Helly Hansen Seven J Jacket

So, I like to share reviews to help others in my scenario. When it comes to wearing a new brand, size is always a question. I am 6'3" 260lbs, I typically wear a size 46L suit, 38-42 pants (depending on cut/room) and XL/2XL top (17" neck, 35" arm). My size is fairly evenly distributed, not overly top or bottom heavy. Buying clothes is always a chore so I tend to stick with the same brands over and over. I've needed to upgrade my rain jacket for a while so I took the leap with HH. Fit - very standard, more of a Euro cut, but not overly tailored. Possibly could of got a XL if this was strictly for summer coaching in the rain, or less active rain activities, but I wanted room for layers and for movement (golf, hiking, etc). This fits the bill. Plenty of room without it looking bulky, very true to size. Function - while not 100% water proof, it is as near as it could be. Wore if for a full day coaching in constant misting/drizzling rain and my top stayed dry underneath. Like most jackets that prevent the majority of rain getting in... it is a little warm. It is more breathable than my wife's HH (the more rubbery version), but still it is made to prevent liquid exchange, so it runs warm. Definitely great for movement, did not feel restricted at all. Did well cutting the wind too. Haven't worn it in a downpour yet, but I believe it will do fairly well there, but again, I wouldn't say 100% water proof. I could see this work well as a shell layer with base layers underneath in a semi-cold setting (true north colds, probably not) as it does a good job keeping body heat in and cutting the wet/wind. Will not replace a ski parka, but for a lighter alternative, could work. Style- easily the most aesthetically pleasing rain jacket I have had, could be worn as a light fall/spring jacket as well. The navy color is very nice, and is not overly logoed so it can be paired well with any outfit. If you are looking to get something with some "fashion" to function and not make the lead to the higher end options, this is a great place to look. I can say, if you are in truly wet situations (working in RAIN), the more rubbery material HH is the way to go.

For most Portland OR weather this and a light fleece are all I need. For temps ranging from the low 40's and up this and a light fleece provide all the wind and weather protection I need. I tend to run hot so your mileage may vary. I have tried several different manufacturers' light rain jackets and this one is one of my favorites thus far. The last Helly Hansen I had finally just wore out after more than a decade of faithful service. Sadly they don't make that model anymore (it was a soft shell parka with 4 exterior pockets whose placement was, for my purposes, perfect). The sleeves are fully lined with a soft nylon taffeta so if you're wearing a short sleeved shirt during warmer weather your arms don't feel clammy, which I appreciate. The rest of the liner for the torso is mesh with a mesh pocket over the right chest (I prefer the left as was on my old Hansen but you can't have everything I guess). I wouldn't minded a full taffeta lining but that would have also made the jacket heavier. I have 4 water proof jackets, this one, a Marmot Precip jacket from about 7 years ago, a Marmot Sidehill convertible with MemBrain, and a new Marmot Precip with the new nano pro waterproofing. I haven't tried the new Precip yet but they appear to have changed the recipe a bit on that jacket so maybe it's a little more breathable than the older model. I don't think it's fair to compare the Sidehill with the Hansen because the Sidehill is a lot heavier so any subjective measure of breathability is bound to be skewed. The Sidehill is just a warmer jacket with the same amount of exertion. But the Precip and Hansen are pretty comparable in weight so I think there's a fair comparison to be made between the Old Precip and this new Hansen jacket. My subjective assessment is that the HellyTech waterproofing is more breathable than the old Precip's waterproofing. This jacket is nice looking, fits well, has a soft fabric that is not excessively noisy, that is waterproof and very breathable. For around town and light hiking this is an awesome jacket. The Precip, which can be had at a similar price point has very attractive features as well. It is very light weight. Packs into it's own pocket into a conveniently small package. Has huge pit zips, which are awesome when you're hiking to keep cool. The Helly Hansen does not have pit zips. But it is fully lined, which the Precip is not. Maybe this is not a fair comparison. Probably not considering I can justify having both. One is a great all rounder and the other is more technical in nature. If you're looking for great value in a light waterproof jacket you won't be disappointed.

Ok, so this is an incredible jacket! For less than $100, this coat gives you the protection from the elements, craftsmanship and quality of Helly Hansen, and the style that everyone envies. I’m anxious for a rainy evening so I can rock this Dope AF HH!

Was a perfect fit, a bit lighter weight than I thought, will work excellent around the house and errands. Thanks

This jacket seems to be just as good as garments costing three or four times as much, such as Patagonia's. It's cut slim, so if you have a belly like me you should buy at least one size up. I normally wear XL, but I ordered the XXL, and even that is right on the border for me. I could probably wear the XXXL, though the sleeves might be too long. If you're not slender, you have to compromise a little. The jacket sheds rain well, as far as I can tell: haven't had a chance to test it in a real downpour, but in a gentle spring rain it does the trick. It doesn't breathe as well as I had hoped, so, if I exert myself at all, I wind up damp from perspiration, even if not from the rain; but that's not a major drawback. My only other criticism is that the zipper is rather daintier than one expects on outdoor gear. It does its job, though. We'll see in a year or so if it holds up under use. So far I can't complain. If you search for a Helly Hansen rain shell that's "packable", this jacket comes up, but some people might disagree with that characterization. You can roll it up and stuff it into the hood, and it's reasonably compact, but it's not the kind that stuffs into its own pocket or pouch. When I started shopping for a packable rain shell, I was astonished at the prices. I can't imagine paying $300-$500 for a light rain jacket, but apparently lots of people can. At $99, this Helly Hansen jacket is an excellent bargain, and I recommend it. Edit: After several years, the white stuff inside the jacket has started to crumble away. I don't know if that affects its water-resistance, but it certainly makes a mess.

Personal measurements: M, 38 in chest, 32/33 sleeve, 5"8, 145-150 lbs, lean build. Fit: Pretty much as pictured as the medium fits perfectly for my size and frame. The sleeves go just beyond my wrists, and the bottom of the jacket ends slightly past my waistline. The hood is also perfect size, not to small or big. Though it is not slim fit, the jacket does have a nice sleek look, is not baggy, and is pretty light. Effectiveness: Unlike many other rain coats the material from this jacket is made of Polyamide rather than the usually polyester. As a result, it is very effective in ensuring that no rain seeps through the coat while still being very breathable. I have only worn this jacket in slight to moderate rain and on both occasions it has kept me dry. Price: I was able to purchase this jacket off Amazon for $60. Looking at the price now (2/10/2014) I would still recommend buying this jacket but possibly waiting for a possible drop in sale. However, compared to the overrated as well as overpriced Northface jackets that go for upwards of $150, I would definitely recommend buying this product if you need an effective lightweight raincoat ASAP. Minor Fault: The only minor (personal) detail I didn't like about the jacket was that though it kept me dry and prevented the rain from getting through, the rain drops would tend to stick to rather than stream off the jacket. Besides that I would highly recommend this product to anyone who is interested in buying an effective lightweight rain jacket.

I bought this for my son, but I keep grabbing it off the coat rack! I love the color, the quality, and the fabric is soft and waterproof. I live on an island, and this is perfect for when storms kick up and I've got to secure things. It's got a light, mesh lining, an adjustable hood, velcro closures at wrists and along the zipper, exterior hand pockets, and an inside chest pocket. It's just technical enough, for an every day jacket, but not durable enough daily work on the water. But that's not really what it's meant for. This jacket is not insulated. It has YKK zippers, good stitching, beautiful seams, and good quality hook and loop closures and snaps. It is washable, and can be tumble dried on low heat. Do NOT dry clean. I got this jacket on sale, and it was an excellent purchase! Great quality for the price!

Fits and functions wonderfully. Only con is the size of the zipper, very small. Works great in the rain and in the wind. Easy to pack because it’s a thinner material.

I have just bought this jacket and I'm really impressed. I went out in the pouring rain and the water just rolls off. It's brilliant. I have never bought HH before but I will definitely now

I have just taken delivery of this great lightweight jacket in the Cobalt Blue colour........its very well made and has some useful pockets. I like the integral hood and quality fittings. Its too early to comment on the waterproofness of this jacket but it looks the part and i have every confidence that it will deliver! Fits very indeed and the medium size came up as expected. Recommended!

Very impressed by this Seven J jacket! I always come back to Helly Hansen every time I look at other brands. They just seem to have one of the best balance of quality & features for the price on so many jackets they sell. This is my 5th HH jacket, and I wanted this one in rotation for spring time and walking mainly. I mainly wear the hooded Crew Jacket 2.0 as my daily driver jacket, which is honestly pretty similar to this except it has a bit better zippers and a bit more insulation around the shoulder/neck areas which adds warmth (and you can stow the hood away), and it also has a front and interior storage with zippers which is very convenient. But, the outer shell material is almost the exact same on both jackets (Helly Tech). Both very flexible, rain resistant and wind proof. The quality is great. The Seven J does have an interior pocket, but no zipper, it's velcro. Still very usable to hold a wallet or your phone, just not quite as nice as the Crew Jacket having the zipper which is a bit more secure, but the Crew 2.0 does cost 2x more than this jacket. In terms of warmth, this one is not as warm as the Crew Jacket 2.0, due to less insulation, and the collar on the Crew 2.0 also has a fleece material which is nice on colder days. It's overall a bit warmer, especially against wind. But, this one is still very good. I think you could quite easily layer it for temps below 0 if needed. Anything less than -10C I would probably opt for a heavier jacket. This one to me is ideal 0-15C or so. Crew Jacket 2.0 I would say is around -5C to 15C. Again, this would be assuming you're wearing a t-shirt or possibly t-shirt + other shirt, depending on your preference or activity level, etc. You could easily wear a sweater underneath for colder temps or days, lots of space in each jacket. Both jackets have YKK zippers, but as mentioned the Crew 2.0 does have the smoother and higher quality YKK which is also anti-corrosive (salt water, etc). But I don't see the YKK zipper on this Seven J a 'downgrade', it works very well so far just like my other HH jackets, and I've never had one fail on me so far, so I trust it. What I appreciate on this jacket a lot is the full mesh material around the whole jacket except for the arms, which are lined. This to me is perfect for staying cooler on rainy days or lower temps in spring, especially when walking. Again it's very flexible and easy to maneuver. I wear a Mens medium, I'm 6'1 and 175-180 pounds and it fits perfect. It's pretty relaxed in the shoulders, and you can still adjust the waist area a bit to be looser or tighter. So to me no need to size up or anything, fits just like my other HH jackets pretty much. I got the 596 Navy color. It looks great. Compared to my 597 Navy jacket, it's a bit more blue and not as dark as the 597. It's very subtle, but different enough to be noticeable. I love both shades of navy, they work well with all my outfits. So all in all, I can't think of a better spring/rain jacket at this price. For $100 CAD, I couldn't find anything better. Highly recommended overall.

I love this Helly Hansen Jacket. I wear it at least twice a day to walk the dog, and at weekends to walk in the hills. Generally even if the weather is cold I don't wear too many layers underneath, once I get moving the heat I generate keeps me warm- and the hood is another essential protection from the sideways rain you get in the Yorkshire Dales. The Velcro adjustable cuff detail works well. Nicely crafted and what I'd expect from HH. One thing to note- I'm 6 foot tall and not heavily built, and the X-Large is a perfect fit. I'm a very happy customer ~ this is the best thing I've bought having re-located from London to North Yorkshire.

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