material to form a lump that pushes into the back of your neck, pushing your head forwards,’ says Davis. ‘HPX hoods therefore now stow about three quarters of the way up the collar, above where the lifejacket sits. Lifejackets also have an important bearing on the position of pockets, which have been repositioned so it’s easy to get your hands into them’. The HPX jacket retains the same
features as the smock, with the exception that the storm collar and hood aren’t removable. It also has a secondary collar made of stretch PU with hook and loop adjustment tabs. The drysuit also underwent major changes, including a horizontal zip which makes it much easier to put on. ‘Imoca sailors can take the top off if they want to when inside the cockpit,’ says Davis. The fabric boots gain an abrasion resistant film to improve longevity, while the unique inflation tube is retained. Musto has women's salopettes in
the HPX range for the first time. The drop seat is of a unique design, with a horizontal waterproof and airtight zip similar to that of the drysuit. The D3O impact kneepads are
now inserted in a pocket beneath the Cordura patch, so they won’t catch on boots when putting salopettes on. Their shape has been modified and they are now held in place with hook and loop tabs, so they can easily be positioned perfectly for each person. Throughout the range, where hook
and loop tabs are used, a hole is laser cut in themain fabric, allowing the hook and loop tabs to be stitched on fromunderneath, eliminating sharp edges on cuff tabs and other elements. Other neat touches include new photo luminescent reflectors that, as well as reflecting a light source, glow in the dark for four to six hours after dusk. TheMusto logo is also reflective, as are the hanging
Above: the HPX drysuit (left) and smock (right) now have a removable hood, which stows in the front pouch. The pockets have been repositioned to improve access when worn with a lifejacket
loops and owners’ labels, so it’s easy to find yours when going on watch. For the first time the HPX range
includesmid and base layers that are a perfect technical complement to the outer layers. As the kit is aimed primarily at ocean racers whomay wear it for weeks at a time, odour control is critical. ‘The feedback from all sailors is thatmerino wool is the onlymaterial that doesn't smell terrible after a few days,’ says Davis. The bacteria that produces body
odours can't grow on merino yarn. However, it is not a durable material, especially in the micro weaves that create a smooth, comfortable fabric. The solution is to reinforce the base layer knees, seats and elbows with a four-way stretch Cordura with a long- lasting DWR coating and a soft feel. ‘It feels nothing like the Cordura
that you'll be familiar with on foul weather gear,’ says Davis. ‘It's very light, very smooth and incredibly stretchy. Water beads and rolls off fast and because it’s used only in areas where you don't sweat there’s no problem with odour control.’ Effective mid layer systems are a
difficult balancing act. The idea of a waterproof, breathable mid layer is enormously appealing but often counterproductive. Body heat pushes water vapor through a breathable membrane and out to the surface of the fabric. But there’s often not enough heat to push water through two membranes, which results in condensation inside the outer layer. Musto therefore uses the most breathable Gore-Tex membrane, Infinium, for mid layer HPX. ‘It delivers the perfect combination of air permeability and high water resistance,’ says Davis, ‘so you can dash out on deck without getting soaked. We insulate it with PrimaLoft Gold Active, which has a fantastic warmth to weight ratio.
‘Both the lining and the outer
shell are super breathable, which is very unusual for an insulated garment. That means you don't get condensation building up inside foul weather gear, which can make you think that your kit's leaking because you’re wet inside.’ Mid layer salopettes have stretchy shoulder panels for comfort and tapered legs, so there’s no excess fabric inside your boots. They also have a drop seat, which works both for women and for men. HPX is designed to cross oceans
and go around the world. However, another outcome of the work Musto has done with the sailors in France is that the HPX, MPX and LPX product families are now all interchangeable. For a race like the Rolex Fastnet you might choose an HPX trouser for maximum protection, an MPX jacket for routine use, plus an HPX smock for sailing upwind in big breezes. Similarly, many of the Imoca sailors in September’s Defi Azimut race wore HPX trousers, with an LPX jacket for 70 per cent of the time, while keeping HPX products to hand for ultimate protection in really tough conditions. The combination of HPX base
layers, mid layers and outer layer promise warmth and comfort over long periods in extreme environments. Charlie Enright and the 11th Hour Racing Team have tested a lot of iterations over the past three years. Equally, many other professional sailors contributed valuable feedback, notably Sam Davies, Sam Goodchild and Jérémie Beyou, who took a prototype set of HPX salopettes on the last Vendée Globe. These new Musto HPX products have therefore already successfully covered many thousands of miles at sea.
www.musto.com
❑ SEAHORSE 59
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