Hello,
I’m looking to update my kit before going this year and have seen what looks, on the face of it, as good Helly Hansen kit at Ellis Brigham.
 
Has anybody else ever purchased this brand and if so, how did you get on with it?  I think my doubts stem from associating with my local shopping centre on a Saturday afternoon more than a skiing holiday!!
 
Thanks in advance..

Hi Chris
 
I have a Helly Hansen ski jacket - a shell version, rather than a padded one. It’s great: breathes well and has all the techy features one needs (pockets, snow skirt, pass holder) etc. It’s as good as some of my hill-walking jackets (North Face, Sprayway etc), which I regularly use in the mountains. A friend also uses one, and finds his breathes really well and sheds snow (stays waterproof) fine.
 
The main problem with mine (and it may apply to others) is the strange washing instructions: cold water and no soaking! Basically, that’s ridiculous, especially for a light-coloured jacket too.
 
So, I have used Tech Wash on mine and at 30 degrees in the machine. This works ok, but being light coloured it still doesn’t eliminate dirt around the cuffs etc. I may buy a new jacket soon - but mainly for this reason and not becuase I have found any other fault with the brand.
 
ps: their base layers are excellent too. Not so much the "smelly Helly" of old!
 
Wendy

Thanks Wendy, really helpful.  Yes I agree, the washing instructions do seem a little odd.

Perhaps I am getting old, but to me Helly Hansen is sailing gear and really robust wet weather gear. A bit heavey and not exactly sylish, but very functional and expensive. Has the brand image been changed?
 
I have never tried their skiing equipment.
 
John

I think they still do the sailing gear, but Helly outdoor hiking / ski jackets generally are very much in line with the modern, lightweight waterproofs available these days. Breathable, waterproof and highly durable - yet, a fraction of the weight they used to be. And more stylish too! (Oh, and rather expensive…)
 
Take a look at Ellis Brigham’s stock as an example:
 
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You</a> can go for the shell style and layer up, or they do insulated versions.

hi,as well as Helly gear you could try Berghaus,i have been using the same Berghaus fleece with a gore-tex windstopper lining in for the last 12 years(and it still looks like new) i usually only wear a thin long sleeved top underneath and have been totally dry in down pours in Morzine and nice and snug while sat on the Toviere chair lift between Val and Tignes when it has been -20 degrees and windy (although the snow sticks to it like the preverbial **** to a blanket),also on the plus side is that as it is only a polartec 200 fleece(thickness) it is not as bulky to pack as some jackets can be.

Thanks jonG, that’s really useful. I’ll take a look.  I managed to get to my local Ellis Brigham at Milton Keynes and liked the look also of the Nike ACG jackets and pants.
 
Glad I’ve got till the beginning of Jan to decide - this could be a long process!!

hi chrisj ,some other places you could try are Two Seasons on wellingborough road in northampton (they also have a shop in Bedford) ,and the Outdoor Shop in Stoney Stratford near Milyon Keynes.
good luck with your search.
many regards
jonG

Hi people
 
As a sailor as well as a skier, I must say I would back a sailing clobber manufacturer against a skiing clobber manufacturer any day. Of course, HH may buy their skiing gear in from some sweatshop in Asia, without taking much interest in its performance. Or not ...
 
My experience is that more or less any outdoor gear will do for cold-weather skiing, provided you have adequate layers under it, and provided you don’t intend to spend all night on a chair-lift. It’s when the snow is wet that the problems start.
 
Cheers
 
Chris

I have the Helly Hanson baselayers, and they are brilliant!

I’ve got three items of HH kit; one complete ski suit, and one pair of pants that I twin with my Dare 2B jacket. I’ve been very pleased with their kit. All I have to say that their ski suit is not the warmest I’ve ever owned and does need more than a base layer underneath to keep the chill out. That said, it does look cool and I’ve never seen anyone else wearing another one (that’s not me in the picture, but its the best representation of the jacket and trouser set)