During cold weather adventures, keeping yourself warm, dry and comfortable is paramount. It all starts with our skin, or rather the garments laying on our skin: the base layer. Much like a pyramid of cheerleaders, a strong base will yield good results. If your base is junk, your game is weak…and your time in the frosty winter air will be anything but “chill.” I’ve been beating the elements all season long with a base layer combination from Helly Hansen, and the results are in! Here’s how the Warm Flow High Neck 1/2 Zip top and Active Flow Pants performed when it was time for maximum fun in Utah’s winter months:
Helly Hansen Warm Flow High Neck 1/2 Zip:
This top layer is split 68/32 between merino wool and polypropylene fabric. The combination of the two provides all of merino wool’s best properties while allowing for structure and quick-drying capabilities. Helly Hansen has dubbed it Lifa Flow (Lifa fibers line the interior of the shirt, while the merino wool stays outside for heating), and it certainly gets the job done.
As you already know, we’ve ridden a rollercoaster of conditions yet again this winter. Everything from sub-zero temps to warm, slushy spring snow could be sampled in the Wasatch this season. The Warm Flow High Neck proved to be versatile enough to handle the varied conditions with ease. On extra frosty days, I used this as my base layer with a mid-layer down jacket and shell jacket to top it off. Perfection! I stayed toasty warm even on top of windy ridgelines. When the heating cycle kicked in, all I had to do was slim down my mid-layer and I was good to go. Even when it was time to earn some turns, the Helly Hansen top didn’t let me down.
Backcountry touring was especially nice with the Warm Flow top. Cold days were simple enough: layer up and let the Lifa Flow keep me dry. But when the temperatures rose along with my effort level on the skin track, the HH top shined. As a solo layer, I found it to be comfortable and capable of venting off my excess heat. The 1/2 length zipper is handy in this department, and because of the technical fit, pulled up sleeves stayed put. Even after numerous trips through the washing machine, this garment held its shape and showed no signs of breaking down.
For me, the Warm Flow High Neck top is a winner. Comfort and versatility are its best features, and when joined with other layers, you’ll be toasty warm. If you need an all-conditions slayer, give this one a look.
Helly Hansen Active Flow Pant:
Ah, the old long johns; an often overlooked part of the winter kit. I’ve owned some haggard pairs in my day, so I was happy to upgrade to the Active Flow Pants this winter. Like the Warm Flow top, they are built with Lifa Flow technology; but alas, there is no merino wool to be found here. A 65/35 ration of polyester to polypropylene are these pants’ DNA, and might have something to do with why they are marketed as a bottom layer for multiple activities.
I put them to the test all winter long, with varied results. First, let me assure you that they are quite comfortable. They have good structure without being constrictive, and the fabric combination is soft and comfortable against the skin. On cold days, these pants are solid performers. The Active Flows did a fine job of keeping me warm, and fighting off wind gusts. However, it was on the not so cold days that I encountered some issues.
No two ways about it: the Active Flow pants don’t handle heat very well. On uphill climbs (both with skins, and with boots) I found myself quickly overheating. Though I pulled the zipper vents on my shell pants, there was little relief to be gained. I found this strange, because even after I had reached “maximum temperature” the pants still did a fine job of wicking sweat from my legs. The heat-trapping became enough of an issue that I opted to leave the pants on the shelf when temperatures were over 30 degrees F.
In summary, the Active Flow Pants are probably better than your old man’s long johns, but more suited to a day on the chairlift than backcountry tours. At $55, they are a pretty good deal, and if you’re looking to stay warm they will do the trick. If you need a technical approach layer, you’ll want to shop Helly Hansen’s higher end bottoms.