Looking for a ski type jacket. A shell with some insulation. I travel a bunch for work, often times to cold climates, the jacket will also be used for Snowboarding/Snowmobiling. I'm looking in the $300-$400 range. I have tons of layers so this jacket doesnt need to be rated for Antarctica, but I'm looking for a little more than just a shell.

This model is one I tried on today at a local shop and I liked it. I know all about North Face, Mountain Hardware, Arcteryx...etc but not so much HH. Is the quality present in this brand?

Thanks,

https://www.hellyhansen.com/en...AvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have a HH raincoat that’s gotta be 20 years old now and it’s still in near perfect condition. It rarely gets used anymore but when I worked outside I wore it a lot.

I don’t know if the quality has diminished in the last 20ish years but if not then I’d say you are good to go.

HH has been around for a very long time. AFAIK they are still a solid brand. See lots of their stuff standing in the lift lines.

I have used HH stuff and its first rate. I think they supply the commercial fishing industry with jackets too.

I’ve got an offshore sailing HH rain jacket, wore it once to a football game driving rain at 37 degrees. Stayed dry.

They make good coats.

Buy once/cry once, for sure.

Wore a HH jacket when I was commercial fishing in Alaska ... loved that jacket and wished I still had it.

Same as old dino, but x epinephrine’s was out f a ape Cod. Just started seeing some heir stuff out on the average person within the last couple of years. Used to be good stuff.

Did you try on the hood? I see it has a "helmet compatible" hood, and in my limited experience that translates to "doesn't fit for shit if you don't have a helmet on."

I currently have a similar Patagonia jacket that I hate for multiple reasons, but I didn't pull up the hood in the store and the "helmet compatible hood" on it is absolutely terrible. When I put the hood on, it flops over my head and down to my chin, completely covering my vision. It has an elastic band you can tighten to hold it in place without a helmet in theory, but it just doesn't work.

HH makes excellent gear...I'm a fan! I'm also a big fan of Marmot gear!

We've got a couple of HH jackets currently in our household, but my snow sports gear is all Marmot. I've also got two Marmot backpacking tents, and my son & I both have three Marmot sleeping bags each!

I bought a Spyder ski jacket a few years ago and it is warm and well constructed. I believe it cost $300-$400. If I lost it, I would buy another one just like it.

They make great sailing gear. No idea about their skiing gear.

Top notch reputation. I just got rid of a HH cold water survival suit that I had for 45 years- it still looked to be in good shape.

When I was assigned to BRIXMIS back in '81 I got issued with three HH Norwegian shirts.

I'm wearing one right now, with one in the wash and the third in a draw.

My fleecie and insert got stolen off the back of my chair at a guest day a few years back. That, too, was like new, and in 1981 I still had nineteen years left to serve in the Army.

best wet weather/cold weather jacket I ever purchased

HH is the gold standard that all other foul weather gear is measured against.

I haven’t used any since the mid 90s when I was in the CG, we had a ship that bought it for us. And I had to turn it in when I left. Then in 2003 the CG got with the program and began issuing (means you gotta buy it) all weather parka made of gortex. You could buy the bottoms or the unit could buy them but only the top was required.

If you don’t buy HH, gortex is the next thing..but it’s expensive

I like their gear a lot, you are of course partially paying for the name, but I’ll pay for gear that I feel I’ll get years of value from.

I cannot speak for the quality of current HH gear, but if they are close to their manufacturing and quality standards from ~25 years ago you should be gtg with their product.

My HH ski jacket, from the bright yellow, green, orange, purple and blue era of ski fashion, is, except for being perma-dirty is just about perfect in all other aspects.

It is still as water-proof on the day it was brand new, and the zippers, velcro, snaps and pull-cords are all still almost perfect condition.

It was used often for many years of skiing, and I use the coat now for shoveling / snow-blowing duty and take it along on winter trips to have available for any ‘dirty work’ that may be encountered like changing a tire or something.

If your body tends to run hot make sure the ‘side vents’ are adequate. A jacket that has ‘pit zips’ is nice for this as well as a venting across the upper back.

Also make sure that the hood is truly ‘helmet compatible’ if that is a feature important to you.

The one on this coat looks to be ‘just barely’ helmet compatible. With the hood up you may experience restricted movement, and it looks like you have to have the zipper pulled down to the bottom of your neck to get the hood either on or off of your head. This might not seem like a big deal but in very foul and windy and cold and snowing/sleeting/raining weather it can be.

Rob

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cookster,

Phenomenal equipment!
expensive, yes. But worth every penny!

We use their stuff on boats (tow boats) in less than favorable conditions, ant they'll keep you warm and dry.