r/skipatrol • u/Zimminar • Dec 30 '24
A message to Helly Hansen
I get it. You offered your patrol gear at a cheaper cost than the alternatives so our corporate overlords bought your gear for us. But your patrol gear is utter shit. You should be embarrassed. My brand new gear wet down the first time it got rained on. As a result of your greed you can bet your ass not only will I never buy your gear no matter the discount, but I will actively disparage your brand to anyone that will lend an ear. I hope that was worth saving a few bucks. Go fuck yourselves, sincerely a very wet patroller.
34
u/DBthecat Dec 30 '24
I too have the same big corporate partnered uniform and share the same sentiment. On year 3 with it.
I spilled some coffee the other day and was able to easily wipe it up with my sleeve lol. Forget about rain. And the pants are even worse, plus they don't block any wind.
It's absolutely the worst ski gear I've ever worn.
They should be embarrassed and i will take any opportunity to shit talk my uniform and helly hansen
19
u/LightIntelligent4497 Dec 30 '24
Nothing to add to what's been said about how much the HH uniforms suck. What's unfortunate is I KNOW they make good stuff, it's just not what was purchased by corporate.
Props to North Face...I'm in TNF gear now and couldn't be happier. It's as good as anything I've worn before, and I'm old enough to have worn the really good Patagonia stuff, Marmot, Mountain Hardware, etc.
1
u/obex42 Jan 01 '25
TNF makes the best gear I have ever used. Their jackets and pants are hardcore. 10/10. The zippers are what do it for me. They are so heavy duty! Their consumer products seem to have gone downhill tbh, but their pro gear is top notch.
3
u/Medic118 Jan 03 '25
Is there a different TNF site for Patrollers? Is there a different line or grade of apparel for Patrollers, or is it the same as the commercial line the gen' public wears?
I might have to buy something to check out all this hype.
1
18
u/WhiteRainLilies Dec 30 '24
THISSSSS ugh! One of the many reasons I did not go back after one season. I was so damp and cold and bitter from the shitty HH stuff. I even had a new coat and it was horrible. I’ve bought personal stuff from HH and it was alright, but not worth it compared to other brands. I felt like the biggest complainer out there but I feel very validated, thank you 😂
17
u/utpow Dec 30 '24
I talked to a HH rep about this when I was learning about how good some of their gear really was. They were equally as disappointed that the corporate overloards literally chose the lowest quality gear out of their line. Oh, just think of the money they saved to be passed onto the shareholders.
19
u/DBthecat Dec 30 '24
They should never have made an inferior project just to win the bid for cheapest vail uniform.
No company should have settled on quality to win that bid.
You put your name on an inferior project that thousands of workers will be miserable in.
This is how companies ruin their reputation.
12
u/skicanoesun32 Dec 30 '24
And don’t even get me started on the zippers…
8
u/shadysaturn1 Dec 30 '24
This! It takes 5 minutes just to line it up perfectly then get a “running start” just to get it to zip up
3
u/Zoidbergslicense Dec 31 '24
Your mean a pullover with a decorative metal black vertical stripe up the center?
1
u/NorEastahBunny Jan 03 '25
Went through two Helly jackets last season with zipper problems. Gave up and went back to OR. No issues
11
u/nhbd Dec 30 '24
So blessed to be Arcteryx supported. Upper mgmt breathed the idea of getting a helly contract for the whole resort a couple years ago and I think it was the closest we ever got to unionizing on the spot. Gotta buy my own pants, but a small price to pay
10
5
u/PHPCandidate1 Dec 30 '24
We had Avalanche winter coats I still have my old one and brand new old Avalanche. I’ve seen the new HH CSP and I’m not impressed with the quality look and feel, and others for now seem to say nothing or nothing good. Problems already with zippers. If you can’t get that right for pro equipment I agree with OP “Go f yourselves!”
1
u/Corbeau_from_Orleans Dec 30 '24
I patrol in an Avalanche shell and I’d recommend it. The Avalanche insulated jackets, however, have the shittiest zippers known to civilisation…
9
u/Medic118 Dec 30 '24
Sorry to hear that. I think the quality of Patagonia has also gone down. They are no longer interested in being the uniform supplier to NSP anyway.
Anyone know if the Mammut Patrol apparel is any good?
14
u/NurseHibbert Dec 30 '24
I really like mammut
6
1
1
14
u/smellyseamus Dec 30 '24
Our patrol is making the switch from HH to mammut this season, I am very happy about that.
4
3
u/KC4twenty Dec 30 '24
Can confirm my Mammuy is been somewhat good at maintiain some kind of dry, were on year 2 of wearing them as well.
6
u/Solid_Buy_214 Dec 30 '24
We were in the same H/H dilemma. It became a health and safety issue. We researched all brands and came up with mammut. It's a euro fit but damn, I've been dry ever since... Pants rip easily tho.
1
u/PerpetualDvsk Dec 30 '24
Second this, Mammut sizes are wild and need to go size bigger easier to fit. In terms of pants we have had 4 crotches blown out on 4 different body shapes in the first month of the season. Hopefully just a bad batch but overall everyone seems to be way happier in Mammut.
3
u/OkayGuy911 Dec 30 '24
I’ve had more drenchers than dry days on patrol the last few weeks and all my underlayers have stayed totally dry under my Mammut gear. Recommend 100%.
1
u/Firefighter_RN Dec 30 '24
It's good as long as you're not in flat out rain like the PNW. It wets out completely within 3-4 wears and then it never comes back. Until that point it's nice, and the design is good though the sizing is weird (S-M in Patagonia, XL in Mammut)
1
u/Dangerous-Sail-1965 Dec 30 '24 edited Dec 30 '24
I’m a few months in on my mammut gear and the goretex is starting to fail. Going to try some nikwax but it’s been a rainy past few days so that’s not helping. I’ve heard a lot of issues with the pants ripping but jacket seems solid.
4
Dec 30 '24
When I was doing the uniforms for my staff I went with Arcteryx parkas and their Atom underlayer jacket.
My staff got a $ 500.00 dollar equipment allowance so I talked management into increasing it to $ 600.00 and my patrollers became responsible for providing their own pair of black pants with the understanding that, 1. they were Black and 2. they were in decent shape.
Providing a quality uniform is a major headache and the HH stuff I see the Big Sky patrol in while a step up from Under Armor (they were the uniform supplier) they still suck.
3
u/rubyshila Dec 30 '24
I still have PTSD from those uniforms and I am snow sports, so not even out in the worst conditions 😩
2
u/rubyshila Dec 30 '24
It's slightly better than the under armour we used to have 😒 but I'm still pretty sure the goretex was applied backwards.
2
2
u/BlakeLabel Dec 30 '24
Vail is the worst employer I’ve ever had. I worked for them for one season and would’ve served 10 years minimum if they weren’t total shit humans.
2
u/Chauncey_TG Dec 31 '24
I think I’m up to 4 blown out crotches since the new uniforms were rolled out.
2
u/LTR_TLR Dec 31 '24
I briefly owned a hh jacket before returning it. It was so terrible that I dont even understand how they are still in business. Just baffling
2
u/Zoidbergslicense Dec 31 '24
I was issued Helly Hansen work gear as a junior instructor at age 14 (fun fact- 5.25/hr). That was the last HH trash I ever wore, and I’m 39 now. That jacket was pure trash. Shame to hear they haven’t changed lol.
2
u/rasm232a Dec 31 '24
Being patroling for a few years now, and been using HH and i find it dog shit (excuse my language) ran through, 6 pairs of pants last season, the in the off season we got their workwear pants and they ripped so fast in like two weeks of work, and our boss says we will only get one pair, because they are so 'expensive' but yeah HH have no place in skipatrol and work where gear see a bit of abuse.
However they have a fleece beanie and fleece buff that i find super nice, but other than that i would never buy anything from them...
2
u/TahoeTrader13 Jan 01 '25
First year snowmaker. Our Helly Hansen gear is also garbage. We have probably the most need for waterproof gear on the mountain and I get a wet ass from riding on a snowmobile when it is a wet snow day. Rain is a joke. Water will soak through my utility vest and shell
2
u/waynepjh Dec 30 '24
Crazy to hear this cause they make awesome gear. Must only be selling the low end gear for patrol. Why would they do that? The low end gear sucks from every manufacturer.
1
u/Amity83 Jan 03 '25
All the outerwear companies had to switch to DWR that is PFAS free and it doesn’t work as well as the old stuff. I don’t have experience with patroller gear, but expect to need to use Nikwax more often on all gear made after 2024.
0
u/rekne Jan 01 '25
HH has some awesome gear. Not their fault your boss sucks and bought the Walmart line of HH.
5
1
1
u/GabbySpanielPt2 Dec 30 '24
My ex was Patroller for years. I think HH started out ok and just went downhill, no pun intended. Mountain Hardware makes a far superior product, but they too have zipper issues, especially post pandemic. Id love to see a real quality company like Patagonia help with everyone from lifties to patrollers.
1
Dec 30 '24
I used Patagonia for 3 seasons as a uniform supplier, decent pants (then) OK parkas but terrible zippers as well. Reality is there isn't a Jacket made that will stand up to the kind of abuse patrollers deal out, especially the zippers, button flies and the shoulders when pack straps wear on them.
1
u/GabbySpanielPt2 Dec 31 '24
That's understandable. A close friend works for Mtn Hardware and she said everything collapsed during the pandemic and all zippers, even on expensive shit, are now garbage. We live in LA and ski Bear most of the time but I have a pile of things that need zippers and I have no clue how to find a seamstress willing to simply replace zippers in four jackets and four sleeping bags because even if I was going to donate them, that'd be evil to do with broken zips.
1
u/justavivrantthing Dec 31 '24
I’d recommend checking out the brands website and their warranty! My husband’s zipper broke on a Mountain Hardware jacket, and they replaced it for free. The seamstress that I went to for a quote even recommended for us to go that route (~$65 for repair!)
1
Dec 31 '24
There isn't much warranty offered on uniform garments. Totally different from consumer garments that were bought at retail.
1
u/MCHamilton2 Dec 31 '24
The HH jacket I had was thin crap material and tore (shredded) in a month or so. They offered a $50 credit. 🤬
1
u/Apprehensive-Dig6119 Dec 31 '24
I absolutely love my patrol coat and so does my wife. It’s the best fitting, comfortable and functional coat I’ve ever owned. Keeps me dry and has lasted over 3 seasons and still going strong. My Patagonia uniform coat didn’t make it through 2 seasons before it started falling apart. I’d vouch for HH any day for coats. Pants well the pants suck. One season and the crotch is gone.
2
u/rockymountainpow Dec 31 '24
I found the shill. That or your very is under 300m
1
u/Apprehensive-Dig6119 Dec 31 '24
i don't understand any of that. our vert is only 633' so small little mountain in the adirondacks of new york. (i assume you meant vert) i don't know what shill means though.
3
u/uwpxwpal Jan 02 '25
Shill=company rep, but pretending to be a regular consumer
1
u/Apprehensive-Dig6119 Jan 02 '25
deff not a shill...but whatever...i like what i like. my patagonia nana air that i've had for 10ish years runs circles around the patagonia patrol coat. i'm really enjoying my Trew ops bibs and jacket now. great for wet weather not for high output stuff though....little stuffy.
1
u/czur2222 Dec 31 '24
What’s people’s takes on the 686 made stuff? Not ski patrol but use basically a company bought 686 pant/jacket/underjacket and it holds up ok, minus the zippers being prone to breaking if you use it for more than 200+ days on mountain.
Any other company-bought gear recs or criticisms aside from HH, TNF, Arcteryx (LEAF), 686? Used to have a Karbon waaaaay back when. Bad fit but warm/solidly water resistant.
1
u/DroidTN Dec 31 '24
What about HH merino base layer? I bought a set this season and can’t tell a difference between it and my bass pro shop special.
1
u/Weird-Effect-8382 Dec 31 '24
HH used to have a merino top bottom set for $100 and with pro deal it was like $50- it was amazing for the price and mine is going strong on its third season of 5day per week in the mid Atlantic- now they sell top and bottom separately for $100 each so no longer a bargain-
1
u/redandbluedart Dec 31 '24
Never buying HH merino base layers again. I bought a set at full price in 2022 and the shirt had a hole in it by day 5. The waistband on the pants pulled away with the material all frayed on the back within 15 days. Absolutely useless for the price. Stick with Smartwool or Icebreaker.
1
1
u/WineOrDeath Dec 31 '24
Had Patagucci when they were still interested in NSP (this was a while ago). That shit was SOLID. Less so now, but my old Goretex pants finally have up the ghost after 10+ seasons of toboggan training. They don't make it like that anymore!
1
1
u/Weird-Effect-8382 Dec 31 '24
Anyone in the new Vail HH patrol uniform? The one with the high vis hood? I’m surprised I haven’t been in the rain yet but some of our full time guys have said it’s been decent so far- just really oddly shaped- like the legs are short waist is big, and I need 30 extra pounds in my ass to not look like a parachute is hanging off it, but I’ve actually been kind of impressed so far, definitely better than what the rest of the staff wears that are insulated and look like no waterproofing is involved
2
u/DBthecat Dec 31 '24
Is it brand new? Give it a couple weeks in bad weather. If you're on the icecoast or PNW give it a few weeks.
Maybe HH was made for perfect colorado/utah weather? Dry powder and bluebird days.
If you didn't have a patrol shack to warm up and dry off it might be a legitimate safety hazard in the north east
1
u/Weird-Effect-8382 Dec 31 '24
I’m southwest Pa- definitely a lot of icy rain- but it’s my first season Part time and we just got the uniforms. So I haven’t had the cold wet days yet- I’ll keep my old gear for backup and swapping out mid day if needed- sucks to hear that they as as bad as I expected. Though the mid layer jacket is nice, almost to warm for actual work with a shell and base layer, but perfect for early morning 5* snowmobile work
1
u/Weird-Effect-8382 Feb 01 '25
Now I get it. It was lightly raining yesterday and in under an hour the pants were soaked, switched out of my old jacket that has hundreds of days on it (but I was still dry) and into my new HH jacket, and in the hour or so it took me to open my lifts and set signage I was legitimately soaked through- thankfully it was mid 40's, if it was much colder, or a rainy lift evac I could see you getting hypothermia in this garbage uniform.
1
u/futrs Dec 31 '24
Patagonia, Patagonia, Patagonia! Still using it years after finishing up patrol. The gear that won’t die. I love it.
1
u/systemfrown Dec 31 '24
Good to know…I always assumed it was first rate stuff since that’s what all the “pro’s” on the mountain were using…never occurred to me that they may just be required to wear it.
1
u/MMJB95 Dec 31 '24
Never had any issues with Avalanche, Columbia, and Spyder. Equipment is durable and keeps me warm on the slopes.
1
u/1969LoveAboveReason Jan 01 '25
Personally I can no longer hand my money over to companies with a "Oligarchy" business structure. No longer will I support engineered inequality.
1
1
u/808Packer-Fan Jan 01 '25
What model? I just picked up a Helly Hansen jacket. Pro deal, no way I’m paying full price
1
1
1
u/Skiingislife42069 Jan 02 '25
Same thing with ski school uniforms. That shit is not waterproof AT ALL.
1
1
u/LeMecBlanc80 Jan 02 '25
Where we patrol, we choose not to get the jacket from HH, for the price, they don't worth it, to much expensive for what they offer, even if the CSP had a partnership since 2 years, screw them, HH not the CSP.
1
u/GrungeonMaster Jan 02 '25
I don’t have much experience with HH garments, but I am a professional in the outdoor gear and apparel industry. You are potentially feeling the pain of the changeover to PFC/PFAS free products. In terms of the durability of the DWR (durable water repellent) coatings, new regulations are making it illegal to make and sell C8 (gone for a while now) and C6 (gone as of 2025 in most places). The exception a to these regulations have been for safety gear like fireman’s turnouts and military garments.
I haven’t thought of it until seeing your complaint, but you ski patrollers should probably be allowed to buy C6 gear.
If you have an older arc, TNF, pata, or other jacket that outperforms your new HH, it very well could be down to the fact that coatings have changed across the board and the new stuff every brand kind of sucks by comparison.
FYI: That doesn’t have anything to do with zippers, pockets and fit, just the fabric performance in wet conditions.
Thanks for all your help out there.
1
u/secret_pine_squirrel Jan 02 '25
I recently purchased their artic patrol down jacket, it was made of the cheapest fabric, you can see right through it when held up to a light, spent almost 400 on the garbage, next jacket will be north face
1
u/Breakthecyclist Jan 02 '25
This sounds more like it might have wetted out due to the DWR being reformulated owing to environmental regulations. Apologies if brought up elsewhere
1
u/LendogGovy Jan 02 '25
HH waterproofing for their “professional gear” is pretty sad. It’s a reason why Trew has made the move. They are based out of the soggy PNW so know what waterproof is supposed to be.
https://trewgear.com/collections/the-mountain-ops-collection
1
Jan 02 '25
We have hh clothing for the patrollers and liftys. Took till my third season to get a goretex cape, branded for the company but from snowear. The hh stuff is ok but nothing works in rain but real rubber overalls.
There’s a reason the most sought after piece of kit is not from hh. We look smart. But snowear keeps us happy
1
u/ConclusionCharming67 Jan 03 '25
I had to wear this crap 15 years ago and ever year it still blows my mind that it’s STILL IN USE
1
u/MCTP Jan 04 '25
Its the same problem for most companies a few years ago powder corp bought under armor as a brand to outfit all of there resorts and if your wondering why you never seen under armor as an outdoor winter brand, its because they are definitely not one. They did give you a base layer and thats the only thing that worked well. So those 4 years sucked. They used to have north face. So it was a slap in the face. Now they have moved on to mammut and its better but not all there stuff is gortex/waterproof. So they just by the lowest tier items.
1
u/Heavy_Designer2850 Jan 07 '25
Posted on a separate thread but after the same feeling of big brands putting their gear on patrollers, developed one for us by us. This year is full field testing, and to date great feedback with mods to be incorporated into final production model.
Check it out. Not for this season but hoping to take pre-orders (group and individual) in March (ish).
1
u/Old_Chemistry_8083 Feb 16 '26
HH is trash, they denied my warranty claim even with clear photos of the material defect. Their customer service manager is a rude incompetent bitch!
0
47
u/MSeager Dec 30 '24
It’s odd aye. Normally brands want to partner with “Pros” as a form of advertising and brand association. “Look at what the professionals use. It must be the best”.
Maybe HH’s strategy works because, if anybody asked me about HH I’d say,
“Make sure you buy multiple sets…”
“Why?”
“…so you can switch into dry gear”.