Breathable updates at Helly Hanson

"Trusted by Professionals" is a leitmotif of Helly Hansen. Because not only product development, but also the stories told by extreme athletes have always underlined the importance of the brand, said Oliver Brunner, Area Sales Manager Austria Workwear at Hellly Hansen at a press event in Ludesch, Austria. In addition to the safety teams of mountain railroads, Wucher Helicopter GmbH and the Swiss Heliswiss International AG are among those partners who have been equipped with uniform and CI-compliant protective clothing. Helly Hansen has been cooperating with Heliswiss for more than five years.
The core business of the Vorarlberg-based rescue service provider lies in transporting loads to hard-to-reach areas and in rescue operations. According to Helly Hansen, there is a lot to be said for uniform protective clothing. The crew is optimally protected against water, wind and cold by the uniform protective gear, without having to forego comfort, breathability and freedom of movement, it was said in Ludesch. The opulent colors and reflective stripes ensure increased visibility in poor lighting conditions.

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You always rush ahead of the future, said Andreas Pohl-Larsen, Product Director at Helly Hansen. Work on the current portfolio began two and a half years ago. Helly Hansen breathes an airy breeze into its current summer collection. The focus is on lightweight workwear for warmer conditions. Under the "BRZ" design, Helly Hansen integrates several breathable vents into its set of pants and jackets at once. The basic self-ventilating concept focused primarily on combining ventilation, comfort and versatility, said Helly Hansen's product director from Norway. Still, he said, the goal was to develop protective work gear weighing less than 350 grams in any case. Features such as good stretching and lightweight fabric with the ventilation louvers are intended to serve workers from different occupational groups. Thanks to the lightweight textiles, comfort is maintained for several hours of work. Practical: The workwear has so many pockets that tools are always within reach. The desire to integrate at least two smartphone pockets, for example, was also incorporated, as many construction workers carry both their business phone and their private cell phone.

The introduction of "BRZ" to Helly Hansen's traditional Hi-Vis ICU and Chelsea Evolution collection is designed to take flexibility and comfort to a new level. Particularly when working indoors and in warm and dry working conditions, the yellow and orange-black pants and jackets cut a fine figure with their lightweight fiber fabric made from a 4-way stretch material and well thought-out pocket positioning. The garments are air-conditioned by mesh-like laser-cut ventilation slats. The concept of functional workwear with its adaptability to fluctuating temperatures runs through the entire collection. On the Chelsea Evolution BRZ pants, for example, the mesh ventilation in the side seam allows cool air to be fanned in at any time. This works surprisingly well, as we found out in our hands-on experience. The ventilation can be adjusted to the environment depending on how the zippers are opened. Fully opened zippers of the side ventilation pockets are never visually disturbing. If the ventilation pockets are open from the inside, cooler ambient temperatures quickly become noticeable. In this case, it's better to protect yourself from colds by thinking about zipping them up early on.

Luminous material with long lasting capacity

The ICU workwear line is aimed primarily at modern craftsmen and women who are exposed to a variety of different working conditions. The company is also not scantily clad with additional labels and certifications. Especially since future scenarios such as complete workwear made of recyclable PET materials are increasingly becoming a possibility, these influences are not bypassing the Norwegians. For example, the company has been working with industry partners for some time to reduce the negative impact of single-use plastics. Since 2021, more than 70 percent of the fabric volume has been certified according to "Bluesign" or "Oekotex". The company has also set itself higher goals, such as water-free dyeing technology for lower water and energy consumption and lower CO2 emissions. More than 40 percent of Helly Hansen's new collection is therefore already dyed water-free in the lining and mesh.

The winter collection will also feature phosphorescent luminescent strips, which Helly Hansen says will shimmer brightly in the dark for up to eight hours at night. Other properties of the luminous material include a fast absorption time of five minutes of daylight. The luminous properties are also guaranteed at minus 30 degrees and under water.

Work shoes for harsh conditions

In the footwear collection, Helly Hansen aims to offer professional equipment for the harshest conditions. For example, the Kensington Low BOA is equipped with an extremely elastic, abrasion-resistant midsole (EVA and eTPU) that provides optimal cushioning and stability with every step. In addition, the shoe has a strong outsole for the best possible grip, a fashionable knit surface and molded TPU coverings. With its added metal-free protection against nail penetration and thanks to various reflective details, the safety shoe seems versatile and safe with its solid BOA closure system. One can wear the foot protection well both during and outside working hours.
The second safety shoe, the Manchester Mid, also comes with metal-free protection that provides additional shielding from nail penetration. The protective shield was realized by a safety toe cap consisting of a non-metallic, puncture-resistant plate and metal-free hardware. Thanks to the cushioning and lightweight EVA midsole, abrasion-resistant polyester surface and water-repellent air mesh lining promises comfort and safety in any workplace, while the reflective details additionally increase visibility.