ProView – Helly Hansen Women’s Odin 9 Worlds 2.0 Outdoor Shell Jacket

The Helly Hansen Women’s Odin 9 Worlds 2.0 Outdoor Shell Jacket has proved to be a stellar outer layer. The jacket is fully waterproof and windproof, but is also breathable, allowing it to be worn on both the ascent and descent. This jacket is worth the weight in your pack if you expect any unpleasant weather, or you’re out in the backcountry for a winter adventure.

I’ve had trouble finding the sweet spot with a hardshell; all the outer layers I’ve tried have either been weather proof, but too heavy, or ultra lightweight, but not very weather proof. I was excited at the opportunity to try out this Helly Hansen hardshell after hearing raving reviews from friends about their Helly Hansen layers. I tested this jacket out on multiple backcountry ski adventures in weather that ranged from windy, sunny, and snowy. I brought this jacket out on climbing and hiking days that threatened and delivered rain, and I also brought the jacket along on a wet camping trip. After using this jacket in a variety of conditions for various activities, I think I have found the sweet spot of a hardshell! The Helly Hansen Women’s Odin 9 Worlds Infinity Shell Jacket has all the features you would want in an outer layer with the bonus of being lightweight, comfortable, and breathable.

Fit

I tested a size small, even though I normally wear an extra small (5’2, 110 lbs). I found the small size jacket fit me well and provided room to wear several different layers underneath. The jacket is long enough to fully cover my backside which I appreciated when the wind and rain was coming down. The sleeves are a nice length and do stretch when I lift my arms up. I appreciate all the cinch cords Helly Hansen included to ensure the jacket stays in place when you need the protection.

Performance

The Helly Hansen Women’s Odin 9 Worlds 2.0 Outdoor Shell Jacket uses Helly Tech® Professional 3-layer to provide complete wind and water protection. Standing out in the rain I was able to see the water bead off the jacket, leaving both myself and the jacket dry to the touch. On a particularly windy day spring skiing, I appreciated just how wind proof this jacket was! Despite the 30 mph winds whipping around us, I felt sheltered inside of my fully zipped up hood. I also tried out this jacket on a rainy camping trip and with insulating layers underneath, the jacket provided the protection and warmth I needed while standing around. Additionally, I admire the stretch in this jacket. I’m excited to have this as part of my ice climbing layers for days when the ice is wet. I was thoroughly impressed with this jacket and can’t wait to continue using it on more alpine adventures!

Features

Helly Hansen Women’s Odin 9 Worlds 2.0 Outdoor Shell Jacket is designed for comfort in harsh conditions. The jacket cinches down in a variety of places, allowing you to control the fit and coverage. There are two drawcords on the back of the hood as well as two more drawcords at the front of the neck. The 4 drawcords allowed me to position the hood to keep me dry in the rain, whether I was wearing a helmet or not. I also appreciated that when I had the jacket fully zipped up, the jacket didn’t lay against my face, but instead I had an inch of breathing room, which was much more comfortable. There are additional cinch cords around the bottom of the jacket, which would be nice to use to keep the jacket in place when swinging your arms overhead for activities like ice climbing or rock scrambling. The velcro straps for the sleeves are very sleek and not as bulky as on most other hardshells. The jacket has large pit vents which helped keep me cool and comfortable when skinning uphill in the backcountry. Another great feature is that the jacket has huge pockets! I hate when women’s clothing doesn’t have big enough pockets, but this jacket had pockets that could fit phones, beacons, and more. I also want to give Helly Hansen kudos on the bright orange color of the jacket!

Durability/Construction

The Helly Tech® Professional 3-layer shell material proved to be as wind and water proof as advertised. I love that the jacket is both durable and comfortable, and I know this jacket will last through the abuse of many more mountain adventures.

Room for Improvement

There isn’t anything I would improve on the jacket. It has all of the features I have ever wanted in a hardshell without being too heavy or bulky. My only observation is the jacket runs small, so I recommend sizing up so you can wear other layers underneath. 

Final Word

I would recommend this jacket to anyone looking for a lightweight breathable hardshell for snow and mountain adventures. It’s an exceptional jacket that can be used in a variety of different environments.

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