Review of Force Pants: Stretchy insulated ski trousers by Helly Hansen

Looking for some new ski pants that will keep you warm, dry and won’t restrict your movement? Then check out this review of Force Pants as these stretchy insulated ski trousers by Helly Hansen might be just the ticket.

When skiing or snowboarding there is nothing worse than being cold or wet. So your outerwear needs to do a good job at retaining heat and keeping moisture at bay.

As a snowboarder I often end up sitting or kneeling in the snow. So trousers need to perform very well, plus extra insulation in those areas is a bonus.

On top of this the last thing you want is for your trousers to be tight and restrictive. So these stretchy insulated ski trousers by Helly Hansen really appealed to me.

Review of Force Pants

I tested these Helly Hansen Force Pants during three days of snowboarding in Ischgl, Austria. We had a wide range of conditions from -12°C to +5°C and experienced strong winds, rain, sunshine and lots of fresh snow.

Fit of Force Pants

When I tried on these stretchy insulated ski trousers by Helly Hansen I realised they are quite fitted. As a snowboarder I usually go for loose baggy trousers.

It’s not just the compulsory ‘snowboarder’ look. We wear baggy gear as it helps when strapping in, doing tricks and getting low when riding.

Initially I was concerned this would be a problem. But a few squats and lunges showed that the 4-way full stretch fabric allows more than enough movement. The articulated knees also help.

On the slopes they looked more snug than I like, however they performed fine. I had no issues snowboarding, doing tricks or riding off-piste. But they have more of a skier look than that of a snowboarder.

Warmth and temperature regulation

I got these pants specifically for a trip to Norway where I was expecting seriously cold temperatures. But due to unseasonably warm conditions and a lack of snow the trip was cancelled.

Instead we went to Ischgl, where temps dropped to -12°C. Not quite the -30°C I thought I’d be testing them in but still rather cold. And the Primaloft® Black High-Loft 40g Insulation did a brilliant job. I never felt cold despite experiencing some ferocious winds and sitting in the snow a fair amount.

But keeping you warm is only half the battle, you also don’t want to get too hot. Fortunately, these stretchy insulated ski trousers by Helly Hansen have inner thigh venting zippers that work a treat. Unzip for for a while and sweaty damp air quickly escapes. Even in warmer conditions they are comfortable.

Review of Force Pants: Waterproof

Of course keeping you warm is pointless if a pair of trousers are not waterproof. I snowboarded in rain and snow, plus fell in deep powder, so I can safely say these stretchy insulated ski trousers by Helly Hansen do a great job.

Made from Helly Tech® Professional 2L fabric – HH’s top material. It is over 20,000 waterproof and 20,000 breathable.

Coated with Durable Water Repellency treatment (DWR), water just beads off the surface. They use YKK® Aqua guard® Vislon® water resistant zippers and are fully seam sealed. In short these stretchy insulated ski trousers by Helly Hansen keep moisture at bay.

Other features

A review of Force Pants by Helly Hansen would not be complete without talking about some of their other features. Firstly, they come equipped with
RECCO® Advanced Rescue system. This is not a replacement for an avalanche transceiver but could help you get found.

They have two hand pockets and a back pocket, but I found the trousers a little too snug to put anything in them. The hem is reinforced, which is perfect for shorties like me as it gets walked on.

There are very good boot gaiters keeping snow at bay. They use a stretchy silicone gripper which is much better than metal hooks as you don’t end up standing on them. But they do just as good a job keeping the snow out.

These stretchy insulated ski trousers by Helly Hansen also have what I call before lunch and after lunch modes. Using velcro the waistband is adjustable by a large amount, so if you over do it at lunch you can loosen off! There are also belt lopes.

Stretchy insulated ski trousers by Helly Hansen

These are great ski pants, and I do emphasise the word ski. Although they have extra insulation in the bottom and knees which is good for snowboarders I’d say they are just a little too fitted for us sideways snow sliders.

They are super stretchy meaning even though they are tight you can snowboard in them fine. They just look too fitted on me. But for skiers or thin legged snowboarders the Force Pants would be perfect.

To conclude this review of Force Pants by Helly Hansen I’d say although they are not for me they are an excellent bit of kit. They will keep you warm, dry and comfortable no matter what the conditions.

I hope you found this review of the Force ski trousers useful. Costing £240 they come in four colours (Black, Graphite, Sweet Lime and White). They cost £240 and can be bought direct from Helly Hansen: www.hellyhansen.com/force-pant/