Helly Hansen Mission Stoke Shell and Cargo Pant Review

We’ve been using Helly Hansen gear for a few seasons now and have been super happy with the style, comfort, quality and features. This season biglines had a chance try out the Mission Stoke shell and Mission Cargo pants. What we discovered is a system which is as at home in the backcountry as it is hitting hot laps at your local resort.  Between a day at Eagle Pass Heliski and a few days at Revelstoke Mountain Resort earlier this season, we were able to put this awesome system to great use. Read on for the full story.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort…The perfect testing ground

Mission Stoke Shell

 The Mission Stoke shell, which retails for $350 (on sale now for $210), is a relaxed fit lightweight shell with a thin fleece layer that features Helly Hansen’s exclusive H2Flow technology. H2flow is a system of mechanical venting that allows you to open backpack friendly vents to increase airflow just like any other jacket. What isn’t just like any other jacket is the fact that it has a fleece lining with holes about the size of a loonie punched into it to allow increased airflow between the front and back of the jacket. In our experience with a few different products that use this technology, this is an excellent option to provide control of heat and humidity. Even while wearing a pack. Speaking of wearing a pack, all of the pockets are easily accessible when you are geared up for getting down.

Pack Friendly Vents and a Great Hood

We spent a day at Revelstoke Mountain Resort during a particularly wet and humid day in January that really put the fabric of both pieces to the test. The heavy wet snow was making everyone’s gear wet. But, this stuff held tough an didn’t let any moisture in while allowing for great airflow to keep dry.

Hood up, collar zipped, heli leaves on top of goods @ Eagle Pass Heli-skiing

Pow shredding at Eagle Pass HS

Check me out -Go Pro on a pole- pow slash at Eagle Pass HS

Mission Cargo Pants

The Mission Cargo pants, Which retail for $300, are a bit deceiving in that they aren’t actually cargo pants at all. They do feature a larger pocket on the front of the right thigh though as well as the usual two rear and two front pockets. All the zippers are the waterproof sealing type. They also have venting zips located in the inside thighs as well as venting on the top of the boot gaiters. These pants are really light and comfortable. The fit is very snowboard friendly in that the leg openings were wide enough to allow the cuffs to go over both boot and highback if such things are of concern to you. We feel very confident in the ability to sit in snow for plenty long enough and not get a wet ass.

Gaiter Vents

One of the best features of this jacket and pants combination is the Fusion Modular System.This is a feature which allows you to zip a 12″ section of the bottom of your jacket to the top of your compatible pants to ensure a seal which keeps the snow we love so much from filling the back of our pants in the event of a deep pow bail. Trust me, it works.

Fusion Modular System

What looks like a bail is actually rigorous product testing of the Fusion Modular System. Honest.

Testing the Aerodynamics

After using the Stoke shell and Mission Cargo pants for a few months now, we have no problem giving this gear our recommendation. If you are looking for a versatile system which allows for both resort and baclcountry use, look no further.