Helly Hansen Foil X Jacket review: smooth sailing through storms

Although Helly Hansen is a favourite among outdoor enthusiasts, I must admit that my experience with their gear has been limited. The brand is well-regarded in mountaineering and sailing circles, but my pursuits lean more toward hiking and trail running.

Given this, I approached the Helly Hansen Foil X Jacket as something of a novice. My introduction to it came during a visit to the American Magic team in Barcelona, where I was gifted the jacket. Since then, it has become a staple in my wardrobe, accompanying me on various adventures, including a recent outing with the Amflow PL Pro.

My appreciation for the Foil X Jacket has only deepened over time. In fact, I believe it’s currently the best waterproof jacket available for any non-extreme activity. That said, I used it for mountain biking, and it worked just fine, so strike that last bit.

While the Foil X Jacket is undoubtedly a premium product with a price to match, its features, design, and comfort more than justify the cost. If you’re in the market for a new waterproof jacket this autumn, the Helly Hansen Foil X Jacket should be high on your list.

Helly Hansen Foil X Jacket review

Price and availability

The Helly Hansen Foil X Jacket was launched in spring 2024 and is available to buy now at Helly Hansen US and Helly Hansen UK for a recommended price of $600/ £500. Currently, the jacket isn’t listed on Helly Hansen’s Australian website. As such, AU price and availability are TBC.

The Foil X jacket is available in women's and men's versions. If you’re planning on using it for sailing, you can buy matching waterproof overalls for $400/ £400. Men’s sizes range from extra small to XXXL, while women can buy the Foil X jacket in extra small to extra large sizes. The coat is available in two colours: Cobalt and Ebony.

Specifications

• Type: shell
• Weight: 20.55oz/ 582g (men’s medium)
• Waterproofing (HH): over 20,000 mm
• Breathability: 20,000 g/sq.m/day
• Windproofing: fully windproof
• Pockets: 2 zippered hand pockets, 1 internal chest pocket
• Pit zips: No

Design and materials

The Helly Hansen Foil X Jacket was designed using feedback from American Magic professional sailors. American Magic is a professional sailing team and one of the challengers in this year’s America’s Cup. Helly Hansen is one of the sponsors of American Magic and has been heavily involved in the team's preparation for the race.

According to the brand, every detail and feature of the Foil X Jacket is optimised for aerodynamic performance, allowing quick manoeuvrability and full protection. From the 4-way stretch fabric that enhances your range of motion to the Velcro straps that ensure a perfect fit around your waist, it's clear that Helly Hansen has thoughtfully considered every aspect of this jacket.

The Foil X Jacket is part of Helly Hansen’s Professional range, which uses cutting-edge Helly Tech waterproofing technology. Helly Hansen Professional garments have a hydrostatic head (HH) rating of over 20,000mm. They are also extremely breathable (over 20,000 g/sq.m/day) and fully windproof.

Some of my favourite features include the tall collar lined with brushed fleece, which not only feels comfortable but also keeps the wind away from your chin and neck. Speaking of chins, the Foil X Jacket has a brushed tricot chin guard, ensuring the YKK AquaGuard zips don’t cause any unnecessary rubbing.

One aspect that reveals the Foil X Jacket’s sailing-oriented design is the placement of its pockets, which are positioned lower than those on hiking jackets like the Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket or The North Face Stolemberg 3L DryVent Jacket. While this may make the jacket less ideal for backpacking, it’s a small trade-off for such a remarkable piece of gear.

Another excellent feature of this jacket is the removable hood. Sure, it makes sense for such a hardcore waterproof jacket to have a hood. However, it also makes sense for a coat designed for sailing to have a removable hood since you might be out boating in broad sunshine. Plus, it’s nice that the hood doesn’t flap around in the wind when there isn’t that much rain.

With its 3-layer construction, the Foil X Jacket is heavier than lightweight shells like the Arc’teryx Beta Lightweight Jacket. However, this added weight translates to superior comfort—the materials are soft, pliable, and produce minimal crinkling noise as you move. The fully sealed seams enhance water resistance and significantly reduce chafing, while the absence of shoulder seams ensures the jacket won’t irritate your shoulders when worn with a backpack.

The seams are fully sealed, which helps keep the water out and significantly reduces chafing inside the coat. Better still, there are now shoulder seams, so the Foil X won’t rub your shoulders raw when worn with backpacks.

The only notable drawback is the lack of recycled materials in the Foil X Jacket, at least as far as I can tell. While I understand it’s a professional-grade garment and may not be a bestseller due to its premium price, it would have been encouraging to see an effort toward sustainability. Helly Hansen has noted that many of the technological innovations in the Foil X Jacket will eventually be incorporated into other HH products, so it would have been ideal to see a commitment to environmental responsibility in this design.

Performance and comfort

As I mentioned in the intro, I have used the Helly Hansen Foil X Jacket pretty much continuously since I received it in June this year. Of course, the weather has been decent on occasions, but there were plenty of rainy days, and on those, I always reached for the Foil X Jacket.

I used the coat for sailing (well, chasing the Patriot with a RIB in Barcelona), mountain biking, shopping, hiking, walking and more. The Foil X performed flawlessly on all of these occasions.

Its soft yet resilient 3-layer design makes it better suited as a coat than most thin and lightweight waterproof shells. This adds to the coat's versatility, as you don’t necessarily need many layers underneath to help you keep warm. I would probably pair the Foil X Jacket with one of the best fleece jackets in cold weather, but if it’s not terribly chilly, one of the best base layers will do.

The lined collar is sublime, not least because it’s somewhat taller, which helps tremendously to keep the draft out of the jacket. The same goes for the adjustable hem and cuffs; it’s super easy to tailor the Foil X Jacket to your body shape to keep water and cold air away from your core.

The jacket is highly waterproof and windproof, yet I found it breathable, too, which is not often the case. Most ultra-waterproof jackets have thicker construction, which makes them less breathable. Although the Foil X Jacket has a 3-layer setup, it somehow perfectly balances waterproofing and breathability. I’ve never felt too toasty or exposed in the coat, that’s for sure.

Who’s the Helly Hansen Foil X Jacket for?

Even though the Helly Hansen Foil X Jacket was designed for performance sailing, it is perfectly suited for any other purpose, from dog walking to hiking, when you need a reliable waterproof jacket. I wouldn’t recommend it for trail running or thru-hiking, though, as the heavier, more insulated nature of the Foil X might hinder those activities.

Should you buy the Helly Hansen Foil X Jacket?

The Foil X Jacket is a premium outdoor garment and is priced accordingly. As such, I’m sure it will be outside of at least some people’s budget. That said, it’s a fantastic waterproof coat made from quality materials that works perfectly for its intended purpose and goes the extra mile. I would highly recommend it to anyone in need of a new waterproof jacket.

Verdict

The Helly Hansen Foil X Jacket is an exceptional waterproof shell that combines premium materials with thoughtful design, making it ideal for a range of outdoor activities beyond its intended sailing focus. While the jacket's heavier, more insulated build might not be suitable for trail running or backpacking, it excels in providing comfort, protection, and versatility in various conditions. The Foil X justifies the cost with its superior waterproofing, breathability, and windproofing features. If you’re in the market for a durable, high-performance jacket, the Helly Hansen Foil X is a top contender.