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Reviews > Clothing > Pants and Shorts > Helly Hansen Odin Muninn or Huginn Pants > Test Report by Kathleen Waters

HELLY HANSEN W'S ODIN MUNINN PANTS
TEST SERIES BY KATHLEEN WATERS
LONG-TERM REPORT

INITIAL REPORT - October 03, 2017
FIELD REPORT - December 12, 2017
LONG TERM REPORT - February 11, 2018

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: Kathleen Waters
EMAIL: kathy at backpackgeartest dot com
AGE: 66
LOCATION: Canon City, Colorado, USA
GENDER: F
HEIGHT: 5' 4" (1.60 m)
WEIGHT: 125 lb (56.70 kg)

Living in Colorado and being self-employed, I have ample opportunities to backpack. There are over 700,000 acres/280,000 hectares of public land bordering my 71-acre/29-hectare "backyard" in addition to all the other gorgeous locations which abound in Colorado. Over the past 15 years, my husband John and I have also had the good fortune to hike/snowshoe glaciers, rain forests, mountains and deserts in exotic locations, including New Zealand, Iceland, Costa Rica, Slovenia and Death Valley. My hiking style is comfortable, aiming for lightweight. I use a tent (rainfly if needed). Current pack averages 25 lb (11 kg) excluding food and water.


INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: Helly Hansen
Year of Manufacture: 2017
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.hellyhansen.com
MSRP: US $190.00
Listed Weight: N/A
Measured Weight: 15 oz (425 g)
Available Sizes: XS to SL
Tested Size: Small/Petite
My waist: 28 in (71 cm)
My hips:36 in (91.5 cm)
Reported Inseam length: 32.28 in (82 cm)
Measured Inseam length: 31 in ( cm)

Available and Tested Color: Ebony

Other details:

Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFC)- free Durable Water Repellent (DWR) softshell outer material
Made in China
Muninn Pants
Photo copyright Helly Hansen




INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

My "initial impressions"? These are going to be GREAT!! Here's why.

The Helly Hansen W's Odin Muninn pants are made with a stretchy softshell fabric designed for variable weather conditions. The construction of the pants includes features such as an articulated knee and crotch gusset for freedom of movement. A yoked back at the waist makes for a "flat" fit in the rear.

The waist is lined with soft brushed tricot which has a cotton flannel feel. The waist has outer belt loops as well as two hook and loop tabs for adjustment of the waist size. Two metal snaps fasten the front waist zipper flap for a very neat look.

The pant leg cuff is laminated rather than sewn and can be cinched closed via a two snap closure adjustment. In the front of each pant cuff there is a really neat little tab with a hook sewn on it. This hook is something I've never seen before on any other pants and it can be attached to my boot laces to keep my pant leg in place tightly against my boot. Neat!

Fifteen inch (38 cm) zippers run from the cuffs to almost my knees but since the cut of the legs is so slim, I still can't pull the pants on over any footwear.

Despite the description on the Helly Hansen website, there are NOT four pockets in these Muninn pants. There are only three. The indicated back left hip pocket is not there. In addition to the usual front hip pockets which have zippered closures, there is a zippered cargo pocket on the right thigh. The 6 in (15 cm) zipper on the right thigh pocket is a very bright red-orange as are the corded and rubber-tabbed zipper pulls on the front hip pockets which also have 6 in (15 cm) openings. All the zippers are YKK branded zippers and feature reverse coils which means the "teeth" of the zippers are not visible from the front of the zippers and therefore, looks "neater". The two front hip pockets are mesh-lined and the cargo pocket has a more solid, softer, stretcher lining.

Just below the right thigh cargo pocket is bright red-orange one in (2.5 cm) stamped HH logo. On the left rear calf is a rather large - 2.25 x 2 in (5.7 x 5 cm) Odin logo in the same bright red-orange stamp.

The Helly Hansen website indicates that the Muninn pants feature "Bemis laminated construction". This is a process of using lamination rather than sewing. While there are some seams that are laminated, there are more that are sewn, I think.

The Muninn pants appear to be well-made! All seams are straight, no dropped or sloppy stitches. No irregularities of any kind. Zippers all zip smoothly. Snaps all snap tightly. The fabric feels substantial and of good quality. I wouldn't expect anything less from Helly Hansen!
Pant Cuff Snap Adjustment Snaps
Pant Cuff Snap Adjustment Closure
Rear Leg Logo
Rear Logo on Pant Leg
Front Waist Zipper Snaps
Front Waist Zipper Snap Closure
Thigh Pocket and Logo
Thigh Pocket and Logo
Yoked Back Construction
Yoked Back Construction
Waist Adjustment Tabs
Waist Adjustment Tabs

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

At first cursory inspection, I thought "Oh my goodness! I can't find washing/care instructions!" There aren't any on the retail hang tag though I did read that Helly Hansen has been designing and developing outdoor gear in Norway since.1877.

On the very, very bright interior waistband, faint (I think) reflective text tells me the Helly Hansen Odin series was inspired by Norse mythology - apparently Odin was the god of death, war, and sky among other things - was tested by mountain guides around the world and is "believed to be the most purposeful weather protection available to mortals"! Wow, interesting but where's the washing instructions?

Ah, there they are! About 4.5 in (11.5 cm) down from the top of the waistband on the left side seam are two tags with the fabric contents and care instructions in lots of different languages - 13 in all if I counted correctly - plus the international care symbols! I was able to read the very simple instructions with a magnifying glass - Close all hook and loop tabs and zippers before washing. Wash dark clothes separately. Do not use fabric softener or iron on the print (logo). The international symbol adds one more note and that is to use cold water.

TRYING IT OUT

While I have lots of Helly Hansen tops, I've never worn a pair of Helly Hansen pants. I am always nervous about ordering pants without trying them on first. This time I was especially leery as I recently dropped a bit of weight. Also being on the "short" side, I'm always concerned about the length. Too short and I look and feel odd and too long and I'm quickly shredding the hems.

Since I was just at the top of the "small" and the low end of the "medium", I took a chance and ordered the "small" petite size. To my surprise and delight, the small size actually fits almost perfectly. While they are certainly not "loose", they easily accommodate my heaviest base layer bottoms and that is what I will need them to do. They are just a tiny bit loose at the waist. Fortunately, there are hook and loop tab adjusters as well as belt loops so if I have to, I can add a belt for more security. As usual with pants, the length - even though these are "petite" - are about an inch (2.5 cm) too long which doesn't pose much of a problem as the hem bunches up over my boots anyway.

SUMMARY

When I saw these pants this past July at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, I knew I wanted to try them out! I was lucky enough to be one of the chosen three BGTers to be selected and am so happy and honored! I have lots of plans to put these Odin Muninn pants through vigorous use over the next several months in varied locations and climates, including Arkansas, Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and of course, Colorado! Should be lots of fun. To see how the Muninn stand up to the heat and sand and cold and snow, please check back in early December for my Field Report, then again in early February for my final, Long-Term Report.

But first, before I go - a bit of trivia! In Norse mythology, Odin is the "king god" and Huginn and Muninn are his twin ravens who tell him everything that is happening around the earth. While I'm not sure what mythical tattle-tale birds have to do with these pants, I'll be happy to wear them "flying" around the trails!


FIELD REPORT

FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

The weather here in south central Colorado has been very unseasonably warm these past two months. Daytime temperatures have not dropped below the mid-40s F (7 C). Whereas, normally, I would be wearing jeans and heavy pants by now, I'm still hiking around in my lightest pants. Alas, I have only had three opportunities to wear the Odin Muninn pants so far.

All three outings took place in Fremont Country, Colorado. This is my home "range" and I always wear long pants anytime I walk out of the house thanks to the prickly vegetation.

The terrain is high desert with mostly dry, dusty trails from powdery dirt to ball-bearing-slippery pebbles to hard slabs of granite. While we do have some prairie-like valleys, mostly I am hiking up and down on hills and ridges.

An example of these trails and one I took just the other day, is the Oil Well Flats Tectonic Shift Trail near Canon City, Colorado. The very narrow trail is mostly hard dirt-packed with intermittent rocks. It is 2.3 m (3.7) with a 220 ft (67 m) ascent and -51 ft (16 m) descent with a 6,107 ft (1861 m) high and a 5,939 ft (1810 m) low.

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

Unfortunately, due to the unseasonably warm weather so far this fall/winter season, I didn't get to wear the Odin Muninn pants very much.

For me, they are just too warm for temperatures over 45 F (7 C). The pants never saw daylight in the United Arab Emirates or on my trip to Florida!

However, from the treks I did make, so far, I can make the following claims:

1.) These pants are rugged! I have worn them on some pretty rough trails where they were challenged constantly by snaggy branches and thorny cacti. Not a single tear or snag yet!

2.) The stretch of the Odin Muninn pants is fantastic! I can easily bent and twist, lift my knees up higher without the pants restricting my movements at all.

3.) The waistband is so comfortable with its flannel-like lining. There is no rubbing against bare skin and with the hook-and-look adjustment tabs pulled all the way out; the pants fit me comfortably without gaping at the waist.

4.) The pocket zippers all continue to work smoothly. But, even though the pockets' capacity is quite large, I haven't really used them for much more than a handkerchief, ID and/or lip balm due to the slim fit of the pants.

5.) I have always utilized the front hook at the pant hem to attach the pants to my boot laces. This has been great for keeping out errant vegetation and I'm sure has saved my socks from burrs and snags.

6.) The material of the Odin Muninn is a bit heavy, so for me, I think this will be great in the coming months for snowshoeing and in the colder weather.

SUMMARY

Despite my disappointment over the lack of use the Helly Hansen W's Odin Muninn Pants have seen so far, I have high hopes for our future together! Today, I woke up to the first snowfall of the season - barely a dusting, but still snow! I'm excited about the advent of colder weather and looking forward to many outings wearing the pants on upcoming snowshoe treks! These are great pants that are just begging to "get out there"!


LONG-TERM REPORT

LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

Over the past two months, we have had generally warmer than usual weather in south central Colorado. Rarely have we had days when the temperature was below freezing. Mostly, we have been in the mid-50 F to mid-60 F (13 C to 18 C) range. The lowest temperature in which I wore the pants was just at freezing.

Along with the balmy temps, we have had very little precipitation, either rain or snow. I'd estimate less than 6 inches (15 cm) over the last four months and those inches/centimeters fell in the last week. Colorado is definitely in a drought-state!
Cooper Mountain Range
Snow on Cooper Mountain Range Feb 11, 2018

All of my outings with the Odin Muninn pants have been local. We live on 71 acres (29 hectares) and take weekend hikes and backpacks straight out our back door. We border Bureau of Land Management property for miles and miles.

The terrain is high desert with mostly dry, dusty trails from powdery dirt to ball-bearing-slippery pebbles to hard slabs of granite. While we do have some prairie-like valleys, mostly I am hiking up and down on hills and ridges.

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

Well, that cold weather I was so hopeful for in my Field Report never did materialize! However I did get several more chances to wear the Helly Hansen Odin Muninn pants on three different day hikes, four treks down my road to fetch the mail (4-mile walk/6.4 km), one snowshoe hike and one overnight.

Snowshoe in Fremont County, CO
Snowshoe in Fremont County, CO
Pants in Snowy Weather
Pants in Snowy Weather


Despite the warm weather, I was very happy to be wearing the pants due to the windy conditions. We have had some ferocious winds lately. I darn near blew off the top of Pikes Peak a week ago!

The Odin pants are absolutely fantastic at keeping the wind from turning my legs into frozen stumps. While I'm certainly not going to say I was warm, I found that in high winds, I don't have another pair of pants that work as well. The Odin Muninn pants paired with my lightweight wool base layer bottoms are great!

Pants at Rest
Pants at Rest
Pants in Action
Pants in Action


As I indicated in my Field Report, the fabric of the pants is very comfortable and stretches to suit whatever activity I am engaging in - whether it be sitting around the camp or breaking it down!

Something I didn't mention in my Field Report and of note are the very functional hooks at the front hem of the pants legs. These hooks slide under my boot laces and hold my pants in place. Nothing can easily work its prickly way into my socks. The hooks work well to keep out snow, too. And the pants don't ride up either. Neat!

Hooking Pants in Place
Hooking Pants in Place
Pants in Place
Pants in Place


Once last thing I want to mention are the very generous side zippers which enable me to unzip the pants all the way up to my knees. This is great for adjusting base layer pants, socks and scratching an itch. I can also put the pants on over some of my trail shoes, but not my usual hiking boots. Even with the zippers fully opened, my boots are just too clunky.

SUMMARY

The Helly Hansen Odin Muninn pants are probably one of the most rugged yet comfortable pants I own. The material, construction and quality of design have stood up to careless wear and the harsh landscape conditions I backpack and hike in. With the stretchy fabric, I expected lots of damage to the pants, but that never happened. And with that kind of sturdiness, most of my other pants sadly have a stiff, scratchy feel. I'm quite pleased with these pants and will be wearing them in all conditions except when the temperatures get warmer in the summer.

Thank you to BackpackGearTest.org and Helly Hansen for the opportunity to wear these pants!

Kathleen (Kathy) Waters

This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1.5 Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.

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