What Is Sizing Like at Helly Hansen? An Honest Stylist’s Guide to Getting the Fit Right

By Ella Blake – Senior fashion stylist & Founder | Tellar - Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

Helly Hansen generally fits true to size, so in most cases I’d tell you to order your usual number with confidence — but the brand cuts its garments in several distinct fits, and that’s where people come unstuck. A “regular fit” jacket gives you room to layer and can feel a touch generous, while the technical pieces and base layers sit much closer to the body. So the real answer is: it depends on what you’re buying, and once you understand the brand’s fit language, it becomes one of the most reliable Scandi labels going.

So, Does Helly Hansen Run Big or Small?

After years of styling clients for everything from school runs to ski trips, I’ve handled enough HH to know the pattern. Here’s the honest breakdown:

Outerwear (jackets, parkas, shells): True to size, occasionally a shade roomy in the regular and relaxed fits. If you’re between sizes and don’t plan to layer heavily underneath, size down.
Base layers (the Lifa and Lifa Merino range): True to the size chart but cut with a snug, athletic feel. That’s by design — a base layer needs to sit close to wick properly. If you like a little waist room or you’re long in the body, go up one.
Trousers and salopettes: Tend to run slightly generous through the waist. A belt is your friend here.

My one fail to confess: I once bought a relaxed-fit HH shell in my “safe” size for a wet weekend in the Lakes and spent the whole trip looking like I’d borrowed my husband’s coat. Lesson learned — always check the fit descriptor, not just the size.

Decode the Fit Names Before You Buy

This is the bit most shoppers skip, and it’s the single most useful thing I can give you. Helly Hansen labels nearly everything with a fit name:

Slim Fit — close to the body, room only for a light base layer.
Regular / Standard Fit — the classic outdoor cut, room to layer but not baggy.
Relaxed Fit — generously cut and roomy; size down if you’re between.
Oversized Fit — deliberately loose everywhere, very on-trend but order your true size, not up.

One genuine quirk worth knowing: HH advises that if your chest and waist point to two different sizes, you should go by your chest measurement. That advice has never let me or my clients down.

Where to Shop for the Same Look & Feel

Helly Hansen sits in that sweet spot between genuine technical kit and everyday coastal style. If you love the look but want to build out a wardrobe around it — or find a better price point — here are the brands I actually recommend, tiered by budget.

High Street Heroes

Barbour — the heritage outerwear benchmark. Their waxed and quilted jackets are British weather-proofing at its most stylish, and the fit is famously consistent.
Seasalt Cornwall — born on the Cornish coast, so their waterproofs and breton-inspired layers are made for proper wind and rain. Sizing is generous and forgiving.
Fat Face — brilliant for relaxed, outdoorsy casualwear that bridges the gap between technical and everyday. Soft fits, easy to layer.
Joules — the country-classic option, strong on practical rainwear and wellies, with a slightly tailored cut that flatters.
Sweaty Betty — my go-to for technical base and mid layers. Their seamless and Merino pieces rival HH’s Lifa range, with a true-to-size, sculpting fit.
Superdry — great value technical-look jackets and windcheaters. Be aware they run a touch slim, so size up if you’re layering.
Timberland — unbeatable for outdoor footwear and rugged outerwear to finish the look; boots fit true but allow for thick socks.

Premium Picks

Patagonia — the ethical outdoor standard, with relaxed, comfortable fits and a B-Corp conscience.
Fjällräven — Swedish, hard-wearing and beautifully understated; their G-1000 fabric is a cult favourite. Cut roomy — size down.
Arc’teryx — the gold standard for serious technical shells, with an athletic, trim fit that’s worth the investment.

Luxury & Designer

Moncler — alpine luxury and the ultimate status puffer; fits run small and short, so size up.
Canada Goose — extreme-cold credentials with serious kerb appeal; a slim, tailored cut.
Bogner — where the ski slope meets the catwalk; impeccably tailored and beautifully sized.

Two Left-Field Independents I Love

Finisterre — a Cornish, B-Corp brand built by cold-water surfers. Their waterproofs and recycled-wool knits are sustainable, properly functional, and quietly stylish. A real insider pick.
Passenger Clothing — an independent outdoor label planting trees with every order. Lovely relaxed-fit fleeces and travel-ready layers at a gentle price.

Stop Guessing Your Size — Use Tellar

Here’s the thing: every brand on this page sizes slightly differently, which is exactly the headache Tellar was built to solve.

Tellar is the UK’s leading sizing tool — your body matched exactly to 1,500-plus brands instantly, so you never have to squint at a size guide again.

Measure once, using your bust, waist and hip — or simply your existing size in a brand you already own.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads needed — it works straight in your browser.

Explore the Tellar Fashion Hub

And there’s more — the Tellar Fashion Hub is a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest. Unbiased. Independent. And always free. Expect real style advice, top picks and the best brands for every occasion.

A few of my favourites to read next:

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