It’s a word I use rarely, or lightly, but the new Helly Hansen Ægir Ocean Pro Dry Top is phenomenal.
From the ground up it’s designed for one purpose; to keep someone safe at sea and it fulfils that remit and then some.
Picking up the jacket for the first time, you can feel how sturdy it is, but also, surprisingly, how flexible it is. The Helly Tech® Professional fabric is designed with the worst weather in mind and the construction of the jacket is bombproof.
That said, I used it for kayaking offshore in a force 5 and it didn’t feel to bulky or unwieldy at all.
Working from the top down, one of the first things that strikes you is the huge collar. This can keep out any storm and is enhanced with a facemask that further protects you. The high, padded collar conceals and hi-vis yellow hood, complete with SOLAS reflective panels, a wired peak and see-thru panels to either side.
Inside the collar there is a very flexible latex neck seal with a neoprene secondary seal. The secondary and outer seals have drain holes to stop water building up within them. The outer collar can also be flattened and held open with press studs on either side. This keeps it out of the way but still readily available should the weather take a turn for the worse.
The sleeves are generously cut without becoming cumbersome. They are finished with supple latex seals and overcuffs with heavy duty velcro tabs. They both have bellows pockets, again with drain holes, for storing small items.
Moving down, the top has a large mesh kangaroo pocket with a heavy duty zip which is useful to keep items that need to be ready to hand. It’s also accessible when wearing a harness. It has an innovative zip off ‘skirt’ which comes below the knee and would prove very useful when helming or on watch to prove an extra level of comfort and protection.
Inside, there’s a wide neoprene waistband with double velcro closures. This provides a good seal against the Ægir Ocean Trousers.
The features list reads as follows:
- Helly Tech® Professional fabric
- Articulated sleeves
- Kangaroo pocket
- Solas reflectives
- Waist adjustment
- Rubber cuffs and neck
- YKK zippers
- Neoprene adjustable waist
- EN-471 hi-vis hood fabric
- Adjustable hood
- Polartec® fleece collar
- High collar
- 3/4-length
- Durable Water Repellency treatment (DWR)
- Fully seam sealed
- 3 ply fabric construction
- Waterproof, windproof and breathable
It’s priced at £675.00 so is aimed at the more serious end of the market but is built to last and, I think, will pay for itself over time.
