Helly Hansen Lifaloft Full Zip Insulator Pants – Perfect For Keeping Warm

Kate Agathon

The Helly Hansen Lifaloft Full Zip Insulator Pants are designed to provide skiers with instant insulation; particularly underneath shell ski pants. But, as I most recently discovered, they are also great to wear while nordic skiing.

Before I jump into my review, I have to provide a bit of background as to why I am particularly interested in ¾ length cut insulation. It all began last season when I wore a new pair of synthetic base layers whose excess length was so long that I had to roll the cuff due to my short stature. A bad decision was made here.

 

After a particularly painful day skiing in Breckenridge (I had hot spots and felt like my circulation was about to be cut off because of the way my new base layers bulked up underneath my ski boots), I vowed to wear only “boot friendly” ¾ base layers. To be honest, I had no idea how terribly uncomfortable the combination of rolled base layers and ski socks actually was. In all my years of alpine skiing leading up to that day, I suppose I had just lucked out with my base layers? I had not previously experienced this problem.

 

From that day on, I tried to wear only ¾ length baselayers or my old worn ones (the new baselayers were relegated to wearing around the house) while alpine skiing. Therefore, I was especially keen to try Helly Hansen’s Lifaloft Full Zip Insulator Pants this season. They were immediately appealing because they offered the mid-shin length that I coveted and also had insulation to keep my buns warm. Heck yes!

Unfortunately, I am only doing nordic skiing this season. So, I recently wore these nordic skiing and wow, they did not disappoint.

 

The Lifaloft Full Zip Insulator Pants provided warmth while adding no additional bulk or weight in critical areas (my butt and thighs) without me overheating. On a day with variable winter conditions, they were just what I needed!

Admittedly, wearing the Lifaloft Full Zip Insulator Pants to nordic ski may seem a bit unconventional. Typically, when I nordic ski, I’ll wear tights and softshell pants or just softshell pants. However, sometimes they just don’t provide enough warmth. So it’s nice to have the Lifaloft Full Zip Insulator Pants on hand when the weather turns. Their full side zipper construction makes taking them on and off a breeze! If the conditions change and I get cold, on they go. If it gets too warm, off they go. I can ski in comfort in variable conditions with minimal interruptions. Simple!

Constructed from water resistant and windproof fabric, I liked that the Lifaloft Full Zip Insulator Pants offered more warmth (I get cold more easily than most) against the changing conditions. They also protected me from the bitterly cold wind and, thanks to its stretch panels, my movement was not at all restricted.

 

Other key features of this bluesign® product include: LIFALOFT™ insulation by Primaloft®; PFC- Free DWR;  and back pocket.

 

I was a bit concerned the waist would result in some chafing, but it was not a problem at all. I would have also liked side pockets, but they seem unnecessary when you consider what the Lifaloft Full Zip pants were originally designed for.

 

Another consideration is how multi-functional they really are. Because they can be worn in so many different scenarios, they can extend the range of ski pants. Closet space is at a premium in the mountain town where I live, so having the extremely packable Lifaloft Full Zip Insulator Pants on hand helps to minimize the amount of space dedicated to winter sports pants.

 

Finally, these tend to run small, so consider ordering a size up.

 

I know I’ll be getting a lot of use out of the Lifaloft Full Zip Insulator Pants this season due to their ease of use and insulative properties. When the temperatures drop, sometimes all you need is just some insulation to keep on going.

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.