Stuck in the snow at the trailhead with a dead battery after hours of ski touring, completely exhausted, with frost icing my shell, mittens, hat, and face…I didn’t freeze because I was wearing magic base layers: Helly Hansen’s Warm Freeze ½ Zip and ¾ Pant!
These base layers, made of ultra fine merino wool on the outside layer and hollow polypropylene tubes mimicking polar bear fur on the inside, are extraordinarily good! I climbed as many laps of my favorite backcountry slope as I had hours in the day in cold mid-winter conditions of 15-25 degrees F. Even better: when my insulating layers got a little damp and my shells started to ice shut, I could lie down in the snow. Helly Hansen’s Warm Freeze ½ Zip and ¾ Pant kept my skin dry, itch-free, and comfortable.
I tested Helly Hansen’s Warm Freeze ½ Zip and ¾ Pant for hard alpine, xc, and backcountry ski workouts, winter trail runs, and mountain bike rides this winter. The harder I worked, the better I liked their ability to wick moisture and keep me feeling comfortable without chafing. After a season’s worth of hard use, all seams are intact and ski area laundry machines have yet to cause any pilling or appreciable wear in the fabric.
Here’s the thing: the best breathable, storm proof shell and most efficient insulating layers won’t work if a layer of moisture remains on the skin in cold conditions, especially if you eat and drink everything in your pack with your buddies after a great day of skiing, they take off in their cars, and you realize that your car won’t start.
Bottom Line: A close, efficient fit; comfortable stretch; no-itch layer next to the skin combined with a moisture-wicking, naturally anti-microbial outer merino layer (that insulates) work perfectly together to manage moisture. The ¾ length Pant doesn’t bunch up behind my knee or capture extra splash biking or running in nasty conditions.
The Warm Freeze ½ Zip is available in Black, Cobalt Blue/Evening Blue, Magma, US Blue, Charcoal/White, Ebony/White, in sizes XS to 3XL for $95.00. The Warm ¾ Pant comes in XS to 2XL for $70.00.
Manufacturer’s Site: www.HellyHansen.com
