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There are some pieces of kit that you come back to year after year, and the Helium Down Hooded Jacket falls comfortably into that category. You can see why it’s been a bestseller for Peak Performance for more than a decade – after all, when something is right, you just keep on doing it.
Three Things To Know
- Heavily Insulated For Icy Conditions - Duck down insulation, 700 fill power, 90/10 down / feather, windproof and repels light rain
- Useful Features - Two-way (height and width) adjustable fixed hood and elastic binding at hem and cuffs, weighs only 0.34kg and is highly packable
- Sustainable Materials - Made without intentionally added PFAS
Waterproofing
Warmth
Quality
Durability
Check availability at Snow and Rock and Alpine Trek.
To begin with, the first thing you notice about this jacket is the weight. At just 0.34kg, it’s one of the lightest down jackets we’ve tested for many years. But don’t let the bulk (or lack of it) fool you. This is a super-warm jacket, and would be great for winter sports, as well as being perfect for hiking, which is how we tested it.
On an icy morning, with a biting wind, I went straight for the hood, and this is where the Helium jacket really packs a punch. With two sets of adjusters, plus chin guard, I quickly got wrapped up tight inside the generous hood, and the extended peak was much appreciated when the rain came, as it kept my glasses completely covered – I’d say it’s probably as good a hood as on any jacket I’ve worn for this, in fact.
The elasticated wrist and bottom aren’t adjustable, but they do their job well, so no big issues there. There are two zipped hand pockets, but no other pockets inside or out – and as someone who doesn’t like to keep phone, keys etc in my trousers, that is a little disappointing, but presumably the price for keeping it so light and packable.
With a down jacket, part of the appeal is feeling like you’re wrapped up in your duvet while you’re out in the wilds, and on this front, the Helium Down jacket is worth a lot more than its weight in gold stars. As the day began to warm, it felt almost disappointing to have to loosen the zip.
The windproofing is great, but any more extreme weather and you’d want a waterproof outer shell on top. It does have some water resistance, but a short period in light rain is about as far as that goes.
Value for Money
At £250 RRP, this isn’t a cheap item, but the quality is evident, and I’d expect to get many years’ wear out of it. It’s a case of you get what pay for.
Sustainability
Peak Performance rightly shout loudly about their sustainable credentials. They’ve pledged to remove all intentionally added PFAS chemicals by the end of 2025, while this jacket comes with a tracker to trace the ethical source of its down insulation. A really neat touch that all manufacturers could learn from is the inclusion of a spare piece of material to use as a patch should the jacket get snagged. Better to repair than replace, after all!
Should You Buy It ?
If being lightweight and packable is a bonus for you then this one is a winner. It’s warm, comfy and good quality – there’s not a lot to dislike, unless you’re big on pockets!
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