Its no secret that the weather in Iceland is unpredictable. During the winter months, weather can be anything from snow and ice to rain storms and hurricane winds. Packing for 6 days travelling Iceland on one of our Siren Adventure Tours is harder than packing for a family holiday some times. Just what clothing should you take? Whats going to cover all bases or what items fit under the next. Its taken us some time to find a clothing system that works for both, but one thing was missing. A warm mid layer was on our need list. Something that could be worn when the temperatures weren’t quite freezing, but warm enough for say 5-10 degrees while stood still, with the threat of some rain. Sure we could just wear a big rain coat, but they aren’t the most comfortable of things to wear all day long, getting in and out of the car, when a rain coat isn’t needed.
Helly Hansen to the rescue! I’ve been eyeing up a padded jacket for some time, looking at various brands recently at Go Outdoors, but just couldn’t work out if I needed a down jacket or a synthetic filled jacket, then swoops in Helly Hansen offering us a jacket each to review so my mind was made up for me.
Helly Hansen were kind enough to gift us both the Elevation Lifaloft Down Jacket. The elevation jacket is part of Helly Hansen’s work wear line, “ designed in collaboration with professional ski patrollers — the best gear for pros on their day off on the slopes.” The jacket combines feather insulation fill comprising of 85% Goose down and 15% Goose feather. To give added warmth Helly Hansen also added “Lifaloft” panels, a synthetic alternative to feather insulation, developed in partnership with Primaloft.
READ BELOW TO FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THE HELLY HANSEN ELEVATION LIFALOFT DOWN JACKET AND WHAT WE THINK OF IT!
The Jackets were gifted by Helly Hansen for review purposes but all words, photos and opinions are our own
What does all this mean?
A little bit about down feather insulation
Down feather-insulated jackets are a staple for outdoor enthusiasts and those living in cold climates. Made with the soft, fluffy plumage found beneath the exterior feathers of ducks or geese, these jackets are prized for their exceptional warmth, lightweight construction, and compressibility. Here’s an overview of their benefits and shortcomings.
Benefits
- Exceptional Warmth: Down feathers trap warm air efficiently, creating a highly effective insulating layer. This makes down jackets ideal for extremely cold conditions. The warmth-to-weight ratio of down is unmatched by most synthetic materials.
- Lightweight: Down insulation is incredibly light, allowing for freedom of movement and easy portability. This is especially important for hikers, mountaineers, and travelers.
- Compressibility: Down jackets can be compressed to a fraction of their size, making them convenient for packing and storage.
- Durability: With proper care, down jackets can last for years, making them a sustainable option for long-term use.
Shortcomings
- Vulnerability to Moisture: Down loses its insulating properties when wet, as the feathers clump together and fail to trap air. While some jackets are treated with water-resistant coatings, they are not fully waterproof.
- Maintenance: Cleaning a down jacket requires care to avoid damaging the insulation. Special detergents and techniques are needed to maintain loft and performance.
A little bit about Primaloft/ HH Lifaloft and its use in insulated jackets
Primaloft insulated jackets are a popular alternative to down jackets, known for their synthetic insulation that mimics the warmth and softness of down while addressing some of its shortcomings. Developed initially for the U.S. Army in the 1980s, Primaloft has since become a leading insulation choice for outdoor apparel. Here’s a look at its benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits
- Moisture Resistance: Primaloft insulation retains its warmth even when wet, a critical advantage over down. This makes it ideal for wet or damp climates.
- Lightweight Warmth: While slightly less warm than down of equal weight, Primaloft provides excellent warmth-to-weight performance, ensuring comfort without added bulk.
- Ethical Sourcing: As a synthetic material, Primaloft eliminates the ethical concerns associated with animal-derived down. Many Primaloft products are also made from recycled materials, enhancing their sustainability appeal.
- Easy Maintenance: Primaloft jackets are easier to clean and maintain than down jackets. They can often be machine-washed without compromising insulation performance.
- Affordability: Primaloft-insulated jackets are generally more affordable than high-quality down jackets, making them an accessible option for budget-conscious consumers.
Shortcomings
- Reduced Longevity: Over time, synthetic fibers can lose their loft and insulating power faster than high-quality down. This means a Primaloft jacket may not last as long with heavy use.
- Bulkier Than Down: Primaloft insulation is less compressible than down, which can make these jackets slightly bulkier to pack.
- Less Warm for Weight: While Primaloft is warm, it doesn’t match the warmth-to-weight ratio of premium down insulation in extreme cold conditions.
Real life usage
Its all good reading all the technical specs, but we all know products show their worth when put to the test in real life, and thats exactly what we did. During our trip to Iceland in November, put the jackets to the test doing what we usually do. Our activity level isn’t huge when we are taking our guests to locations, so maintaining the heat our bodies are making is critical, while still not feeling weighed down by too many layers or super heavy coats. We find ourselves in and out of the car a lot so as a preference we avoid the parka style coat.
Darren and I both chose to wear the Elevation jacket over our thermal base layer and thin mid layer to see not just how warm it would keep us, but how it would keep the wind out.
Fitment
The elevation jacket is a more snug fit that I am used to. I wear an XXL and I wouldn’t describe it as being baggy or roomy, but also I wouldn’t say its too tight either. With the layers I had on, I felt it fitted close enough to keep warmth in without having too much empty space to loose heat, but also loose enough to feel comfortable moving around and sitting in a car seat. If you are looking to wear a bulky item underneath like a thick fleece, I would size up.
Warmth/insulating
The temperatures sat around 7 to 9 degrees during our visit but we experiences winds of up to 60mph so wind chill was a huge factor. With low physical activity the jacket did a great job of keeping the warmth in. The cuffs are elasticated and the collar does a very good job of fitting snugly around the neck without feeling restricted and tight. At no point did I feel like I wasn’t warm enough or that I was loosing any heat through the jacket, with my body sitting at a comfortable temperature all around with no cold patches
Water resistance
Theres always the chance of getting caught in a shower in Iceland, and sure enough we were caught with a fine rain for 20 minutes at the black sands of Vik. The elevation jacket isnt marketed as being particularly waterproof, and feathers don’t deal well with getting wet either but I was surprised that when we got to the car and swapped into a dry fleece, no water had got through the jacket and it didnt feel sodden through either. Sure I wouldn’t wear it in a downpour but it gave me some reassurance that if it started to rain, I could make it to the car or to my rain coat without getting wet through.
Packability
The jacket itself weights in at approx 550g so it doesn’t weigh you down if you’re taking it out on a hike or travelling. It fits in the top pouch of my camera bag neatly, squishing down to take up the same space as a fleece mid layer.
Pockets!
Everyone loves a pocket or two, but how about 3. The jacket has two side pockets, one each side ofcourse, with chunky zip pulls so you can open and close them with gloves with ease. Theres also a chest pocket that I personally wouldn’t use a great deal but some might have the perfect use for it.
Where can I see it being useful
In my mind, for my use, I can see it being really handy in 2 situations.
- A warm jacket to wear over a base layer top for milder days where I want to trap the heat in but not feel bulky.
- As an insulating layer under a rain coat/jacket so I can remove my rain coat for driving but still be warm when on the move.
Where I can see me leaving it behind.
The big negative of any down feather jacket is it ability to dry out quickly and maintain heat when wet. Its no secret that as a big guy, I perspire a lot when im active so my worry is that I would sweat into the jacket and start to diminish its ability to keep me warm, but then taking too long to dry out at our accommodation for our next outing. These moments are few and far in-between but when you’re on a bit of a hike away from the car, the last thing you want to be doing is worrying about staying warm, especially in the unpredictable conditions of Iceland. For this very reason, I have also opted to purchase a Helly Hansen Lifaloft insulator jacket with Primaloft technology.
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