Summer is often the time that many outdoor lovers take their love for camping up a notch and plan backpacking trips. And while it’s often possible to use gear and clothing you already have, it’s also helpful to ensure you have performance-level items for the most crucial parts of your kit.
On a recent Alaska trip, I tested out a handful of Helly Hansen gear—all of which performed extremely well in the varied temperatures and weather conditions (between hot and cool, clear to rainy).
The Women’s Helly Hansen Durawool T-shirt is a durable and lightweight base layer, ideal for exercising on warm days, but it’s also great for a base layer when cooler weather sets in. The material blend of ZQ-certified[https://www.discoverzq.com/certified] Merino wool and Cordura wicks away moisture, helps regulate temperature, and naturally minimizes odor. The raglan sleeves gives the wearer freedom of movement and flatlock seams helps avoid chafing under backpack straps. The shirt lists for $80 and comes in black and green mist.
The Helly Hansen Women’s Verglas 2.5 Layer Fastpack Jacket is a lightweight shell that came in extremely handy for me during misty mornings and when temperatures cooled. The 2.5-layers give waterproof and breathable protection with 2-way stretch for comfort and flexibility. Unlike many lightweight shells, this jacket has two zippered hand pockets. When you don’t need it, pack it within a hand pocket so it takes up minimal space in your pack. The jacket lists for $220 and comes in black, ultra blue, and dark creek.
Also lightweight, the Helly Hansen Women’s Elv Light Tur Shorts have a great stretch to them and have an elastic waist and gusseted crotch for excellent comfort. The two zippered hand pockets are convenient for storing small items securely. I appreciate that Helly Hansen made these shorts without a zipper or buttons to snap, making them easy to slide on quickly. The shorts list for $75 and come in concrete, ebony, and sparrow colors.
The Helly Hansen Women’s Cascade Low-Cut Tech Hiking Shoes carried me comfortably along the many miles I hiked, and also kept my feet dry with its Helly Tech waterproof membrane. The stable, low-cut hiking shoes have a protective toe and heel cap and have a multi-directional traction system to keep you on your feet in a variety of trail conditions. All shoes should be broken in before you travel with them, but I’m pleased to report that these required only a couple of days’ wear in advance before I started hiking with them. The hiking shoes list for $150 and come in black, trooper, canyon, and sunset pink.
When backpacking, it’s essential to choose a backpack that’s comfortable for you, because you’ll be wearing it (loaded down) all the time. The Helly Hansen Transistor Backpack, Recco worked great for me with its 30-liter size. The smaller size is easy to carry, but it’s also got the features of a larger hiking pack, like dual ice-axe and trekking pole attachments, and a security pocket with a key clip for safety. The air-mesh ventilation on the pack panel was especially welcome on warm days. The pack lists for $170 and comes in black and deep canyon colors.