Let me say straight off the bat, I absolutely love this jacket. It looked great on the website and even better when it turned up. You’re never sure how it compares to the carefully airbrushed and setup photoshot they demonstrate on a website versus once you actually put it on, but I’ll go as far as to say it’s my favourite jacket I’ve ever worn.
Raquel too, she hasn’t stopped commenting on the jacket, so I have a secondary approval. But anyway, off me rambling about my new-found love for an inanimate object and on to the review.
The Warmth
Helly Hansen are known worldwide for creating the highest quality of clothing which is suitable for outdoor activities, from hiking to sailing and skiing.
It therefore should come without surprise that this parka delivers in both warmth and technology, with Helly Tech Protection technology, making it windproof, waterproof and yet still breathable.
However, excluding the twice a month hike, I generally need this jacket for trips to the office and dog walks, hardly the great adventurer I was a few years ago as I’ve transitioned from backpacking adventures to paying a mortgage.
Yet this jacket still crosses over perfectly, it looks equally appropriate for a venture up a mountain or a stroll to the shops. I have quite a lot of hiking gear that can make you stand out if you just fancy visiting the pub or going to work, being bright coloured and full of gadgets, yet despite all the tech and capabilities, this jacket works for all occasions and doesn’t leave you sticking out like a sore thumb.
The Hood
Don’t worry, it’s faux fur, so you don’t have to worry about the oncoming guilt trip from someone else or your internal guilt, but it really does add a touch of class to the parka.
The hood is also detachable, while the hood has completely warmed me up during this incredibly cold winter we’ve had.
Weatherproof
I took a few weeks before writing this up, so I could fully test it out, while the weather certainly delivered in the UK. We’ve had sun, snow, sleet, heavy winds and non-stop rain, so a typical Monday then!
The jacket was surprisingly not too warm in the sun, which I found surprising, credit to the breathable aspect of the jacket. But most importantly for me, I was nice and cosy when the temperature did drop, especially with the hood up and zipped to the top.
Pockets
Ok, I made a mistake when I first wore the jacket, thinking the pockets were only facing up rather than to the side, which made it a bit uncomfortable to put my hands in, initially finding this a bit of a flaw. However, turn forward one week and I realised there were side pockets behind the upper pocket, if you see what I mean from the photo.
This meant I could keep my possessions in the up-facing pocket, while putting my hands in the side pocket, perfect!
There are also further pockets higher up, with a side zip, meaning you have more than enough space to store anything you want, which is useful on hikes as I pack so many protein bars, snacks and little bits.
Reflectives
Whether you’re hiking, cycling or whatever your game, the fold up reflective section on the sleeve will help to increase visibility for others, which can be very useful in low-light conditions.
After a long hike which left me walking back on the roadside to the car at 8pm on a dark wintery night in the UK where people drive like maniacs in the countryside, I can certainly say having any form of reflective clothing was certainly useful to make myself visible.
Colour Options
As you can see from the pics, I went with the grey, as it’s such a versatile colour that can match up with so many options. However, if you’re not a fan of grey, they also offer this jacket in red, black and navy blue.
Sizes
As with most of their jackets, you have the option of a small, medium, large, extra large or 2XL. The jacket I’m wearing in the pictures is a medium, which fits like a glove for me.
Logo Representation
I know a lot of people are keen for the branding to be clear when wearing a jacket, not something I’m as fussed about, but I get if you spend a lot on clothing then you may want others to know the brand name.
Well this jacket has the highly recognisable HH brand logo both on the front, on the side and with a black badge on the back, meaning you can’t fail to spot it.
Ordering The Jacket
You can buy the men’s Nordsjo Winter Parka from Helly Hansen for £330 from their website. They do seem to have a PayPal payment instalment option so you can pay over 3 interest free months at £110 per month, which might make it easier for those who are keen but want to spread the cost out.
