Zhik Dinghy Sailing Clothing FAQs
What is Zhik best known for?
Hiking kit for single handed racing. Zhik started with hiking pants for the Laser, now the ILCA, and built out from there into boots with a stiffened sole for hiking, replacement hiking straps, and warm wetsuits cut for sailors who move a lot. If you sail an ILCA, an RS Aero or a skiff, Zhik is the brand most of the fleet around you is wearing, and for good reason.
Which Zhik boots should I buy?
The hiking boot if you sail a hiking singlehander, the lighter high cut boot for everything else. Zhik hiking boots have a stiff plate in the sole so the toestrap sits across your foot without crushing it, which lets you hike harder for longer. That stiffness is wasted in a trapeze boat or a doublehander, where the lighter boot gives better feel on the deck. Both come in a high cut that keeps the ankle covered. See our dinghy sailing boots.
Do Zhik sizes run small?
Slightly, in the tops and wetsuits. Zhik is cut for racing, so the fit is closer than Gill or Rooster through the chest and shoulders. If you are between sizes or want room for a thermal underneath, go up one. Boots are sized in US and EU with a UK conversion on the chart, and most sailors find them true to their trainer size. Check the chart on each product page before ordering.
Are Zhik wetsuits warm enough for UK winter?
Yes, if you buy the right weight. Zhik makes its wetsuits in two warmth levels: a lighter suit for spring to autumn and a thicker fleece lined suit for winter. For club racing through to April the lighter one is fine with a thermal underneath. For frostbite series through December to February, buy the thicker one. Both are long john style, so you add a spray top over the top. See our dinghy sailing wetsuits.
Which Zhik hiking strap fits my boat?
The ILCA ones fit the ILCA and Laser, and most other classes can use them with a fitting change at the ends. Zhik makes a standard padded strap and a grippier version with a textured surface for sailors who hike with the strap across the top of the foot. The grippy one is worth the extra if you race in boots with a smooth upper, because it stops the foot sliding out on a tack. See our hiking kit.
