Helly Hansen’s outerwear has been a staple for outdoor enthusiasts for over 100 years, constantly staying at the forefront of the industry by developing new fabrics and pushing design and performance to their limits.  What you may not be as familiar with is Helly Hansen’s ever expanding lineup of lifestyle sportswear, but that’s all about to change.  The Spring/Summer 2015 sportswear collection from Helly Hansen brings an entirely new look to HH and further solidifies their position as a cutting edge lifestyle brand.

Helly Hansen has projected how it feels to be Scandanavian onto each and everyone of their pieces, combining years of experience and refinement with modern and fresh styling.  It’s without question my favorite sportswear collection this season, with each of the pieces not only great looking, but also both functional and comfortable.

Here’s a look at the latest collection and the pieces that I love, all of which are a must for your summer wardrobe.

First up, the  Naiad Dress, available in four colors with the evening blue stripe my personal favorite.  It features a low-sitting drawstring waste that flatters your figure without being tight or uncomfortable.  The drawstring waste also allows you to adjust the dress longer or shorter depending on where you are comfortable – at 5’7″ I never felt that the dress was to short or that I needed to take extra care when sitting as is common with so many short summer dresses.  The Naiad dress is a perfect addition to any summer wardrobe and at only $60 it is an extremely affordable one. Naiad Dress- $60

Helly Hansen Naiad Dress

The Helly Hansen Bliss Sweater pairs perfectly with shorts or leggings during the day and your favorite jeans at night.  The Bliss Sweater comes in two colors, and like the Naiad Dress, my affinity for stripes wins out with my choice color being the evening blue stripe.  The top is loosely designed for an exceptionally comfortable fit but drawn in at the bottom for a clean put together look that is flattering on any body shape.  This is a perfect example of Helly Hansen’s ability to combine stylish designs with functional fabrics and comfortable cuts.  Bliss Sweater- $50

Helly Hansen Bliss Sweater

If you’re going to add pants to your summer wardrobe, the Bliss Pants and the Thalia Capris are, in a word, amazing.  The Bliss Pants offer the comfort of your favorite sweatpants – reminiscent of the ones you stole from your boyfriend in college and never returned.  The difference is that the Bliss pants actually look as amazing as they feel.  The legs are tapered so you can dress them up a bit with a pair of heels, and the pockets (despite offering ample room) aren’t bulky, and they’re cut at an angle mimicking dress pants.  You’ll want to spend day and night in these pants, and the beauty is, you can.  Bliss Pant- $50

For really hot days, the Thalia Capri are the perfect pants, letting you go from shopping and lunch on the docks to an evening sail without wrinkles or discomfort common in traditional dress pants.  The Thalia Capris are lightweight and breathable, taking advantage of Helly Hansen’s quick dry fabric with 4-way stretch.  If you prefer pants over capris, you can choose the Thalia Pants which offer the same great design and fabrics.   Thalia Capri- $60

Helly Hansen Bliss Pant

No Summer collection would be complete without a bikini, and Helly Hansen designs great bikinis.  Choose from the Excite, Ignite or Inspire, but feel free to mix and match their collections to best fit your body type as the tops and bottoms are sold individually and come in matching color options. The most important thing when it comes to choosing a bikini is that it looks good, and with the wide variety of tops and bottoms, no matter what body type you are, there’s a perfect fit combination for you.  My choice – the Excite Bikini top and bottom – features a sport bandeau top with adjustable straps that can go from standard to racerback, while the tie backs on both the top and bottom ensure a custom and perfect fit. HH Bikini Tops and Bottoms- $50

Helly Hansen Excite Bikini

Check out the complete collection by heading to the Helly Hansen website and complete your Srping/Summer wardrobe by mixing and matching their designs.  For the men, don’t feel left out, as Helly Hansen has created an equally attractive collection for you as well.  Stay tuned as we’ll discuss our favorite pieces next week. In the meantime, you can check out the collection here.

My go-to winter gear is almost exclusively from Helly Hansen. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, the brand is based in Norway, the ideal location to perfect cold weather performance wear for nearly every winter sport. What may surprise you however, is how adept Helly Hansen is at creating equally as impressive warm weather gear that’s functional, stylish and most importantly, extremely comfortable for even the most grueling of workouts.

Helly Hansen 2015 Spring Summer Training Collection Aspire Jacket, Torena VTR, VTR Printed 7/8 Capri

Helly’s newest collection for Spring/Summer ’15 is no exception, as they’re again pushing the boundaries of style and performance with their amazing new prints and and fabrics that are perfectly suited for training as the mercury rises and swimsuit season approaches.

One of my favorite pieces from the collection is the HH VTR Printed 7/8 Capri, which will no doubt become my go to pant for the gym. I opted for the navy pattern, a light and airy cloud-like color with geometric design that is, in a word, ethereal. I love the pants so much, however, that by the end of the summer, I’ll likely add the rest of the colors to my collection as well.

Whichever color you choose, the construction of the pants are the same.  They’re cut slightly higher around the waist then your average athletic pant, which means you have no need to fear exposure as you go into downward dog or do a few sets of squats. The wider band at the waist also ensures that the waist does not dig in, creating an unflattering look – instead the band is distributed evenly for a flawless fit.  The combination of the cut and the fabric is real key to the pants success, as it allows complete freedom of movement without any uncomfortable seams or tights spots.  From yoga to running to weights, they’re so comfortable you forget the pants are there.

Helly Hansen VTR Printed Capri

If you’re training indoors or outside on a hot day, you won’t need to worry about swapping out your favorite pants for shorts either. The X-Cool quick dry fabric allows your body to breath, keeping you cooler as your body temperature rises. And, no matter how much you sweat, the pants dry very quickly, preventing any discomfort on longer workouts.  $70

Also worth noting – and this is perhaps the coolest thing I’ve ever seen from a clothing company – Helly is running a new contest using their running app that allows you to design your own VTR Printed 7/8 Capri. The app uses your running data to generate a unique pattern based on your route.  The more you run, the more intricate the design. It’s completely free to enter, and you can check it out on the Helly Hansen website.

Helly Hansen 2015 Spring Summer Training Collection Aspire Jacket, Torena VTR, VTR Printed 7/8 Capri

The second piece I’m excited for this Spring is the Aspire Jacket, an exceptionally lightweight running jacket for early morning runs or cooler days. The jacket is designed to repel the elements and keep you dry from the inside with its quick dry fabric. I was a bit skeptical at its abilities at first, as the jacket is very thin and very lightweight, but to my surprise it handled exactly as it was supposed to – it kept me warm at the beginning of my run by blocking the breeze but was lightweight enough that by the end of my run I was not overheating. The true test came during my cool down – the time when I seem to sweat the most – and the jacket stayed dry. So, despite the cool air, I didn’t get the chills.

Style wise, the jacket looks fantastic.  It has a drawcord waist that adjusts on both sides individually for a fitted look as well as a hood. The inside of the jacket is covered in a shiny metallic print for a very space age, modern feel, and it’s good-looking enough you’ll probably find yourself wearing it even when you’re not working out.  $100

Helly Hansen W Torena VTR trainers

Round the entire look off with the W Torena VTR trainers, and you’ll get a bright, super comfortable set of footwear that look great. The shoes, like the clothes, are the perfect combination of performance and style, with the design elements pulling double duty as functional elements as well. The near see-through mesh upper with contrasting banding keeps your feet cool and provides a support frame for the shoe. The pattered graphic heel provides added support to stabilize your feet and get you from squats to lunges and back without injury. And when you take them to the track, the overall lightweight body will keep you from feeling weighed down while the strategic cushioning will keep you comfortable. They’re a perfect go to shoe for nearly any gym activity, and they’re fun and bright at the same time.  $95

You can check out these and the rest of the Helly Hansen Spring/Summer ’14 collection at the official Helly Hansen website.

The sun is setting earlier and earlier each day and the mercury has all but bottomed out making this time of year one of the hardest to keep up your training.  There is never a better time to find what motivates you whether it’s a new pair of shoes, winter running gear or a new workout app.  For those of you that have emptied the coffers and are still in need of motivation or if you are motivated by competition, as I am, the Winter Duel app from Helly Hansen is for you.

The Winter Duel app is free to download and gives you a chance to compete against either your friends or strangers form around the world in a 5-week running competition.  If the app thinks you’re slacking or losing your battle, it will send you push notifications.  This isn’t about time so whether you’re fast or slow, put in the miles and you could be one of the lucky winners to win a paid trip to either Boulder Bolder or Beauty and the Beast with transportation, accommodation and entry to the event covered by Helly.

You can check it out here. www.hellyhansen.com/winterduel

Helly Hansen Winter Duel App

With this Thanksgiving feeling less like Turkey Day and more like Christmas, it’s time to stock up on kid’s gear.  And as with adults, the best way to keep your kids warm is through the magic of layering.  Helly Hansen, the Norwegian brand known in part for their performance winter gear, makes it easy.  They’ve not only designed a perfectly paired coat and snow pant system for the outside, they have a perfect base layering system for underneath, ensuring countless hours of outside fun no matter how much snow and cold may come.

Here’s a look at what I have for my kids, and the perfect place to start for anyone looking to outfit their kids in the best this winter season.

Helly Hansen Rider INS Jacket

For the last three years, my kids have been kept warm in the Helly Hansen Rider INS Jacket. It’s the perfect jacket for kids starting in late fall as it’s exceptionally breathable, and come winter time, the jacket simply excels at keeping your precious little ones’ warm in even the worst winters.  Making the magic happen, a combination of Primaloft Black Insulation and HELLY TECH PERFORMANCE fabric creating a non-puffy, low profile coat that offers incredible warmth and comfort.  The HELLY TECH PERFORMANCE fabric is designed with a layered construction to keep water from getting in while at the same time remaining breathable enough to let moisture out. Gone are the days where snow clothes become wet and heavy from playing in the snow, the Helly Rider INS Jacket stays dry no matter what.

Even better, the design of the jacket allows for full freedom of movement allowing for endless unobstructed play.  The jacket’s adjustable wrist cuffs make it easy to tighten the sleeves in order to better fit with mittens and give added protection from snow. For days that aren’t as cold or if your son loves to play tag and gets his hood grabbed, you can easily detach the hood with the snaps and reattach when needed. Also worth noting is that the hood is big enough to pull over a winter hat (check out the K Outline Beenie), but it’s not overly big to the point it hinders vision.  It’s another great level of protection when the snow and wind picks up.

Learn more about the Helly Hansen Rider INS Jacket at the official Helly Hansen online store.

Helly Hansen Rider INS Bib

Perfectly complimenting the Helly Hansen Rider INS Jacket is the Rider INS Bib, which simply put are the best protection from winter when it’s playtime in the snow. They’re waterproof, so even when playing in snow on a slightly warmer, slushier day, the Rider INS Bib will never get soaked. Like the jacket, providing warmth for your little one is the PrimaLoft Black Insulation, a synthetic product that acts similar to down but is exceptionally light, pliable and soft. In the event any moisture does get in, the PrimaLoft will not absorb water, adding another level of dryness protection.

The Riders INS Bib are designed with hard and heavy use in mind, with reinforced seat, knee and hems so your kids can go anywhere and do anything without fear of rips or tears. And because these pants can go anywhere, they’ve been designed to keep the snow out in any situation, with boot gaiters, high chest coverage, adjustable suspenders and elastic footbands just some of the ways your kids stay protected.  Like the jacket, I’ve had my kids in the Rider INS Bibs for the past several years, and absolutely love them – they’re easily the best snowpants I’ve found for my children.

Learn more about the Helly Hansen Rider INS Bib at the official Helly Hansen online store.

HH Warm Set 2

Underneath it all, what could be my favorite product from Helly Hansen and one that I buy my kids every year as a gift is the HH Warm base layer package. My kids wear them in the winter when going outside to play, and even wear them around the house as pajamas and weekend lounge wear. Technologically speaking, they use a combination of ultra soft merino wool and Helly Hansen’s extremely intelligent LIFA technology.  And the reason it’s intelligent is this – when worn alone, or when my kids activity level as low, the base layers act simply as insulation to warm the body.  But when my kids start playing outside and begin sweating, the base layers actually help to dry and warm the body, wicking away any moisture from their skin and transferring it to their outer layer.  If you’ve ever found yourself on a ski hill, you know the coldest time is on the ski lift, and the reason is because on the way down, you’ve worked up a sweat, which warms you,  but on the way up, the cold air then cools this sweat, and significantly lowers your temperature.  With the HH Warm Set 2, this doesn’t happen, as the perspiration is wicked away, and there’s no moisture left to cool you down.

Technology aside, my kids absolutely love their HH Warm sets, and in colder months is really their preferred clothing choice day and night. Helly Hansen offers both kids and juinors HH Warm sets with patterns fitting for the age group, making it the perfect stocking stuffer for both little kids playing in the snow to teenagers hitting the bigger slopes.

Learn more about the HH Warm Set 2 at the official Helly Hansen online store.

With colder temps blanketing much of the country, staying fit outside means you need to be sporting quality fall training gear to keep you both warm at the start and dry when your body heat rises.  And when it comes to regulating body temperature and keeping you dry, you can’t get better than Helly Hansen’s Fall 2014 training gear lineup.

I picked up numerous pieces of Helly’s training gear just before the cold weather hit, and I can say already that Helly Hansen is my new favorite gear for anything under 50 degrees.  Here’s some of my favorite Helly training gear for Fall and what I love about the pieces.

Helly Hansen Fall 2014 Training Gear

HH Warm Run LS

The HH Warm Run LS is a 1/2 zip top that’s perfect alone on cool training days or layered with the Challenger Training Jacket 2 for colder runs. Combining Merino Wool and Lifa technology, your core is kept warm while starting out. As you begin warming up, the Lifa technology transforms into a cooling system, drawing the sweat and excess heat away from your body to help you maintain a comfortable temperature and just as importantly, keeping you dry. Another standout feature of the HH Warm Run LS is the stretch jersey fabric around the elbows and shoulders – this allows full freedom of movement. Performance wise, I simply love it.

The HH Warm Run LS, like other Helly Hansen gear, is not just pure performance – it’s stylish as well. I have a longer torso and often find that women’s running tops are cut too short – leaving me to either constantly pull it down or run with a cold mid-drift. The HH Warm Run LS is cut long in the torso, preventing it from creeping up as I run and keeping my mid-section warm. It comes in either magenta, light blue or dark purple with contrasting accents for a pop of color. And, regardless of what color you choose, it is designed with 360 -degree reflectivity, ensuring that, despite the early sunset, you will be easily seen.

Helly Hansen Fall 2014 Training Gear

HH Challenger Jacket 2

For additional warmth protection during cold weather running, nothing beats the HH Challenger Jacket 2, a training jacket that’s equal parts performance and style. I can’t speak highly enough of this jacket and the way it handles inclement weather. My first time out wearing it, there was an icy cold rain and a tremendous wind that seemed to hit me head on no matter which way I turned. Thankfully, the Challenger Jacket 2 uses a windproof/waterproof front shield fabric that handled the wind and rain with ease. Even while stopped, the rain seemed to pool slightly and then run off instead of absorbing into the material. On the inside, the jacket ensures you stay dry by using a technology called H2Flow, a system that allows for venting from within the jacket that helps to regulate temperatures – it keeps you dry and warm, and when needed it helps you to cool down by letting the air circulate. When I took off the jacket after my workout, despite the rain from the outside and sweat from within, my jacket was almost completley dry.

Like the HH Warm Run LS, the design of the jacket is made specifically to allow freedom of movement as well. While the jacket has a slender silhouette to make you look great while running, the back of the jacket is made from exceptionally stretchy fabric that allows full range of motion without any pull. There’s ample pocket space for your phone, keys, etc. with seamlessly integrated zippers that add to the clean design. You can choose from a bright magenta color with yellow accents (the color in my personal collection) or ebony with blue and white accents (soon to be added to my collection). For safety, both colors use 360-degree reflectivity ensuring you are easily seen in low-light conditions. Overall, the jacket is lightweight and the materials are soft and pliable, it is not only an ideal training jacket but perfect for everyday wear when a light jacket is needed.

Helly Hansen Fall 2014 Training Gear

Charger Windblock Tights 2

As an alternative to looser fitting running pants, check out the Charger Windblock Tights 2. In cold weather, these pants truly shine, as unlike other running tights, they completely block the wind in the front and impressively block any water from getting through. Just like the Challenger Jacket 2, the tights repel water and stay perfectly dry even after prolonged running in the rain.  Don’t let the fact they’re windproof and waterproof make you think they’re uncomfortable, however, as the inside is lined and they’re actually quite soft and comfortable to wear. Adding to the comfort of the tights is the supportive yet stretchy fabric in the back (and unlike yoga pants, you can’t see through these pants from any angle no matter what position you put yourself in). When I first tried them on, I was a bit hesitant to run with them as they seemed on the tight side, and while I debated going up a size, was pleasantly surprised at their ability to bend at the knee without feeling stressed or bunching in the back. I also preferred the support they offered compared to my other looser fitting running pants that tend to rub on run over 10 miles.

The Charger Windblock Tights 2 come in black with magenta accents or black with blue accents, both featuring 360-degree reflectivity. There are zippers at your ankles for easy on/off and there is also a sweat proof pocket if you need to pack your phone or anything else electronic.

Bottom line, Helly Hansen is a brand that never disappoints when it comes to performance and style.  If you’re a cold weather runner, whether you’re a guy or girl, you’re simply not going to find a better mix of performance, comfort and style.  You can find all of Helly Hansen’s training gear on their official website or by clicking here.

Helly Hansen Fall 2014 Training Gear

The majority of the Midwest is about to experience a horrendously bitter cold front, with temps expected to drop to as low as -50 degrees windchill by Monday.  As one of the gear writers here at eMercedesBenz who’s also heading to Green Bay on Sunday to watch the Packers do battle with the San Francisco 49ers, it would be irresponsible of me not to take this opportunity to tell you exactly how to prepare for the impending arctic freeze, starting with your upper half.

HH Dry Base Layer

The first and most important rule is this:  always start out with a great base layer.  There’s a reason your parents put you in long underwear as a kid.  Thankfully, however, base layers have come a long way over the years, and there’s no greater example of base layer technology than that offered by Norwegian based Helly Hansen (and let’s face it – if anyone knows how to stay warm in freezing temps, it’s someone living in Norway).  While Helly Hansen offers multiple options for base layers, my two favorites are the HH Dry Revolution LS or the HH Warm Freeze 1/2 Zip.  Both excel at keeping your body heat in while wicking moisture away from your body; the HH Warm Freeze adds in a merino wool construction for extra warmth.  If temps get really cold (like the game I’m going to at Lambeau Field), I’d recommend layering them both together and going from there.  If temps are cold but not arctic, pick one and go from there (both are available for men and women).

Ice Breaker Fleece

Once you’ve got your base layer handled, the next step is picking a mid-layer, and I’d recommend going with a fleece.  I prefer to choose brands that rate their fleeces based on their weights, which helps eliminate having to guess how warm your fleece is going to be.  Again, I’m a big fan of  Helly Hansen’s midlayers, but another of my favorites is the Ice Breaker Legend Long Sleeve Zip that’s 100% merino wool.  Both brands’ midlayers are super warm and dry quickly, yet they’re still light weight and not at all bulky, leaving you with plenty of freedom to move.

Canada Goose Langford and Kensington Parka

Lastly, the final piece of gear you need up top is your outer layer.  In my case, I’m going to be sitting for hours in a stadium without partaking in any real outdoor activity.  If I was on an expedition that had the potential for varying weather conditions, I’d opt for a two-piece hard and soft shell outer layer that I could adjust as needed.  But when temps are arctic and are going to remain arctic, you want the warmest outer layer possible.  There are very few brands out there that truly offer arctic wear, but one of the brands that excels at doing so is Canada Goose.  Designed and made in Canada, Canada Goose field-tests their gear in the coldest places on earth.  Like the other layers we chose, Canada Goose uses a rating system called the Thermal Experience Index (rated from 1-5), that helps you choose a jacket based specifically on your activity level and the temperature at which you’ll be doing that activity.  TEI1 is meant for more active pursuits in milder temperatures while TEI5 is made for the harshest, coldest temps on earth.  And while Lambeau Field is going to be cold during Sunday’s game, it isn’t going to be South Pole cold, so a TEI5 jacket isn’t quite necessary – a TEI3 or TEI4 is more appropriate.  Canada Goose’s Langford and Kensington parkas (both from the Arctic Line) are  ideal choices, both for their warmth and their longer cut (which helps your mid section warmer.

That covers the upper half; now let’s look at your lower half.

This likely comes as little surprise, but the first rule (again) is selecting a great base layer, and I’d recommend starting off with one of Helly Hansen’s Base Layers.  In this instance, I’d go with the HH Warm Pants, as they’re the best lower base layer I’ve ever used.  Next, you can again opt for a pair of fleece pants as a midlayer, but I tend to opt for two layers for my lower half.  In my case, I opted for a pair of Tundra Down Pants from Canada Goose – pants that excel at preventing any wind from getting through while retaining all of your body heat.  Again, both options are available for men and women.

Finally, now that we’ve covered your main body parts, let’s focus on the body parts that are easy to overlook, yet still incredibly prone to frostbite: your fingers, toes and head.

Dakine, Sorel and Patagonia

For your fingers, the greatest gloves I’ve ever used come from the brand Dakine.  For the ultimate in warmth, I personally believe in mittens, which in my case means I’ll be wearing the Sahara Mitt, similarly available for men as the Ranger Mitt.  If you fancy gloves, the Dakine Kodiak Gloves for men and the Odyssey Glove for women are my two personal favorites.  Choosing the right boot is also important, and my go to brand for boots has always been Sorel.  While you can’t go wrong with most of their boots, for frigid temps, I recommend going with their Intrepid Boot for men or their Glam Explorer Boot.  Both styles are made specifically for the cold with a thick boot liner and heavy outsole to keep your feet up and off the ice.  And don’t forget the wool socks, with my personal recommendation being those from Smart Wool.  Lastly, to prevent my ears and face from freezing, you can’t get better than a balaclava.  Mine is the Patagonia Midweight Merino Balaclava – it’s comfortable on your skin without any poorly place stitch points – and it’s a must when temps get really cold.

After all of these pieces, there is one piece of clothing you absolutely cannot forget on game day – a little piece of green and gold in the form of a either nicely styled hat or an oversized cheesehead.  I’m going with the hat, but I’ll leave that one up to you.

Norwegian based Helly Hansen is a brand known to most for their extreme outdoor gear, clothing and outerwear, all of which is capable of holding up to the world’s harshest conditions.  But today, we wanted to take a moment to highlight not only Helly Hansen, but also their continued support of UK based charity Walking with the Wounded (WWTW).   WWTW is a fantastic charity that supports the re-training and re-education of physically and mentally wounded servicemen and women by funding training programs and education courses to help wounded service people find employment. Part of their fundraising includes staging extreme expeditions that also help to illustrate the exceptional courage and determination of injured soldiers.

Helly Hansen signed on with WWTW during its inaugural expedition to the North Pole in 2011 and again in 2012 when they outfitted the Walking with the Wounded 2012 Mount Everest summit attempt.  This year, Helly Hansen has announced their support for the latest Walking with the Wounded expedition, signing on as the official clothing partner for Walking With The Wounded Allied South Pole 2013 Challenge (which departs in November 2013).

The 2013 Walking with the Wounded expedition will include three teams of wounded servicemen from the United States, UK and Commonwealth (Australia and Canada), with each team racing against each other in an attempt to reach the Geographic South Pole in Antarctica.  Also taking part in the 208-mile race as part of the British team, officially called Team Glenfiddich, will be Prince Harry.

In order to keep the teams safe and comfortable during their multi-week trek through the coldest, windiest and driest place on earth, Helly Hansen will be supplying all members with a full range clothing and outerwear. The gear provided to the teams by Helly Hansen is some of the most technically advanced gear on earth, perfectly suited to the harsh environments the teams will be facing. The WWTW gear has been designed based on the knowledge Helly Hansen has gained through years of protecting and facilitating professionals who’ve made their living in extreme conditions as well as from their past experiences with Walking with the Wounded.

“We continue to be inspired and humbled by the sheer determination of these wounded servicemen,” said Erik Burbank, vice president of marketing at Helly Hansen. “The South Pole is undoubtedly one of the toughest places on earth to reach, and to attempt a challenge of this kind after experiencing such life-changing injuries is simply awe inspiring. Helly Hansen is thrilled to be able to supply equipment, gear and clothing that will help to provide each team member with the confidence they need to succeed with this quest.”

Included in the Walking with the Wounded kit are the following:

Verglas Expedition Down Parka and Down Trousers

Designed for Polar expeditions and extreme cold, the Verglas Expedition Down Parka is a key piece for keeping the servicemen warm in Antarctica. The jacket was developed with input from the WWTW expedition to the North Pole in 2011 and features a full box construction filled with European 700 fill power down for supreme insulation. The jacket is manufactured using a strong but light Pertex fabric, meaning that despite its large size it is incredibly lightweight. The design is protective and functional with extra length, a big hood, and large zips and buttons that can easily be operated when wearing mittens. The Verglas Expedition Parka is available in the latest Helly Hansen Collection. The Down Trousers are available on request.

Expedition Shell Jacket and Salopette Trouser

This windproof outerwear is made in a highly breathable and waterproof HellyTech fabric commonly used for skiing. The kit has been developed as a result of the 2011 North Pole expedition and is specifically designed for use in Polar regions. This jacket and pant provides extra protection against extreme wind and cold, and features over-sized zips and buttons for ease of operation when wearing gloves. In addition Helly Hansen has made personal modifications for several of the wounded servicemen in order to create solutions that are tailored to cater for their various injuries.

Expedition Mitten

To cater for individual requirements, Helly Hansen has developed a component system with a shell outer mitten featuring an option of two different inner mittens; one of boiled wool and one of Helly Hansen’s unique lightweight and quick-drying Helly Hansen Fiberpile. In addition a fleece glove is supplied for use when mittens have been removed to deal with tasks requring the use of the fingers, and to protect the bare skin from sticking to metal components. The outer shell mitten is constructed with goat leather palm for maximum grip and durability. It features an outside attachment point and a leach for added security.

Baselayers

Knowing that moisture management is key when dressing for an Antarctic expedition, Helly Hansen has utilized its extensive range of baselayers and LIFA technology. The teams will be wearing HH Dry, a lightweight 100% synthetic baselayer, to move sweat away from the skin which is important during high intensity skiing. As a second layer they are using HH Warm, a baselayer combining the LIFA fiber with Merino Wool, making it ideal for moving moisture whilst keeping warm.

Photos via: http://walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/

At first glance, the Helly Hansen ASK Duffel Coat matches the same impeccable design as other duffel coats. It looks great, it’s stylish, and it’s cut beautifully. But because it’s from Helly Hansen – one of the world’s greatest performance outerwear makers – the ASK Duffel differs significantly from other duffel coats, in that it combines a duffel style with world-class technology.  In short, it’s the perfect blend of style and performance.

What do we love about the Helly Hansen Ask Duffel Coat?  There’s a couple key things.  Unlike other similarly sized men’s dress coats that tend to be a tad bloated and overweight, the ASK duffel is lightweight and gives you great freedom of movement. Despite it’s light weight, however, the ASK Duffel Coat is incredibly warm and virtually windproof, yet it still allows your body to breath and maintain a steady temperature. These are all features we’ve come to expect from our outdoor performance gear, but with Helly, you’re getting bleeding edge outdoor performance in a style that’s as much at home in the city as it is in the country.

So how did Helly Hansen do it?  As is the case with much of their other performance gear, PrimaLoft is a key component in the ASK Duffel Coat.  For those of you unfamiliar with PrimaLoft, it’s been tested and proven to be warmer, drier and softer than any other synthetic insulation on the market.  Another element that makes PrimaLoft so great is that it’s also the most compressible insulation of it’s kind which is, in part, why you never feel restricted when wearing a Helly Hansen jacket. With the ASK Duffel Coat, you retain your full range of movement and don’t get the bulky, puffy look.

The Ask Duffel Coat also takes advantage of Helly Hansen’s two-way stretch Helly Tech waterproof fabric. I live in the city and don’t have room to carry an umbrella with me everywhere I go, nor do I have the patience to dry it off and fold it up everytime I go into a building. The Helly Tech Protection in the ASK Duffel Coat keeps everything that is covered completely dry. The same Helly Tech Protection also protects against the wind, keeping cool air and chills out. By keeping the wind at bay, the Ask Duffel Coat adds an additional level of protection, ensuring warmth in nearly any weather condition.

Design wise, Helly’s ASK Duffel Coat has a more structured design, with clean lines for a dressier and slightly more formal look. It offers two weaterproofed zipper pockets that integrate seamlessly into the front of the coat – perfect for cell phones or your wallet. In addition, the ASK Duffel notes two deep hooded pockets with ample room to hold nearly anything you could conceivably want to put in your pockets and two additional hidden pockets perfect for keeping your hands warm and dry.  Additional styling elements added to the ASK Duffel are the trademark toggle buttons, a reflective detail on the front of the collar and the ASK emblem and Helly Hansen logo on the arm.

Overall, there is little in the city that the ASK Duffel jacket can’t handle. It’s built to handle pretty much any weather the city can throw at it.  Whether it’s the cool fall weather, the cold winds and snow in winter or the unending rain in the spring, all are easily handled by the ASK Duffel. Assuming I didn’t have such an affinity for collecting new coats, it could easily be the only city jacket I needed this winter.

You can see more of the Helly Hansen ASK Duffel Coat in the photo gallery below, or head over to the official Helly Hansen website for ordering info.

Welcome to 2013!  We’ve swapped out our 2012 calendars for our 2013 ones and we are ready to move forward and start a new year.  But, before we do that, we wanted to take one last look at what 2012 had to offer.  We’ve compiled a list of some of the top stories of the year and posted them below with links to the complete articles and photo galleries for your enjoyment.

Happy New Year!

2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake Official Release: With the new CLS Shooting Brake, Mercedes-Benz is once again setting an example when it comes to creativity of design, and as such highlighting its leading role in this area: in terms of its proportions, the new CLS is quite clearly a coupé, but with five doors and a roof which continues through to the rear, it promises some remarkable new possibilities. The idea of the four-door coupé – successfully introduced in 2004 with the first CLS and long imitated in the meantime – has now been taken to new heights and to innovative effect. The result is automotive independence at its most beautiful. Click Here.

Vorsteiner Mercedes CLS63 AMG Photos Revealed: Vorsteiner’s Mercedes CLS63 AMG will feature an all-new lightweight pre-preg carbon fiber aero package coupled with forged wheels and a cat back exhaust system. In the photos you can see the new front apron, redesigned side skirts, modified rear diffuser and the boot lid spoiler. All these parts feature all-new lightweight pre-preg carbon fiber. Click Here.

FAB Design Mercedes SLS Gullstream: Quite possibly the most radically built Mercedes SLS  to date, FAB Design’s widebody SLS tuning program, dubbed the Gullstream, remains at the top of our list. Originally revealed more than a year ago, I recently saw one of these beauties while on a family vacation at our hotel and had to give you a second look. Even better looking in person, the FAB Design SLS Gullstream is a widebody kit that features an all new front bumper, fenders, side skirts, rear quarter panels, rear bumper and rear diffuser. A lip spoiler made of carbon fiber is probably the most subtle of all the upgrades while the roof receives a non-functional air scoop. Click Here.

Helly Hansen Flow Down Parka: At the heart of the Flow Down Parka is… you guessed it… down.  Down, as you probably already know, is easily one of warmest, most insulating materials on the face of the earth.  But the problem with most down outerwear is that it’s overly bulky.  Down is stitched inside baffles, and the result is an overly puffy coat that makes you look the Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters – not exactly an endearing style trait.  Click Here.

Mercedes-Benz S600 Becomes a Luxurious Guardian by Topcar: Whether you’re a Russian businessmen or an unloved policy-maker, chances are you are not cruising the streets in a standard S-Class.  Instead you’re likely opting for something with a little, no a lot, more protection that still offers all the luxuries you’re used to.  According to Topcar, secrecy is one of the relevant aspects of security, which is why, externally armored vehicles look like everyone else’s run-of-the-mill luxury car. Click Here.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class Gets the Gold Treatment from Dartz iTempter: We were first introduced to the Latvian car manufacturer when they unveiled their Prombron, one of the most unique armored cars in the world.  For those of you unfamiliar with Dartz, they are a Latvian-based corporation, that designs, manufactures, and sells high performance armored vehicles. Today, they have unveiled their iTempter, based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.  The Dartz iTempter G-Class comes complete with upgraded wood and leather, iPads and gold accents.  A lot of gold accents. Click Here.

Brabus Unveils Their Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake: The new Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake has arrived, and like the first CLS that created a market for four-door coupes, the new five-door model redefines the sporty-elegant wagon. Taking the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake to the next level is a sophisticated refinement program is now available from BRABUS. The extensive product lineup starts with sporty-elegant aerodynamic-enhancement components for all Shooting Brake models with or without AMG sport package, and features custom-tailored BRABUS wheels with diameters of up to 20 inches. Also part of the BRABUS portfolio are exclusive interior options and engine tuning that delivers up to 455 kW / 619 hp (610 bhp) of power, 1,000 Nm (737 lb-ft) of torque and a top speed of 320 km/h (200 mph). Click Here.

Mercedes-Benz CLS Utility Coupe Rendered: What if there was a luxury ute segment. Imagine for a minute what looks like an El Camino but with shiny new paint, aluminum loading rails with a wooden load compartment floor all while being surrounded by alcantara leather and wood trim. Well, here’s what that would look like if the Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupe became a ute! Click Here.

Brooklyn Decker in GQ and Sports Illustrated: Brooklyn Decker was born April 12, 1987.  She’s a model, part-time actress, and an avid Tar Heels fan.  She’s worked for Victoria’s Secret, she’s been featured numerous years in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (including gracing the cover in 2010), and she’s made appearances on several television shows (such as NBC’s Chuck and USA Network’s Royal Pains).  And she’s married to Andy Roddick, who we hear plays tennis or something. Click Here.

GAD Tuned CLS63 AMG: The Mercedes CLS63 AMG is one of the most popular cars for tuners – the main reason its 5.5 liter bi-turbo V8 engine that can be tuned to output massive power as well as its exterior beauty.  In the recent past, we’ve seen CLS63 AMG by Kicherer, Vorsteiner,  SR Auto Group, Vitt, Mansory and Waldto name a few. The latest tuner to jump on the CLS63 AMG bandwagon is GAD with their 803hp monster. Click Here.

Official 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class World Premiere: The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been officially unveiled and we have nearly 70 photos covering all angles of the interior and exterior of both the E-Class Sedan and Wagon along with engine and technical information.  If you can barely contain your excitement, skip straight to the photo gallery below or head directly to the quick reference guide by CLICKING HERE.  Otherwise, continue on for an in-depth look at the all new 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Click Here.

Pope Benedict XVI Takes Delivery of New Popemobile: Daimler announced today that it has delivered Pope Benedict XVI his new popemobile.  The Pope’s new custom ride is a one-of-a-kind Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV with quite a few special security features.  Daimler said the new car was delivered Friday to the Vatican and people should be able to see the pope riding in it Saturday in Rome during a celebration at the Spanish Steps Click Here.

Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series by TIKT: TIKT, a German tuner and performance-parts specialist, has reworked the already exceptionally powerful Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series Coupe, transforming it into the Black Barron for the 2012 Essen Motor Show. Over the years the company has made a name for itself as a top tuner with its spectacular and technically expert individual conversions based solely on the top range Corvette (including diverse lap records with the TIKT Corvette ZR 1 Triple X). Click Here.

Helly Hansen H2 Flow Jacket: In everyone’s life, there’s a moment when you try something and you think to yourself, “This is brilliant… why didn’t I think of it?”  In the world of outerwear, Helly Hansen has just launched a product that falls precisely into the aforementioned category , solving the dilemma of how to precisely blend optimal amounts of heating and cooling. Click Here.

Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Photo Gallery: The last time we took a look at the Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe, it was drifting the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca. Today, we have photos of the AMG Coupe touring the streets of Germany from Germany’s finest photogs at Wötzel Photography.  Head to the gallery and click through to enlarge the photos to view the Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe in all its glory. Click Here.

Mercedes-Benz Super Bowl Ad: The total cost to debut the new models:  roughly $6 million, thanks to the Super Bowl’s impressive ad rate of $3 million per 30 seconds.  And while we could wait two days and simply watch to see the models make their $6 million Super Bowl debut, the truth is, I hate waiting, so I’ll do you one better.  I’ll give you a sneak peak of the models making their debut, not Sunday, but right now Click Here.

As a parent, it goes without saying that keeping my kids protected is one of my top priorities. And right now, with winter finally hitting here in the Midwest (complete with a good share of freezing cold temps and a dumping of snow), that means keeping them protected from the elements.

With that said, buying a children’s winter jacket is not an easy task. As the proud owner of his first snowboard, my son is at an age where he’s can’t get outside enough to enjoy it. And anything my son does my daughter has to do, so she’s outside constantly as well chasing him and trying to steal his ride. Together, they’re outside far more than I ever anticipated them being, and plain winter coats just weren’t cutting it. They both owned multiple normal winter coats, but they all were doing a terrible job keeping my kids warm and keeping the winter elements out.

That’s when I decided to check into my favorite performance winter gear brand – Helly Hansen – to see what they offered for kids. Thankfully, not only do they offer kids gear, they offer kids gear that has all the features that made me fall in love with Helly’s larger adult versions. This means your kids are protected with a combination of Helly Tech PERFORMANCE fabric (that’s waterproof, breathable and windproof) as well as PrimaLoft’s Warmcore insulation, which together form the most advanced cold weather protection on the planet.

Helly Hansen K Riders INS Jacket ($130)

In picking jackets for my kids, I went with the Helly Hansen K Riders INS Jacket for both (green for my son, purple for my daughter). It’s a fantastic coat, and it features all the technology you’ll find in Helly’s adult gear.

Construction wise, the K Riders INS Jacket notes an insulated 2-layer construction with Helly Tech PERFORMANCE fabric and PrimaLoft’s Warmcore insulation. As an owner of multiple coats noting the same construction, I know firsthand that Helly Hansen coats excel at keeping you warm irregardless of conditions, but also allow excessive body heat to escape, meaning you don’t have to worry about overheating. For kids, it’s exactly the construction you want.

From there, Helly added a powder skirt, preventing snow from getting up under the jacket during falls or snow dives; fully sealed seams to keep water out; and adjustable cuffs with reflective elements that fit easily over gloves, then tighten to prevent snow from getting in. The smallest jacket available is a size 1 for the smallest of snow lovers, while the highest size is a size 16 for juniors that aren’t quite ready for adult sizes.

Here’s the full list of Helly Hansen’s K Riders INS Jacket features:

• Helly Tech® PERFORMANCE
• Waterproof and breathable fabric
• Insulated 2-layer construction
• Articulated arms and elbows
• Powder skirt
• Warmcore by PrimaLoft®
• Fully seam sealed
• Detachable, adjustable hood
• Reflective elements
• YKK zippers
• Internal pockets
• Multiple exterior pockets
• Adjustable cuffs

You can learn more about the Helly Hansen K Riders INS Jacket or pick up your own at the official Helly Hansen website.

Helly Hansen HH Warm Kid Set ($70)

Underneath their K Riders INS Jackets I decided to add another level of protection from the cold, employing Helly Hansen’s layering system in the form of the HH Warm Sets for kids. Again, Helly uses the same great fabrics and technology used in the adult HH Warm Sets – a combination of Merino Wool combined with LIFA Stay Dry Technology. It’s so great, in fact, it’s the same combination used by the U.S. ski team. It works by insulating the body and keeping you warm, but as activity increases and sweat is produced, it then wicks moisture away from your body, ensuring you stay dry irregardless of activity level. For kids with nonstop energy, it’s a must.

Sizing starts at a size 2, fitting my very large 18 month old girl perfectly, and it goes all the way up to a juniors size 14, ensuring kids of all sizes can take advantage of the HH Warm Sets. My kids love them, they’re super simple to wash and keep clean, and most importantly, I know my kids have the ultimate in cold weather protection.

You can learn more about Helly Hansen’s HH Warm Kid Set or pick up your own at the official Helly Hansen website.

With temperatures dropping and the sun beginning to set a little earlier than the day before, we have no choice but to accept that winter is on its way (and will be here very, very soon).

If you live near the mountains, that’s welcome news.  You’re no doubt anxiously awaiting that beautiful first dusting of snow, so you can get out and hit the slopes for yet another round of winter sports.  For those of us in the city, however, winter is a somewhat less joyous time…  a time that typically means running from building to car; ducking inside stores on longer excursions to warm up; and constantly being bombarded by strong, bitter winds that somehow manage to make their way through whatever it is we’re wearing.

But despite the challenges that living in a city during winter presents, there is hope.  Helly Hansen – the brand that’s been creating the most rugged, high performance outerwear for the past 130 years – recently unveiled their 2012-13 fall/winter collection, and included is the Flow Down Parka.  It’s a gorgeous piece of outerwear that not only features a style that’s perfectly at home in the city, but also one that boasts the warmth and protection we’ve come to know and love from the best of Helly Hansen’s mountain-ready ski jackets.

At the heart of the Flow Down Parka is… you guessed it… down.  Down, as you probably already know, is easily one of warmest, most insulating materials on the face of the earth.  But the problem with most down outerwear is that it’s overly bulky.  Down is stitched inside baffles, and the result is an overly puffy coat that makes you look the Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters – not exactly an endearing style trait.

The Flow Down Parka is different, however, because the down is stitched into pods, not baffles.  As a result, you get all the benefits of 700+ fillpower European goose down, but without the huge amount of added bulk typically associated with it.  In addition, the spaces in between down the pods create channels throughout the interior of the coat, allowing the heat generated by your body to exit the parka while still maintaining the parka’s overall warmth.  So while the Flow Down Parka keeps you warm in the most frigid of conditions, its temperature management always keeps the parka’s internal temperature at a comfortable level.

From there, the Helly Flow Down Parka notes a huge assortment of features that you’ll absolutely love in a winter coat.  Four enormous front pockets that fit seamlessly into the Flow Down Parka’s design are perfect for keys, your wallet, your cell phone,  and any added extras you need to carry.  The faux fur hood – one of my favorite design elements – adds a superb layer of protection in the harshest environments.  Best of all, the hood features a velcro adjustment on the back, so when you’re walking through the city and want the warmth of the hood with full visibility, you can adjust the hood so that it remains farther back on your head.  On frigid days with blisteringly cold winds, loosen the velcro, and the hood is big enough to completely envelop you and keep your head warm and toasty.  And lastly, I love the exterior material of the Flow Down Parka.  It stretches, so it’s not restricting and it’s comfortable to wear even when being active; but it still manages to excel at keeping moisture and cold air out – a must from any winter coat.

Put it all together, and the Helly Hansen Flow Down Parka is an exceptionally awesome choice for anyone seeking the perfect marriage of style and warmth in a single piece of outerwear.

To learn more about the Helly Hansen Flow Down Parka or to pick up your own, head over to the official Helly Hansen website.  Pricing for the Flow Down Parka is $650 in either men’s or women’s variants, and it’s available in either black or espresso flavors.

You can also check out the photo gallery below to see the Helly Hansen Flow Down Parka in action.

In everyone’s life, there’s a moment when you try something and you think to yourself, “This is brilliant… why didn’t I think of it?”  In the world of outerwear, Helly Hansen has just launched a product that falls precisely into the aforementioned category , solving the dilemma of how to precisely blend optimal amounts of heating and cooling.

As anyone fond of the outdoors will tell you, it’s the age-old problem:  finding a mid-layer or outer layer that not only keeps you warm, but also finding one that regulates your temperature as your core temperatures heat up.  If you’ve ever taken a long hike, especially one with a pack, you’re likely already familiar with the need for temperature regulation.  You wear layers for their heat and protection from the elements, but as time goes on, your body temperature rises and you start to overheat.  This results in either an abundance of sweat or the need to shed layers, both of which are less than ideal

Enter the Helly Hansen H2 Flow Jacket.  Thanks to Helly’s revolutionary Hollow Heat Flow technology, the H2 Flow is not only incredibly effective at warming you as a mid-layer, it also provides an absolutely amazing amount of venting and cooling where you need it, when you need it.

Making the magic happen are two key elements:  adjustable venting on the jacket, and 200g of insulation that utilize both positive and negative spaces.  Together, they form the basis for a tremendous level of user controlled temperature regulation throughout the day.

So let’s say, for example, that your hike begins on a cool fall morning.  You begin your hike with a base layer and the H2 Flow Jacket, with all venting closed.  As a result, you’re warm and comfortable.  But as you pile the miles pile on, your body temperature rises, as does the outside temperature.  Normally, you’d be forced to shed your mid layer, but with the H2 Flow, you have the ability to open the vertical vents and let the outside air flow in.  Once the air is inside the jacket, the insulation’s negative spaces allow it to flow around your body, lowering interior temperatures and aiding in sweat evaporation.

Helly calls it a micro-climate system technology, and if it sounds ingenious, it is.  You can adjust temperatures to match a huge array of activities, from casual to intense, and you can do it all in a single mid-layer.

From there, Helly Hansen took the H2 Flow a step further and incorporated all the features that make their other outwear so incredible.  There’s the breathable, ripstop fabric that’s not only remarkably impervious to abuse, but it also excels at repelling moisture while maintaining breathability.  There’s the sleek styling that makes the H2 Flow at home on the street as much as it is in the outdoors.  And there’s the fact the H2 Flow Jacket is constructed from Blue Sign approved fabrics, ensuring that it’s made in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

It’s a lot to fit into one coat, but Helly Hansen has proven once again why they’re the leader in outdoor gear for the most demanding of uses.

The H2 Flow Jacket is part of Helly Hansen’s Fall/Winter Collection and is available for both men and women for $180.

With all the hype surrounding this new jacket by Helly Hansen, I decided there was no better way to break it in than by putting it to a little test.  Two days after I picked mine up, my wife and I headed to the Eightmile Lake Trail – me with with my new H2 Flow Jacket and her with a standard fleece.

About 4 miles in and just over 5,000 ft, we had both worked up a sweat, meaning it was the perfect time to see how the H2 Flow Jacket’s venting would perform. While my wife packed her fleece into her pack (which later turned out to be a mistake when she got scratched up by quite a bit of brush), I simply opened the H2 Flow venting and kept on going.  Within a few minutes, I had stopped sweating and had cooled down to a comfortable temperature.  It wasn’t the shocking cold you get when you take your jacket off completely.  Instead, I was entirely comfortable – no chills, no wind gusts whipping through the coat – just a comfortable temperature.

Another mile and a half and we arrived at Caroline Lake and the H2 Flow Jacket had done its job.  I removed my pack, zipped the vents back up and sat down to enjoy the view. My wife on the other hand was getting bite after bite from the lake mosquitos.  She grabbed her fleece out of her pack, only to find it was still damp from the first four miles of sweat.  The result was an uncomfortable lunch at the lake, to say the least.  Being the sensational husband I am, I bestowed her with the H2 Flow Jacket on the way down. Thankfully, Helly makes a women’s version of the H2 Flow, or I would have just lost my new favorite mid-layer.

Needless to say, the Helly Hansen H2 Flow Jacket lives up to the hype. As a mid-layer or outer-layer, it is a brilliant design that gets the job done.  It’s warm, it’s cool, and it’s everything in between.

You can learn more about the Helly Hansen H2 Flow Jacket at the official Helly Hansen website.

When it comes to being active outdoors, I’m a firm believer in buying quality gear.  Quality gear is one of the most important factors in deciding whether or not you enjoy your time outdoors, as nine out of ten times, you need a level of protection from the elements you’re up against.  In the winter, it’s staying warm and keeping moisture away from you body.  In the spring and fall, it’s protection from rain and alternating cold and warm temps.  And in the summer, it’s staying cool in the heat while staying protected from the sun.

One of the main brands I consistently come back to time and time again in virtually any season is Helly Hansen.  I was introduced to their gear a couple years ago when I bought a Helly sailing jacket, and since then, I’ve been completely and utterly enamored with the brand.  It simply performs at an incredibly high level, and every piece of Helly gear I own does exactly what it says it will do.

On a recent trip to Vail and Beaver Creek, I discovered exactly how capable Helly Hansen’s gear was when I found that it’s worn by the entire outdoor staff at each of Vail Resorts locations.  After talking with my instructor, it turns out that Helly is now the official provider of outwear for Vail Resorts.  Ski/snowboard instructors, lift operators, the search and rescue teams – everyone’s outfitted with Helly gear.  Intrigued, I contacted Helly for more info regarding the Vail Resorts uniform program, and they forwarded me a lengthy look at the Helly Hansen brand as well as their uniform partnership with Vail Resorts.

As a huge Helly Hansen fan, I wanted to share it with you, as I’m always intrigued by the inner workings of a performance-driven company.  Read on, and I think you’ll find it quite interesting as well.

Helly Hansen History

Helly Hansen’s roots date back to 1877, when a Norwegian captain by the name of Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Maren Margarethe began producing oilskin jackets, trousers, sou’westers and tarpaulins made from coarse linen soaked in linseed oil for the marine industry.  It was a concept met with tremendous success, as over the next five years, the pair sold approximately 10,000 pieces, thus laying the foundation for Helly Hansen as we know it.

Since then, Helly Hansen has focused on developing innovative solutions to meet the most demanding of applications, centered around the company’s unique 3-Layer system.  In 1949, Helly Hansen introduced the Helox, a thin sheet of translucent PVC plastic sewn into waterproof coats that replaced the oilbased outerwear of the time.  Twelve years later, the company introduced the original fleece – the fiberpile – that’s warm, lightweight and fast-drying, making it ideal for wearing under the outer protective layer.  Then in the 1970’s, Helly Hansen introduced LIFA – a revolutionary fiber that keeps the skin dry and warm by pushing moisture away from the body, thus making it the ideal baselayer fabric for outdoor and workwear use.  And in 1980, Helly Tech technology was launched, making use of both hydrophilic and microporous technology to ensure Helly Hansen gear is both waterproof and breathable.

Combining these developments into a single system, Helly Hansen has mastered the art of layering, and they’ve created a variety of outerwear in both 2-Layer and 3-Layer Systems.  The base layer takes moisture and wicks it away from your body.  The second layer absorbs the moisture, keeping it away from you body and providing added warmth.  And for colder and/or wet conditions, the third outer layer keeps moisture and wind out, protecting you from even the worst elements.  The goal is to keep you dry, warm and comfortable, regardless of the conditions around you and your activity level, and it works exceptionally well – and that’s precisely why it’s worn by sailors, skiers and adventurers the world over.

Helly Hansen Uniform Program

Expanding on their lineage of providing gear for those that depend on it day-in and day-out, Helly Hansen made the decision in 2006 to start providing uniforms for the resorts of the Canadian Rockies.  In doing so, Helly had the opportunity to put their gear to the ultimate real world test, receiving direct feedback about their product from those that wore it in varied, harsh conditions.  There’s simply no lab or computer testing that can come anywhere close to duplicating the rigors of testing in the real world.  As Helly told me, a year on the mountain with the pros is like a lifetime of use for most people.

Today, Helly Hansen has become one of (if not the largest) provider of outdoor workwear.  In total, Helly’s shipped over 100,000 uniforms worldwide to meet the most demanding of applications, with Helly’s latest partnership –Vail Resorts – receiving approximately 55,000 uniforms.  It’s this decision to get as much of their gear as possible in real world testing environments that directly translates into the greatness of the Helly Hansen products you and I wear.  Everything from coloring to fit to insulation to fabric technology has been thoroughly tested and analyzed in an incredibly varied number of situations, allowing Helly to fine tune virtually every aspect of their products and ensuring that each piece of gear performs at the level promised.

During my time in Vail, I used Helly Hansen’s three layer system exclusively, and I can tell you first hand I’ve never used a more versatile, comfortable system in my life.  Irregardless of the varying temps and my activity level, the Helly system does an incredible job keeping moisture away from your body while keeping wind and colder temps out.  It’s simply the best outerwear system I’ve found, period.

Helly Hansen Technology

As already noted, a huge benefit of real world testing for Helly Hansen is that it encourages the use of the latest technology in each of the garments.  Two of the ways Helly has implemented technology into their outerwear is with PrimaLoft insulation and the RECCO Rescue System.

If you’re unfamiliar with PrimaLoft, it’s a synthetic insulation developed by Albany International Corp. that was designed as a water resistant alternative to down.  Originally created for the U.S. Army, PrimaLoft insulation is warmer, drier, softer and more compressible than other synthetic insulation on the planet, which is why it’s now become the premier insulation used by the Army, Marines and Special Forces.  It’s also the exclusive insulation used in Helly Hansen’s complete product lineup.

The secret to PrimaLoft’s greatness lies in its construction.  Modeled after goose down, PrimaLoft insulation utilizes ultra-fine fibers to create tiny air pockets, trapping body heat inside while keeping the cold out (as is the case with down).  Unlike down, however, PrimaLoft insulation’s microfibers are designed to be permanently water resistant, constructed to create a tight surface tension that both resists moisture and dries faster than down once wet.

Despite it’s water resistance, PrimaLoft is still exceptionally breathable, allowing moisture to be transmitted away from your skin.  And what may be one of its greatest attributes, PrimaLoft is exceptionally compressible without any loss of performance, meaning you can compress it as much as you want, and it will maintain the same resiliency as if it were new.  It is, without question, the best synthetic insulation on the market.

The second technology utilized by Helly Hansen is the RECCO Rescue System, a vital piece of technology for anyone that ventures out in an area prone to avalanches.  Similar to a radar system, RECCO works in two parts.  After an avalanche, the search and rescue team uses RECCO detectors to send out a search signal.  RECCO reflectors built into your Helly gear then bounce back the signal to rescuers, giving rescuers your precise location.  You don’t need any training to use it, it doesn’t require batteries, and it’s permanently attached, so you never have to worry about leaving it at home.  And it’s just another way Helly Hansen’s incorporating great technology into the gear they’re bringing you.

Helly Hansen Conclusion

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:  I love Helly Hansen.  It’s a brand that takes tremendous pride in their heritage and what they do, and the result is performance outdoor gear that really has no rival.  I’ve worn Helly gear on mountains, in the backcountry, and in -20 degree temps, and it’s performed flawlessly each and every time.  No matter what season it is, if you’re looking for some of the best performance outdoor gear on the planet, you’ll find it with Helly Hansen.

Update:

Helly Hansen’s Odin Fastpack Jacket has been awarded the very prestigious Norwegian Award for Design Excellence by the Norwegian Design Council.  As with all Helly Hansen gear, the Odin Fastpack Jacket is the ideal combination of purposeful design, protection, and style. The jacket weighs in at a mere 242 grams, but it’s built so that you can wear it in inclement weather with the same confidence you would as if you were wearing a bulkier option. The Odin Fastpack features Helly Tech Performance protection, water-resistant Aquaguard zippers and a helmet-compatible hood. You can pick one up at the Helly Hansen website.

Staying warm in the winter is an often misunderstood science.  Let me rephrase that:  staying warm in the winter while being active is an often misunderstood science.

Whereas going out for a quick trip in the cold is simply a case of throwing on a warm coat, spending an extended period of time in the cold with fluctuating body temperatures is significantly more complicated.  Skiing/snowboarding is a great example.  Starting out the day, your body is cold, so you need something to keep your body warm.  But as you begin engaging your body, it heats up from the activity, causing you to sweat.  As you sweat, this moisture accumulates on the clothing layer closest to your body, and when you stop engaging your body (such as your trip back up the mountain), this soaked layer is the first to cool.  It’s this layer that is single biggest cause of uncomfortably cold body temperatures during your time outdoors.

Putting it bluntly, it doesn’t matter how much you spend on your outerwear, if you don’t have the right baselayers, you’re not going to be warm.  It’s as simple as that.

I just got back from a weeklong skiing/snowboarding excursion in Vail, and it’s a truth I became intimately familiar with, as I had the opportunity to test several baselayers that are part of my winter gear collection.  With temperatures fluctuating about 30 degrees during my stay, ranging from cold and windy to relatively warm and sunny, I found that it was exceptionally difficult to find a baselayer capable of managing the expanded temperature range.  They either didn’t warm adequately, or when they did warm, they ended up saturated with sweat, resulting in not only an uncomfortable baselayer, bus also one that cooled significantly during any downtime.

There was one base layer, however, that managed to withstand the temperature swings and fluctuating body temps, and unsurprisingly, it came from the brand that pioneered the concept of layering:  Helly Hansen.  Not only did the Helly Hansen baselayer manage to keep me warm in every temperature I used it in, it excelled at maintaining a consistent temperature throughout the day, irregardless of my activity level.

Helly Hansen Baselayer Construction

The secret to the brilliance of the Helly Hansen baselayer range lies in the fabric it’s constructed from, which Helly Hansen calls Lifa.  Invented by Helly Hansen in the ’70’s, Lifa is a technological marvel – a super fabric developed to not only keep you warm, but also to wick away moisture from your body better than anything else.

Without getting overly technical, Helly’s Lifa baselayers operate under a simple premise:  they repel moisture.  Whereas polyester (one of the most commonly used baselayer materials) absorbs moisture, thus becoming saturated during activity and keeping moisture in contact with your skin, Lifa was created to do exactly the opposite:  it repels moisture away from your skin.  So as you sweat, Helly’s Lifa baselayer is constantly channeling moisture away from your body and onto your mid layer.  Your skin stays dry, which translates into warmer body temperatures, whether you’re active or not.

It’s Lifa’s moisture wicking properties that make the baselayer the first of Helly Hansen’s unique 3-Layer system.  The Lifa baselayer wicks moisture away from your body; the midlayer absorbs the moisture from the baselayer, keeping it safely away from you skin; and the third outer layer protects you from the wind and elements.  The result is continuously stable, warm body temperature, irregardless of conditions or activity level.

Helly Hansen Baselayer Families

During my time in Vail, temps ranged from the 20’s to the 50’s, so I used baselayer pieces exclusively from the HH Dry family.  Constructed entirely from their Lifa fabric and virtually seamless, Helly’s HH Dry family is ideal for a wide range of temperatures and heightened activity levels, due to the aforementioned moisture wicking properties.  Available HH Dry baselayer pieces include the HH Dry Stripe Crew (men’s), the HH Dry Charger Half Zip (men’s), the HH Dry Dynamic LS Crew (women’s), the HH Dry Dynamic LS 1/2 Zip (women’s) and the HH Dry Fly Pant (men’s and women’s).

For even colder temperatures and added insulation, Helly Hansen also offers the HH Warm baselayer family.  Whereas HH Dry is constructed entirely of Lifa fabric, HH Warm is essentially two layers in one, with a Lifa core to maintain exceptional moisture wicking ability and an outer Merino wool layer to provide added insulation in sub zero conditions.  Available HH Warm baselayer pieces include the HH Warm Ice Crew (men’s and women’s), the HH Warm Freeze 1/2 Zip (men’s and women’s) and the HH Warm Pant (men’s and women’s).

Helly Hansen Baselayer Care

One of the things I love most about Helly Hansen baselayers is how exceptionally easy it is to take care of them.  Simply wash your baselayers with a mild detergent at 60 degrees Celsius for HH Dry or 40 degrees Celsius for HH Warm, then let air dry.  Due to their moisture repelling properties, they dry exceptionally fast.

Interestingly enough, the Helly Hansen care guide notes that if you dry your baselayers, they’ll actually melt.  Intrigued, I emailed Helly Hansen’s customer service to find out why my baselayer would melt, and their response was quite interesting.  Unlike conventional thread that’s woven from even smaller strands, Helly’s Lifa fabric is unique in that its thread is created by melting particles together.  When magnified, Lifa’s thread would show a smooth surface, whereas other threads are simply multiple smaller threads joined together with millions of crevices and gaps.

Helly’s process of creating thread through melting has two key advantages.  Unlike woven threads that allow bacteria to enter and hide in its various crevices, Lifa thread’s smooth surface doesn’t have the same places for bacteria to hide.  The result is a baselayer that doesn’t maintain an odor after you wash it.  Secondly, and my favorite part of Lifa, is the fact that the color chips are actually baked into the fabric during its melting phase.  As a result, colors of Helly’s Lifa baselayers will never fade, and they’ll never bleed onto one another, as they’re actually a part of the thread.

After using Helly’s baselayer this winter, it’s easily the most durable, easy-to-take-care-of baselayer system I own.

Where to Get the Helly Hansen Baselayer

I’m clearly a fan of Helly Hansen’s baselayers, so much so that I now own multiple sets of both the HH Dry and HH Warm series.  They’re the warmest, most breathable baselayers I’ve used, period.  If you’re interested in picking up a Helly Hansen baselayer for yourself, you can do so at the official Helly Hansen online store, Altrec, and a variety of other retailers.

December is finally upon us, which means the holiday shopping season has officially kicked into high gear.  We know how difficult it can be finding the perfect gifts (both for yourself and for your family and friends), so to help make your decisions a little easier, we’re going to be bringing you some of our favorite gear throughout the month.  Style, food, gadgets, sports gear – we’ve got a little of everything planned, and you can’t go wrong with any of it.  Kicking things off, we’ve got some great early winter wear for you from one of our favorite outerwear brands:  Helly Hansen.

Here in the Midwest, selecting winter gear can present somewhat of a challenge.  Winter starts out cold, and then it gets ridiculously cold come January and February.  As such, I typically tend to have to two winter wardrobes – one for the cold, and one for the extreme cold.  For normal cold, I love the new Helly Hansen Chill Jacket and W Embla Wool Jackets.  They’re both warm and super comfortable, but they’re not too bulky either.  In addition to the coats, I’m a huge fan of the Helly Hansen Arctic Boots (to help withstand the cold and snow that’s just on the horizon), while for the women, the Stoneham Midlayer is a perfect compliment to the W Embla Wool Jacket.

Here’s a closer look at each.

Helly Hansen Chill Jacket ($300)

For a winter jacket, the Helly Hansen Chill is perfect if you’re looking for a slightly more casual, warm coat that’s not overly bulky.  Available in navy, smoked pearl (a gray color) or black, the Chill jacket is reminiscent of a classic tweed, but with Helly’s leading cold weather technology built in.  Outside, Helly Tech’s waterproof layer keeps the cold, water and wind out, while still allowing moisture to escape, meaning you won’t overheat while wearing it.  Inside, Warmcore by PrimaLoft provides an added layer of insulation with ultra-fine microfiber technology, again keeping you warm while still offering breathability during high performance activities.  As for the style, the Chill Jacket boasts raglan sleeves and diagonal pocket flaps, offering a classic look that still notes an air of sportiness.

For more info on the Helly Hansen Chill Jacket, head over to the official Helly Hansen online store.

Helly Hansen Arctic Boot ($150)

When it comes to trekking through the snow and ice of winter, nothing beats a quality pair of boots to keep your feet dry and warm.  One of my new favorites is the Helly Hansen Arctic Boot, gorgeously constructed from premium quality waterproof full-grain leather and naturally waterproof.  Inside, a natural felt lining and a suede collar at the ankle both make Helly’s Arctic Boot incredibly comfortable, while outside, a moc toe and Helly Wear Rubber outsole with welted construction ensure the Arctic Boot will withstand the harshest winter environments.  I’ve worn mine for a few weeks now, and they’re not only remarkably warm, they’re comfortable enough to wear day-in and day-out in virtually any environment.

For more info on the Helly Hansen Arctic Boot, head over to the official Helly Hansen online store.

Helly Hansen W Embla Wool Coat ($650)

For women, the current staff favorite when in comes to Helly’s winter gear is the Helly Hansen W Embla Wool Coat, available in either grey melange or off-white.  Featuring a gorgeous wool and polyester blend construction that feels great and is naturally water-resistant, the W Embla Wool Coat notes the same brilliant styling and innovation found in all of the W Embla line.  On top, the over-height collar boasts a detachable hood, while a mesh-lined ventilated wind screen provides protection for your lower face from the cold and winter elements.  Another welcome addition to the W Embla Wool Coat is the inclusion of hand warmer pockets that not only keep your hands warm, they zip closed when needed, keeping stored contents shielded from the cold air.  For your arms, articulated sleeves help avoid stiffness commonly associated with winter coats, eliminating bulkiness and increasing comfort, while zips in the lower sleeves allow them to expand, perfect when wearing larger mittens.  And as for style, the W Embla Wool Coat looks incredible, boasting a classical Scandinavian inspired design, including a two-layer yoke detail in the back and Embla detailing on both the hood and lower sleeves.  The W Embla Wool Coat not only looks great, it’s built to perform flawlessly in harsh winter environments – exactly what you want when picking the perfect winter coat.

For more info on the Helly Hansen W Embla Wool Coat, head over to the official Helly Hansen online store.

Helly Hansen W Stoneham Midlayer ($170)

Paired with the W Embla Wool Coat, the Helly Hansen W Stoneham Midlayer (available in red, black or white) makes a brilliant addition to your winter wardrobe.  Featuring a half zip construction with rib-knit mock-turtle collar and stunning contoured styling, the Stoneham Midlayer notes the look of a classic knit sweater, with the sportiness of Helly built in.  Thanks to its uniquely contoured fit, the Stoneham does an incredible job wicking away moisture while still keeping you warm in colder temps.  Rib-knit bands help define the hem and cuffs, and Helly’s trademark Lifa stripes highlight the sleeves.

For more info on the Helly Hansen W Stoneham Midlayer, head over to the official Helly Hansen online store.

It may be summer, but that doesn’t mean it’s all sunshine and warm weather.  Here in the Midwest, this past week has meant rain and cooler temps, forcing us to forego the short sleeves and shorts in favor of warmer, more protective raincoats.  I own a few raincoats, but at present, my favorite is the Helly Hansen Ask raincoat.  In fact, I liked it so much, I purchased the matching Helly Hansen Embla raincoat for my wife, and we’ve both been wearing them pretty  much nonstop this past week.

From a style standpoint,the Helly Hansen raincoats are both distinctly classic, blending a vintage, nautical look with a modern edge.  It’s a style that’s at home virtually anywhere, from the city to your sailboat.  On the men’s Ask Raincoat, the cut is more tailored, featuring a button down design with an added waist belt, to further customize the fit.  Personally, I find the fit of the men’s Ask raincoat to be perfect as is, so I don’t use the waist belt.  The women’s Embla raincoat features a more tailored fit up top, with a lower portion that’s a little more fluid – almost reminiscent of an empire silhouette.  Unlike the Ask raincoat that features only a button down design, the entire Embla raincoat zips, with additional buttons up top for the upper panel.

Construction wise, both the Ask and Embla Raincoats feature Helly Hansen’s trademark, state-of-the art 3 layer Helly Tech O2 fabric, laser cut for exact precision.  It’s a fabric that’s incredibly robust, as it’s not only waterproof, it’s breathable, featuring 20,000 mm of waterproofness and 20,000 g breathability.  In the real world, the Helly Tech O2 fabric keeps you dry in terrible conditions, yet it’s super comfortable to wear, thanks to the perfect amount of stretch and breathability it offers.  Helly Hansen excels at creating comfortable, functional and stylish outerwear, and the Ask and Embla raincoats live up to the company’s reputation beautifully.

Both the Ask and Embla raincoats are available in either black and smoked pearl, each of which you can check out in the photo gallery.  You can also check out the full details of both the Ask and Embla’s raincoats along with ordering info immediately below.

Helly Hansen Ask Raincoat

Inspired by our century-old nautical history, this Ask raincoat employs everything we have learned about keeping dry to create our most advanced raincoat for urban wear. It features our breathable, 3-layer Helly Tech® O2 fabric construction, cut with a laser for consistent precision, and has an adjustable belt, for individualized comfort and snugness.

• 3 layer Helly Tech® O2 fabric
• Laer cut seams
• Adjustable belt
• HellyTech® O2 is our state-of-the-art waterproof, breathable technology. Keeps you dry in the most severe conditions and offers superb stretch and comfort, with 20,000 mm waterproofness and 20,000 g breathability
• Available in either black or smoke pearl colors

You can purchase the Helly Hansen Ask Raincoat directly from Helly Hansen’s online store for $600.

Helly Hansen W Embla Raincoat

To create our Embla raincoat, we took advantage of our long experience making high-end technical garments to fashion the ideal raincoat for city wear. This raincoat features breathable 3 layer Helly Tech® O2 fabric, laser cut seams for perfect assembly, and an adjustable belt to provide just the right amount of snugness.

• 3 layer Helly Tech® O2 fabric
• Laser cut seams
• Adjustable belt
• HellyTech® O2 is our state-of-the-art waterproof, breathable technology. Keeps you dry in the most severe conditions and offers superb stretch and comfort, with 20,000 mm waterproofness and 20,000 g breathability
• Available in either black or smoke pearl colors

You can purchase the Helly Hansen Embla Raincoat directly from Helly Hansen’s online store for $600.

If you live anywhere where you experience four seasons and you’re anything like me, April has to be one of your favorite months.  Winter is finally over, the snow has dissipated, and you can put away your cold weather gear in favor of some lighter spring fare.  I love the spring, and of all the seasons, I probably splurge more on my spring wardrobe than any other season.  This year, one of the ways I splurged was on a new jacket, and after picking up a Helly Hansen Salt jacket last year and loving it, I went back to Helly Hansen looking for spring jacket to add to my collection.

If you remember from my last story, Helly Hansen is a performance-driven brand that dates back to 1877, when a Norwegian captain by the name of Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Maren Margarethe invented the world’s first waterproof fabric in the form of oilskin jackets, trousers, sou’westers and tarpaulins made from coarse linen soaked in linseed oil.  For the last century, Helly Hansen has continued this innovation, introducing a wide variety of cutting edge material technology in their outerwear including the first fleece mid layers in the 1960s and LIFA, the first technical base layer in the 1970s, with their three-layer system becoming the industry standard for keeping you dry, warm and comfortable in even the most demanding conditions.

In opting for a new Helly Hansen jacket, it was this performance that drew me back to the brand, but because I already own the Salt, which notes a distinctly sporty, nautical design, I wanted something a little more urban.  My choice:  the Helly Hansen Ask CIS Sailing Jacket.  It’s a stylish, functional jacket that, while still paying homage to its seafaring past, is at home in virtually any environment.

Constructed from herringbone PU-coated cotton, the Ask CIS Sailing Jacket features a classic design, with a distinctly high collar, rib-hemmed cuffs and waistband, and antique metal fasteners.  It’s a great design for spring, as the high collar helps keep the cold and water out on the rainy days, but unzipped, it stays out of your way and doesn’t get hot or uncomfortable.  The Ask CIS Sailing is also the perfect weight for spring – heavy enough to keep you warm, even over a t-shirt, but not too heavy to the point you get hot.  Even better, you can remove the inner  lining for warmer, wet days, transforming the Ask CIS into a weatherproof shell.  For anyone living in an area with fluctuating spring temps and varying precipitation, it’s the perfect addition to your spring collection.

Pricing for the Helly Hansen Ask CIS Sailing Jacket is $500, and it’s available in either navy or white.  I personally opted for the white, which I love, but the navy looks equally as good.  You really can’t go wrong with either.  To learn more about the Helly Hansen Ask CIS Sailing Jacket, head over to the official Helly Hansen website for more details and ordering info, and you can check out photos of the Ask CIS Sailing Jacket in the gallery below.

In the world of sailing, quality outwear is a must.  It protects you from the sea; it keeps you warm amidst cold conditions; yet it must remain breathable, so that when your activity level rises, you don’t overheat.  There’s few that manage to find this delicate balance of dryness, warmth and breathability as well as Helly Hansen.  They’ve been creating exceptionally functional clothing for over a century, and today, they’re a leader in the world of sailing, skiing and outdoor gear.

If you’re unfamiliar with Helly Hansen, the company’s story started back in 1877.  A Norwegian captain by the name of Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Maren Margarethe began producing oilskin jackets, trousers, sou’westers and tarpaulins, made from coarse linen soaked in linseed oil.  Over the next five years the pair sold approximately 10,000 pieces, and Helly Hansen was born.  Since then, Helly Hansen has focused on developing innovative solutions to meet the most demanding of applications.  In 1949, Helly Hansen introduced the Helox, a thin sheet of translucent PVC plastic sewn into waterproof coats, that replaced the oilbased outerwear of the time.  Twelve years later, the company introduced the original fleece – the fiberpile – that’s warm, lightweight and fast-drying, ideal for wearing under the outer protective layer.  In the 1970’s, Helly Hansen introduced LIFA – a new fiber that keeps the skin dry and warm by pushing moisture away from the body, thus making it the ideal baselayer fabric for outdoor and workwear use.  And in 1980, Helly Tech technology was launched, making use of both hydrophilic and microporous technology to ensure Helly Hansen gear is both waterproof and breathable.  Combining these developments into a single piece, Helly Hansen has mastered the art of layering, and they’ve created a variety of outerwear in both 2-Layer and 3-Layer Systems.  It’s all about keeping you dry, warm and comfortable, regardless of the conditions around you, and it works exceptionally well.

For the sailing enthusiast, the Helly Hansen Salt Jacket ($200) is a fantastic option both on the boat and off.  Construction wise, the Helly Hansen Salt features the ingenious HellyTech technology the company is known for.  A water proof rating of 5,000 mm and a breathability rating 5,000 g make the Salt Jacket an ideal choice for a brisk day out on the boat, while its two-layer construction with protective coastal collar, tonal fully adjustable hood, water resistant front zip and PU inner cuffs all serve to keep you dry despite inclement conditions.  Other features of the Helly Hansen Salt include 360 degree reflective elements, hand warmer pockets, Polartec fleece in the collar and pockets, a kill cord D-ring and a one hand adjustable hem.  Best of all, despite its supreme functionality, the Helly Hansen Salt Jacket looks great, and is really at home off the boat as much as it is sailing.

As already noted, the price of the Helly Hansen Salt Jacket is $200, which makes it an incredible buy for what you’re getting.  It’s available in red, water blue or navy (I’ve got the red), and it can be ordered directly from the Helly Hansen website.