TESTER INFORMATION
| NAME: |
Brett Haydin |
| EMAIL: |
bhaydin
AT hotmail DOT com |
| AGE: |
40 |
| LOCATION: |
Denver, Colorado, USA |
| GENDER: |
M |
| HEIGHT: |
5' 11" (1.80 m) |
| WEIGHT: |
200 lb (90.70 kg) |
| CHEST: |
42 in (107 cm) |
| WAIST: |
36 in (91 cm) |
I
started backpacking in Wisconsin as a youth, being involved in the Boy
Scouts programs. As a young adult, I worked at a summer camp leading
backpacking, canoeing and mountain biking trips. I now generally take
short weekend or day trips in rough, mountainous terrain, although I
have extensive experience in the upper Midwest as well. I take one or
two longer trips each year, where I typically carry about 40 lb (18
kg). I prefer to be prepared and comfortable, but I have taken
lightweight trips as well.
Initial
Report
 |
| Image courtesy of manufacturer |
Product
Information & Specifications
Manufacturer:
Helly
Hansen
Year of
Manufacture: 2013
Manufacturer's
Website: www.hellyhansen.com
MSRP: $200.00 US
Listed
Weight:
14.1 oz (400 g)
Measured
Weight:
16.5 oz (468 g)
Color
Tested:
Ebony (only color available)
Size
Tested:
Extra Large (also available in S, M, L, XXL)
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty for
the life of the product.
Product Description
The Helly Hansen Odin
Traverse Pants, hereafter referred to as the "pants", "Odin" or
"Traverse," is touted by the manufacturer as outdoor trousers for use
by professionals. Designed with mountains in mind, the outer
shell is made of burly nylon while the inner layer is a polyester
fabric. I would describe the fit of the pants as "athletic"
or slim. My body shape can fit in either a Large or Extra
Large pant, but in this case the XL is a perfect fit for me.
The Odin Traverse
Pants are 100% waterproof and breathable thanks to the manufacturer's
proprietary Helly Tech Professional fabric. Built for
durability, but without extra weight or construction, the pants are
simple, yet refined and versatile. The Traverse
features 3/4 two-way zippers on the sides of the legs that should
make putting them on easy over my boots. But they will also
help with ventilation as well. The zippers are YKK zippers
(the best in my opinion) with a plastic pull tab for easy handling.
There are three, fleece-lined pockets on the front of the
pant as well; two for the hands and one just below on my right leg
which functions as a cargo pocket. The three zippers for
these are water-resistant YKK Aquaguard pockets. The
lower pocket does not have a pull tab like all of the others,
but has a rubber nub on it making it easy to grasp.
 |
| The elastic cord and extra slack. |
There is an elastic
waistband built into the pants that is secured and/or tightened using a
hook and loop tab. There are also wide 2.5 in (6.4 cm) belt
loops should I decide to use my own belt instead. The
waistband is also fleece-lined on the inside, which is a great touch
(pun intended).. The cuffs are neatly hemmed with an elastic draw-cord
built in to keep them cinched up tight when I need to. The
elastic cord pulls up into the interior of the pant leg (see image at
left) to keep it out of the way.
The pants come with a
hang tag affixed to one of the pockets with basic information about the
Helly Tech fabrics. The Helly Hansen logo is printed above
the cargo pocket. The Helly Tech logo is printed on the rear
left hip portion of the pants as well. And for good measure,
the Odin logo (yes there is a whole line of Odin wear offered by Helly
Hansen) is on the back of the right leg. On the waistband
there is also a printed box talking about the origin of
the name and all the logos in one place. There are
also tags on the inside of the pants with care instructions in four
languages. I just recognize the English one.
Initial Impressions
These pants are not at
all what I expected, but not necessarily in a bad way. They
have the feel of an outer shell, but the manufacturer doesn't refer to
them that way. Instead, they are meant to be used in the
mountains where temperatures, winds and precipitation can change before
I could change layers. With this in mind, I am excited to
take these out into the field. The 3/4 zip will be a plus as
the summer draws near, but I am hopeful that a base layer underneath
will keep me warm while the solid waterproof exterior will keep the
elements out.
The pants are true to
size, so I am glad I "sized up" this time. I have muscular
legs but the pants don't feel tight at all. I have complete
range of motion for scrambling up the boulders in the Rocky Mountains
of the Colorado. The elastic cord is a little odd to me.
Since the slack floats freely in the leg, I have noticed that
it can slip out of the pant leg after a while just while wearing the
pants at home.
 |
| Wearing the pants |
Reading the Instructions
Helly Hansen is no
newcomer to the outdoor gear market. Their story began in
1877 in Norway according to the manufacturer's website. It's
quite impressive, actually. What I liked is that the website
is easy to navigate and that there is information about their corporate
policies. Helly Hansen strives to be a sustainable business
with high regard for environmental practices. This is a major
selling point to me.
Caring for the pants
should be easy. Wash with mild detergent but no tumbling for
a dryer. Sounds like hanging them on a clothes line is the
best way.
Field Report
Field Conditions  | | Hiking along the Colorado Trail |
Over
the past two months, I have been on three backpacking trips (each of
them overnights), four day hikes and a mountain bike ride while using
the Traverse pants.
My first trip was an overnight to Lake Como, Colorado to
hike Little Bear Peak. My friend and I hiked 3 mi (5 km) in to
the lake before settling in for the night near the lake at 11,750 ft
(3,580 m). Overnight temperatures dipped to about 25 F (-4 C),
but the day heated up nicely to about 55 F (13 C), especially by the
time we hiked back down to my car! Little Bear Peak tops out at
14,035 ft (4,278 m) and is one of the most challenging "fourteeners"
Colorado has. We traveled jeep roads, snow, rock and ice to get
to the top but most importantly we made it safe and sound!
My
second trip was a return (overnight) trip to Castle Peak near Aspen,
Colorado to hike an adjacent peak. Because of the time of year,
we had to hike a bit farther because of the snow but much of the
"trail" was a road. We camped near 11,000 ft, (3,350 m) off to
the side of the road in a nice clearing. Overnight temperatures
were about 40 F (4 C) while daytime temperatures topped out at 50 F (10
C). We missed the summit of Conundrum, but the trail conditions
were a mix of snow, ice, crushed rock and some boulder fields. We
encountered usual spring weather conditions of sleet, rain and
sunshine.
My final backpacking trip was a 15 mi (24 km) hike along the Colorado Trail to complete section three. I
hiked about 5 mi (8 km) in to set up camp and then completed the
section the next day. Temperatures were nice with highs near 80 F
and lows near 60 F (27 and 16 C respectively). Our elevation was
between 7,850 and 8,100 ft (2,390 and 2,470 m) along easy subalpine
terrain, which means rocky!
My
other trips brought me to similar conditions and terrain.
Mountain biking, I almost always carry a set of rain clothes just
in case. While biking one day I did need to use the pants as I
got caught up in a storm. Wearing the pants rolled up kept the
pants legs from getting ruined by the gears, but at the same time kept
me dry and (mostly) clean. ObservationsWow,
are these pants comfortable! I was a little nervous taking them
out in the field since they look and somewhat feel like a shell.
My first hike out with them was a snow ascent of Little Bear Peak
(in Colorado), which in itself is a feat. The hike from base camp is
short on miles but climbs two separate couloirs that are both steep and
hold snow well into the summer. I was wearing a set of base
layers underneath them for insulation (it was near 25 F (-4 F) when I
started) and quickly opened up the zippers as we climbed the first
couloir, with a slope of 40+ degrees. The "hourglass" couloir has
a pitch of 60 degrees, but by that time the temperature was near 50 F
(10 C) with the sun beating down on me. What I really appreciated
was how easy the zippers are to operate, even with a gloved hand, while
carrying an ice ax. Brilliant design!
On
subsequent hikes, I wore the pants against my skin. I don't find
them uncomfortable, but I will say that cotton and traditional
synthetic pants do feel nicer. After a short while, it is not
noticeable, so I wouldn't classify them as uncomfortable.
 | | On my way to Little Bear Peak! |
As
dry as Colorado has been, I have managed to put myself in the middle of
a few rain storms with these pants. I am glad to say that they live up
to the waterproof claims. While hiking on the Colorado trail, I
marched through a couple of hours of thunderstorms with steady rain as
well as some rain near Castle Peak. The pants kept me
particularly dry, without overheating. I especially enjoyed the
elastic cuffs to help keep my boots/feet dry. I skipped wearing
gators on the Colorado Trail, and despite muddy puddles, my feet
remained dry. They are a bit long for me, so cinched up they
create a nice run off for water. I wouldn't wade a stream without
expecting to get wet, but great waterproofing to be sure.
The
pockets are perfect in my opinion. The smaller pocket on my leg
is great for a compass, snot rag or other quick-stash items. (Yes, I
still carry a compass). The lining on the other pockets is quite
nice. As you can see in the picture to the left, I have worn the
pants on some fairly technical hikes involving rather sharp and loose
rocks. Frankly, looking at the pants they are in near pristine
condition. I would love to claim that my nimble feet are to be
credited, but frankly I had my share of stumbles. The fabric is
resilient, and I am starting to realize why Helly Hansen advertises
these at preferred by professional guides.
My
only "gripe" with the Odin Travers Pants is that unlike other pants I
have worn, they are quite uncomfortable in warm temperatures. The
waterproof membrane is remarkably breathable, but in temperatures above
70 F (21 C) the combined heat and sweat make them almost unbearable.
On a couple of day hike, I hiked in 80 F (27 C) temperatures.
Despite being in a shaded forest, it was uncomfortable. I
thought of rolling up the pants like a capris pant on one hike, which
was a little better. I opened the zippers some and the
combination made it a bit better, but I felt a little self-conscious
when meeting other hikers. Frankly, I was a bit embarrassed to
capture a picture. I'll be sure to get on for the next
installment, as August is usually even warmer!
Long Term ReportField ConditionsDuring
the final two months of this test series I wore the Helly Hansen Odin
Traverse Pants on an additional four backpacking trips. My first
backpacking trip was to the Maroon Bells Wilderness near Aspen,
Colorado for an overnight. I had intended to climb Pyramid Peak, but
was rained out and ended up hiking along the trails and exploring the
terrain leading to the more technical approaches. Despite the
rain, it was about 70 F (21 C) during the day down to 45 F (7 C) at
night. Most of the hiking was along solid, rocky trails, although
there was a mix of more rock than dirt in quite a few spots.
My
next trip was an overnight trip along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail
in Wisconsin (Chippewa County) with some friends. The trail was
through mostly deciduous forests, along rolling hills and along many
small lakes. The 21 mi (34 km) hike saw sunshine the whole way
with temperatures falling between 60 and 75 F (16 and 24 C).
 | | Using the Odin Traverse pants on Capitol Peak |
My
next trip was an overnight in the Maroon Bells Wilderness near Aspen,
CO for a trip to Capitol Peak, one of the most challenging 14,000 ft
(4,267 m) peaks in Colorado. We hiked a total of 17 mi (27 km)
along a rocky and sometimes muddy trail through subalpine forests and
along tundra and talus slopes. The weather was great, for gear
testing that is. With overnight lows at 40 F (4 C) and afternoon
highs near 75 F (24 C) we saw sunshine, rain and some nice windy gusts.
And cows. Seriously, we saw cows grazing along the trail.
My
last trip was a short overnight in the Lost Creek Wilderness near
Fairplay, Colorado to do some technical rock climbing with a few
friends. The trail was steep, rocky terrain along a subalpine
forest. The weather was great with highs near 80 F (27 C) and
clear skies the whole time.
Generally speaking I wore the
pants as I would normally wear any pants, with a base layer if it was
cooler, but I also rolled the cuffs up and/or opened the side zippers
if I was too warm. This brings the total use to 7 nights (14
days) of backpacking along with supplemental use mountain biking and
hiking. Observations | | It was a wet hike, and yet surprisingly dry! |
What
a difference two months makes in the fickle climate of the Central
Rocky Mountains. With the coming of the "monsoon season," I was
able to experience quite a bit more wet weather to see how comfortable
these pants are in rougher conditions. The image to the left is
taken after nearly 24 hours of rain, with no real chance of drying out
my clothes (I did pack extra socks though). I stayed remarkably
dry thanks to these pants, not only at Pyramid Peak but while hiking at
Capitol Peak. I was also in the midst of a major rain storm in
Denver, which turned out to be a 500-year event and used the pants
while making my way around town. I have owned several waterproof
pants, all of them rain pants, but these are hands down my favorite.
As
for the comfort of the Odin Traverse pants, my views remain unchanged.
They are really comfortable. Just two weeks before hiking
Capitol Peak, I had a minor mountain bike wreck that left my leg with a
serious road rash. Despite this, I wore these pants and
experienced no major discomfort. In fact, I found them to
irritate my injury much less than my cotton trousers and jeans. I
have continued to see warmer weather and I found myself longing for
shorts. The pants actually breathe quite well, but I would rather
be cool and comfortable than hot and comfortable. As with my
field report, I normally opened up the side zips to cool off.
This works well enough.
As
the test series has worn on, I have found that I prefer to wear these
pants with a belt. The elastic waist band doesn't hold the pants
up as well as I am used to. The belt loops are adequate for just
about any kind of belt, frankly.
The
pants have held up extremely well. The images above illustrate
the conditions I experienced at Capitol Peak. At one point I was
straddling rock and scooting my butt along what is known as the
"knife's edge," a precarious ridge that needs to be traversed in order
to reach the summit. Throughout the test series, I put the pants
through conditions like this (Little Bear, Pyramid and Capitol in
particular) and I cannot even see any major wearing of the material.
Continued UseThese
pants have a permanent home in my gear closet. They are
comfortable, durable and pack down to a reasonably small size. I
will most likely use them as rain pants during the summer and when I am
on warmer hikes in the spring and fall, but at other times, these pants
are comfortable enough for regular use, especially with a base layer
underneath. During the winter, a down insulating layer will make this the perfect system for my style of hiking.
Summary
I absolutely love these pants. They are incredibly versatile and quite durable.
Pros: Comfortable,
true to size and durable. I like that they
are waterproof and breathable, but also have side zips.
Cons: They are a bit warm above 70 F (21 C).
This concludes my long term report. I would like to express my sincere gratitude
to Helly Hansen
for their generosity as well as the folks at BackpackGearTest.org
for allowing me to be a part of this test series.
Read more reviews of Helly Hansen gear
Read more gear reviews by Brett Haydin
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