Expert Review: Helly Hansen Sogn Shell 2.0 Shell Jacket
This review is my own honest opinion of the jacket, which I bought with my own money in December 2021.
Curated Expert, Evan Korte, rides through the trees at Loveland ski area in Colorado. All photos courtesy of Evan Korte
About this review: This review is my own honest opinion of the jacket, which I bought with my own money in December 2021.
My take
The Helly Hansen Men’s Sogn Shell 2.0 is a lightweight, highly breathable, technical shell for ski touring, that can also stand up to the durability demands of everyday riding.
Spring skiing at Copper Mtn in the Sogn 2.0 shell jacket.
About the jacket
- Model: Helly Hansen Sogn Shell 2.0 (2022)
- Size: XL
- Fit: Runs slightly small
About me
- Height: 6’5”
- Weight: 220 lbs
- Experience: 18 years of skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought it: December 2021
- Days tested: 25 days
- Where I’ve used it: Loveland Ski Area, Colorado; Snowbird, Utah.
- Conditions I’ve used it in: Early season touring, spring touring, powder days, warm days
How it performs
What I was looking for
I like to have a jacket that can go for hard ski tours with no compromises, but can stand up to the wear and tear of everyday resort riding. This jacket certainly excels in the uphill category, being very lightweight and extremely breathable with very few frills. This is perfect for me as I needed something I could abuse, without stressing about the hole in my wallet from a pricier shell.
Why I chose this gear
I chose this jacket because I prefer to layer up and ride with a light shell in all conditions. Helly Hansen makes shells that give me the confidence to ride in my technical shell everyday, without fearing rips and tears. It also comes in at a very reasonable price. This jacket is highly weather resistant, has a helmet-compatible hood, and has quality zippers and closures that stand up to daily use.
Wearing the Helly Hansen Sogn 2.0 Shell Jacket on Loveland Pass.
What I love about it
- Range of Motion: The jacket never inhibited my range of motion while riding in warmer layers.
- Design: The fit is modern, and Helly Hansen does a good job matching color codes across materials, so it can be mixed or matched with the same or differently colored pants of different materials and insulation (a huge plus for me).
- Style: Helly Hansen claims that the jacket has a relaxed fit, but when layered for colder weather, the jacket has a more form-fitting look.
- Quality of Materials: The three-layer HELLY TECH Professional fabric is light, waterproof, and SUPER breathable. This jacket is also finished with PFC-free water-repellent treatment to keep water out. I haven;t gotten wet in any conditions.
- Durability: This is a very durable jacket in the technical shell category and has stood up to 50+ days of riding between resort and backcountry. It also has durable wrist closures and zippers.
- Pockets: While the shell doesn’t have a lot of pockets, there are two large front pockets that are capable of holding drinks or snacks, an insulated chest pocket for a phone, and an internal goggle pouch.
- Breathability: This jacket is highly breathable, but sports no vents. Hopefully I’m not wearing too much gear while touring to where I’d need vents. Riding chairlifts in the cold and then working hard in the bumps is where I use the binary value of vents the most, but the purpose of this whole jacket is to be well-ventilated.
- Weight: This is a lightweight shell, but is not looking to be the lightest. It still maintains the necessary build quality in areas that require durability.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Fit: The sleeves aren’t as long as I was hoping for from an XL. Taller skiers who wear XL or XXL for length will want to go a size larger (the XXL does have longer sleeves).
- Warmth: I rated this jacket a 1 out of 5 for warmth, because it is a breathable shell. It's not designed to be warm.
Favorite moment with this gear
I skied trees at Loveland Ski Area in this jacket on a cold, whiteout, April powder day, then toured for sunset laps on Loveland Pass hours later. The jacket performed perfectly in 15 degrees 60mph wind, as well as at 40 degrees in the sun where I simply removed my down midlayer.
Value for the money vs. other options
This jacket was an amazing value considering its durability and technical features. There are other technical shells that cost much more but are a lot less durable. Unless packability and overall gear weight were big concerns for me, this shell delivers everything I need in a durable package, at about half the price of what I might expect from a top-of-the line, 3-layer shell.
Skiing Loveland ski area in the Sogn 2.0 shell jacket.
Final verdict
The Helly Hansen Sogn Shell 2.0 checks all my boxes for backcountry travel in any weather and is durable enough to wear as a resort jacket. For uphill enthusiasts or someone who likes to layer up and have a single jacket to do it all, this is a great option. The only person I would steer away from this jacket would be someone who wants a resort-dedicated jacket, due to its lack of pockets and vents.
