In 1877, Norwegian sea captain Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Margrethe began soaking coarse linen in linseed oil to keep sailors dry on the brutal waters off Moss — and won their first product award at the Paris World Expo the following year. That instinct to solve real problems in real conditions has carried Helly Hansen through nearly 150 years, from the three-layer system that redefined technical clothing in the 1970s to the gear now trusted by professionals on oceans, mountains and worksites worldwide. It's a brand built on protection first, style second — and it shows in every stitch.
Today, Helly Hansen equips world-class sailors across all five oceans and partners with some of sailing's most iconic regattas and associations. Its award-winning gear also protects rescue and humanitarian teams, while its Scandinavian workwear is chosen on sites where performance, protection and safety are non-negotiable.
Professional proof
Proven where conditions leave no room for compromise.
55,000+
Ski professionals wear Helly Hansen at resorts and guiding operations around the world.
#1
Ski apparel brand
5
Oceans sailed
40+
Countries worldwide
The same award-winning protection is trusted by search-and-rescue teams and by Scandinavian worksites where safety and performance are non-negotiable.
Ocean and mountain
Two worlds, one standard of protection.
On the ocean
Where the brand began — foul weather gear built for sailors who cannot come inside.
- Offshore and inshore sailing systems developed with professional crews
- A partner to some of sailing's most demanding regattas and associations
- Protection worn by search, rescue and humanitarian teams at sea
On the mountain
The same protection, carried from the coast to the snow line.
- Worn by more than 55,000 ski professionals at resorts worldwide
- Uniform supplier to ski patrols and guiding operations
- Layering systems built for long days of work in cold, wet conditions
Signature technologies
Three inventions the rest of the industry followed.
1970s
LIFA®
The first technical base layer, moving moisture off the skin instead of holding it — the foundation of every layering system since.
1984
Helly Tech®
Waterproof, breathable and guaranteed: the protection standard professionals at sea and on the mountain have relied on for four decades.
Today
Lifa Infinity Pro™
A waterproof, breathable membrane that performs without added chemical treatments — the most sustainable protection the brand has made.
Technology evolution
Innovative protection, refined since 1877.
1877
Oilskin protection
Linseed oil on cotton canvas created the first supple waterproof clothing for Norwegian sailors — winning the brand's first award at the 1878 World Expo in Paris.
1949
Helox™
A revolutionary translucent PVC waterproof. 30,000 coats a month, worn by the Norwegian team at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.
1961
Fiberpile®
The world's first fleece — high warmth-to-weight and warm even when wet. Its successor, ProPile, is still made today.
1970s
LIFA®
The first technical base layer, moving moisture away from the skin. Named one of Outside Magazine's "Most Influential Gear of All Time" (2012).
1984
Helly Tech®
Waterproof. Breathable. Guaranteed. The protection system trusted by professionals at sea and on the mountain.
Today
Protection, evolved
Lifa Infinity Pro™ — responsible waterproof-breathable fabric without added chemicals; LIFALOFT™ — lighter, warmer insulation; H2Flow™ — warmer, cooler, drier; Life Pocket™ — keeps phones charged longer in the cold.