Helly Hansen Ekolab Jacket : Small Footprint, Big Protection

Helly Hansen has long been known for great fishing gear in the North Sea.   In the last few years they have had a strong presence in the Ski and Outdoor apparel worlds.

Having spent a lot of time on boats, I've long been a fan of HH's outdoor gear, but their Ekolab jacket was my first experience wearing a HH jacket in a color other than Fisherman's Yellow.

I first wore this jacket in a downpour in West Virginia. The rain beaded up and was shed quickly off the jacket, keeping me dry and also surprisingly not clammy. Loved it enough to look into what made it work so well. As the name suggests, The Ekolab jacket is Helly Hansen's attempt to make technical clothing that has a smaller carbon footprint.

This three-layer all purpose jacket has an environmentally friendly, non-toxic PU membrane that works beautifully to repel water and keep the weather out.

The jacket is also designed to be cut from a minimal amount of fabric in order to reduce the amount of waste during manufacturing. The color blocking on the jacket may reflect this-and it's a really pretty jacket- albeit in a slightly Euro way. The jacket I tested was white with light grey contrast pieces. 

Did I mention ski?   The Ekolab comes with a removable powder skirt, making it a truly all season, anywhere jacket. I've loved rocking this very feminine piece on the slopes. (There's also a men's version of the Ekolob jacket.) There is also a Velcro gear pocket on the front chest allowing me to keep my phone safely out of the way, as well as two hand pockets. The hood is fully attached and is comfortable. The pit zips are waterproof. All good.

The good looks, great functionality, and comfort of the Ekolab jacket means that it will be a first choice for mountain adventures as well as for trips to rainy climes and the city. It's environmentally sustainable profile makes me smile every time I put it on or someone compliments the jacket (which happens every time I wear it). I guess this means I can thin out my coat closet.

Sizes: Available in women's sizes XS-XL, colors: white/light grey and white/linden green. Men's S-XXL, color: linden green. (Last year's model is on sale NOW.)

Bottom Line: Extremely functional, nice looking, three-layer jacket appropriate for any season when you need protection from the elements.--S.W. (Dec 09)

BUY ONLINE : $324 on sale for $226.06 at Amazon, on sale for $207 (women's) and $180 (men's) at Evogear

Manufacturer's Site: www.hellyhansen.com