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Patagonia Helium
Windshirt
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Price:
£50.00
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Weight: 164 grammes
(men'sM)
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Features:2.3 oz
microfibre polyester, Deluge DWR finish, pullover style with
neck zip, hidden chest stuff pocket, softlock adjustable
drawcord hem, unisex (it says here)
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Tiny and windproof
Limited water resistance
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Patagonia's Helium Windshirt is very simple, but very effective if
you take it as sold, viz, as a fast-moving, highly breathable wind
top with the emphasis on windproofing rather than water resistance.
It weighs 164 grammes, how light is that? And packs down into a
pocket, ending up only slightly larger than a tennis ball.
The microfibre polyester fabric is soft and silky, which might
sounds like a side issue, but helps make it extremely pleasant, even
sensual, against naked skin. More importantly for most of us, it's
also windproof. The Deluge DWR treatment means it's okay in light
rain / drizzle scenarios, but not really game for battles against
heavier rain - if you want more rain resistance, you'd be better off
with one of Patagonia's Encapsil garments.
The tiny pack size and breathability makes the Helium ideal for
fast moving stuff like running and biking when you're toting a small
pack or bum-bag and don't need any excess bulk.
It's a simple and well thought out garment with a drawcord hem
complete with 'soft' lock-off device keeping the draughts off your
tummy, simple elasticated wrists - they roll up fine - and a deep
chest zip to add venting when the going gets hot.
Finally there's the Patagonia 'X-Factor'. Don't ask me how a
simple wind shirt can be sexy, even in the strangely descriptive 'Pop
Orange' colour scheme, but it definitely has that classic Patagonia
'object of desire' appeal. Nicely designed, nicely made, simply
nice.
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Verdict: If you want a
tiny-packing, very light, but still comfortable simple
windshirt with the accent on windproofing and breathability
and don't mind paying 50 quid for it then your search is
over. Seductively soft fabric, which Paragonia says also
makes for a slidey mid-layer option and a deep chest zip for
venting. There's not really much more to it, the only real
downside being its aversion to heavier rain.
Nice.
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Performance
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Value
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Pushed for time:
Simple, expensive, silky, small packing, sexy and it
keeps the wind out too, if not heavy rain. If you're after a
minimalist windshirt for running, biking or simply moving
fast in the mountains and don't mind the £50 price tag,
you won't be disappointed.
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Know more or want to?
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you have questions you can mail
us direct, ask
Richard Gear or try a posting to our gear
forum.
Dan Grey
