Helly Hansen LIFA® Active Solen Hoodie

Review by Erin Trail

The Helly Hansen LIFA® Active Solen Hoodie is for folks who want a fun + functional sun protective hoodie for outdoor pursuits.

Details

• 85% Polyester (Recycled), 15% Polypropylene
• Thumb holes
• Internal hanging loop
• Drawstring adjustment inside hood
• UPF 50+
• Made from Oceanbound Recycled materials

Review

I love a good sun hoodie.  And when that sun hoodie is combined with a fun, bright graphic design, I’m all in.

I am a women’s size medium on the Helly Hansen size guide and I found the Helly Hansen LIFA® Active Solen Hoodie to fit true to size.  The bottom hem of the shirt came down to the widest part of my hips.  The sleeves are generously long, extending to nearly my knuckles.

I’ve been wearing the Helly Hansen LIFA® Active Solen Hoodie on trail runs and on hikes, with temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degrees F.

Immediately out of the package, you notice how soft the fabric is.  I would characterize the weight of the fabric to be medium; not featherweight but also not heavy or clingy feeling.  It is very stretchy and accommodates all ranges of motion.

My favorite feature about the Helly Hansen LIFA® Active Solen Hoodie, besides the Coral Almond colorway, is the hood.  Sometimes the fit on a hoodie is wonky – to big or too small or just oddly shaped.  This hoodie has a drawstring built into the opening, located at the lower left side, allowing the wearer to customize the fit.  Because of this feature, the hood fit great with a hat, without a hat, or with a headlamp.

For me, this shirt is PERFECT for 50 degree runs, but since it’s a sunshirt, I also tested it on warmer days while hiking. During all of my testing, the shirt breathed well and wicked moisture away from my body.

The Helly Hansen LIFA® Active Solen Hoodie also wears really well.  I’ve used a few different hydration packs, and even raced a trail running race, and the shirt still looks unphased with no snags or pills.

The arm length should also please a lot of people.  The wrist cuff and thumb holes are well constructed and durable.  And the arms hem comes down to my knuckles, allowing full sun coverage.

I wore this shirt on one of the best runs that I’ve had in quite a while.  I ran the Ragnar Trail Relay in Zion and I had very early morning run, about 4 miles and 400 ft climbing.  Due to the nature of Ragnar Relay, you don’t exactly know when you’ll be running, so I was planning on running anywhere from 3 AM to 6 AM for this loop.  Temperatures at that time of night (morning?) range from 40 degrees to 55 degrees, so I had to pick a shirt that would have a decent range for temperature conditions.  The Helly Hansen LIFA® Active Solen Hoodie fit the bill perfectly.  I donned my headlamp, pulled and secured the hood, and waited in the holding tent, while wearing my incoming runner’s puffy coat to stay warm.  I was lucky enough to run just before sunrise, with the woods waking up around me.  I started the loop with the hoodie up, but grew warm and was able to yank it back and ignore it.  Same with my hands – fully enclosed in the long sleeves and thumb holes and then pushed slightly up as I got warmer.  No beanie or gloves needed – this shirt did it all.  I was comfortable, staying the perfect temperature as my body + surroundings warmed up. And that Coral Almond colorway POPPED at dawn.  So good.

Closing Thoughts

The Helly Hansen LIFA® Active Solen Hoodie is a great active long-sleeve shirt for those looking for something breathable on cooler days or to keep them protected on sunny days.

The Helly Hansen LIFA® Active Solen Hoodie is available for both men and women.  The men’s option is available in three colorways (white, windy blue, and lagoon chirnside) and in sizes ranging from S to XXL.  The women’s option is available in white or coral almond in sizes ranging from XS to XL.

Erin Trail

Trail Boss of Stoke

Erin Trail on her mountain bike at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race

Erin Trail on her running at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race