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Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Pant - Women's Review

This basic insulated pant from Helly Hansen is a good option if you prefer a slimmer cut
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Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Pant - Women's Review
Credit: Helly Hansen
Price:  $200 List
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Manufacturer:   Helly Hansen
By Jacqueline Kearney ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 14, 2022
56
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#15 of 17
  • Weather Resistance - 25% 5.0
  • Fit and Comfort - 25% 5.0
  • Ventilation - 15% 5.0
  • Warmth - 15% 8.0
  • Features - 10% 5.0
  • Style - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

With many color options and a more tailored fit, the Legendary pant is a perfect resort-oriented insulated pant. It checks the basic boxes for features and has an airy, soft feel. We wish it were a bit more weather-resistant, but if you prefer to stay in the lodge on wet days anyway, this might be a great fit.
REASONS TO BUY
Soft
Light
Many color choices
REASONS TO AVOID
Face fabric not very water resistant
Runs small in some places

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Top Pick Award
Best Bargain Shell Pant
Best Buy Award
Best Bargain Ski Bib
Best Buy Award
Best Ski Pant Under $100
 
Price $119.99 at Evo
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$269 List
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$24.36 at Amazon
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line If you prefer a more fitted cut, this basic insulated pant from Helly Hansen is a good optionWith a Gore-Tex membrane, this pant is an excellent value for a weather-resistant bibFor those who prefer the fit and protection of a bib, this option is warm and functional at an affordable priceThe Arctix checks all of the boxes for an insulated ski pant, without a hefty price tag these are economically priced and very warmOffered at a low price tag, this pant is great for someone who isn't ready to commit to a more expensive pant
Rating Categories Helly Hansen Legend... REI Co-op First Cha... REI Co-op Powderbou... Arctix Insulated -... Columbia Bugaboo Om...
Weather Resistance (25%)
5.0
8.0
6.0
5.0
6.0
Fit and Comfort (25%)
5.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
Ventilation (15%)
5.0
7.0
9.0
1
1
Warmth (15%)
8.0
5.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
Features (10%)
5.0
7.0
5.0
5.0
4.0
Style (10%)
6.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
Specs Helly Hansen Legend... REI Co-op First Cha... REI Co-op Powderbou... Arctix Insulated -... Columbia Bugaboo Om...
Measured Weight 1.1 lbs 1.7 lbs 1.7 lbs 1.5 lbs 1.4 lbs
Waterproofing 2-ply Helly Tech Performance 2-layer Gore-Tex 2-layer Peak ThermaLock coating Omni-Tech
Vents Inner thigh Thigh Inner thigh, outer thigh None None
Pockets 2 zippered hands, 1 zippered back 1 zippered chest, 2 zippered thigh 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest 2 zippered thigh 2 zippered hand
Main fabric 100% polyester 100% polyester Nylon 100% polyester 100% nylon
Insulation/Lining PrimaLoft Black Eco Recycled polyester 40g polyester 85g ThermaTech 60g Microtemp XF II polyester
Waistline construction Button & zip fly Bib Bib Button & zip fly Button & zip fly

Our Analysis and Test Results

The airy and lightweight insulation in the Helly Hansen Legendary Pant makes it a soft and comfy option for anyone seeking a tailored ski pant. With a narrower cut through the hips and thighs, this is definitely a more form-fitting pant if you don't size up. We found in our rigorous testing that it performed well until conditions became quite adverse.

Performance Comparison


helly hansen legendary insulated pant for women - the helly hansen legendary pant keeping us warm on a cold, clear day...
The Helly Hansen Legendary pant keeping us warm on a cold, clear day in early ski season.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Weather Resistance


This pant did a great job of beading water initially, and the insulated material did an excellent job of blocking icy gusts. The fully taped seams of the Helly Hansen Legendary pants work well to keep the weather out while skiing downhill. We especially like the small detail of a slightly more rigid and high-rise waist in the back of these pants that works double time to keep snow and drafts out.

We found in our rigorous spray test (and long days riding icy lifts) that the flap on the back pocket of these pants and on the inner thigh vents did not fully keep water out. These zippers are the only non-water-resistant zippers on the pants, and they began to allow water to seep in around the edges. The fully taped seams kept water out everywhere else; however, the face fabric of these pants felt flimsy and quickly absorbed water when exposed to even a small amount of snow.

helly hansen legendary insulated pant for women - the face fabric of the helly hansen legendary pant was quick to...
The face fabric of the Helly Hansen Legendary pant was quick to absorb moisture.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Fit and Comfort


The two-way stretch of these pants worked very well for us on long, active ski days. We loved how that combined with the articulated fit of these pants, allowing lots of room for mobility while shredding powder or hiking uphill. The liner and the lofty insulation definitely impressed, as well. The silky liner and fluffy Primaloft was one of our favorite combinations, and we noticed this liner was comfortable even without long layers underneath.

helly hansen legendary insulated pant for women - the knit fabric on the inside of the pants was soft and comfy with...
The knit fabric on the inside of the pants was soft and comfy with or without long underwear.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

We found the fit to be a little interesting. Our main tester is consistently a size medium and has what would be defined as an athletic build: slimmer in the hips with wider, muscular legs and hips. The Legendary ran a little small across the thighs and hips compared to other models in the test. Luckily, sizing up increases the size of the pant consistently, increasing leg room and waist by the same margin, and a size up mostly remedied this issue.

helly hansen legendary insulated pant for women - you can size up if you want a looser fit in the legs, but it means...
You can size up if you want a looser fit in the legs, but it means the waist needs to be completely tight and can lead to a bit of extra fabric in the low back.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

This is definitely a complaint that varies from body type to body type, and over our years of testing, we've found that the fit of different brands can vary widely. Sometimes it just takes trying on a few different brands. If this fit issue sounds familiar to you, consider sizing up in this pant.

Ventilation


As an insulated pant, the Helly Hansen Legendary did not blow its competition out of the water here. This pant sports inner leg, mesh-lined ventilation, which increases airflow when opened. We also found that the Primaloft insulation, combined with Helly Hansen's propriety waterproof/breathable material, did an impressive job wicking moisture and breathing for an insulated pant. We were impressed by how dry and warm this pant felt.

helly hansen legendary insulated pant for women - the inner thigh vents are also lined with mesh in the helly hansen...
The inner thigh vents are also lined with mesh in the Helly Hansen, making them fairly ineffective.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Warmth


Speaking of warmth, this insulated pant did quite well here. The 60g of Primaloft Black synthetic insulation kept us toasty from first chair to last, and we had a hard time finding any cold spots. Notably, we found the airy insulation in this pant kept us warm even when we were sitting directly in the snow. The only thing that could have improved the performance of the Helly Hansen Legendary Pant here is the rise of the waist. The other insulated pants in this review that out-performed this one were those with a bib construction. The extra material around the waist of the pant adds just a little bit of extra warmth.

helly hansen legendary insulated pant for women - the primaloft insulation of the legendary pant is surprisingly warm...
The Primaloft insulation of the Legendary Pant is surprisingly warm for how light it feels.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Features


This pant has fairly standard features for a resort-oriented pant. There is an adjustable waist, three pockets, scuff guards, vents, and belt loops. Otherwise, the features are pretty bare-bones. We wished the Legendary had open leg vents on the outside of the pant, as we have found these to be more effective at temperature regulation. We found the most compelling feature to be the water-resistant hip pockets, which are slightly angled down and away from midline, making them easily accessible.

helly hansen legendary insulated pant for women - the external waist adjustment feature of the helly hansen pant...
The external waist adjustment feature of the Helly Hansen pant provides a bit of versatility in fit.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Style


The cut of this pant definitely trends a little on the slimmer side as far as ski pants go. This leads to a flattering cut that can accentuate the hips. These pants do come in many different colors this season, which gives the option for bright to more subdued looks. We also like the contrasting scuff guards on these pants and how they stand out from the rest of the monotone pant. The false pockets feel a little outdated compared to some of the more modern looks featured in this review, but they fit well with the more tailored cut of the pant.

helly hansen legendary insulated pant for women - the style of the helly hansen pant is fairly fitted unless you size...
The style of the Helly Hansen pant is fairly fitted unless you size up like our lead tester did before this photo.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Should You Buy the Helly Hansen Legendary?


If you want a good insulated pant for the resort and prefer a more form-fitting tailored cut, then the Helly Hansen Legendary Pant may be a good option for you. With a curve-hugging style and many color options, you can stand out in this pant.

helly hansen legendary insulated pant for women - the helly hansen legendary pant keeping us warm and fitted on a very...
The Helly Hansen Legendary pant keeping us warm and fitted on a very cold day in Colorado's Front Range.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

What Other Women's Ski Pants Should You Consider?


If you are looking for an insulated snow pant with a slightly less form-fitting build, try out the award-winning REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated Bib. If a versatile, shell-style pant is what you seek, try the REI Co-op First Chair GTX Bib Snow Pants, which come in at a similar price point, with the weather-resistant power of Gore-Tex. We also like The North Face Freedom Insulated as an affordable, insulated, and stylish resort pant.

helly hansen legendary insulated pant for women - the helly hansen legendary pant is best suited to very cold and dry...
The Helly Hansen Legendary pant is best suited to very cold and dry conditions like those found on the slopes in Colorado.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney

Jacqueline Kearney