Waterproof Jackets

Helly Hansen Odin Mountain Infinity Pro Shell | Review

A bombproof jacket that uses a ‘first to market’ waterproof technology

Why We Chose It: Very durable and a unique design that’s eco-friendly
Price: £600
Weight: 600g

This is a pretty big launch from Helly Hansen. It’s a serious waterproof jacket; one that offers a high level of protection and that’ll suit any particularly demanding mountain activities. On top of all that, the Norwegian brand have clearly taken some big steps to make sure the jacket will appeal to those who like their gear to be eco-friendly.

What’s The Helly Hansen Odin Mountain Infinity Pro Shell Best Suited To?

This certainly has the durability, articulation, protection and technical details to pique the interest of any skiers out there, particularly the ski mountaineers. I’d say it’s also very well suited to hillwalking and climbing as well. This thing definitely seems like it’s made to survive some wild Norwegian weather.

It’s PFC-free and made using recycled materials. Photo: Chris Johnson

The Eco Credentials

This is a jacket that’s made entirely without added chemicals which means no eco-hazardous PFCs are present in the fabric’s water repellent treatment (DWR).

There isn’t actually a water repellent treatment here at all – that’s something you very rarely see with three-layer waterproof products. Helly Hansen say there’s no need for one, with their unique Lifa yarns being able to do the job without any added help (more on that further down). The other indirect advantage of not using a DWR is that the jacket won’t require tumble drying after washing in order to reactivate the treatment, which ultimately makes the jacket less energy intensive.

Materials And Performance

The Lifa yarns featured here are actually based on the same fibres used in Helly’s legendary baselayers (those ones with the zebra stripes down the arms). These fibres themselves are naturally hydrophobic, able to push moisture out and into the atmosphere, and in the case of the Odin Mountain Infinity they’ve been so tightly woven together that water should effectively bounce straight off.

So how effective is this in practice then? At the time of writing it’s been a very wet start to autumn and I’ve been out in some real downpours in this. I’ve certainly felt very protected in it. It’s a very hardy jacket and I’ve seen water beading right off the surface on each time I’ve used it. I’ve also seen parts of the jacket become a bit saturated as well though, so I’d say it’s kind of like a Gore-Tex Pro jacket in the sense that the water repellency of the fabric does have a threshold – but at least it’s achieved without the use of harmful chemicals. I’d actually be tempted to treat this with Nikwax’s eco-friendly TX.Direct just to add even more water resistance to it.

In terms of breathability, I’d also compare this to a Gore-Tex Pro jacket on that front, with the added bonus that you also get pet zip ventilation – always handy to have in my eyes.

Related: Helly Hansen Odin 9 Review

As for the rain and wind protection, the Lifa Infinity does exactly what you want it to do on that front. I particularly like how functional and reliable the hood is, then there are all those other things I look for on a jacket, including easy-to-use cuff tabs, one-handed adjustment at the hem, a comfortable chin guard and harness/hipbelt compatible pockets. There are the useful extra details as well, including a removable powder skirt, interior valuables/lift pass pocket, RECCO reflector and glove friendly zipper tabs.

I’m 5 foot 10, have a fairly slim build and normally wear a size M. I tried this in an M and it’s definitely the right size for me. I really like the cut too. It’s loose enough to allow a couple of warm layers underneath but it doesn’t come across as baggy and it doesn’t feel at all restrictive.

Verdict

I do a lot of long-distance walking and I’d say this is a little on the heavy side for me to want to take it on a trip where I was expecting mostly warm and dry weather. That said, if I was ever faced with the kind of conditions where I’d want to be wearing a jacket most of the time, this is definitely the kind of shell I’d want to have protecting me – the kind of thing I’d reach for when venturing out in autumn and winter.

£600? It’s steep, but at least you are getting some serious tech here.

More info: hellyhansen.com