One waterproof jacket to rule them all? We review the Helly Hansen Odin Mountain Infinity 3L Shell

The Odin Mountain Infinity 3L Shell Jacket was designed alongside mountain professionals to meet the demands of skiers, trekkers and mountaineers, while also satisfying the very pressing need for environmentally friendly manufacture.

The result is a highly durable and protective winter waterproof jacket that can cope with seriously tough conditions.

The standout feature is the use of the Lifa Infinity Pro technology, which Helly Hansen champions as “a feat of textile engineering”.

This 3-layer fabric uses the waterproof and breathable Lifa Infinity Pro membrane, which provides long-lasting protection against precipitation without the use of harmful chemicals found in most waterproof membranes and durable water repellent (DWR) treatments.

There are plenty of features that will please snow sports enthusiasts, such as the ski pass pocket, powder skirt and helmet compatible hood, but this excellent waterproof works well for mountaineers, winter walkers and trekkers too.

It’s a little heavy for more casual use, particularly in the summer months, but for challenging conditions it’s a good shout, albeit a pricey one (£600 / $700).

Waterproofing and construction

Helly Hansen is rightly proud of its unique 3-layer fabric. The central layer is the Lifa Infinity Pro polypropylene membrane, which allows small water vapour particles to escape, while repelling rain and other precipitation.

In most waterproof membranes, this is achieved with a chemical solvent, but here Helly Hansen has achieved the same result by heating and stretching the material, thus negating the need for harmful chemicals.

The membrane is also very lightweight, at 4g/m2. Better still, there’s no need to tumble dry the jacket to reactivate its water repellence.

At the vanguard of the jacket is the face fabric, which protects the membrane from mechanical damage while keeping it dry.

Its Lifa yarns have a low surface tension compared to the usual polyester and polyamide found in waterproofs.

It’s also exceedingly water repellent, negating the need for chemical treatment. No chemicals means no harmful substances running off into the water cycle.

Unlike most jackets, a big innovation here is that the Odin Mountain Infinity 3L Shell Jacket does not require re-proofing, either.

As Helly Hansen explains, this jacket offers “everlasting water repellent protection that never needs to be reproofed with chemical treatment after use”.

The all-round construction technique here is 3-layer. The outer layer is a hydrophobic face fabric, the Lifa Infinity waterproof-breathable membrane (with no solvents or PFAS added) is the middle layer and the internal layer is a protective tricot backer.

Helly Hansen gives the waterproofing of this jacket an internal 6/6 rating, which is described as “extreme waterproofness”.

This translates to a minimum hydrostatic head (HH) rating of 20,000mm+, which is a solid rating and protective enough for winter conditions. This forms part of Helly Hansen’s Helly Tech Professional range – its top-tier product offerings.

Breathability and ventilation

The Lifa Infinity Pro technology also provides the jacket with its breathability, boasting microscopic holes that allow moisture vapour to escape.

Again, Helly Hansen gives the jacket’s breathability an internal 6/6 rating, which is described as “extremely breathable” and translates to an MVTR rating of 20,000g/m²/24hr, which is an excellent official rating.

However, this should perhaps be taken with a pinch of salt considering it’s a rugged, heavy, 3-layer hard shell. We’d still expect to get pretty sweaty in this on a long ascent during the warmer climes.

Pit zips are present to provide airflow and these can be opened and closed depending on the situation.

Unfortunately, the front zip can't be opened two ways, which would have been nice for added flexibility and ventilation.

Weight and packability

For fans of fast and light adventures, there are better options out there.

The Odin Mountain Infinity 3L Shell Jacket is a little on the heavy side, clocking in at 556g (men’s small). That's on a par with some technical mountaineering jackets, but considerably more than most hikers’ three-season waterproof jackets.

With this in mind, it’s not the best choice if you’re heading to the Glyderau for a spot of summer scrambling.

However, if Scottish winter is your bag, it’s a good option. Unsurprisingly, it’s not the most packable jacket, either. If you're seeking to shave grams and save space, search elsewhere.

Fit and comfort

The Odin Mountain Infinity 3L Shell Jacket is roomy enough to fit a few layers underneath, though isn’t unnecessarily baggy, like some waterproofs.

While it doesn’t provide the heady, unrestricted liberation of a trail running jacket, freedom of movement is pretty good considering the amount of protection from the elements on offer here.

Features: Hood, pockets and wrist cuffs

There’s storage aplenty in the three front YKK zippered pockets: one on the chest and two lower handwarmer pockets just about large enough to take a topo map.

They're also placed so as to not bump heads with your pack’s hipbelt.

Skiers will be pleased with the ski pass pocket and even more delighted by the fact that they’ll get the ski pass free at selected resorts with the purchase of the jacket.

Maybe next time Helly Hansen could throw in a free ticket on the Snowdon Mountain Railway too?

There’s also an internal mesh pocket for stashing small items like energy bars.

If you get into trouble on the trails, crags or slopes, the integrated RECCO reflector will help the rescue services locate you.

This clever little transponder emits a radar signal that Mountain Rescue can use to pinpoint your location. It’s passive, so doesn’t require power and it’s designed to last a lifetime.

As you’d expect for a multi-purpose jacket, the large hood is fully helmet compatible and can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally for the perfect fit.

At the other end of the jacket there’s an adjustable powder skirt, which is a band located at the hem that's designed to stop snow entering the jacket while skiing.

The cuffs can also be tightened to block snow ingress or loosened off for a little extra airflow in warm weather.

Sustainability

One of the major selling points of the Odin Mountain Infinity 3L Shell Jacket is the lack of chemicals, such as PFCs, used in its manufacture and the fact it doesn’t need a separate DWR treatment, like most waterproof jackets.

There’s also recycled fabric content in the Lifa Infinity Pro materials, though Helly Hansen hasn't revealed the exact percentages and ratios.

Verdict

A rugged 3-layer hard shell featuring Helly Hansen’s chemical-free Lifa Infinity Pro membrane – but it’s slightly on the heavy side, expensive and some features are ski-specific.

Need some warmth to partner with your weather protection? See our list of the best lightweight insulated jackets.

About the author

James Forrest is a prolific peak bagger and long-distance walker who’s one of the most high-profile outdoor writers in the UK. He writes regular features and route guides for Trail and has been one of our main gear testers for the last few years. James is based on the edge of the Lake District so when he isn’t off on his latest crazy adventure or challenge, he’s walking in his local fells. James reviews every type of outdoor kit for Trail and is a real authority on everything you need for wild camping and packing light for a multi-day walk.

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