Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Pant - Women's Review

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.