Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
As we ride into spring and take more time for outdoor pursuits (and it can’t come quick enough around here) a whole new wardrobe of outdoor clothes is needed. Helly Hansen’s Solen collection are base layers which can be worn on their own or as layers. We were sent 3 tops to try out from the new range.
The Women’s Solen collection all have UPF (Ultra violet factor) 50 protection for the sun’s rays, plus it has moisture wicking. The fabric is stretchy too, so you can run, twist and bend without being constrained. The range is designed for trail running, hiking and outdoor pursuits in particular. I run at the weekends in all weathers, so some new, and very colourful tops were very welcome! The short-sleeved crew neck top (here in white) is great for summer as the fabric is really light. It isn’t particularly see through though, so you can still wear your sports bar underneath!
The long-sleeved crew necks are also light but because of the light fabric, these are better in spring or early mornings in summer. The long sleeves help protect against the sun. They’re just as durable as the short-sleeved shirt though, and there’s a great range of colours including the Barely Blue and Sunset Pink. All of the tops in this range have the Helly Hansen HH design on the front and the raglan style sleeves that come right down to the wrists.
When out running in them, I hardly noticed them which is a good sign! There was no tightness across my chest or arms and the sizing was try – these are a size XL which roughly translates to a UK size 16. When it came to washing, I was surprised at how well the white top was fresh still afterwards, and there was no staining. The pink and blue shirts were both washed on a 60 degree wash and neither of the colours ran with them either, which helps when you know you’ll be throwing these into the washing machine regularly.
There are lots of other accessories in the Solen collection at Helly Hansen as well as the usual staple outdoor kit they do all year round: https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb/women/base-layer/solen
Long sleeved women’s top £60: https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb/w-shine-solen-ls-crew-48189?color=634529
Short sleeve women’s top £50: https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb/w-shine-solen-tshirt-49577?color=291445
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