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.
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