I’ve lengthy been a shell man on the subject of outerwear for ski touring however as I’ve picked up my tempo on uphills and toured longer and longer into spring and summer season, I’ve discovered myself trying to find lighter layers that don’t instantly flip right into a sauna.
It doesn’t matter what advertising copy may say in regards to the breathability of Gore-Tex and competitor membranes, they’re merely an excessive amount of for high-output touring (for me, anyway) in something above about 25 levels, regardless of how huge the air flow zips are.
So I jumped on the possibility to check an early prototype of Helly Hansen’s Odin BC Softshell Bib and Softshell Jacket combo final spring and I’ve continued carrying it all through the season this yr. I used to be excited partly as a result of I used to be usually “softshell-curious” but in addition as a result of I had but to discover a softshell bib and, nicely, I’m a bib man. Plenty of firms are making backcountry outerwear as of late, however it’s largely light-weight variations of resort gear with beacon storage. Fortunately, Helly Hansen didn’t trouble with one other “me too” launch and that is the one equipment I’ve seen with a softshell bib.
What I’ve discovered (considerably to my shock) after 30-plus days touring within the equipment in all types of situations is that whereas they’re not markedly extra breathable, there aren’t many drawbacks to the softshell development as in comparison with my trusty 3-layer shells and there are a number of benefits which have me reaching for the Odin BC Softshell equipment as my new go-to touring outerwear.
Specs & Options
PFC-free DWR
3 totally different shell supplies, body-mapped
Elastic wrist cuffs
Articulated sleeves and knees
D-ring for beacon pocket carry in bibs
Beacon entry pocket in jacket (for harness carry)
Boot gaiters and boot cuff zips
RECCO reflectors
Aspect air flow zips on bibs
Weights (measured): Jacket (574g), Bibs (817g)
Value: Jacket ($280 at Backcountry), Bibs ($320 at Evo)
Grid fleece-backed softshell transitions to a extra sturdy single layer above the wrist on Helly Hansen’s Odin BC Softshell Jacket
Building
Whereas Helly Hansen precisely describes the jacket and bib trousers as “softshell”, they’re not precisely a standard softshell which I consider as a thicker, singular layer of spongy polyester or nylon with DWR. Each bib and jacket use three totally different supplies in a body-mapped patchwork.
The slate-gray patches are a four-way stretch materials made up of polyester, polyamide, and elastane that goes heavy (10%) on the elastane for stretch. The face is as sturdy as a lightweight 3-layer shell however there’s a skinny grid fleece on the within for holding again, again of legs, and abdomen hotter.
A skinny strip of a unique black material runs below the arm virtually all the way in which from wrist via armpit to waist and it’s a really skinny and even stretchier (24% elastane) mix of the identical supplies that maximizes mobility and breathability. The identical material seems on the high of the bib for a similar causes.
The third (additionally black) material is the least stretchy (7% elastane) however nonetheless extra forgiving than 3-layer that makes up many of the black patches on each bib and jacket. It’s a bit extra stiff and sturdy and includes the higher-wear areas on the backside of the jacket beneath the waist, the sleeve cuffs, components of the hood, and many of the legs of the bibs from above the knee on down. Beneath the calf, the seams are taped however elsewhere are largely not. The insides of the boot cuffs are strengthened with a rubberized coating.
After 30-plus days of touring, the sturdiness appears reliable because the equipment seems to be like new and I’ve had no points with zippers (aside from a misplaced pull described beneath) and the materials have endured frequent run-ins with tree branches punching via tight sections of timber. In contrast to my lighter-colored 3L outerwear, the sunshine grey material hasn’t attracted stains from bumping up in opposition to my filthy truck.
Total, the construct is streamlined. Zippers are gentle gauge and pockets are backed by a skinny mesh, so each clothes pack down about as small as a light-weight shell. As a result of they’ve much less of the bulkier grid fleece, the bibs truly pack down practically as small because the jacket. There’s no packability benefit over a light-weight shell right here, however they’re definitely much less stiff so you possibly can shove them in round different objects in a pack a bit extra simply.
The jacket weighed in at 574g and the bibs 817g. For context, my ultralight Trew Capow jacket and bibs weigh 611 and 927 grams, respectively. Different shell bibs on this class: Image Natural Lassen Xpore 3L Bibs: 667g, Out of doors Analysis SkyTour AscentShell Bibs: 794g. The weights and packed sizes fall within the vary of touring-oriented shell outerwear, so the comparability is usually a wash on that metric.
Efficiency
The mix of materials makes me consider the Odin equipment extra as a hybrid of softshell and skinny non-membrane shell than wholly a standard softshell. All three materials do a good job of blocking wind and shucking off gentle moisture, however the grid fleece-backed grey sections are noticeably hotter and Helly Hansen did an ideal job putting them the place you’d be extra more likely to really feel the chilly: across the chest, neck, again of the arms, waist, and again of the thighs.
I’ve heard it said like a regulation of nature that softshells are extra breathable than hardshells, however I run sizzling usually and if I’m operating sizzling sufficient to steam out an ultralight touring-oriented 3-layer jacket, I’m going to do the identical within the Odin BC Softshell Jacket. The looser match helps, however there are not any pit zips right here, so if temps and solar publicity dictate, typically the jacket has to come back off. On hotter days about 25 levels and up, I begin with the jacket within the pack simply as I might with a shell and solely pull it out on windy ridges and for the descent. Likewise, the bibs are gentle, however the grid fleece sections maintain physique warmth which is nice on chilly days however has me lunging for the facet zips on hotter days.
So why go softshell if it’s not considerably extra breathable? For me, it’s the consolation and adaptability in comparison with stiffer softshells. Whereas I’ve 3-layer shell bibs and jackets (Trew Capow are my favorites) which can be ultralight and far softer than a resort-oriented Gore-Tex Professional shell, they nonetheless can’t evaluate to the softness and stretch of the Odin BC Softshell equipment. The flipside right here is that should you like light-weight shells and are wanting on the Odin for giant breathability enhancements, look elsewhere.
I’ve by no means felt consciously restricted carrying shell outerwear within the backcountry, however when switching to the Odin equipment, the moment feeling of freedom of motion was palpable and it’s the principle purpose I attain for it anytime situations allow.
Talking of situations, it’s value noting that I ski largely above 10,000 toes within the Colorado Rockies the place snow falls gentle and dry and spring rain is never greater than a lightweight spritzing. Whereas 3-layer shells work nice all through the winter for stopping wind and shedding snow, they’re not as important as in wetter, hotter areas. In additional than 30 days touring within the Odin equipment in winter and spring, I by no means felt the constraints of the weatherproofing, however I change to a 3L shell if nasty climate threatens, and your expertise could also be totally different relying on the place you tour.
The Odin BC Softshell Jacket and Bibs feel and appear like a uniform. Or tracksuit?
Match & Aesthetics
The reduce of the jacket is refreshingly ski shell-like. My gripe with different softshell jackets and touring shells I’ve examined is that they’re usually a slim match and a shorter size that appears higher suited to mountain climbing than snowboarding. The Odin BC Softshell Jacket hangs nicely beneath the waist so there’s no concern of the jacket sneaking out above the hip belt of your pack.
In comparison with some other shell bibs I’ve examined, the bib match is extra tailor-made however not practically as comfortable as most softshell touring pants from the European manufacturers akin to La Sportiva or Ortovox. In the event you’re used to a baggier shell pant or bib, the crotch will really feel excessive, however I discovered that the fabric is stretchy sufficient that I by no means really feel constricted by it and it’s truly welcome when touring since material isn’t bunching or creating pointless friction on each stride.
Whereas the Odin BC Softshell Bib Trousers are undoubtedly bibs, they don’t attain as excessive as most, stopping just a few inches above my bellybutton and so they fall someplace between a full overall-style bib and pants with suspenders. I typically miss the chest pocket discovered on most taller bibs, however the decrease reduce helps with overheating whereas nonetheless avoiding the conflagration of supplies on the waist I detest when carrying ski pants with a belt on the similar top as my baselayer waist, underwear, and pack hip belt.
By way of seems to be, that is undoubtedly a equipment within the European spirit of color-coordinated high and backside. As talked about, the jacket is a extra North American tailoring, however the snugger bibs shall be a departure for these used to the usually saggy reduce of most shell-style ski bibs. The primary time I wore the Odin BC Softshell equipment with a daily touring companion, he deadpanned, “You look quick.”
I personally like the just about tracksuit-like aesthetic and I truly really feel like I ought to be going quicker uphill carrying it than once I’m in a Gore-Tex shell combo that’s clearly simply alongside for the descent. Nonetheless, within the broader panorama of softshell touring choices, it’s a lot much less skimo than most.
In the event you just like the coordinated equipment theme and need extra choices, Helly Hansen additionally makes a shell jacket and pants (no shell bibs) in the identical colorways within the Odin BC line in addition to an identical lively insulation Insulator jacket that may be worn alone or as a midlayer below the shell or softshell.
Double chest pockets on the Odin BC Softshell Jacket.
Pockets & Options
There are just a few backcountry-specific design cues right here, led by beacon storage and entry choices. On the bibs, there’s a thigh pocket with D-ring for pocket carrying a beacon, a lot to the dismay of many Europeans, although it’s primarily the place I retailer mine in avalanche terrain when carrying the Odin BC equipment.
In the event you harness-carry your beacon, there’s a pass-through zipper opening beneath the chest on the jacket for straightforward entry. My solely gripe together with your choices right here is that should you retailer your beacon within the devoted thigh pocket and take the jacket off, it may be tough to take care of the beneficial 20cm of distance between cellphone and transceiver utilizing simply the pockets obtainable within the bibs.
There are two zippered hand pockets on the bibs about the place you’d discover them on a pair of denims that are nice for holding smaller objects like lip balm away out of your knees. Outdoors of the beacon-access pocket, the jacket retains it easy with two mesh-backed chest pockets accessible whereas carrying a pack and a small mesh internet pocket on the within of the jacket for stashing a beanie or gloves.
D-ring inside thigh pocket for heathens that pocket carry their beacon.
If I might make one tweak to this structure it could be to create a spot to carry skins should you’re transferring shortly and don’t need to take your pack off. Certain, you possibly can simply stuff the skins contained in the jacket and let your pack’s hip strap maintain them from sliding out, however greater than as soon as, I’ve performed that and had my skins fall out once I took off my hip belt when stopped. Including one other inside mesh pocket and making them a bit bigger wouldn’t add a lot materials or weight and it could no less than provide the choice to have a devoted stash for skins.
Probably the most sturdy zippers in the entire equipment seem on the skin of the thighs within the type of substantial air flow openings and fortunately they’re straightforward sufficient to function with one hand so you possibly can throw them open with out breaking stride. Sadly, there’s no corollary on the jacket and I’d cope with somewhat further bulk to have the choice once I’m on the fence about needing to take away the jacket totally.
A lot of the zipper pulls include plastic tabs so that they’re simpler to function with gloves and they also don’t inevitably untie and fall off like most string-only pulls. Oddly the fly zipper doesn’t have a tab and mine disappeared within the first few weeks of use. Simple sufficient to make a brand new one with paracord (gently soften the knot to keep away from repeating the loss), however I’d take a plastic tab there sooner or later.
It’s value a nod to the elastic sleeve cuffs on the jacket which keep roomy right down to the wrist and may be pulled over gloves or clamped beneath a gauntlet cuff. Many different touring jackets I’ve examined don’t have any cuff adjustment or elastic in any respect which go away you with an annoying hole for wind, or in the event that they do have adjustment it’s usually frustratingly slim as in the event that they borrowed the scale from a operating windbreaker.
Rubberized gaiter reinforcement on the within, zippered growth for uphilling on the skin.
Backside Line
I first donned the Odin BC Softshell equipment hoping to discover a maximally breathable warm-weather outerwear resolution, however ended up loving it for a lot totally different causes. Whereas I discovered the breathability enhancements over an ultralight 3-layer shell minimal, the consolation and stretch are what maintain me coming again on all however the coldest days within the backcountry.
This equipment is a extra comfy different to stiffer shell outerwear for folk who’re pleased to commerce off some climate resistance for a quieter, extra comfy, and extra cellular outfit. However should you’re a high-output racer sort in search of one thing with drastically higher breathability than shells, maintain wanting.
Justin Park is the Editor of Wild Snow. In 2009 whereas dwelling in Hawaii, he obtained invited on a hut journey in Colorado. He had no backcountry gear, discovered Wild Snow, learn up on backcountry snowboarding and purchased some body bindings for a pair of G3 Reverends so he didn’t have to purchase touring boots. He moved to Breckenridge, CO a yr later and at the moment he skis 100+ days a yr, most of them backcountry.
