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Helly Hansen Lifa Stripe Crew Review

This top is an impressively breathable and lightweight base layer built for activities where you are creating a lot of heat
Helly Hansen Lifa Stripe Crew
Photo: Helly Hansen
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Price:  $40 List | $30.00 at Backcountry
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Extremely breathable, lightweight, dries fast, super affordable
Cons:  Poor fit, not very warm, not super durable, stinky
Manufacturer:   Helly Hansen
By Roland Mott ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 15, 2019
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57
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#11 of 11
  • Warmth - 25% 4
  • Breathability - 20% 8
  • Comfort and Fit - 20% 4
  • Drying Speed - 10% 8
  • Durability - 15% 6
  • Layering Ability - 10% 6

Our Verdict

The Helly Hansen Lifa Stripe Crew was all over the map when it came to scoring in our metrics. A lightweight base layer that's super cheap, not very warm but extremely breathable, dries lightning fast, has ok durability, and a lackluster fit. It was a controversial piece and may just be an acquired taste. It competed with the big dogs in its breathability and dry time, but falls short in several other metrics. This top is a great layer for sweat-inducing activities where you need a lightweight layer that is going to breathe well and dry fast. The crux is the fit and quality of construction. If your body type somehow fits into this, it does its job of breathing and keeping you dry very well.

Compare to Similar Products

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Awards  Editors' Choice Award  Best Buy Award  
Price $30.00 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers		$66.50 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers		$129.00 at Backcountry$59.99 at Amazon$90 List
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Star Rating
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Pros Extremely breathable, lightweight, dries fast, super affordableTemperature regulation, ultra-cozy, balance of warmth and breathabilityLightweight, insanely comfy, warm, breathable, versatileAffordable, fashionable fit, breathableHeavier and warmer than most midweight tops, thumb loops, long cut
Cons Poor fit, not very warm, not super durable, stinkyExpensive, recommend special laundering, slow to air-drySuper expensive, extremely poor durabilityFiner thread Merino is not quite as warm, slightly itchy, shoulder top seamsSlow to dry when saturated, questionable durability
Bottom Line Excelling in breathability, this lightweight synthetic model is made for working up a sweat in the coldThis top is the gold standard for staying warm, dry, and comfortable during and after all of our outdoor adventuresImplementing new and innovative technology, Patagonia brings us a seamless base layer that feels unbelievableA fine Merino base layer at an entry-level pricepointThoughtful features like thumb loops and an extra long cut will surely help add a little extra warmth to your winter
Rating Categories Helly Hansen Lifa Stripe Crew SmartWool Merino 250 Crew Patagonia Capilene Air Crew Meriwool Midweight Thermal Ridge Merino Inversion Crew
Warmth (25%)
4
8
8
7
8
Breathability (20%)
8
7
8
8
6
Comfort And Fit (20%)
4
9
9
7
8
Drying Speed (10%)
8
5
7
6
4
Durability (15%)
6
7
4
7
6
Layering Ability (10%)
6
8
7
6
8
Specs Helly Hansen Lifa... SmartWool Merino... Patagonia Capilene... Meriwool Midweight... Ridge Merino...
Material 100% Lifa® polypropylene 100% merino wool 51% merino wool/49% recycled polyester 100% merino wool 100% merino wool
Fabric Weight 125 g/m² 250 g/m² 190 g/m² 250g/m² 270 g/m²
Weight (size M) 4.4 oz 9.3 oz 6.6 oz 9.8 oz 11.0 oz
Types available crew crew, 1/4 zip, hoody crew, hoody crew crew
Thumb Loops? No No No No Yes
Air Dry Test (minutes) 35 50 40 45 70
Fit Slim fit Slim fit Slim fit Slim fit Slim fit
Stitching Flatlock seams Flatlock seams Seamless 3D construction Flatlock and flat seams Flatlock and flat seams
Dryer safe? Yes No Yes No No
Shoulder top seams? Yes No No Yes No
Drop tail hem? No No No Yes No, but extra long cut

Our Analysis and Test Results

The super-affordable lightweight synthetic base layer from Helly Hansen boasts superb breathability and lightning-fast drying capabilities making it a great layer for high output activities in cool to cold weather. An awkward fit at best, low warmth, and mediocre durability give this an overall low score.

Performance Comparison


The far from impressive fit of the Helly Hansen Lifa Striped Crew...
The far from impressive fit of the Helly Hansen Lifa Striped Crew. Runs super tight, has a short torso, and a tight neck. Sleeves are a great length with tight, 2-inch cuffs.
Photo: Roland Mott

Warmth


This layer is great for being active and creating heat but not the most impressive insulator. Its breathability is stellar but cold air cuts right through the lightweight and thin fabric. Overall it just isn't that warm.

Breathability


The super lightweight, thin synthetic fabric allows air to pass through it like light thru a bay window on a sunny summer day. It was among the top scorers in this category and is impressive, to say the least. If you are engaged in activities that require you to dump heat rapidly and dry fast this layer is awesome, and if it somehow fits you well, you're golden.

Here ya are folks. This top is tiny compared to the rest of the...
Here ya are folks. This top is tiny compared to the rest of the tops. Runs very small.
Photo: Roland Mott


Comfort and Fit


This is where it all goes up in flames. We'll try and approach this as gingerly as possible. This looks and feels like a soccer jersey. The fit is odd with the entire garment running on the extremely small/tight side. The neck is uncomfortably tight, feels like you're getting choked out by Mr. T.

The two cuffs are very tight which is nice for layering and they stay in place but also made us feel a bit claustrophobic. The sleeves are a great length but the torso is laughably short leaving a significant portion of the belly and back exposed bending over or lifting your arms above your head.

The sewing pattern is not specific or on purpose at all. There are no gusseted underarms and not one, but two seams running over your shoulder where backpack straps would sit. You could probably buy a soccer jersey and it would be on par with this piece, and around the same price.

A visual of those 2in cuffs. Some people feel safe when all of their...
A visual of those 2in cuffs. Some people feel safe when all of their appendages coming out of a shirt are held tight like a dog on a short leash, we personally found them a bit claustrophobic, but different strokes...
Photo: Roland Mott

Drying Speed


And then it totally redeems itself. Well… maybe not totally, but it helps. This had a great dry speed time, with our top contender drying out just a few minutes faster.

Durability


The durability of this piece was not very impressive but seemed on par with how light and thin the material was. The thin synthetic fabric was easy to snag and tear when bushwhacking. The general quality of construction seems lackluster compared to the other layers we tested.

It did do surprisingly well in the abrasion test. Minimal pilling and some visible surface wear but no hole, which was surprising as three other tops, all made of thicker material had holes in them after the abrasion test.

With how thin the fabric was, we were impressed with how well it...
With how thin the fabric was, we were impressed with how well it stood up to our abrasion test. The much thicker North Face Warm now has a hole in the elbow whereas this just experienced some ruffed up outer fabric. Kudos Lifa!
Photo: Roland Mott

Layering Ability


This top layered great in some ways and not so great in others. The tight two-inch cuffs did a great job of keeping our sleeves in place while sliding tight, sticky fleece mid layers over top of it and the smooth synthetic fabric helped as well.

As far as using this to layer over anything, fuhgeddaboutit! The ridiculously short torso and tight cuffs simply do not allow for such things to happen.

Muscle Man showing off every curve on an early winter ride in this...
Muscle Man showing off every curve on an early winter ride in this tight fitting top.
Photo: Roland Mott

Value


This the most affordable top that we reviewed — the price is unbeatable, but matches the quality of construction and attention to detail in the fit. Hard to justify when you can spend slightly more for significantly more quality.

Enjoying the last of the sun before the snows on an early winter...
Enjoying the last of the sun before the snows on an early winter cruise.
Photo: Roland Mott

Conclusion


In summary, the lightweight synthetic Helly Hansen Lifa Stripe Crew base layer earns high marks in its superb ability to breathe and dry fast but falls short in warmth, quality of construction, and fit. An affordable option for high output activities in cool to cold weather but hard to justify with our Best Buy option being comparable in cost but leagues above in all other categories.

— Roland Mott