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The Helly Hansen Loke is up to four times less expensive than other leading rain jackets, allowing shoppers on a budget to afford a decently protective and functional layer. We loved the aesthetic and cut of this jacket, enjoying its versatility on stormy mountain days and around-town hangs. At a low weight of 9.5 ounces, this piece still offers a wide array of features, from an adjustable hood and hem to ripstop fabric extending the life of the Loke. While this isn't the best option for those needing a layer for intense or prolonged storms, it's hard to beat its value. Don't miss our complete article on rain jackets for men to see how the Loke compares to the competition.
REASONS TO BUY
Exceptional value
Great weight
Clean style
Helpful features
REASONS TO AVOID
Average weather protection
Less ideal hood seal
Mesh pockets and velcro snags
Updated Loke 2.0 Now Available
Helly Hansen recently updated the Loke to the Loke 2.0, incorporating RECCO emergency technology to enhance the rain jacket's design for winter conditions and new colorways heading into 2025.
2-layer Omni-Tech (proprietary material) with mesh liner
100% polyester with a mesh liner
Omni-Shield 100% nylon (proprietary material)
Pockets
2 zippered hand
2 zippered hand
2 zippered hand
2 zippered hand, 1 internal zippered chest
2 zippered hand
Pit Zips
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Pit Zip Length
11.6"
12.0"
N/A
N/A
N/A
Stows Into Pocket
Yes
Yes
Yes
Partially
Yes
Carabiner Loop in Stow Pocket
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Helmet Compatible Hood
Yes, but snug fit with partial coverage
Yes
Yes, but snug fit with partial coverage
Yes
Yes
Hipbelt Friendly Hand Pockets
No
No
No
No
No
Additional Features
Adjustable hood, front placket/storm flap, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem
Adjustable and stowable hood, DriClime-lined chin guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem
Adjustable hood, chin guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem
Adjustable hood and hem, Velcro cuffs, removeable and helmet compatible hood
Hood can be stowed in collar, adjustable drawcord hem, adjustable drawcord hood
Our Analysis and Test Results
Our review team had a lot of fun testing the Helly Hansen Loke. We deliberately went out in storms to see how weather-protective each jacket in our lineup truly is. We spent weeks collecting firsthand testing results to ensure our final review was exhaustive. Our review team concluded, “For many casual-use shoppers, a rain jacket like this is all you'd really need, especially considering its budget-friendly price.”
Performance Comparison
We spent weeks pushing every rain jacket, including the Loke, on many types of outdoors missions, from alpine climbing to hiking.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Water Resistance
This metric became 45% of the total score of the Helly Hansen Loke, since that's a rain jacket's main purpose: protect its wearer from precipitation. We logged hours and hours in each model, taking notes along the way about where and when water managed to leak through. We also conducted a series of shower tests to further explore the Loke's capabilities, with the final results showing the jacket to be around average against the competition.
The Loke kept our testing team dry in moderate storms, including brief downpours or all-day mists. Helly Hansen built this jacket with a 2.5-layer fabric construction using polyamide and an interior liner as the “half layer.” This design reduces the weight without sacrificing too much water resistance performance. However, as the precipitation increased in intensity and duration, some design components struggled. First, we noticed the hood seal allowed water to sneak through with heavier exposure, dripping down the face and chest area. Our shower test produced similar results, with a 15-minute “downpour” causing some water to leak through at the shoulder seams. As with any rain jacket purchase, the best choice will always come down to each shopper's budget and intended uses. If you're anticipating moderate storms, this rain jacket is worth consideration. For conditions with heavier precipitation, you may want to invest in something with upgraded storm protection.
The Loke performed fairly well in our shower and field testing, but we'd steer you elsewhere if needing a layer for intense storms.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Breathability
We tested the Loke's breathability by taking it on extended uphill/mountainous missions, just as we did all the rain jackets in the lineup. This is an important consideration for anyone who may break a sweat in the rain, and it ultimately became 20% of each shell's final score. We took detailed notes as we engaged in a standardized cardio circuit and then measured the dimensions of any sweat patches appearing on our underlayers. In the end, the Loke came in above average.
As previously mentioned, the Loke utilizes a 2.5-layer design, which means a liner is used for the layer next to the skin. We were pleasantly surprised by this rubbery liner's performance. It breathed relatively well compared to jackets with a similar build. The generous pit zips also greatly improved this option's ventilation and upped its overall breathability score, even though on extended uphill missions, we definitely got wet from the inside out (notably, this improved in cooler temps).
The rubbery liner, surprisingly, offered better breathability than other options of the same 2.5 layer build.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Comfort and Mobility
Throughout field testing, we kept detailed notes on any upper body restriction we noticed as we performed a series of standardized movements. This allowed us to be more objectively comparative when we jumped into scoring for comfort and mobility, which became 15% of each jacket's total score. The Loke was comfortably average in this regard.
Our testers were very pleased with the relaxed cut of the Loke, with one noting ""This budget model offered as comfortable of a fit as options several times more expensive. It never impeded my movements, and even though there was some bunching in the stomach area, it was an easily manageable amount." However, the sleeves offered less room to play with and did tend to come up short when lifting our arms overhead. Similarly, the rubbery feel of the liner wasn't the most comfortable when sitting against the skin directly. It wasn't a noticeable irritant when wearing long-sleeved underlayers, but something that came up when temperatures warmed up. The Loke strikes a nice balance between freedom of movement, decent coverage, and reduced bunching.
While we loved the fit and mobility of the Loke, the rubbery liner doesn't offer the best feel.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Weight
We weighed the Loke and then used a weight ratings calculator to formulate its final score for the metric. Coming in at the front of the pack, this is a nice lightweight option at a budget price.
At 9.5 ounces, the weight of the Loke is one of its best attributes besides its low price. It also fits inside one of its mesh hand pockets for easy packing. This modest weight is an asset in its versatility, allowing one to easily pack it along on a bike ride, a rainy night on the town, or as that just-in-case layer that lives at the bottom of your bag. While weight may become only 10% of the Loke's final score, it's a valuable perk to the inexpensive design.
The Loke is one of the lighter jackets we've tested, also boasting excellent packability.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Construction Quality
We tested this metric by pushing each jacket in the field for weeks, noting any defects in construction/durability, and then assigned a metric score that became 20% of the final. To get there, we also investigated the materials used in each model and researched the feedback of buyers reflecting on their long-term experiences with the Loke. Strength in construction wasn't where this jacket shined brightest.
The zippers and zip-flaps of the Loke often snagged in use, especially the pit zips. Additionally, the mesh pockets frequently got caught on the velcro of the primary zipper. These snags caused threads to start fraying a bit, an issue we expect will likely worsen over the jacket's life.
The hook side of the velcro commonly grabbed the mesh pockets, particularly when it was in a backpack.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Additionally, we noted some user complaints about the Loke's long-term water resistance. We did not experience any such issues in testing, but it seems plausible that buyers who keep their rainwear clean will likely see extended weather protection from this garment. Yet that upkeep could be hard to manage for some users over time. In the world of outdoors clothing manufacturing, there's a well-established trade-off between weight and durability, and the Loke is no different.
Should You Buy the Helly Hansen Loke?
The Loke offers incredible value for the budget shopper. This is one thing to consider if you need a rain layer intended for fairly casual use or as a “just-in-case” layer. But we'd look elsewhere if your future recreation plans include intense rain storms or upgraded weather protection for high-action days.
What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?
The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L offers top-tier performance at a reasonable price, especially when other higher-end models are twice as expensive as the Torrentshell. If you need something even cheaper than the Loke, the Columbia Watertight II offers reasonable performance for light-duty storms.
