Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0 Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0 | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Ski Jacket | Best Bang for the Buck | Best Ski Jacket Under 100$ | ||
Price | $475.00 at REI Compare at 5 sellers | $550.00 at Evo Compare at 4 sellers | $319 List $319.00 at REI | $229 List $229.00 at REI | $80 List $62.98 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | One of the best ski jackets on the market | We can't picture a better all-around jacket for skiing | This shell nearly matches the performance of much more expensive products | This jacket doesn't excel in any attribute, but it doesn't fall short either | This inexpensive and warm jacket ticks all the boxes for a solid ski jacket |
Rating Categories | Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0 | Helly Hansen Alpha... | REI Co-op First Cha... | REI Co-op Powderbou... | GEMYSE Men's Mounta... |
Warmth (20%) | |||||
Weather Resistance (20%) | |||||
Comfort and Fit (20%) | |||||
Ventilation (20%) | |||||
Style (10%) | |||||
Features (10%) | |||||
Specs | Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0 | Helly Hansen Alpha... | REI Co-op First Cha... | REI Co-op Powderbou... | GEMYSE Men's Mounta... |
Main Fabric | 85% Polyamide, 15% Elastane | 2-layer stretch polyester | Recycled polyester | Nylon | Polyester |
Insulation | 100% recycled polyester | LifaLoft synthetic | None | 60g polyester sleeves, 80g polyester body | Synthetic and faux-fleece |
Pockets | 2 zippered hand, 2 zippered chest, 1 internal zippered chest, 1 internal mesh, 1 zippered sleeve | 2 handwarmer, 2 chest, 1 internal chest, 1 internal mesh, 1 sleeve | 2 handwarmer, 2 chest flap, 2 chest zipper, 1 internal zipper, 1 intenal mesh, 1 sleeve | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest, 1 sleeve, 1 internal zippered chest, 1 internal mesh | 2 handwarmer, 1 chest, 1 internal zip, 1 internal stash |
Weight (size large) | 2.56 lbs | 2.56 lbs | 1.73 lbs | 1.81 lbs | 3.63 lbs |
Water Resistance | Helly Tech Professional | Helly Tech Professional | Gore-Tex | 2-layer waterproof breathable laminate | Unknown |
Hood | Adjustable and removable | Adjustable and removable | Adjustable | Adjustable | Removable |
Pit-Zips | Yes | Mesh-backed | Yes | Yes | No |
Cuff construction | Stretchy wrist gaiters and hook-and-loop | Interior stretchy wrist gaiters and external velcro cuffs | Hook and loop | Interior wide hook-and-loop adjustments | Stretchy wrist gaiters and hook-and-loop |
Powder skirt | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
RECCO | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Just like a symphony, this ski jacket's components work together to create a harmonious and delightful user experience. We love the waterproof design, cozy synthetic insulation, and well-tailored fit.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
The Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0 delivers above-average warmth with powerful synthetic insulation and thoughtful design features. The jacket is warm enough for most cold days at the ski resort, and on more mild days, our testers didn't have to wear a mid-layer underneath.
Other warmth-enhancing design features include stretchy wrist gaiters and a fleece-lined collar. The handwarmer pockets are fleece-lined, adding a cozy feel to the hands, and there's even additional insulation on the external chest pocket to keep your phone warm and working on super-cold days.
Weather Resistance
With a HellyTech waterproof and breathable insert, this jacket effectively repels all water. During our shower test, we didn't notice any water getting through the main fabric. The hood is well-designed for full coverage over a helmet, which helps block the wind.
A powder skirt prevents snow from entering the torso area on deep powder days. In general, this is a very protective jacket. That said, the main front zipper is waterproof, but the chest and handwarmer pocket zippers aren't. This is only a problem if you are using this jacket in steady rain.
Comfort and Fit
The Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0 is one of the most comfortable jackets to wear. Soft lining fabrics allow the jacket to slide effortlessly against the skin with a silky feel. The stretchy wrist gaiters add supreme comfort, and the fleece-lined collar with chin protector is a luxurious touch.
The cut is relatively slim, but not tight, thanks to a well-tailored design. It seems to match the curves of the human body, allowing a wide range of motion without feeling baggy. In our experience testing jackets, this is very hard to accomplish, and Helly Hansen seems to have the formula figured out for comfort and fit. This jacket fits our lead tester's body like a glove.
Ventilation
With long armpit zippered vents, this jacket allows the user to ditch heat in a hurry. The vents are mesh-lined, which doesn't help airflow, but they are so big that it doesn't hinder venting much. The insulation isn't very breathable, but that is to be expected with high-quality synthetic puffy material.
Interestingly, there are horizontal venting strips along the back inside of the jacket. This allows warm and moist air to escape the back body through the insulation and flow through the shell. This works moderately well in our experience, though it does come with a compromise in warmth since chilly air can flow into the back of the jacket more easily on the coldest days.
Style
This jacket looks great, with a classy, timeless style. The refined tailoring also helps the jacket's appearance. We tested this jacket at some high-end ski areas and felt like we were fitting right in with the upper crust. That said, we also wore the jacket at local bars and hanging out casually with friends and never felt like we were overdressed. The Alpha 4.0 looks good, no matter the setting.
Features
With tons of useful features, this jacket has everything you'll ever need at the ski area. With two external handwarmer pockets and two external chest pockets, there's plenty of storage. Inside, there's a large mesh stash pocket and a powder skirt. On the sleeve, there's a pass pocket for RFID lift tickets.
Other useful features include a reflective hood brim for low-visibility days, and the hood is also adjustable and removable. All of the features work well and harmoniously, making the jacket feel incredibly refined.
Should You Buy the Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0?
We love this jacket and think it comes at a great value. It isn't cheap, but it also isn't as expensive as other options on the market, likely due to the lack of Gore-Tex. If you are a discerning skier shopping for a new ski jacket for regular use, this piece should be strongly considered. If you need a high-performance ski jacket and want a good deal compared to the most expensive parkas, this might be considered a steal.
What Other Ski Jackets Should You Consider?
If you like this jacket but want even more warmth and features, the Helly Hansen Alpha LifaLoft is our overall favorite. The 686 Smarty 3-in-1 Form Insulated provides excellent value, thanks to its modular design and low price tag. The GEMYSE Men's Mountain Fleece Lining can't be beat for value, but serious skiers will want a little more out of their jacket. If you're after a shell, the Arc'teryx Sabre Jacket is our favorite uninsulated ski jacket.