Insulated jacket
Product 2025
Man
We tested the Helly Hansen Kvitfjell Race Insulated Jacket together with the Kvitfjell Race Zip-Off Pants — both pieces originally designed for the Norwegian national alpine ski teams.
This jacket is pure alpine performance. It showcases Helly Hansen’s expertise in materials, construction, and technical detailing. There’s no doubt: this is a serious, purpose-built garment. The only minor flaw? The underarm vents are not waterproof. Other than that, it’s nearly flawless.
The Kvitfjell Race Insulated Jacket combines both weather protection and insulation. Warmth comes from recycled Primaloft, which performs extremely well across the entire jacket. Unlike natural down, Primaloft remains insulating even when wet — a key advantage in snowy environments. Despite its high level of warmth, the jacket remains moderate in thickness and bulk.
One of the standout features is the comfort and stretch of the outer fabric. The fit is also a strong point, especially the generous volume around the arms, which allows athletes to easily put the jacket on or take it off between race runs. Even if you’re not a racer, this jacket is a fantastic piste option that blends performance with style.
As expected at this level, it comes fully equipped with all the essential features:
Powder skirt
Ski pass pocket
Goggle wipe
Large waterproof zippered pockets
Zipper pulls that are glove-friendly
High, soft collar
Helmet-compatible hood that doesn’t obstruct peripheral vision
Recco reflector
Unlike some other Helly Hansen models, the zippers on the Kvitfjell Race Insulated slide very smoothly, which is a welcome improvement.
In terms of waterproofing, the Helly Tech Professional membrane delivers excellent performance against wind, snow, and wet conditions.
In short, the Helly Hansen Kvitfjell Race Insulated Jacket is an outstanding piece for alpine skiing — well-cut, highly technical, ultra-comfortable, and warm thanks to Primaloft insulation.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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