Helly Hansen Loke waterproof jacket review: light, stylish, built for Britain
From blustery Dartmoor ridges to breezy pub gardens, we put Helly Hansen’s versatile Loke jacket through its paces. Here’s how this featherweight waterproof fared in typical British weather.
Helly Hansen Loke waterproof jacket
Ideal for: Hiking, UL wildcamping, daily wear
Not suitable for: Fastpacking, deep winter use
The Helly Hansen Loke waterproof jacket is a lightweight, packable shell that’s tailor-made for typical British weather. Weighing just 218g, it stows down to about the size of a can and shrugs off sudden showers with ease. Thoughtful touches like big pit zips, a storm flap, and a long drop hem make it genuinely practical on the trail, while its clean design looks just as good around town. It’s not built for multi-day deluges, but for day hikes, coastal rambles or simply keeping in your bag for when the skies turn — it’s a cracking bit of kit.
The Good
Super lightweight & packable
Big, effective pit zips
Clean, versatile styling
Great hood adjustment
Repairable main zip
The Bad
Not multi-day tough
No chest pocket
Helly Hansen Loke waterproof jacket review
We’ve long had a soft spot for Helly Hansen here at the Great British Adventure Club. Founded in Norway back in 1877 by sea captain Helly Juell Hansen, the brand first made rugged oilskins for North Sea fishermen. These days, Helly Hansen are global players in outdoor gear, kitting out everyone from offshore sailors to ski patrollers to weekend ramblers. They’re especially well known for their sailing and snow sports kit, but we’ve tested plenty of their jackets and fleeces over the years and found them consistently solid.
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Enter the Helly Hansen Loke waterproof jacket. This one’s aimed squarely at the everyday adventurer — someone who might be tackling Dartmoor one weekend and dodging city downpours the next. Weighing just 218g and packing down to about 15cm x 5cm x 5cm (roughly the size of a Monster can), it’s designed to disappear into your daypack until the weather turns. At £120, it’s a sensible mid-range buy: not dirt-cheap, but far from wallet-ruining.
So how does it measure up against the competition? Well, compared to the Berghaus Deluge Pro 3.0, which costs the same but is noticeably heavier at 291g, the Loke feels impressively lightweight — though it may give up a bit of long-term toughness in return. The Patagonia Torrentshell costs £180 and weighs a beefier 350g, but thanks to its three-layer build it’ll likely shrug off more repeated hammerings. And then there’s the Marmot PreCip Eco, a jacket we’ve reviewed in depth before: typically around £110, it weighs roughly 290g and offers similar 2.5-layer protection with pit zips. The PreCip Eco feels a touch rustlier and bulkier to pack than the Loke, but still holds its own for typical British outings.
Stacked up like this, the Loke arguably hits the best balance if your priorities are low weight, decent weather protection and an understated look that doesn’t scream “technical mountain shell” when you’re popping to the shops.
Testing the Helly Hansen Loke in classic British weather
To put it through its paces, we took the Loke on hikes across Dartmoor and along the North Devon coast path — spots where the weather’s never short of surprises. It performed admirably in strong winds and passing downpours, keeping us dry and unfussed.
We also wore this coat casually around town and on easy local strolls. With its clean design and good choice of colours, it never felt out of place in more urban settings. We especially appreciated how small and light it was to stow in a daypack or even a tote bag, ready for when the inevitable drizzle arrived. Over multiple medium-length day hikes, it proved a breeze to carry and quick to whip out, which is exactly what we want from a just-in-case shell.
A closer look at the features
What we like most about the Loke is that it keeps things refreshingly simple, without skimping on the bits that matter. Slip it on, and you notice straight away how fuss-free the fit is — there’s a slight give in the fabric that lets it move with you on climbs and scrambles, not rigid like some cheaper shells. That subtle stretch, paired with the longer drop hem at the back, does a grand job of keeping your seat covered when you’re bending down to adjust your boots or ducking under a stile, stopping rain from funnelling straight into your waistband.
The hood’s equally well judged. It’s not designed for climbing helmets, but that’s no real drawback here. Instead, you get a peaked design with a tidy cord adjustment that cinches snugly around your face, cutting out biting wind and keeping drizzle off your brow — perfect for coastal walks or standing on a Dartmoor ridge when the weather shifts. After a downpour, the handy hanging tab means you can just hook it up in the porch to dry, without having it puddle on the floor.
Breathability is where a lot of lightweight shells stumble, but the Loke is helped along by some genuinely decent pit zips. Open them up on sweaty climbs and they dump heat fast, helping stave off that clingy, sticky feeling you get when slogging uphill in muggy weather. The mesh-lined hand pockets add a bit more passive airflow too. They’re roomy enough to stuff in a beanie or a flapjack for later, keeping everything to hand without overheating your core.
Then there are the little design touches that show this jacket was made by people who’ve actually spent time outdoors. The Velcro cuffs seal snugly around your wrists, blocking out draughts and stopping water from racing up your sleeves. Up front, a storm flap over the zip does the heavy lifting to keep wind-driven rain from seeping through — no fancy waterproof zipper here, which means it’s cheaper and easier to replace if it ever fails. And that’s the clever bit: Helly Hansen have opted for a repairable zip, so you’re not forced to bin the whole jacket the minute it goes. It’s a small nod toward longevity, but one we really rate.
Altogether, it means you’ve got a lightweight shell that’s quick to chuck on when the heavens open, comfortable enough to wear for hours, and smart enough not to look out of place when you’re back in town. It’s no bombproof alpine piece, but for typical British walking, day hikes, and errands — it’s exactly what you need.
How the Loke performs in the UK
Out on typical British trails, the Helly Hansen Loke genuinely feels like it’s been made for our kind of weather. It shrugged off squalls rolling over Dartmoor and kept the worst of the wind off along the exposed stretches of the North Devon coast path. The pit zips came into their own on steeper climbs, letting us vent off heat before we got clammy.
Back in town, it was just as handy — light enough to carry without a thought and smart enough for popping into a café without looking like you’d wandered off a mountain. That long drop hem also proved a blessing when sitting on damp benches or leaning against stone walls, keeping the drizzle off your backside.
In short, it’s spot on for our usual mix of short showers, changeable skies, and breezy hilltops. Just know that for multi-day trips in relentless rain, you’ll want something burlier — but for 99% of UK outings, the Loke hits the sweet spot.
Helly Hansen Loke waterproof jacket FAQs
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Pretty waterproof — for the right sort of days. The 2.5-layer build with DWR treatment kept us dry through Dartmoor downpours and stiff coastal winds. It’s spot on for typical British outings, though in multi-day soaking rain, you’ll see it start to wet out.
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Decent for this kind of lightweight shell. The fabric shifts moisture reasonably well when conditions allow, and those big pit zips plus mesh pockets are a godsend on climbs. In muggy or prolonged rain, like most shells, it’ll still get clammy — but overall we were pleased.
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Exceptionally packable. At just 218g, it stuffs down to roughly 15cm x 5cm x 5cm — about the size of a large energy drink can. That means it’s dead easy to keep tucked in your daypack or even a handbag, ready for any sudden shower.
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It’s a lightweight 2.5-layer shell, so you’ll trade some long-term toughness for packability. Fine for day hikes, urban outings and typical weekend use, but we wouldn’t drag it on rugged multi-day treks. The repairable zip’s a clever touch that’ll help extend its life.
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We think so. At £120, it undercuts many rivals while still offering reliable waterproofing, good features like pit zips and a storm flap, and an impressively light, compact design. For most UK adventures, it’s a very sound buy.
Helly Hansen’s Loke waterproof jacket: our verdict
All told, the Helly Hansen Loke waterproof jacket is a spot-on choice for anyone who wants a lightweight, good-looking shell that’s perfectly tuned to Britain’s classic mix of sunshine and sudden showers. It’s the kind of jacket you’ll happily stuff into your pack or sling over your arm, knowing it’ll handle most day hikes, city strolls and coastal rambles without fuss — and without denting your wallet too heavily.
At £120, from Helly Hansen, a brand with proper wet-weather pedigree, it strikes a brilliant balance of weight, packability and real-world performance. It’s not made for week-long slogs through relentless storms, but for typical UK days out, it’s become a firm favourite on our kit rack — always ready for breezy local loops or quick weekend adventures.
Other waterproof jackets we think you might like
A lightweight, city-smart shell that’s at home on coastal trails and casual strolls alike.