The Helly Hansen Loke 2.0 Jacket – Reviewed & Tested

How does an affordable rain jacket hold up in a downpour? Explorer Matt went walking in the rain just to let you know.

I have two criteria when it comes to rain jackets. It should be waterproof. Duh. And it shouldn’t cost as much as a weekend away.

That’s not to say I wouldn’t invest in a good quality raincoat, I have. I bought a Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket for myself years ago for around $300. And this was my go-to rain defence before I scored an Arc’teryx Beta Jacket while working for We Are Explorers – thankfully, that one was free, since they retail for $650.

Now, thanks to the folks at Helly Hansen, I have a third rain jacket to add to the rotation, and I’m curious to see how the comparatively ‘cheap’ $260 Loke 2.0 Jacket stacks up. Would it keep me as dry? Would it get the call-up over my other more expensive jackets when the weather turned? And if I were to wear all three together, could I create the ultimate 8.5-layer rain jacket capable of beating the final rain boss, La Niña?

Time to head outside and find out

Why am I the right person to do this review?

Aside from owning a few rain jackets and knowing the difference between being dry and wet, the timing of this review was perfect. At least it was on paper…

I was about to head off for a multi-day hike in the historically moist and frigid Barrington Tops National Park. It’s not often you cross your fingers for rain before a three-day hike, but much to my partner’s dismay, that’s what I was doing.

Read more: 7 Tips For Rainy Day Hiking

To my disappointment (and my partner’s relief), it did not rain a drop during our 30km lap of the Gondwana rainforest during a recent long weekend. However, temps dropped to single digits, the wind crept up, and the Loke Jacket saw plenty of action.

Then, in the two weeks that followed, Sydney received 158mm of rain.

Be careful what you wish for

Quick Specifications

Weight: 240g (size M)
Waterproofing: HELLY TECH® Performance – fully seam-sealed and waterproof
Insulation: No
Material: 100% Polyamide with DWR (Durable Water Repellency) treatment
Layers: 2.5-layer construction
RRP: $260

Buy Now Men’s

Buy Now Women’s

Performance

The Helly Hansen Loke 2.0 is a 2.5-layer jacket which means:

• 1st Layer — the outer (blue or black or red) layer. This is the exterior face fabric made from recycled 100% Polyamide (a kind of plastic), which has the Durable Water Repellency (DWR) treatment
• 2nd Layer — the waterproof membrane. Often, rain jackets use something like Gore-Tex as the waterproof membrane, however, Helly Hansen has developed their own waterproof and breathable layer called HELLY TECH® Performance technology
• 0.5 Layer — the inner patterned coating. This provides a thin protective layer for the waterproof membrane on the interior

So, how do these fancy layers perform?

The seams are smooth and well-taped

1. Waterproofing

Thanks to these layers and the fully taped seams, I can safely say I didn’t get a single millilitre of rain on me out of the 158 millilitres that fell during the rigorous testing period.

I wore the jacket in what I’d classify as ‘heavy’ rain for 20 minutes straight while walking to get an ill-timed coffee, and stayed dry. The rain was heavy enough to completely soak through jeans in that time (and my equally poorly-chosen socks and Birkenstocks combo), and yet my top half stayed bone dry.

I also wore the jacket while standing in line in ‘moderate’ rain, and stayed dry.

Dry up top, regret down below. Thanks, Loke.

2. Breathability

The jacket doesn’t feel ‘clammy’ or ‘bin baggy’ like some other raincoats might. While the patterned inner layer isn’t the most comfortable material next to skin, more often than not, you’re layering this with another mid-layer or long sleeve.

I found myself cracking the pit vents during our hike when I needed to dump extra heat.

3. Windproofing

It feels like an oxymoron that a jacket can be windproof and breathable, but the Loke does a good job of stopping gusts of wind while allowing water vapour to escape.

It became our final outer layer when the temps dropped to single digits in Barrington Tops and insulated well with a down jacket and fleece underneath.

Never leave home without your outer layer, blocking the wind makes a huge difference

Design & Comfort

The Loke 2.0 Jacket has all the features you’d expect from what I consider a mid-priced technical rain layer – an adjustable hood, pit zips, zippered hand pockets, adjustable hem, and secure wrist cuffs.

There’s also a large interior mesh pocket, which I stuffed a hat in at one stage during our hike, although you can’t seal this pocket up, so it could be a bit of a liability. In terms of design features, there’s nothing missing from the Loke. Compared to its more expensive brother, the Helly Hansen Momentum 3L Stretch Jacket, other than the extra half-layer (which would help breathability), it’s only missing ‘articulated sleeves’, and I’m happy to save $190 here in comparison.

No drafts today

Perhaps, those extra dollars go towards eliminating the classic rain jacket, bin bag sheen. The Momentum Jacket has more of a matte finish and stretch.

Helly have also made the Loke 2.0 available in black as well as ‘alert red’ and ‘cyan’, so you can decide how much you want to stand out in the rain – in both senses.

Read more: How (and Why) to Wash Your Waterproof Jacket

Sustainability

While many jackets have made the jump to PFC free waterproofing, I wasn’t able to find evidence of this being the case with the Loke Jacket.

Helly Hansen’s sustainability page claims ‘we have developed 56% of the sportswear fabrics in PFAS-free DWR’ and they were aiming to ‘have a 100% PFAS-free collection by 2023’. But, since this wasn’t present on the product labels or website, I suspect this has not yet happened.

Their top-of-the-line Odin 9 Worlds Infinity jacket has a new Lifa Infinity Pro waterproof tech that’s PFC free and claims to repel water permanently without the use of chemicals. It will be cool to see if this tech filters down to their more entry-level jackets.

Read more: Your Rain Jacket is Probably Harming The Planet – Here’s How That’s Changing

The sustainability is good, but it could be better

The major sustainability claim that the brand can make is that the jacket’s polyamide shell (a type of plastic) is recycled. I’d love to see Helly update its sustainability page and, more importantly, introduce PFC-free waterproofing across the range, now that there are better substitutes in the market that don’t sacrifice on performance.

Price

For a technical layer from a reliable, quality brand like Helly Hansen, you can’t ask for much more on price. While it’s one of Helly’s most affordable options, it doesn’t sacrifice on dryness by any stretch. 

At $260, the Loke 2.0 can be up to three times cheaper than other jackets from well-known brands. 

Admittedly, it doesn’t have the same futuristic tech as the $500 Women’s Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT Jacket from The North Face, or the same focus on sustainability as the $700 Patagonia Triolet Jacket. But when push comes to shove, it has kept me just as dry as my other more expensive rain layers.

And frankly, that’s the main feature I’m looking for

Final Thoughts

Having worn the jacket for several days under a 20kg hiking pack in one of our most beautiful national parks, and in the pouring rain while lining up to vote in the federal election, it’s safe to say I’ve thrown everything Australia has to offer at this thing. 

If you’re looking for a straightforward, affordable rain jacket, the Loke 2.0 is well worth considering.

Loke’d and loaded

FAQs Helly Hansen Loke 2.0 Jacket

Is the Helly Hansen Loke 2.0 actually waterproof?

Yep, it’s not just water-resistant, it’s the real deal. Thanks to HELLY TECH® Performance fabric and fully taped seams, it’ll keep you bone dry during a downpour.

How does the Loke 2.0 compare to more expensive rain jackets?

Surprisingly well! While it’s not a 3-layer GORE-TEX beast, it holds its own in terms of waterproofing, breathability, and features. You miss out on a matte finish and some high-end touches, but you’ll also save a couple hundred bucks, worth it.

Is the Helly Hansen Loke 2.0 good for hiking?

Definitely. It’s lightweight (just 240g), packs down small, and has pit zips for airflow when you’re powering uphill. It was tested on a multi-day hike through Barrington Tops with a heavy pack, and it was great.

What colours does the Loke 2.0 come in?

If you want to blend in or stand out, there’s a version for you. The men’s jacket comes in classic black, alert red, and cyan. The women’s jacket comes in black, apricot, bright green and blue.

Read more: The Most Outlandish Gear Colour Names

For When the Weather Forecast Says No

• Patagonia Women’s Granite Crest Rain Pants – Reviewed & Tested
• The Best Waterproof Jackets For Hiking in the Rain
• Amble Refuge Long Waterproof Jacket – Reviewed & Tested
• Patagonia Triolet Waterproof Jacket – Reviewed & Tested