Helly Hansen Up the Coastal Jacket Vibe with the Pier 4.0
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If you’re after a coastal sailing jacket that nails the balance between comfort, breathability and waterproofing, without carrying a lot of bulk, the Helly Hansen Pier 4.0 Jacket should be on your radar. And they’ve absolutely nailed the release of the washed lime colour combo in the women’s version. It’s feeling like margarita time!
Who’s the Helly Hansen Pier 4.0 jacket best for?
Not everyone’s heading offshore for weeks at a time. Plenty of us are living aboard coastally, or jumping aboard for weekend cruises, and afternoon races when the forecast says “light showers” (which always means heavier rain than predicted). But to be honest — coastal sailing can be pretty brutal, and you need a jacket that will cope with challenging conditions.
The Pier 4.0 is the latest evolution of Helly Hansen’s tried-and-tested coastal range. At a glance, it’s everything you’d expect from the Norwegian powerhouse of technical sailing gear: clean lines and solid construction.
The Pier 4.0 takes its cues from offshore performance — offering solid protection and thoughtful features in a slightly more relaxed package. But how does it really stack up?
My first impressions
It fits REALLY well. There’s no extra bulk anywhere, but it’s easy to move in. And there’s plenty of movement for your arms without the whole jacket shifting and lifting up — especially when doing things like lifting your arms to tie your hair up from the wind.
And now?
Having given this jacket a good thrashing since it was released, I’ve been really happy with how it’s performed.
It’s a solid choice if you:
Spend a lot of time coastal sailing and want a reliable lighter-weight jacket
Need a highly breathable jacket you can wear in summer too
Want to feel good in your gear
Top features of the Pier 4.0 jacket
Size adjustment at the back of the deep hood, which folds away when not needed
Here’s my round up of the top features:
HELLY TECH® Performance waterproofing
Keeps you dry when the rain comes in sideways, with a double storm flap and solid zipper construction.That high, fleece-lined collar. When the wind picks up and the spray’s in your face, it zips up snug and warm without feeling too tight.
Decent sized hi-vis hood. One of my pet peeves is a hood that’s too small when you’re hair’s tied up. This one’s a good size! It’s easy to adjust to fit (via the back of the hood and front sides), and it tucks neatly away when the sun comes back out. Plus the hi-vis hood is EN 471-compliant.
Plenty of pocket options
I like my pockets — and this jacket meets that need! The large (side entry) chest pockets are fleecy (lovely in winter), and the hand pockets are double entry, with separate compartments accessed from the top and side (which is mesh lined). These are roomy enough for your phone and bits of gear, and snacks. Plus there’s an inside chest zip pocket on the left (usually where I’ll keep my phone out at sea)Articulated sleeves & adjustable cuffs: These design tweaks (articulated means you get freedom of movement when moving your arms around), while two sets of velcro cuffs seal well around your wrists to help keep water trickling down inside your arms (the WORST feeling!).
Lightweight but tough fabric. This isn’t a softshell, as it’s got a bit of structure to it but it doesn’t feel stiff or overly heavy either in comparison with offshore gear.
SOLAS Reflectives: There are two reflective silver SOLAS patches on the arms to help with visibility.
There’s a good seal on the internal and external cuffs
Plenty of good sized pockets
What does it feel like to wear?
Very happy with the jacket and love the deep hood with plenty of size adjustors
It feels really good. It’s not designed for Southern ocean storms (neither am I LOL) but for most of us who try to sail in 10–25 knots, encounter regular squalls, and need gear that can shrug off spray and rain for hours at a time, it’s a very solid choice.
I’d say the cut is generous without being bulky (I wear a Women’s XL and it’s true to size), and I can comfortably wear a fleece or midlayer underneath. I like that it feels pretty light, but has kept me totally dry in some pretty heavy downpours around the marina.
And I LOVE the washed lime green colour — it’s such a fresh change from my go-to red wet weather gear! I’ve worn this out on my grocery store run on wet days, and it feels WAY LESS obvious that I’m wearing sailing gear.
Any cons?
I quite like the length of this jacket — it sits just mid-hip on me (172cm/5.6ft tall) but if you’re REALLY tall, or prefer a bit more coverage at the back, you may find you want a different jacket with a longer hem. And sorry lads but the specific shade of washed lime colour is only out in the women’s version — but you get a popping cyber green.
Colour range
FAQs — Helly Hansen Pier 4.0 jacket
Q: Is the Helly Hansen Pier 4.0 suitable for offshore sailing?
A: It’s built for coastal and inshore use. While it offers excellent waterproofing, if you’re heading offshore you should consider a more heavy-duty jacket like the Skagen Offshore.
Q: Does the Pier 4.0 jacket run true to size?
A: Yes. It fits true to size with room for a midlayer underneath. If you like a snug fit, consider sizing down. I’m 172cm/5.6ft tall, wearing a women’s XL and it fits comfortably with a jersey underneath or just a merino mid layer.
Q: What makes the Pier 4.0 better than standard rain jackets?
A: Unlike general rainwear, this jacket is made specifically for sailing — with articulated arms (meaning plenty of movement), high-visibility features, storm flaps, and marine-grade materials that hold up against wind, salt, and motion.
In summary
So is the Pier 4.0 worth the investment?
Well, for coastal sailors like us who want good protection that’ll last a long time without falling apart, or losing it’s waterproofness, the Pier 4.0 is a standout. It’s technical where it needs to be, comfortable when it counts, and designed for when you need gear that works hard — but doesn’t feel overbuilt for everyday use.
You get Helly Hansen’s trusted construction, solid breathability, and features that make a real difference on the water. And let’s be honest — it looks good on deck, too.
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