A technical shell with thumb holes? Where was I when this all started? Maybe I need to spend more time following Helly Hansen on twitter and less time outside. Their Mig Technical Shell has been fun to try out these last couple months. I still can’t get over the fact this thing has thumb holes.
The Minimalist Mig
The Mig is your minimalist adventure racing get out of my way shell. Helly Hansen makes the jacket with tech® XP material and 2.5 layer construction blah blah blah….all that matters is if this jacket keeps you dry. I took it camping and luckily ran into some rain. The group probably thought I was cuckoo when it started raining because I pulled out a handful of gear and started running around like a kid in a candy store. I spent about 90 min. in completely exposed rain (not hunkered down by a tree) and the Mig passed my nerdy test.
I compare the material to a nano felt-like feel which actually makes the moisture bead up. Pretty impressive. The inside of the jacket is a smooth feeling layer that clams up the bare skin. You can’t do mesh so I would hope companies in the future are working towards a more breathable comfy inside layer.
The hood is articulated but the brim on the hood is a bit large. For a minimalist piece I would expect something a little more trimmed down. Helly Hansen is working on saving weight with this but I would think the brim would be smaller to do so. It’s also hard to pack this baby down when you have a big brim. Jus’ sayin.
The Fit
Arms are too long and it bugs me quite a bit. When you put thumb holes in any piece I’ve found more room in the arms help thus preventing stretching the arms. For example, my Backcountry.com Merino top drives me bonkers because if I use the thumb holes all of a sudden I’m wearing a small rather than a medium. So if Helly was trying to compensate for the thumb hole usage they did a good job, but I don’t like the bunched up fabric I have left over when I’m not using the thumb holes.
The length seems short to me. You know when you lean over and your top hikes up your back? I feel that a with the Mig. However the torso feels perfect when I’m upright. When I sit down the chest section stays flat rather then lurching forward. The collar is well thought out, not too high not too low. It covers my face in the wind and tucks down nicely when I need some air space.
The Extras
Water resistant zippers always make a jacket snazzy. My gripe with the zipper is that it’s backwards. Every time I put it on I always forget. I think that is one zipper no-no. To quote Men At Work, “Never, EVER, touch another man’s fries”… I say, ‘Never, EVER, flip the zipper on a jacket’. The front of the jacket has reflective material that adds some cool style along with functionality.
Did I mention this jacket has thumb holes? I thought it was weird but I use them ALL the time. The elastic wrists make them easy to slip in and out. On that topic, velcro wrists on a jacket are so 2006. I cringe when I have to velcro my wrists shut. The chest pocket is deep so anything you put in sinks down and won’t easily fall out. No hand pockets on this jacket but you already knew that when I said the word ‘minimalist’.
Would I buy this jacket?
I would. For $200 I am pleased with what it has to offer and can get over my nit picking. You’ll pay $100 more for an Arcteryx Alpha SL which is 1.4oz lighter than the Mig so its up to you and your wallet situation. The big difference I see with the Mig and other minimalist jackets (TNF, OR, Arcteryx) is the felt-like material. Try it on and see how it fits for you.
BUY NOW: The Helly Hansen Mig Jacket.
