Hikers and Hiking Wetsuits FAQs
What are hikers?
A wetsuit with padded thighs. Hikers, or hiking pants, are neoprene long johns or trousers with stiff foam panels sewn across the top of the thigh, where the gunwale lands when you hike. They do the job of a wetsuit and a pair of hiking pads in one garment, with nothing to slip or strap on. Most are sleeveless and cut like a skiff suit, so a spray top goes over the top as normal.
Hikers or a normal wetsuit with hiking pads?
Hikers if you race a hiking boat most weekends, pads over a normal suit if you sail a mix of boats or hike occasionally. Hikers cost more but the padding stays put, there is no cold gap between pad and suit, and you are not fiddling with straps on the start line. Pads are the flexible option if you crew a doublehander some weeks and hike a Solo the rest. See our hiking pads.
Which weight of hikers do I need?
The lighter suit from April to September, the warmer one for the rest. The lighter hikers are more flexible and cooler on a summer afternoon, and a thermal top underneath stretches them into spring and autumn. The warmer version has a thicker, lined neoprene for the cold months and is the one to buy if you race an early or late season series. If you only buy one and sail year round, buy warm.
How should hikers fit?
Like a wetsuit, snug on land and comfortable once wet, with the thigh pads sitting across the top of your legs when they are bent in a hiking position. Pads that sit too low catch your knees, too high and they dig into your hips. Go for your usual wetsuit size and up one if you are between sizes or want a thermal underneath. Check the chart on the product page, since Zhik cuts slim.
Are hikers allowed in my class?
In the ILCA, RS Aero, Solo and most other hiking classes, yes, and in the ILCA they are standard kit from club level up. World Sailing sets a weight limit on clothing and equipment to stop sailors wearing waterlogged kit for righting moment, and modern hikers sit well inside it. If you are heading to a championship, check your class rules. For club racing, nobody will ask.
