Some days you want a jacket that you can really hunker down in; something that will keep you warm, that’ll keep the wind out and that’ll provide a reliable barrier from the rain when it’s coming at your from all angles. The Helly Hansen Escape Parka, I’m pleased to say, is one of those jackets. It’s not surprising really, given Helly Hansen have decades of experience making kit designed help people endure the wildest of Norwegian weather. 

Helly Hansen Escape Parka: The Top Line

This is a warm, waterproof and practical synthetic insulated jacket with a long cut and lots of useful pockets. It’s on the heavy and chunky side, but that’s to be expected from a parka. 

Pros: Very warm and comfortable, excellent protection from the elements
Cons: The hood is a little restrictive and lacks adjustment. No cuff adjustment or adjustment around the waist. 

Price: £300
Weight: 1400g

Buy The Helly Hansen Escape Parka: £300 at Hellyhansen.com

How I Tested It

I’ve been wearing this through autumn and into winter here in the UK, turning to it on days where the temperature has been low and when I’ve know I’m going to be wanting to keep it on all day long. It’s not really something I’d want to carry on my back in a backpack as it’s quite heavy and bulky, so I’ve turned to lighter jackets on milder days or days with lots of temperature raising ascent.

Most of the pictures in this review show it in use during some days out in the mountains of the Brecon Beacons where I’ve been checking over some routes for a guidebook I’m putting together.  I’ve worn it through heavy rain and in temperatures down to around 0 degrees – probably lower with wind chill in the equation. 

Is the Helly Hansen Escape Parka Warm?

Last weekend, I had to check a route over in the far west of the Brecon Beacons on a very exposed mountain plateau. The wind was buffeting and there was stinging, cold rain, and I was glad to be wearing the Helly Hansen Escape Parka. It’s is very warm and comfortable, totally blocking out the elements and having very comfortable hand pockets which made up for the fact I didn’t have any winter gloves with me. The long cut was appreciated that day too as it allowed me to properly lock in warmth right across my body and it kept my backside covered and warm when sitting down on a rock to eat my lunch. 

The jacket is filled with 133g/sm of PrimaLoft Black Eco. This is lightweight, very warm for its weight (133g is a mid-to-high fill for a jacket), and it’s made from recycled materials, so it’s both effective and eco-friendly.

Is It Waterproof?

I’ve faced up to some pretty terrible rain in this and it kept me bone dry. I was also impressed with the outer fabric’s level of water resistance as it beaded off heavy rain effectively and then dried up quickly once the rain relented. The buttoned outer storm flap, backed up by an inner one, gives extra peace of mind too. 

The waterproof fabric is Helly Tech Protection, a fabric with a lot of R&D behind it. You can read all about it in our Helly Tech deep dive. 

The Fit

I’m 5 foot 10 and while I’ve always been a medium I’m a little between a medium and large now. I decided to go for a large with this and it turned out to be just a bit too big. The cut was very long on me and there was a lot of volume within it. If I had the choice again, I’d go for a medium. I don’t think I’d advise on going a size down, but I’d definitely stick with whatever tends to be the size that usually works for you. 

Details

Details that I’ve liked on this while out wearing it include the large and comfortable hand pockets which are on the chest and down on the hip too (tucked behind the button-down pockets). The microfleece chin is a nice touch, as are the soft, stretchy cuffs and the durable shoulder pads which add extra protection when you’re carrying a heavy backpack – or slinging skis over your shoulders. 

It has adjustment at the hem but there’s no waist adjustment, which I have found to be a downside. It’s also a shame that there’s no internal dump pocket for gloves. The hood is a little basic as there’s only adjustment around the front and not at the back. Because of this, I found it quite hard to get a good, reliable fit around the head without the peak coming down and obscuring my view or pulling my chin down. The lack of adjustment at the back of the head does mean that you can wear a helmet comfortably over the top of it (there’s not enough volume to wear it over the top of a helmet). 

Verdict

At £300, this isn’t the cheapest jacket out there, but I’d call it a good investment. It’s certainly a warm and weatherproof jacket – I do tend to like a winter coat that uses PrimaLoft fill – and the build quality is good. It’s one of those jackets that ends up getting worn a lot too; the kind of thing that you’ll not only call upon for winter walks, even skiing and snowboarding, but also for just the daily stuff – for early morning dog walks, or weekends standing in the terraces at a football match. 

Aside from the lack of adjustment at the hood, around the waist and also at the cuffs, it’s otherwise a reliable and hardy jacket that’s built for some rough stuff.

Buy The Helly Hansen Escape Parka: £300 at Hellyhansen.com