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November 01, 2018 3 min read
Sailing Chandlery sponsored sailor Sam Whaley reviews the Zhik Robert Scheidt Hiking wetsuits which are available in Microfleece and Superwarm designs.
These World class hikers are the latest in the Zhik hiking range and were designed by 9 x Laser World Champion Robert Scheidt. They are very comfortable, sit well on you whilst sailing and with the pads already built in you don’t have to worry about them slipping down whilst sailing. Here I am going to review both the Microfleece and Superwarm variants and hopefully give you a good idea on which pair you should buy.
The Microfleece Sheidt Hikers are ideal in warm, summer conditions. They are very comfy and extremely light weight which makes them ideal for the lighter winds. However, they are also quite thin and being the type of guy who likes to slightly overdress and protect myself from the spray I found myself only wearing these from May-September this year as they can get a bit chilly in the classic UK wet and wild conditions!
The built-in fibreglass pads on these are the perfect size, large compared with others on the market but small enough to make you forget you have pads in. This gives you more support whilst hiking, making it less painful and allowing you to have better posture and focus on driving the boat through the water. They are also quite grippy, so I never have to worry about slipping around the deck.
There is also a reasonable amount of padding on the knee to keep you protected and adjustable shoulder straps to ensure you can find the perfect fit.
My top tip for these is if in doubt order the size below. They are incredibly stretchy and slightly bigger than you might imagine. They also stretch ever so slightly as you wear them in so its worth bearing this in mind when you order.
The Superwarm Scheidt Hikers are the same as the Microfleece hikers above, but made of thicker material and engineered for cooler conditions. Weighing in slightly more than the Microfleece hikers but providing excellent warmth these are ideal for the winter months.
One again we have the same large, built-in pads as the Microfleece hikers which provide a lot of support and comfort whist sailing. There is also thicker padding on the knee meaning more protection and overall a slightly more rigid and warmer build. Once again, we also have the two adjustable shoulder straps to allow you to find your perfect fit.
These do not stretch as much as the Microfleece hikers above so I would recommend you order your normal size.
I actually prefer the extra padding and warmth that these Superwarm hikers offer and think they suit my style more. Definitely at this time of year I would recommend these as your best option and given their versatility I think you could use them on all but the hottest days in the UK.
Sailing Chandlery stock a full range of Zhik sailing kit - explore all Zhik products on our Zhik brand page or just view the sailing wetsuits available from all manufacturers.
As always, if you have questions about these hiking wetsuits, or any other product please do get in touch - we're always happy to provide you with the best advice for your scenario.
My son has just used these gloves for the first time this weekend and he’s really impressed, the warmest gloves he has had ever apparently! Really comfy.
Great bag of rope cut offs. I exactly what I needed. Good amount/variety of rope. Arrived quickly and well packaged. Highly recommended.
Great spinnaker sheet rope, especially as easily tapered myself to exactly what I need.
Fast ordering and delivery, as well as very competitive price.
Perfect.
Usual excellent Zhik quality, hoping it helps keep my slight daughter warm under her wetsuit. Fast delivery from sailing chandlery, and an excellent price.
I wanted to practice making soft shackles, this rope is perfect and a good price. Thank you
I've used these gloves for gardening jobs for a few years now and they have good grip, flexibility and strength.
Excelent but was too big
Thank you for swapping to 30L
My boat is a Leisure18 built 1996 and I have just replaced the Cam Cleats with the identical model after they have probably been on since new.
Ive owned her since 2011. Let's hope the new ones live up to that.
It’s a well thought through cover that’s robust and with fastening clips it’s easier to put off and on. Most of the fastening straps don’t go full width, so easier still. Compared to the £100 one I had before that shredded within 6 months, this is far far superior.
10 out of 10. Exactly what wanted. Good quality and speedily delivered without any hassle.
Great product
Fast service
Good price
Thanks again always worth trawling through he off cuts. The off cuts are good quality and always worth a look if you need some.
Good advice regards flag staff rope on telephone, prompt delivery at a fare price.
Arrived quickly. Also replaced another item which was the wrong sizewith no fuss at all.
Really good service.
Perfect for getting out of wet clothes, and a great fit.