Helly Hansen ULLR D Freeride Jacket Review

I had the opportunity to review the Helly Hansen ULLR Freeride Jacket this winter and have become a believer in their products.  I know HH is loved and worn by my local resort, Brighton so I was excited to jump in and test it out.

Testing HELLY TECH vs GORE-TEX

I have been riding this jacket in conditions ranging from blower Utah powder to heavy spring snow, all the way across the border to Canadian sunshine. 

I will be perfectly honest and say I am always skeptical if a jacket does not say “GORE-TEX” when it comes to waterproofing, but the HELLY TECH proved me wrong. 

I was lucky enough to ride several powder days with the ULLR jacket that ranged from light powder to heavy wet snow and in both condition’s I stayed perfectly dry. 

The one thing I really liked about the jacket was how quiet and breathable it was, especially on those wet days.  Several GORE-TEX jackets I own are very loud and you can hear the fabric with the slightest movement, which was not the case with the ULLR.  I believe this comfort and flexibility is due to the two way stretch fabric. Another feature I was very fond of was how well the hood fit and stayed in place while riding.  A lot jackets the hood is great for the lift, but hard to ride with as it moves around and blocks your peripheral vision.

I hiked several times while riding in Revelstoke and it proved to be super breathable, the days started out cold and by mid-day the temperature was in the low 40’s and having a breathable jacket is very important for comfort. I also want to add that the vents work great and are extremely important in my opinion. I personally feel vents are a “must have” in any ski/ snowboards jacket. Conditions and temperatures are always changing and having the added value of venting is key.

The ULLR is listed as a shell which I would say is very accurate, on some of the colder days you can feel the colder air and need to layer up as this jacket is not super warm.

I would consider the fit the of the jacket regular, I wear a medium in just about every jacket I have ever owned, and this one is true to size (5 9”, weighs 170lbs) The jacket comes down to your waist in the front which I personally like as it does not get in my way when bending over to strap into my snowboard but has a slightly longer tail to keep you dry. 

Pockets

I really liked the location and size of the pockets but do have one gripe and wish the pass pocket was located on your arm for easy scanning.  The scanners had trouble from time to time using the dedicated pass pocket which is located behind the left side pocket. The goggle pocket came in clutch as I was able to carry a small pizza for my family while on vacation!  I think you could also use it for backcountry skins to keep them warm during transitions.  I did not have the opportunity to tour with this jacket as I thought the white color could be dangerous if by chance I was caught in an avalanche, but lucky for all of us it comes in several other colors.  I do feel it would be a great additional to your backcountry quiver as a layer to pack away and put on after you finished your tour up.  I personally wear a very light soft shell for skinning because I tend sweat a lot.

– Life Pocket+™ – Developed in collaboration with PrimaLoft®, Life Pocket +™ is engineered using PrimaLoft® Gold Aerogel to keep your pocket 3 times warmer and prolong the life of your phone battery.

– Hand Pockets with Brushed Lining
– Hand Pockets with YKK® Zippers
– Inner Chest Pocket
– Goggle Pocket
– Ski Pass Pocket
– Internal Hanging Loop

One super cool thing Helly Hansen is offering is a free pass or two for one at premier resorts with the purchase and registration of a Helly Hansen jacket.  I love this idea as so many resorts are charging $200 for a pass which is almost like getting 60% off the jacket when you purchase it.  I also feel the price of this jacket is on point for the quality they are offering.  A low-end GORE-TEX shell can cost up to $500 and the MSRP for the ULLR is only $300.

Overall Impression

As I stated throughout the testing, I am very impressed with the Helly Hansen quality and performance, it has changed my mind about “having” to own GORE-TEX, in order to stay dry and own a breathable jacket.  I will definitely continue wearing the Helly Hanen ULLR D Freeride Jacket ($300.00) and look forward to seeing what other great products HH has to offer.

I would also like to thank Mike at Mountain Weekly News for the opportunity, shred on!

Related Ski & Snowboard Jackets We Reviewed

1. Patagonia Men’s Stormstride Jacket
2. 686 GORE-TEX Pro Thermagraph Jacket
3. Flylow Kane Jacket