Helly Hansen Hiking Apparel

Price: $80CAN / $65US
Weight: 290g / 10.2oz
Colours: Black, North Sea Blue

The Helly Hansen Lifa Active ½ Zip is a technical base layer for everyday adventures. Designed with moisture management in mind, this two-layer garment is meant to be worn next to your skin. The Lifa Flow Technology moves moisture away from your skin to the wicking polyester layer where it is dispersed and evaporates. 

The Flat Lock Seams are low profile for increased comfort, and a half length zipper at the chest offers some versatility through ventilation.

• Light-weight Insulation
• Lifa Flow Technology
• 2 Layer Construction
• ½ Length Chest Zipper
• Flat Lock Seams

Price: $300CAN / $260US
Weight: 580g / 20.5oz
Colours: Marmalade, North Sea Blue, Celestial, Grenadine, Catalina Blue, Cherry Tomato, Black

In addition to all the materials having some stretch properties, seamless underarm stretch panels offer an increased range of movement where you need it most.

The insulation used in this jacket is Primaloft Gold Active+. This high-performance insulation has an excellent warmth to weight ratio with minimum bulk making it versatile and packable. This insulation not only encourages the passage of moisture vapor away from your body, but resists the absorption of moisture coming from the inside or outside. On top of all that, it’s made with 55% post-consumer recycled material. 

A zippered chest pocket joins two zippered hand warming pockets offering plenty of safe storage options.

The hood and wrists feature soft elastics and high-vis details make you easier to see when the light of day fades.

• Light-weight 30D Fabric
• 4-way Full Stretch Fabrics
• PFC-free DWR
• Primaloft® Gold Active + 80g Stretch Insulation
• Underarm stretch panels
• Soft-edge elastic band around hood and cuffs
• High-vis details

Price: $120CAN / $100US 
Weight: 472g / 16.6oz
Colours: Charcoal, North Sea Blue

Last but not least, the Vanir Brono Pants. Named after the Norse god of daylight, Helly Hansen promises that “this softshell pant will provide protection, versatility, and comfortable enjoyment from morning to night, however much daylight there is.”

These water repellent soft-shell pants offer durability and uninhibited range of motion. A stretchy polyester-elastane blend offers a dynamic fit, and articulated knees and a gusseted crotch pattern enhance freedom of movement.

• Durable, stretch softshell fabric
• Water repellant, Windproof, Breathable
• PFC-free DWR
• Dynamic Fit
• Articulated Knee
• Crotch Gusset
• Lower-leg shock-cord adjustments
• Thigh cargo pocket
• Zippered back pocket
• Sure Grip custom zipper pullers

There’s one thing you can be sure of when you buy Helly Hansen gear and that’s the you’re getting good quality gear for a reasonable price. This brand falls under the “tried, tested, and true” category and offers gear for all weather, in all seasons.

The Vanir Brono Pants are your classic adventure pants, they breath well and are resistant to wind and water. Stretchy and soft, yet durable enough to stand up to romping around in the brush or clambering around on rocks. If you like the fit (I did), and you don’t mind the assertive branding on the thigh, they would surely treat you well out in the field. 

Next up, the Lifa Active ½ Zip base layer. Upon removing the shirt from the box, I was surprised at how thin this garment is. This thinness enhances the versatility of the base-layer in terms of layering but does not take away from its use as a stand-alone top. I found it to be very comfortable and very warm. Although the semi-high neck isn’t really my jam, the zipper allows for some versatility in how it fits, as well as how much it will insulate/ventilate. They also slapped that Helly Hansen logo high on the neck so that it can’t be easily hidden should you attempt to not be a walking billboard. 

Last but not least, the Odin Stretch Hooded Insulator Jacket. While not mentioned on the official HH website, Odin is also a god from Norse mythology, though he is not subject to such single responsibility as ‘daylight’. Instead, he is associated with many qualities and, much like the jacket, is very versatile. 

I like the stretchy qualities of this jacket, but considering how much the stretch properties are talked up, I was expecting a bit more but it still does provide a more dynamic fit than a jacket without those stretchy properties. The use of Primaloft Gold Active+ as insulation was a good move; As far as synthetic insulation goes, this stuff is top tier. The jacket is great on its own, or can be comfortably worn under a shell if the weather changes. It also packs down to a reasonable size for when you want to stash it in your pack.

One purely subjective complaint with Helly Hansen is the use of the logo on their apparel. They tend to use really beautiful fabric colours but then they make the Helly Hansen logo neon and large so that it screams at you from across the room. Yes, we get it, it’s a Helly Hansen product.

All in all, these garments will treat you right and they won’t break the bank.