Engearment

Kate Agathon

The Helly Hansen Alphelia Lifaloft Ski Jacket is a lighter version of Helly Hansen’s classic Alphelia Ski Jacket.

Featuring compact insulation and loaded with useful features, the Helly Hansen Alphelia Lifaloft Ski Jacket is the perfect resort jacket to grab if you’re traveling to ski. It isn’t as bulky as other ski jackets and takes up less space in your baggage.

How it Looks

In keeping with this season’s style trend, the hem of the jacket is shorter and falls just at the top of my hips. I do prefer to have a longer hem for more coverage (especially for sitting on the chair lift), but I was open to trying something new and stylish.

 

I’m not one for super bright neon colors and prefer neutral, so I was pleased that the Alphelia Lifaloft Ski Jacket was also available in Mellow Gray (although it is closer to tan then gray).

The black raised Helly Hansen logos, zipper pulls with embossed HH logo, etc. stood out nicely along the light colored background and I liked the overall aesthetic effect.

Features

Designed with on piste skiing in mind, the insulated and waterproof Alphelia Lifaloft Ski Jacket is loaded with technical and practical features.

Constructed from the company’s top tier Helly Tech® Professional 4 way-stretch fabric and light yet warm Lifaloft™ insulation by Primaloft® and Primaloft® Black Eco 100g, the Alphelia Lifaloft Ski Jacket has articulated sleeves for optimal mobility and a helmet compatible detachable hood.

 

Other ski jacket features demonstrate that Helly Hansen has correctly anticipated what skiers deem comfort essentials: powder skirt, adjustable cuffs, chest pocket with goggle wipe, back yoke with ventilation holes, pit zips, elastic cuffs with thumbholes, and full inner front placket.

 

They also have comfort in mind with softly brushed lined hand pockets, quilted insulation along the collar, and a brushed tricot chin guard. Cozy details like that may seem small, but to me, they make a big difference!

Technological features include a ski pass Life Pocket +™ engineered to preserve battery life and Recco® reflector that helps to locate people lost outdoors by emitting a directional radar signal. I love how the reflector is battery-free and doesn’t require any maintenance.

 

However, because my Android phone is large, it unfortunately didn’t fit in the Life Pocket +™, so I wasn’t able to test out that particular technological feature.

 

Finally, the bluesign®  ski jacket is fully seam sealed and treated with PFC-free Durable Water Repellency (DWR) to keep moisture away.

Fit and Performance

The tailored fit Helly Hansen Alphelia Lifaloft Ski Jacket is stylish and ideal for resort skiing.

Paired with a base layer and a midlayer vest, the jacket kept me mostly warm throughout the changing conditions of the day. The hood also fit over my helmet.

My only criticism of the ski jacket is its short cut. This is where the “mostly warm” part comes in.

 

When our lift went by the blowing snow guns, I could feel their cold, powerful drafts. The ski jacket also moved up and exposed my midsection when I lifted my arms above my head instead of staying in place. In this case, I’m more in favor of function than fashion and a roomier fit that keeps the drafts out.

 

Also, even though I only wore a baselayer and a vest underneath, it seemed a little tight (perhaps it was the tailored fit); especially when the jacket was fully zipped to protect my neck and lower face from the wind. If you’re in between sizes, I would advise to try both sizes and then wear the layers you’d expect to wear underneath to make your final decision.

 

Overall, the eye-catching Helly Hansen Alphelia Lifaloft Ski Jacket is a good choice for fashionable resort skiers who like to rock a more tailored, fitted look.

It provides enough warmth to take you throughout the day and has thoughtful features (i.e. brushed tricot chin guard) to elevate its appearance. Because it is more compact than its counterparts, it makes it a good choice for traveling.

 

Ski Free

Because it is in-season, the Helly Hansen Alphelia Lifaloft Ski Jacket qualifies to be part of the Ski Free program.

 

The program is simple: buy a ski jacket or ski pants from Helly Hansen’s latest collection, identify a place that you’d like to ski for free (there are over 50 European and North American ski resorts participating and guidelines vary by resort), and validate your receipt. It’s a nice incentive; especially for a ski jacket that is so packable and travel-ready.

 

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Sansa.

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers.

 

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.