Helly Hansen continues to impress with the continuous improvement on all of their apparel. The proof is in the pudding when it comes to these guys. You can feel the quality as soon as you put anything on. From the zippers to the materials they use, it’s immediately apparent why they have been in business so long. This winter we were seriously loaded with Helly gear and took full advantage of it. From boots to base layers here are our thoughts on all that is Helly.



Framheim Boot -

Helly says it best, a stylish, comfortable and sturdy boot for winter. I can usually get by in the winter with some insulated hikers and it’s been years since I’ve purchased a new winter boot. This year has been especially wet for winter and these came in handy almost daily. Built with a vulcanized rubber midsole and a rubber base this boot can withstand almost anything. High enough to trudge through deep snow and with the rubber upper, almost no fear of water leaking in your boot. Seam sealing technology and waterproofing on the leather is just a backup to the unbridled protection offered by the rubber. With insulation to keep you warm and waterproofing to keep you dry this hybrid boot is a must have for winter exploration. Walking to my car in the morning is enough of an adventure to slip these on. Nothing worse then heading into work with wet socks. Buy It Now


Ullr Midlayer Jacket -

Here in Minnesota, as in many other places in the US, our weather is insanely variable.  In the last 7 days here we have had high temps ranging from 20 to 65.  It’s been a pleasant reprieve from the frigid temps, but we all know it’s just a tease.  With temps all over the board like this, I’ve gotten to see the Ullr midlayer work in an array of conditions.  Pair it with a shell and you have an unbeatable sub-freezing combo.  As temps climbed north of 32, I was able to ditch the shell and sport the Ullr as a stand alone jacket.  Here in MN, when we see 65 in February we have to fight the urge dig out our sandals.  Those days, having this Helly Hansen in the car was a lifesaver, once the sun went down.  Sporting Helly’s new Lifa Flow knit fleece, which is designed to better regulate temperature and moisture, a job it does exceptionally well.  This is a mid layer made to be active in. Go, get after it, just have the Ullr along for the ride.  MSRP: $175  Buy it Now


JR Stuben Jacket -

Once again, Helly Hansen proves that just because you’re a kid that doesn’t mean you gear should be a toy.  Based on the Ullr line of Freeride Ski wear for adults, this jacket is ready to get off grid.  Utilizing some of Helly Tech Performance material and PrimaLoft® Black insulation puts this jacket ahead of the pack when it comes to legit outerwear for the littles. Additional features like Hi-Vis accents, detachable hood, pit zips and a powder skirt, ensure that even if they get lost in the deep, they’ll stay warm and you can find them. MSRP: $220  Buy it Now


Womens Odin Flow Jacket -

Midwest winters can change at the tip of a hat. Last week it was below freezing and today it is 48 and sunny. If you live in a climate like this with dramatic weather changes the Helly Hansen’s Odin Flow Jacket is a necessity. The HH patented H2Flow insulation inside this coat allows you to control your own body temperature, the insulation allows your body heat to be trapped and surround your body with comfort and warmth. In contrast this coat has ventilation to cool you down when you are producing too much body heat. Not to mention the Polartec fleece fabric was so light making this coat perfect for traveling.

Now to see if this jacket can live up to all the hype...  We took this lightweight, stellar looking jacket to Arizona to really test its abilities… And it exceeded all expectations. We started hiking when it was a brisk 50 degrees and ended our hike basking in the sunshine at a balmy 70 degrees. This ventilation helped regulate my body temperature and was the perfect hiking companion. Like every other product we’ve tried from HH at TPJ, this coat totally lived up to it’s expecations. But It Now
 Tweet

We first ran into the AVI-8 brand and, as their name would suggest, their line of aeronautically inspired watches, back at Outdoor Retailer.  They have a rather large collection, from a simple 3 hand field watch for about $150 to a full chronograph automatic movement with date for under $500. We opted to test drive something sort of in the middle.

The Hawker Harrier II (Model: AV-4051-03) is a large but not huge watch, coming in at 45 mm.   It has all the bells and whistles you could want on an every-day watch with a split timing chronograph and date display. It doesn't have an automatic movement, but the Japanese Quartz that it comes with is a proven workhorse.  The dials have an unmistakable aviation feel, taken to a whole new level when the 1/10 second dial at top of the watch rotates.  Two separate discs spin in opposite directions creating the effect of a spinning turbine.

It's ruggedly built watch with its case milled from stainless steel, a 5 ATM water resistance and a thick leather band. Yet, this watch is at home in the boardroom as it is on the hiking trail.  With it's highly polished surfaces, subtle color schemes and bold sharp design, it looks like a watch far more pricey than it is.  Coming in at only $270, you are getting a lot of watch for your money.

 Tweet