Helly Hansen describes their new Odin Everdown Hooded Jacket as its “lightest performance down jacket”. The men’s large size weighs 525g, while the women’s medium is 275g.
Helly Hansen have used what they call Thindown – the “first real down fabric” – for lightweight insulation. The jacket also has a lightweight but strong 10-denier ripstop face fabric made from 100% recycled nylon. A PFC-free DWR treatment on the exterior provides a layer of weather protection.
The Odin Everdown jacket was developed in response to requests from search and rescue teams and guides from brand partner Mountain Madness. They wanted warmth but in a lightweight product. It won an ISPO award.
I have been testing the jacket in Scotland as an outer layer on warmer days and also in Norway as a mid-layer.
What is Thindown?
Thindown is described as a “uniform structure of insulation that creates a continuous and even distribution of goose down and also eliminates the need for horizontal stitching”. The RDS certified goose down is formed into a sheet.
The brand reports that stitching can cause cool air to pass through to the body, which is why they have reduced it where possible.
Added to this, if there are any tears in the outer fabric, the will be no leak or loss of traditional down feathers.
Further features of the Hello Hansen Odin Everdown jacket
- Elastic at the hood, hem, and cuffs to aid heat retention
- Zipper-free hand pockets “for speedy hand warming and less weight”
- RECCO® reflector for safety and searchability
- Sizes: F: XS to XL; M: S to 2XL
- Colours: F: Sand, magenta, cobalt; M: cactus, cobalt, golden glow
- Price: £400
- See Helly Hansen.
My thoughts: Hello Hansen Odin Everdown jacket
This is a very lightweight jacket and easy to wear. It’s not the most flattering of shapes being rather square. I have the magenta cooler, which I love. It’s bright and striking and an excellent item to have in the mountains if you need to e seen, for example if you have an accident and require to e rescued.
The warmth-to-weight ratio is excellent. The thin layer of down does a very good job of keeping out the wind and cold. The outer fabric feels lightweight and silky, but it also appears fairly robust, too. I have used the jacket a great deal and I like it especially as a mid-layer. It is not bulky so it fits under other layers really easily. It’s a great jacket to pack into my running and hiking pack when I need some more warmth, such as when stopping for a bite to eat or when there is a suddenly cold wind at higher altitude. It hardly takes up any space in my pack, too.
Helly Hansen have gone for a minimal features to reduce the weight of the jacket but one major issue I have is the hand pockets. Yes, you can easily pop your hands in for warmth but you can’t reliably carry anything in the pockets. When I wore the jacket as an outer layer I wanted to add my phone to the pocket but it kept falling out. I’d prefer the extra weight of zips for secure pockets.
The simple front zip is fine but IK do wonder how long it will last, especially with all the rough and tumble of outdoors use.
The hood does stay up when the jacket is fully zipped but there is no adjustment to keep it tight around the head.
And then there is the price. Wow! £400 for such a minimalist jacket is eye watering. I understand that to create warmth at a low weight takes a lot of design innovation plus the use of a new form of down, but I expect the price will be off putting for many people.
Helly Hansen have created a great lightweight jacket with really good warmth but at a rather hefty price. However, it is a useful and versatile jacket and I have used it a lot since it arrived.