Are you looking for a warm and stylish winter jacket that will keep the elements at bay? Then read this review of Helly Hansen Svalbard 2 Parka. It has been tested it during winter visit to New York and through a cold and wet British December.
Preparing for a winter trip to New York I realised I didn’t have a coat that was was stylish and weather-proof. I wanted something that would be smart enough for a night out in NYC. But which would also be wind and waterproof and keep me warm in sub-zero temperatures.
In the end I decided on the Women’s Svalbard 2 Parka by Helly Hansen. It comes in five colours – mid grey, dark green, dark blue, black and grey camo – I chose the grey on far left (Helly Hansen call it Graphite Bl).
The Svalbard Parka is apparently able to withstand polar winters. But Helly Hansen also promote it for use cold urban environments so it suited winter in New York very well .
Here’s what I thought about the jacket.
The colour is really stylish and even though the coat is a parka in style it looks really smart. I felt really comfortable walking around sightseeing in New York during the day. In the evening it was also suitable for visiting rooftop bars and upmarket restaurants.
During this review of Helly Hansen Svalbard 2 Parka it has become my go to winter coat. Back in the UK I have worn it for everything from school drop off and pick up, to a night out in town. It looks great and suits all situations.
The front zip fastens the coat all the way to cover the chin and is covered by a poppered strip. This keeps the front wind and waterproof. Once fastened the poppers and zip are completely concealed giving a clean finish to the front of the coat.
The sleeves are an ideal length for keeping your wrists and hands covered. For extra warmth and a comfortable fit there are knitted wrist gaiters inside the sleeve. They are so soft and well placed that I didn’t even notice them – in snow I am sure they’d keep out pesky up sleeve intrusions.
Some days, during my New York trip I didn’t take my coat off at all. We were a large group and wanted to sit together so it meant doing so outside. Also we chose rooftop seating areas in bars so we could enjoy the spectacular Manhattan views.
Despite being outside in temperatures hovering around zero nearly all day I never felt cold. The Primaloft® Black Eco insulation, 200g/m² in body and 170g/m² in sleeves and hood does an amazing job at keeping the cold out.
During this review of Helly Hansen Svalbard 2 Parka I found it keeps strong winds at bay. In fact all of the seams are fully taped and welded for long lasting wind and water protection.
Also I found that while I stayed warm I didn’t get sweaty or damp due to the excellent breathability of the Helly Tech Protection material. The jacket gives warmth without bulk making it easy to squash down and pack into a bag. It retains it’s softness whilst being lightweight (1400g) and to top it off has a 60% recycled content.
I have been out in moderate rain a few times and stayed dry. But the other day I was caught out in a torrential downpour. My kids coats failed to keep the water out and both were soaked to the skin. Whilst I was perfectly fine in this warm and stylish winter jacket.
However the inside of the pockets got quite wet. If I’d wanted to keep my hands warm I would have been disappointed – likewise it could have been a disaster if my phone was in the pocket! The pockets dried quickly once I’d turned them inside out near a radiator.
I have really put the Svalbard 2 Parka hood through its paces. Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge with a biting wind coming across the river the hood stayed up.
During torrential rain the hood kept me dry and stayed in place. It feels as though it is really structured and I didn’t once have to hold it in place. My ears and forehead were covered and I stayed warm and dry underneath.
There are two fleece lined pockets on each side of the lower part of the coat. The first pocket on each side is a top opening pocket with button fastening. Beneath these second on each side is an angled side opening pocket without a fastening.
These are the softest and warmest pockets ever! My hands felt so snug inside that I hardly need to worry about gloves.
I’m guessing the side opening pockets are for ease of sliding your hands in as you walk. Unfortunately I fount that my hands didn’t fit all the way in without lifting the coat slightly. This is probably because I am not very tall.
So I used the top opening pocket more often instead. These pockets are roomy enough for my purse in one side and phone and gloves in the other plus concealing my hands every now and then.
Another great feature is the reflective strip on each cuff to improve your visibility. These can be folded down and hidden away when not needed to retain that sleek, stylish finish.
I was slightly let down by the absence of an inside pocket. I would have liked this to keep my phone securely packed away. The inside of the coat does have a netted pocket for a hoodie or gloves but there isn’t any fastening to keep stuff safe.
During my trip to New York and since wearing it in the UK I had many positive comments about the coat. Most about how stylish the coat looks both for its colour and fit. But also how cosy I appear wearing it.
This is quite possibly the best winter coat I have ever worn. It’s highly practical, looks good, keeps the elements at bay and is very comfortable.
To conclude this review of Helly Hansen Svalbard 2 Parka I highly recommend it. If you are looking for a warm and stylish winter jacket this would make a great purchase.
The Helly Hansen Svalbard Parka 2 costs £250. It comes in both male and female versions in a good range of colours.