The best of both worlds – it’s such a cliché but oh-so apt for Helly Hansen’s Hybrid Top, a crossbreed offspring of its technical polypropylene base layer and ‘don’t look now but it’s taking over the outdoors world’ merino wool. This union made in comfort heaven means the worlds you’re living in simultaneously are ‘dry’ and ‘warm’ as per Helly's labelling.

The HH Dry poly layer panels wicks sweat faster than the guy in the Lynx commercial can spray it from his under-pits and the HH Warm merino panels maintain uber-comfortable body temperature.

Construction is panel-fashion, so your front torso and back lats are snuggled in the double layer (poly on the inside and merino on the outer), arms are straight poly with merino cuffs (with super handy thumbholes), underarms are straight lightweight poly for super wicking, and your back trapezius, where all that sweat accumulates, is a Coolgrid polyester and polypropylene grid layer designed to keep you dry and cool through reduced fabric surface next to the skin, resulting in increased airflow. There is a strip of poly/merino across the lower back, too. And for the neck, should you take the ¼ front zip to your jugular, is a super warm double merino layer.

I’ve been wearing the Hybrid for months now, mostly riding to and from work on my MTB, mostly in frigid Melbourne weather. I’ve run in it and paddled in it, too. Same conditions. Same result: this top is well engineered for high-energy use in cold weather, taking advantage of two of the market’s most popular materials for base layers and combining them in a design that works to the maximum.

Nothing’s perfect, however, and of course you need to layer up when the weather turns freezing – but this is a garment meant for the layering. Keep your next layer as a wind-stopping breatheable one and you have a perfect compliment that allows the Hybrid to continue panting while retaining body heat.

My only negative was slight wear on the back tiled section where the inside tile weave is beginning to come through with some loose strands, but trust me, that’s looking this thing over with a magnifying glass, and I suspect caused by regular rubbing of my pack when riding.

It can pong up, but only after two weeks’ wear riding to and from work daily. Yes, that was a literal test. Otherwise, the triple flat lock stitched seams are bull-strong and the material technology mix provides breathe-ability, warmth and is perfect for skiing, mountaineering, snowboarding or any other intense activity in the outdoors where you need to be warm while you sweat. These are a small fit, so a large is more akin to a medium, although they are meant to be worn fitted.

Material: 73% LIFA (patented polypropylene fabric) 22% wool and 5% PES
RRP: $129.95
Stockist ph (03) 9338 5326
Web: www.hellyhansen.com/

Tested by: Chris Ord, Deputy Editor, Outer Edge

Review: Chris Ord