Helly Hansen isn’t just an apparel brand – it’s an institution. For 140 years, the company has been designing and manufacturing high quality performance apparel and is amazingly popular within the skiing and sailing industry. We all actually have Helly Hansen to thank for the world’s first supple waterproof fabrics and the world’s first fleece. If anyone could possibly know how to keep people warm and dry, it’s them. Fortunately for all of us in the construction industry, they also put their knowledge and unparalleled style into designs worthy of the jobsite as Helly Hansen Workwear (HHWW). Their goal? To create workwear that not only performs on the toughest jobsite, but also looks like something you’d wear out after work.
Helly’s signature workwear line is the Chelsea Collection, which is designed with tradesmen specifically in mind. The Chelsea Construction Pant is their bestselling pair of construction pants and, after spending the last few months in them, I now understand why. HHWW has loaded this pant with tons of small details that I am still finding, all with a reason and purpose. When you look through the features list of this pant, it’s almost like you are buying a tool chest or work-bench. There’s a pocket for almost everything a tradesman carries.
Chelsea Construction Pant
When I first received the Chelsea Construction pant, I couldn’t help but notice its style. It’s not common to be impressed by the look of construction pants – not much has changed for the past couple decades. I’ve been wearing the black/charcoal pant (link to Amazon), but now, with the newly released Timber color, I want two pairs. The material is durable, yet lightweight and breathable for hot weather. All of the stitching is double or triple. Trust me, you will not be busting your seams. After a few months of use there are still no signs of wear, unlike the jeans I have used in the past that faded within the first few weeks.
Helly Hansen's Chelsea Construction Pant in Timber
The Chelsea pant has your standard reinforced knee and cuff like most construction pants, but HHWW has added features to stand out from the rest of the pack. The reinforced knee has an opening for knee pad inserts directly sewn into the pant. The knee pad slot is adjustable for a perfect fit no matter what your line of work is, and the leg length is extendable in order to get a perfect fit. The pant also comes with reflective elements for added visibility without looking obnoxious.
The real star of this pant is the hanging front pockets. They are not a gimmick and you’ll find yourself using them regularly. Guys that are hard on their pants will instantly think that the hanging pockets will fall off within the first couple of weeks. These won’t; they are built strong and are made for carrying nails, screws, and any item you may have in your tool pouch. I work on a large job where we carry 2-way radios and the pockets are perfect place to carry my radio where it won’t fall out or get in the way. If you want to use your tool belt, simply tuck the hanging pouch into your front pockets.
Below, you can also check out a video review of the new Timber color Chelsea Construction Pant by Helly Hansen's Ambassador Matt Elliott:
Chelsea Shell Jacket
Helly Hansen Chelsea Shell Jacket in Race Blue
Another star in the Chelsea lineup is the Chelsea Shell Jacket. It may be the hottest time of the year right now, but we’re only a couple months away from firing the heaters up. The jacket is made with the same focus on comfort, style, and performance as the pants are. Throughout the spring, I was repping my Racer Blue Chelsea jacket and I don’t think I’ve worn a different jacket since I received it. As a testament to Helly Hansen apparel being just as functional off the job site as it is on the job site, not only did I wear it during an early morning 5K, when it was 40 degrees and raining, but I also wore it during a golf outing. I shot a -12 that day. OK, fine, it was during a 4-man scramble and some mulligans were used, but the jacket kept me completely dry and warm throughout, so it had to help. I only wish that I wore the construction pants, as well, since my lower body was completely soaked and freezing.
One of the other great things about this jacket is that it incorporates reflective tape strategically throughout. I’ve been on tons of jobsites where workers will wear a sweat shirt over their hi-vis shirt to stay warm, but they sacrifice their safety by doing that. If your job site requires an ID card, Helly’s also got you covered with a loop at the bottom hem. With this jacket you don’t have to choose between being dry, warm, or comfortable – you’re covered in every circumstance.
We’ve put our Helly Hansen work wear to the test and it has met and exceeded our expectations. We can’t wait to see what they release next.
