Helly Hansen Odin Stretch Hooded Insulated Jacket

What all of this means in the real world is an incredibly snug, comfortable and lightweight jacket that is a joy to wear and one that I treasured from the first second I put it on. Many technical jackets have that cold, plastic feel – not the Odin. The polyester lining is extremely soft and pliable and gives a feel of a silky fleece, which is very clever. It’s easy to compress and pack and very light to carry

It’s also unrestricted in movement, thanks to stretch panels under the armpits with the layers of the jacket gliding very easily over each other. There’s also ample room in the shoulders and around the chest and never feels tight or restrained. The cuffs are not tight but stay in place regardless and it’s finished with a loose fitting hood that neatly comes down over the forehead.

The overall aim of any technical jacket is to keep you warm without the build up of sweat that would make you cold. Breathable layers are employed to do this with differing results in some cases, however, the Odin is excellent in this regard. The thin layers maintain a healthy warmth inside but allow the jacket to breathe with no sweat being the end result even with intense exercise. The soft inside layer also means it’s very soft and comfortable directly against the skin, without the need for a base layer.

As I’ve found out, it’s the perfect jacket for those chilly spring evenings, getting off the water once the sun has disappeared and would make a great piece of camping clothing for later in the year with our sometimes unpredictable summer weather and later on still when autumn once again approaches. I hesitate to mention winter, as the outer layer is good only for light rain and showers, though if no heavy rain is forecast, I would happily wear the Odin down to freezing temperatures and lower within a layering system of clothing.

I also prefer a breast pocket, which the Odin has alongside two regular pockets, with YKK zippers. This neatly brings me to the only item I found to be a nuisance and that’s how the zips regularly catch on the outside layer making zipping a bit of a two-handed operation.

However, I’m not going to finish on its only downside when in reality I have made this my favourite go to jacket for the majority of conditions and that includes going down the pub. The jacket I’ve tested is in a mid-blue with lighter blue highlights, which makes it very subtle when worn for leisure. Finding a balance between keeping the wearer warm and comfortable without over-heating, whilst being flexible, lightweight and so easy to pack isn’t easy but HH have managed it with the Odin.

HH RRP Prices:
UK: £180.00
EU: €230.00
US: $240.00

Store and online prices are cheaper.

Features:

• Lightweight 30D fabric, Primaloft Gold Active 80g stretch Insulation.
• Four-way full stretch fabric, and stretch lining.
• PFC Free DWR.
• Full inner front placket.
• YKK zippers.
• Seamless underarm stretch panels.
• Hood with sculpted brim, Soft edge band around hood and cuffs.