Ekolab Recycler Jacket

Helly Hansen's environmentally friendly protection from the elements

Product

Ekolab Recycler Jacket

Promise

The Ekolab Recycler Jacket promises the hardwearing fabric and design aesthetic of all Helly products, but one which is made of 100 percent recycled plastic bottles!

Performance

You heard right: you are wearing a jacket made from discarded Coca Cola bottles. So you can head off into the wilderness, shielded from the elements, while at the same time feeling safe in the knowledge you've done your bit for the environment. Now you may think that because this is made from recycled plastic, the quality would suffer. Wrong. The technicians at Helly have ensured that this fabric is still waterproof, breathable and brilliant at deflecting the four seasons with its three-layer Helly Tech XP construction. We wore this jacket for a weekend of some serious forest hiking and it proved indispensible. It rained - a lot - but we also had sunshine in equal measures, which as anyone who has been anywhere near the outdoors knows can prove a nightmare when it comes to choosing the right clothing. This Helly jacket is lightweight so you wouldn't even know you'd stuffed it in your backpack, it's fully waterproof, plus the breathable fabric means you don't sweat buckets when the sun decides to rear its head. Unlike a lot of thin waterproof jackets, thanks to the stretch fabric it also allows movement in the shoulders and elbows. And if that wasn't enough, there are huge pockets which can amply hold a map, iPhone, torch and compass, plus a helmet-compatible hood if you're going to be doing any kayaking or climbing.

Verdict

We love the Helly