Helly Hansen Odin Mountain Mk2 Shell Jacket - Men's

Himalayan Essential
February 25, 2013

I am a Helly Hansen Ambassador/Athlete and international mountain guide for Mountain Madness. I exclusively use Helly Hansen products all year, all around the world, alpine climbing and ski mountaineering big mountains. On my recent expedition to the Rolwaling Himalaya of Nepal HH asked me to test the Odin Mountain Jacket. I was psyched to have the Odin Mountain Jacket along. Sometimes there is just no substitute for a 3 layer hardshell jacket. I usually keep a lightweight hardshell in my backpack, such as the HH Guiding Light or Fastpack, for when weather turns really nasty - precipitation and wind. However, on the first ascent of 6611m Langmoche Ri, I wore the jacket the entire time. It was the perfect piece to offer complete protection from the sustained 50mph winds, blowing snow and very cold temperatures. I also found the jacket to be a great ice climbing piece, using it's waterproofness to keep me dry on a handfull of drippy multi-pitch water ice first ascents in the Rolwaling and Yalung Valleys of Nepal. The sleeves are long enough that they do not ride up while hanging from tools. The entire jacket is very trim to keep things light and not get in the way of climbing while the fabric is stretchy and durable to use around ice tools. It is really cool how the jacket integrates with the Odin Mountain Pant to create an impervious outfit akin the the Goretex one-pieces of years past.

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