Rated 4.9 out of 5 by our customers
Rated 4.9 out of 5 by our customers
5 Star Rated by Sailors
Trusted For 13 Years
Over 55,000+ Orders Shipped
90 Day Risk Free Returns
Price Match Promise
Fast Dispatch and 5 Star Customer Rated Service
January 13, 2023 3 min read
In this article we cover what the differences are between these popular Zhik sailing jackets and what the best option might be for you and your sailing.
The INS200 is built from a 3 layer Vecta Fabric that is light weight and is made for high-intensity inshore sailing. The jacket is made to look great and keep you dry when in the harbour and when you arrive at your destination.
The CST500 Sailing Jacket is a step up from the INS200 in waterproofness and durability by being made from 3 layer Aroshell. This material has been tested and used on various legs on the Volvo Ocean race for a few years and this extensive test combined with Zhik's learning from previous sailing jackets makes this in our opinion the best Coastal Sailing Jacket around.
The CST500 has a hood packed with features that will keep you protected from the elements. Having the Bright Yellow and reflective hood design makes you stand out and therefore will be more visible when at sea. The added ability to stow the hood away when not needed keeps it out of the way on dry days.
The INS200 hood is a continuation of the sleek low profile design of the sailing jacket. Whilst the hood is not as feature packaged as the CST500 hood, the hood is sculpted and shaped to give maximum protection and help water run off and away from your face.
Finding and getting a sailing jacket that fits your body shape is essential. You want to be comfortable whether you have multiple layers underneath or not.
Both sailing jackets are very light in weight for jackets of this class. This, therefore, helps with manoeuvrability as your crew is not weighed down by a heavy sailing jacket.
The INS200 has an elasticated neck and hood adjustment along with velcro cuffs to seal around your wrist or gloves.
However, if you prefer having waist adjustment the CST500 is the jacket for you. The elasticated adjustable waist is hidden away to avoid you from catching it on anything on board. The internal lining in the hood can be tightened to protect your ears and only have your eyes, nose and mouth exposed to the elements.
Sailing overnight is not for the faint hearted and having the right kit for the job will keep you safe when on the water.
The CST500 Sailing Jacket has a reflective pinstripe across the hood and reflective patches on the shoulders and cuffs. This is a vital safety feature if you want to be sailing out at night and offshore.
Comparatively the INS200 has no reflective patches. However, they do have orange/pink highlights in high-traffic areas to see in low light.
The INS200 jacket is a very good Sailing Jacket for inshore and short daytime passages. The jacket is very windproof without weighing a ton. However if you plan on spending any extended time a sea the CST500 features a watertight internal pocket for any valuables that you don't want to get wet and damp. This a feature you only normally see on offshore sailing jackets.
If you've got any questions about the Zhik INS200 or Zhik CST500 products get in touch with our friendly team, we are always happy to help and provide advice based on our experience of using these products.
You can drop us an email to info@sailingchandlery.com or give us a call on 01268 222912.
The top cover was delivered on time as expected. The cover fits perfectly and hopefully it will last forever … Thank you
Bought this for my son so can’t personally comment as I’ve not used it. However he was very pleased with the purchase and said it’s great quality.
Always happy with my orders from Sailing Chandlery. They are quick to post and very helpful when I have had a question.
Jason delivered the boat on time at Hayling Island Sailing Club. The boat was new and all the spars were in perfect condition. Jason came to pick up the boat and return the deposit which I gave at the time of the delivery. Every interaction with Andrew and Jason were handled very professionally. I will recommend to any sailor Sailing Chandlery in the future. I really appreciated how easy it was to charter this boat. Thank you very much. Jacques Kerrest
This was a birthday present for a sailing daughter (i don't sail!) She was delighted, it hasn't been out on the water yet but she's looking forward to trying it out and says it's just what she wanted... so looks like a good choice by me after helpful advice from Sailing Chandlery staff!
I bought the 2.5mm dyneema for a special winch/pulley project which needs to pull two sides of a cradle exactly simultaneously for about a meter. Originally I was going to create loops on both the LHS and the RHS, then loop them together onto a 3mm dyneema rope. This gave me two issues : firstly the "knot" would be large and may rub on the cradle (not much room available), secondly there was no redundancy if the 3mm dyneema was to fail. So I then looked at splitting the drum on the winch into 2 halves so I could wind on both the RHS and LHS 2.5mm ropes on together. This would give redundancy if one leg was to fail but it would not guarantee simultaneous pulling.
Then I had a brainwave. I spliced the 2 x 2.5mm together and then fed a 1.5meter tail through the middle creating a combined rope of approx 3.5mm diameter. I then wound this onto the drum of the winch as a single rope. This would ensure simultaneous pulling, and also provide redundancy if say the outer sheath was abraded and failed - also there was no significant "knot" so it fitted in neatly in the space available.
It was a bit of a fiddle pulling the tail through but not really difficult with the D-splicing tool.
All in all, I am very impressed with the dyneema and I am glad I did not choose a wire rope for this application.
Quick and easy to fit on to the end of the sail and work perfectly.
Thank you 'Sailing Chandlery' for your quick service and easy website which helped me pick the correct part I needed. I am back sailing when the weather allows.
Prompt delivery, with helpful updates and time slot spot on. Perfect new sail at a great price and the number fixing service is well worth it. It even won its first race! Thank you.
This was an easy thing to sort out for my Wanderer. It's a common part for a wide range of boats. The whole thing comes complete that's the Rudder pivot bolt, wing nut and 'socket washer' for the bolt head. The whole process took just a couple of days for my order to be picked dispatched and shipped and I was ready to go sailing again.
I needed GBR letters for the ILCA Europeans and they arrived by the next post.
I bought four of these blocks to deal with Control line take away Perfect.
Great product. Very good quality and price!
Quick delivery, great item
New jib sheets are good to hold, do not twist up and hold well in the cam cleats.
Save up to 40%on your next order.