TL;DR Review
A great all-round winter ski jacket, warm, comfortable, great fit, with nice technical features. Designed for maximum warmth, the Helly Hansen Alpha Infinity Ski Jacket may not be the best option for warmer spring skiing conditions. Its slightly bulky fit and shorter length may also pose challenges for high-intensity activity and backcountry skiing – check out our full list of the best ski jackets for more jacket options.
Buy the Helly Hansen Alpha Infinity Ski Jacket: £550 at HellyHansen.com
The Helly Hansen Alpha Infinity Ski Jacket combines Helly Hansen's LIFA INFINITY fabric, which promises waterproof and breathable protection without relying on chemicals, along with an exterior fabric made from recycled materials.
Originating from Norway, Helly Hansen has been crafting professional-grade clothing to endure the most extreme conditions since 1877. Founded by sea captain Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Margrethe, the company began by producing waterproof oilskin jackets, trousers, sou'westers, and tarpaulins made from coarse linen soaked in linseed oil.
Who is the Helly Hansen Alpha Infinity Ski Jacket Aimed at?
The Helly Hansen Alpha Infinity is well suited for on-piste skiers who thrive on spending long days covering substantial distances. A blend of outer LIFA INFINITY technology provides waterproof and breathable protection, while its lightweight and warm Primaloft Black Eco insulation and H2Flow ventilation system helps with temperature regulation. In most conditions, a single underlayer is sufficient, although there's ample space for additional layers if needed.
The jacket is equipped with an H2Flow ventilation system, allowing you to regulate heat retention or release as desired. Developed in collaboration with mountain professionals, the system ensures versatility and comfort in changing weather conditions and activity levels (according to Helly).
Helly Hansen Alpha Infinity Ski Jacket Review: Style, Fit and Features
As a tailored ski jacket, this garment offers a shorter length and a snugger fit compared to typical shell jackets, but we found the overall fit worked well on the slopes. With ample room for an extra layer if needed, you still get unrestricted movement in the shoulders and back, without feeling constrained in the arms. The sleeve length was just right, and the mesh-lined pit zips provided excellent ventilation.
Loaded with features expected from a premium ski jacket, the Helly Hansen Alpha Infinity Ski Jacket boasts a total of seven pockets, including hand pockets with brushed lining, a chest pocket with a goggle wipe, inside stash pockets (including a glove pocket) and a ski pass pocket. The right-hand chest pocket houses a goggle wipe, while the left-hand chest pocket, dubbed the 'Life Pocket,' is insulated with Primaloft Black Eco to preserve phone battery life on cold days.
Additional features include a powder skirt, an adjustable and detachable helmet-compatible hood, articulated sleeves for optimal mobility, and a Recco reflector for off-piste excursions. The high neck provides coverage for the lower half of the face and features built-in breathing vents, eliminating the need for a snood or face mask.
Helly Hansen Alpha Infinity Ski Jacket Review: Verdict
During a week-long holiday in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Southern Spain, we put the Helly Hansen Alpha Infinity Ski Jacket to the test amidst a variety of weather conditions. From warm, sunny spring-like days to sub-zero temperatures, high winds, and even freezing torrential rain, the jacket proved its mettle admirably. It kept our tester warm and dry in the most extreme conditions, including enduring freezing rain without any moisture seeping through. Even in temperatures as low as minus twelve degrees with wind chill, our tester remained comfortable and warm with just a base layer underneath. However, on exceptionally warm, sunny days, the jacket felt too hot, even with the vents open.
One feature that was particularly appreciated was the internal zip pouch inside the hood, which could be expanded to accommodate wearing over a helmet or contracted to keep the hood from obstructing vision when worn without a helmet, although the hood tended to flop around a bit when in use without a helmet. Adjusting the cuffs, pocket zips, and front zipper was easy even with gloves on.
The only aspect of the design that raised red flags was the collar. While the jacket's high, rigid collar provided excellent protection in harsh conditions by keeping both chin and nose warm, it became slightly annoying when open during warmer temperatures or general use. The rigidity of the collar caused constant rubbing against the chin, which proved irritating over time, although a longer period of wear will probably see the material ‘wear in’ somewhat.
Overall, the experience was a good one, making this a stylish and meticulously crafted technical winter ski jacket.
Buy the Helly Hansen Alpha Infinity Ski Jacket: £550 at HellyHansen.com
