Waterproof Jackets

Helly Hansen Verglas Infinity Shell 2.0 | Review

A durable shell that features an innovative waterproof fabric that brings a lot to the table – and with a low environmental impact.

I’ve been using the Verglas Infinity Shell 2.0 in the mountains of Wales recently, in typically wet and windy weather, and it’s been the perfect shell for the job. You see, when it’s relentlessly wet and the wind is buffeting, you want a shell like this that brings three-layer protection, and that has all the right design details focussed on protection too.

Who Is This Jacket For?

Tough, waterproof, breathable and with all the right features and details you’d want in demanding mountain environments, from what I’ve seen from this jacket, I’d say it’s ideal as a shell for year-round outdoor use. It’s got the durability, protection and room for layering to serve as an option for winter use, while in the summer, it’s the kind of thing to support you on those days when the weather really isn’t going to be on your side.

See how it compares to other waterproof shells in our round up of the best waterproof jackets this season.

Being a durable three-layer waterproof shell, it’s a little on the heavier end of the scale. As such, I’d consider it for a backpacking trip if I knew it was going to be worn a lot, but I’d probably opt for something lighter if the forecast was set to be fairly kind.

There are aspects that make it suitable for climbers, mountaineers and skiers too.

Materials

Helly Hansen do waterproofing differently. They use a fabric system that they call Helly Tech and this comes in three levels. There’s Helly Tech Protection, which is for everyday wear, there’s Helly Tech Performance, which is a 2.5-layer-style jacket designed for fast and light activities, and then there’s their top-spec offering, Helly Tech Professional, which is what’s used with the Verglas Infinity 2.0.

OM editor Will using the Helly Hansen Verglas Infinity 2.0 in the mountains of Eryri. Photos: Dave Macfarflane.

Built for mountain missions and trusted by outdoor professionals including ski guides and mountain rescue teams, Helly Tech Professional is waterproof, breathable and durable. It uses Helly Hansen’s unique, highly innovative, Lifa Infinity membrane which constantly works to push moisture away from your body. It’s also paired with a face fabric that uses Lifa fibres. You know those high wicking synthetic baselayers that Helly Hansen makes – the ones with the black and white stripes on the arms? The face fabric on the Verglas 2.0 is derived from the same material, bringing a high degree of water repellency and a fast drying time, all achieved without the use of eco-hazardous chemicals or solvents. In fact, there’s nothing nasty used throughout the entirety of this jacket. Credit to Helly Hansen for using a large proportion of recycled content here too.

Performance

From my experience using this on the side of some very wet and windy mountains, this jacket is 100% waterproof and 100% windproof. I’ve also found it to be as breathable as you can expect a three-layer shell to be. Like all PFAS-free waterproof jackets these days, I’ve found it’s worth reproofing it every now and then – with something like Nikwax TX.Direct, which you can use simply and easily at home. This will ensure that water will continue to bead off the outer shell, preventing the jacket from becoming saturated and losing its breathability.

Buy The Helly Hansen Verglas Infinity 2.0 : £325 at Hellyhansen.com

Will tested the jacket through a lot of wind and rain. Photos: Dave Macfarlane.

On the subject of breathability, one thing I really like about the Verglas Infinity 2.0 (and the previous version of it) is the size of its pit zip vents. You can open these right up for airflow while still remaining protected from the elements. This makes a heck of a lot of difference to the internal climate of the jacket. My only qualm here is that the pit zips are only one-way. I like a two-way zip as it lets you fine-tune ventilation more precisely, so you can dump heat without fully unzipping the entire length.

Features

The hood only has adjustment at the back of the head – so nothing either side of the collar. Still, when I’ve worn this in very windy conditions, I’ve found that it holds reliably. It also moves with your head nicely and the slight peak provides a bit of face protection in the rain. I like the fact that the collar comes up high as it just adds that extra bit of protection.

The hand pockets are very big and that’s another of the aspects that I really like about this jacket. They’re easily big enough to hold an OS map or a satellite receiver. They do get cut off at the bottom by a climbing harness or a backpack with a hipbelt but I found that you can still use them just fine.

There’s a hem toggle so you can lock in warmth. The sleeves, which have Velcro straps, are big enough to wear above a thick pair of gloves. There’s a built-in RECCO reflector in the hood to help with emergency recovery. And the zipper tabs – I found these all big enough to use with gloves without faff.

The main zip has a water repellent coating and an internal micro storm flap, while the pocket zips are all covered by storm flaps. I’ve had no problems with ingress through these.

Fit

I’m 5 foot 10 and I have an average build. I tried this in my usual size which is a size Medium (UK) and I found it fitted well, though it’s perhaps just a touch short at the hem. That’s just an aesthetic thing though – it has excellent articulation so the hem doesn’t lift at all when you’re reaching up for a hold. The silhouette is also quite athletic but I found there’s still room underneath for a insulated jacket. I found I could wear a mid weight synthetic jacket underneath it comfortably.

Conclusion

It could perhaps be improved by adding extra adjustment at the hood and a two-way zip on the front and under the arms. An internal chest pocket for stashing a phone away is always good to have too, and that’s absent here.

Other than those small things, I’d say this is a hardy, weatherproof jacket packed with thoughtful features. I’ve tested Helly Hansen’s Helly Tech Professional and LIFA INFINITY technologies across a range of their products now, and I’ve consistently been impressed by their performance in wet, demanding conditions. Full credit to Helly Hansen too as they were ahead of the curve in developing PFAS-free waterproof materials, long before many other brands made the switch in response to tightening environmental regulations.