How we recommend
We recommend gear by category and by the sailor it suits, not by brand or model, and we do not quote prices. The buttons on each guide lead to current listings so you can compare for yourself. Product links are affiliate links, labeled "Paid link" where they appear, and we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Every statement in these guides comes from a named source: official bodies such as the US Coast Guard, NOAA, US Sailing and the RYA, the boating trade press, and manufacturers. When a claim comes from a company about its own products, we say so. When sources disagree, we give both versions and who holds each one.
Where to start
- New to sailing? Begin with the day sail checklist, which separates what US federal rules require from what safety bodies recommend. Then read safety requirements.
- Sailing dinghies? Read dinghy gear first. You will probably get wet, so the clothing choices differ from keelboat sailing.
- Sailing keelboats or cruising? Start with life jackets and foul weather gear, then gloves and footwear.
- Adding a radio or beacon? Read handheld VHF and safety beacons. Both involve registration or identification steps you should know about before you buy.
- Buying for someone else? The gift guide explains which gear makes a good gift and which is better chosen with the person who will use it.
Safety gear and training
Several of these guides cover safety equipment. They explain what the gear does and what the cited rules say, but they are not training. Learn to use safety gear through a recognized program such as US Sailing, the RYA or ASA, and check the current rules with the authority where you sail. See learning to sail.
What we do not do
We do not publish hands-on reviews of products we have not tested, and we do not rank individual models. Some of the trade press tests we cite are many years old; where we use them, we give the original date and use them only for general points about how gear works, never to recommend a specific product.