In the Kit Bag: Helly Hansen
Helly Hansen, founded in Moss, Norway in 1877, is one of outdoor clothing's original names. An honest look at the brand, its heritage and what they make today.
Helly Hansen is almost 150 years old, which puts it in a different category from most brands writing about outerwear. The depth of heritage translates to products that are genuinely refined rather than first attempts.
Who they are
Helly Hansen was established in 1877 in Moss, Norway, by Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Maren Margarethe. Their first products were oilskin jackets, trousers, sou’westers and tarpaulins made from coarse linen soaked in linseed oil, waterproof gear for Norwegian sailors working in some of the harshest conditions in the world.
Captain Hansen’s 21 years of maritime experience, starting at age 14, informed the design. Within the first five years, the company sold around 10,000 pieces. Their waterproof gear won a product award at the World Expo in Paris in 1878, validation of the technical quality at an international level within a year of founding.
The brand evolved through the 1900s, adding camping and sailing gear, then fashionable rainproof clothes for urban use. Today Helly Hansen is a leader in both technical sailing apparel and performance ski apparel. Their ski uniforms are worn by more than 50,000 professionals, including Olympians and national teams, at over 200 ski resorts and mountain guiding operations around the world.
What they make
Helly Hansen produces a full outerwear range for skiing: jackets, pants, bibs, base layers (the Lifa range is long-established), mid-layers, accessories and footwear. The ski lineup spans entry-level through to full professional kit used by mountain guides and ski patrol.
The brand is known for its Lifa base layer technology, for professional-grade shells, and for a clear commitment to Norwegian heritage in design language.
Who it’s for
Helly Hansen suits:
- Skiers who want heritage-backed technical kit with real professional use
- Buyers looking for one of the broadest ranges in the industry, from budget to pro tier
- People who ski in demanding conditions or in the UK / Norwegian sphere where Helly Hansen is particularly strong
- Anyone building a kit that combines skiing with sailing, hiking or other outdoor pursuits
Less suited to:
- Buyers on the tightest budgets who want current-season kit (though sale and end-of-line items are often excellent value)
- Skiers who specifically want a freestyle or snowboard-first aesthetic
What I’d buy right now
Helly Hansen’s Alpha jacket is one of the most recognisable in their range, a solid all-rounder that’s been refined across many seasons. The Alpha Infinity Lifa sits in the insulated category. The Elevation Infinity targets more serious ski mountaineering use.
Their Lifa base layers are the starting point for many experienced skiers’ layering systems and are worth considering even if you buy your shell from another brand.
Specific models shift each season, so check the current range, but the core product families, Alpha, Elevation, Odin, have remained consistent in character over time.
Honest verdict
Helly Hansen is one of the safer choices in ski outerwear. The heritage is real, the professional use is verifiable, the quality is consistently high. You’re unlikely to regret the purchase.
What you pay for is depth, 148 years of making outdoor gear, tested by sailors and skiers across generations. What you don’t pay for is a marketing story. Helly Hansen’s products tend to speak for themselves.
For UK skiers in particular, the brand is easy to find in sales and end-of-line stock, and those discounts are where the value case is strongest.