Ever since my first “classic” Helly Hansen baselayer in navy blue I have loved the brand. It always fits so well and performs beautifully, offering an extra warm layer but still letting the sweat evaporate when the going gets hot. I wear my Helly Hansens for hillwalking, skiing, running and cycling and just for relaxing around the house and at work (I go to work in my own home in outdoors kit every day! Bliss!). I also love the look. The first blue HH had a classic blue-and-white striped outer arm and torso feature.

In my baselayer drawer I can count at least four other Helly Hansen’s in bright pink, light blue, flowery and Royal blue. The G-Force has plenty, too. And now we have even more thanks to the kind HH people who have sent us lots of running kit to try.

Helly Hansen has created a “speedy” range of clothing aimed at runners and faster active types. It includes tights, vests, t-shirts, baselayers and jackets. And in both men and women fits. The colours are funky and vibrant. The fit is fabulous. And the performance is excellent. Here I review a few of the Helly Hansen Windfoil and Pace items

Women’s Helly Hansen Windfoil jacket

Made of a lightweight and windproof fabric that has a stretch at the shoulders, this jacket is really lovely to wear while running. It fits neatly so it doesn’t flap in the wind and it offers good levels of breathability. In addition, when the going gets hot but there is still a chill in the air, you can remove the sleeves. The jacket was super lovely to run in, fits beautifully, looks good and has lots of great extra features such as the zip-off sleeves, reflective trim and stretch shoulders.

Helly Hansen Windfoil jacket rrp £100 sizes XS to XL (I have M)

Women’s Helly Hansen Pace running tights

Not many running tights stay up when you run, unless you tie them tightly around the waist. I own a Falke pair that do stay up and now I love these HH Pace running tights. The waistband is wide and comfy and actually keeps the tights in place when you run. The tights feel supportive yet flexible and are very easy to wear. I also like the design with the usual HH funkiness. Additional short zips at the ankles are handy.

Helly Hansen Pace tights rrp £55 sizes XS to XL (I have S)

Women’s Helly Hansen Pace Supportive vest

Most women now expect a supportive bra insert in running vests. Most of us still wear a sports bra as well but having the extra support, even if you’re not well endowed, is a good idea. Running isn’t great for boobs if they bounce all the time. This vest fits neatly around the top half of the torso and then flows a little more towards the waist and hips. It’s still a neat fit but it’s not so tight that you feel as though it is showing off every bump and bulge. I would suggest you go for a M is you’re usually a UK10.

Wearing this top is amazingly comfortable. Nothing moves that shouldn’t while running and the material is excellent at allowing sweat to wick away. When you stop running and there is the inevitable dampness from sweat it quickly evaporates to leave the top dry. I also like the mesh back, which keeps things even cooler while running.

Helly Hansen Pace vest rrp £35 XS to XL (I have M)

Women’s Helly Hansen Pace Half Zip long sleeve training top

Helly Hansen make a bold claim that this top is “probably the best ladies´ training top on the market”. They add: “With a combination of lightweight HH®Cool fabric combining the world-renowned Lifa® fibres and mesh fabrics, this long-sleeve t-shirt is perfect for high intensity activities indoors or outside on summer days.” I am not sure if it is the best top but it is certainly up there with the best. The fit is beautiful, the fabric is gorgeous and the top is very, very good at keeping you cool and dry when running and cycling. HH have been making fabrics for a long time and they know their technology. The fabric dries really quickly even when you’re doing high activity exercise (such as running sprints!).

I also like the length of the torso and arms. I have a size medium (I’m a UK10) so I suggest you buy a size bigger than you would normally (I normally go for small). The half zip is handy for days when you want a little fresh air but don’t want to take the top off.  And I really like the colour combinations, too. I have the purple and orange. There is also magenta and a bright turquoise version.

If you have worn HH for walking you might like to try their newer training ranges. I will be blogging about the men’s Helly Hansen training tights and t-shirt soon.