will shade your face and neck effectively from the sunshine, and a warm beanie or winter hat for the colder days.
Sailing Gear Essentials: Sunglasses
The best sunglasses for sailing are polarised and worn with a lanyard! They’re an essential item of sailing gear, because they protect your eyes from the sun but also from the glare off the water. There’s nothing worse than spending hours squinting into the horizon when you forget a pair!
Our advice is to have several pairs of sunglasses with you when you go sailing so that you’re never without! Keep one pair stashed away on the boat in you own it, and another in your sailing bag. That way there will always be some to hand when you need them most.
We highly recommend the SunGod range of sunglasses. They’re polarised, highly customisable and the best quality sailing sunglasses we’ve found. We can’t recommend them highly enough.
Don’t forget to grab a lanyard for your sunglasses. I can’t count the amount we unwillingly gave as offerings to Poseidon before we finally invested!
A Sailing Watch
A sailing watch is a great addition to your sailing gear if you don’t already own one. These watches are designed for use by sailors, so they have special features that make life on board that little bit easier! We’ve put together the best watches for sailing to help you decide which is right for you.
They also make really great gifts for anyone you know who loves to sail.
Waterproof Bags For Your Sailing Gear
🏆 Our favourite sailing bag
Peak design everyday rucksack
Sailing bags are a must-have bit of sailing gear. They have so many different purposes on board and you’ll want to make sure you have at least one decent waterproof bag with you when you sail.
We prefer the rucksack style waterproof bags that can double up as land-based backpacks for exploring. We also have a top-loading, rugged waterproof bag as our grab bag, and another for keeping things out in the cockpit while we sail.
You’ll also want a waterproof pouch for your phone and any important documents. Grab a few and keep them onboard – they’re an essential bit of sailing kit!
✅ Shop sailing bags from Helly Hansen
✅ Shop Peak Design for sailing bags
Sailing Gloves
You’re going to need a decent pair of gloves to keep you protected out on the water. Not only are cold hands pretty much useless at working the lines, but gloves will also protect those delicate fingers against chafe and rope burn.
Check out the best sailing gloves for your next sail.
A Decent Headtorch Is A Sailing Gear Must Have
A decent headtorch should be on everyone sailing gear packing list. You’ll want a headtorch with a red light for night sailing, and high lumens for emergencies.
We’ve reviewed the best sailing headlamps for anyone that’s heading out on night sails, or wants a decent headtorch for their tool kit. Black Diamond make some of the best headtorches out there, and they don’t break the bank either!
✅ Shop Black Diamond for headtorches
Add A Buff To Your Sailing Kit List
Bring a buff! It’s such a small piece of sailing kit but it can make a massive difference! Buffs can be used to keep your neck warm, or your head warm, but they can also be used to keep the sun off your face and neck. And you can use them to keep your hair out of your eyes too!
They’re super versatile and tiny, so make sure you have one on your sailing gear packing list!
✅ Shop Helly Hansen for sailing buffs
Sun Cover Ups Are Essential
When you’re out sailing it’s hard to find shade, and you don’t want to be cowering below decks and missing out on all the action! Make sure you bring something to cover you from the sun. A light shirt or rash vest is best, and a scarf or sarong is great for shading anything your clothes don’t cover!
Sailing Gear Essential Safety Equipment
This isn’t a full safety sailing gear list, but we’ve included the things we think are really essential. If you’re crewing on someone else’s boat or chartering an unfamiliar vessel then make sure you pack these things as a minimum.
If you’re looking for more comprehensive safety gear advice then we’ve got several must have printables available here.
Lifejacket
The most obvious bit of essential safety gear you’ll need when sailing is a life jacket. It’s absolutely essential that you have one of these, in whatever form you like. Just make sure you have one and it fits!
Sailing life jackets come in several different forms. The bulky foam life jackets that you’ve probably been given on boat trips are a cheaper option, or if you’re sailing for longer periods of time and want something you can move in then opt for an inflating life jacket. Just make sure the cartridge is in date before setting sail!
Not all life jackets were born equal. Do your research and get the right one for the type of sailing you intend on doing. A proper offshore life jacket is an essential bit of sailing gear for anyone intending on doing longer passages.
✅ Shop West Marine for sailing life jackets
Tether
A safety tether is just as important as a life jacket. This is what will hold you to the boat if you slip overboard and prevent you from getting lost at sea. The best kind of tether has two attachment points so you never have to unclip from the boat.
PLB
A personal location beacon is like a tiny EPIRB that you can clip onto yourself or carry in your grab bag. Clip it to your life jacket, and if you go overboard it will automatically activate and let your crew members know your exact location so they can rescue you and let others know where you are.
✅ Shop for PLBs at West Marine
First Aid Kit
Take a small first aid kit with you when you go sailing, even if there’s one on the boat already. Make sure it’s well stocked, and add any of your own personal medication. A first aid kit is an essential bit of sailing gear that’s super cheap and easy to pack, so make sure you don’t forget it!
✅ Shop Amazon for first aid kits
Sea Sickness Tablets
We were once told there’s a sea state and a hull shape for everyone, so even though Emily has never been seasick in her life, we always make sure we have seasickness tablets available just in case!
Make sure you tell the skipper if you know you get seasick, and if you’ve never been sailing then take the tablets as instructed just in case. Seasickness is awful, and you don’t want to find out you have it when you’re hours offshore!
✅ Shop Amazon for sea sickness tablets
Grab bag
Anyone who is serious about sailing knows the importance of a grab bag, and if you’re sailing on a boat that’s not yours then it’s well worth bringing along your own just in case – you never know what someone else has packed!
Your grab bag should have all the sailing equipment you might need in case of an emergency, and be ready to grab if you have to ditch to a life raft.
Make sure it has photocopies of important documents like your passport, some high-energy food, water, an EPIRB or PLB, flares, and sea sickness tablets as a bare minimum for coastal day sails. Research grab bag essentials for longer passages or if you’re the owner of the vessel. You should store them in a rugged dry bag in a bright colour!
We’ve put together a handy printable checklist to help you make sure you’ve got everything you need in yours before you set off. Keep a copy onboard and make sure you check it every year to keep all the contents up to date.
Sailing Knife
Hopefully there is already decent sailing knife onboard the boat you’ll be sailing, but it’s always worth being prepared, and a knife is an important piece of safety sailing gear for many reasons.
If you’re not sure whether there is already a knife onboard then we recommend you bring a multitool penknife just in case!
Essential Sailing Gear Documents
Depending on where you and your boat are from and where you’re planning on sailing to, you’re going to want to make sure you’ve got all the right documentation on board with you.
For a full guide about boating paperwork and much more, check out our How To Run Away To Sea guidebook which details all you need to know about the ins and outs of getting your paperwork sorted.
Passport
It might seem like an obvious thing to bring when you go sailing but it’s amazing how easy it is to forget! Make sure you take your passport, or at least some form of ID. You never know what might happen when you’re out sailing or when you might need it!
Visas
If you plan on crossing borders then make sure you’ve double (and triple) checked entry requirements and have all the right paperwork with you. Visas sometimes take months to come through, so make sure you’ve done the necessary paperwork before you leave the dock.
Boating Documents
If it’s your boat or you’re the skipper then make sure you take all appropriate boat documents with you when you go sailing. Things like your skippers license, radio license and the documents to prove you own the boat, or that you’re legally renting it!
Essential Sailing Supplies
Technically this doesn’t fall under sailing ‘gear’ but I thought it was important to mention, as you shouldn’t leave port without a few essential items onboard.
Even though these aren’t things for a sailing gear kit as such, they are things you should mentally check you have before heading out sailing, so I’ve included them to help trigger your memory if nothing else!
Provisions
You’ll have to decide on provisions based on the length of your trip and how many crew members you have, but you should always have some stores of food and water on board even if you only plan on being out for a few hours.
Make sure you have some high energy snack bars and water as a minimum! And make sure that you’ve taken into account any allergies before crew members come aboard.
We’ve got some handy sailboat provisioning tips for anyone heading out on longer passages for the first time!
Fuel
Again, not really sailing gear essentials, but sailing essentials all the same! Make sure you have enough fuel with you before you leave the dock, and enough gas if that’s what you cook with. You don’t want to be miles from shore with no way to boil the kettle-there’ll be mutiny onboard!
Sun Cream
Make sure you always have a small supply of sun cream on board for anyone that forgets theirs, and if you’re crewing on someone else’s boat then always carry a bottle of high factor sun cream. There is often little shade on sailing boats and the sun can attack from all angles as it reflects off the water.
Sailboat Spares
If it’s not your boat then this is a tricky one! If it is your boat then it should be equipped with at least some basic spares and tools. Things like engine spares are essential sailing gear that should always be available in case of an emergency.
If you’re sailing on someone else’s boat then we would advice you take a few basic tools. Something like this multitool penknife is perfect and will mean you have a few of the main tools at your disposal if you wind up in trouble.
More Useful Sailing Gear Guides
These sailing gear essentials will help you to stay safe and happy when out on the water, but this list is by no means exclusive! You’ll also want to consider things like spare for your sailboat and some basic tools so that you can easily fix problems that arise when you’re out on the water. and don’t forget a few sailing gear essentials for having fun out there too!
For more top tips on gear for your sailboat you can check out some of our other useful guides – written by liveaboard sailors for sailors!
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Great Info!