Backcountry ski touring enthusiasts will rejoice as Helly Hansen celebrates its 10th anniversary of the Odin collection, which throughout the decade has offered professional-grade clothing for the most ambitious mountain explorers. Launching in autumn/winter 2019, Helly Hansen returns to its Odin collection roots by re-introducing kits for the backcountry ski tourer, built out of brand ambassador and mountain professional feedback, new fabric technologies, and a unique powder skirt that is optimised for backpack use and comfort.
The journey started in Chamonix, France when Helly Hansen designers visited guides and professionals to collect information on what type of details and features they wanted in a jacket and pant – from colours and style, to types and amounts of pockets, zips or hood adjustments. Next, the team collaborated with one of the industry’s top vendors, whose technical expertise and excitement to create promoted real-time product adjustments and innovations in design. Continued collaboration with professionals, numerous prototypes, and additional field testing trips to gather product feedback resulted in four garments built directly out of a consumer-centric design approach. Each piece is available for men and women, and is manufactured to last and keep you going further for seasons to come.
“Working on the new Odin collection with Helly Hansen’s mountain team was an incredible process,” said Aurelien Ducroz, Helly Hansen ambassador and professional skier. “The amount of detail and testing that went into each piece further amplified my trust in the brand. By welcoming and implementing my feedback, I know confidently that I can head into the mountains in a jacket and pant that is made specifically for backcountry ski tourers and will keep me safe, comfortable and performing my best.”
The Odin Mountain 3L Shell Jacket for men and women uses a new microporous membrane and a durable woven backer with C6 DWR, offering a dry system that performs just as well in cold temperatures as it does in milder weather, making the jacket perfect for high output stop/start activities in unpredictable backcountry conditions. Both jackets include a new, unique powder skirt design using an adjustable and easily removable hook and ladder system, which is lightweight and low profile. Complete the kit with the Odin Mountain 3L Shell Bibs for men and women, made with the same new microporous membrane. Strategically-placed stretch soft shell fabrics offer mobility, leg zippers allow for ventilation, and thigh pockets with locations that differ depending on men’s vs women’s designs allow strategic safety beacon placement, so it fits comfortably against the body while still allowing for quick access. To enhance user comfort, both bibs are gender-specifically designed for backcountry “relief” – a full side zip for men and a drop-seat for women. The construction of both men’s and women’s kits ensure optimum, sex-specific fits, while offering the same feature set.
Further additions to the Odin collection include the Odin Mountain Hybrid Softshell Jacket and Odin Mountain Hybrid Softshell Pant, for men and women. Both offer a hybrid construction of waterproof and breathable materials to optimize the comfort and performance of the garments without losing weather protection at critical areas. Built to move with you, the jacket and pant are constructed with 4-way stretch softshell materials and offer backcountry-specific features such as a 3-point adjustable and helmet-compatible hood, backpack and harness-compatible pockets, and an integrated RECCO rescue system.
To learn more about Aurelien Ducroz’s participation in the development and testing process, get a behind-the-scenes look next fall on the Helly Hansen website and social channels. All new Odin pieces will showcase at the upcoming winter Outdoor Retailer and ISPO trade shows.
To learn more about Helly Hansen’s latest collections, visit www.hellyhansen.com