Helly Hansen Tech T-shirt 2.0 review: A breathable, moisture-wicking top for tackling trails in sweaty conditions

This excellent Helly Hansen top for hiking and running combines a comfortable fit with top-tier breathability and reliable moisture-wicking capability, so you can shed sweat while you move

Runner wearing the Helly Hansen Tech T-shirt 2:0
(Image: © Future)

Advnture Verdict

The Helly Hansen Tech T-shirt 2.0 is a simple and effective garment to wear on the trails. Its 100%-recycled polyester body is comfy and breathable under the hot summer sun, and fits nicely. Made from hydrophobic fabric, the Tech T-shirt 2.0 dries quickly and effectively wicks moisture when you sweat.

Pros

  • +

    Comfortable

  • +

    Nice fit

  • +

    Breathable

  • +

    Moisture wicking

  • +

    Sustainable materials

Cons

  • -

    A little pricey compared to other available models

You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Find out more about how we test and compare products.

First impressions

Specifications

  • List price: $30 / £25
  • Weight: 6.7oz / 190g (small)
  • Compatibility: Running, hiking
  • Materials: 100% recycled polyester

Helly Hansen is one of the world's oldest and most trusted outdoor brands.

The Norwegian stalwart was founded in 1877 by sea captain Helly Juell Hansen, who wanted a better way to protect himself from the harsh conditions at sea. Tired of toiling in soaking clothes, Hansen and his wife, Margarethe, created innovative waterproof jackets and pants to protect sailors from the wind and waves while they worked.

In the almost 150 years since, Helly Hansen has earned a stellar reputation for creating comfy and reliable outdoor apparel for people preparing to get out and take on the elements, gear such as the new Tech T-shirt 2.0.

This trail-ready top is made from breathable 100%-recycled polyester and is designed for repeated use on the trails. With comfort and moisture control the main priorities, the T features flatlock seams, and the material is moisture-wicking and quickly sheds sweat, so you can trek or run without irritating additional weight or moisture.

This Helly Hansen top, which is available in six different colorways, is bluesign approved, meaning it's been manufactured to the highest possible standards for environmental and worker protection.

Helly Hansen Tech T-shirt 2.0: on the trails

I was lucky enough to snag two Tech 2.0 T-shirts in June, when I joined the AQA hiking charity for their ascent of Ben Nevis, in Scotland.

Following my trip to the Highlands, I've put the Colbalt and Grey Fog colorways to the test over plenty of high-intensity treks and trail runs in the English countryside. I was treated to plenty of varied weather in testing, including several rainy days and a scorching heatwave.

Read on to see how the Helly Hansen Tech 2.0 T-shirt got on in the field.

Fit and comfort

There's little worse than an ill-fitting T-shirt on the trails. Too small and you can feel constrained, but too big and you can feel like you're drowning in excess material.

The Tech 2.0 T-shirt dodges these problems with a comfortable fit that feels snug in all the right places without getting too tight. True to size, it fit nicely around my stomach, chest, and shoulders without constraining my movements.

I'm often irritated by the sleeve lengths of outdoor tops, which can be unfashionably baggy or rise so high up my upper arms that they feel like a vest. The sleeves on the Tech 2.0 T-shirt strike a happy medium, falling a couple of inches above my elbow and exposing a little upper arm without riding onto my shoulders.

For reference, I'm 6ft 1in tall, and wore a size medium throughout testing.

Helly Hansen Tech T-shirt

The Tech 2.0 was comfortable throughout testing (Image credit: Future)

The 100%-recycled polyester material was also comfortable and never caused any irritation or chaffing. I wouldn't describe it as soft, but it felt pleasant enough against my skin, and gets my seal of approval for its effective moisture-wicking and quick-drying performance on the trails.

The Tech 2.0 T-shirt obviously isn't waterproof or water-resistant in any way, but the fabric is hydrophobic and the garment sheds rain pretty quickly, and always dries off a few minutes after a downpour. I really appreciated this on long, hot treks, when more absorbant fabrics would've been weighed down by sweat.

Runner wearing the Helly Hansen Tech 2.0 T-shirt

This Helly Hansen top is made from 100% recycled polyester (Image credit: Future)

The Tech 2.0 is still comfortable after multiple hours of testing and hasn't taken any significant damage. The fabric feels the same as it did when I first put it on, and design features, like the stylish printed Helly Hansen logo, look unblemished.

It's impossible to say what my Tech 2.0 will look like in a few months, but polyester offers excellent long-term durability.

Weight

At 6.7oz (190g), the Tech 2.0 T-shirt starts off lightweight, and it doesn't get soaked with sweat or rain. My T-shirts proved light and airy in all manner of weather conditions, and I never felt like it was weighing me down.

Rear view of a runner wearing the Helly Hansen Tech T-shirt 2.0

The Helly Hansen Tech 2.0 is best suited to trail running and hiking (Image credit: Future)

If you're looking for something uber lightweight to wear on the trails, you can find the 3.7oz (105g) Patagonia Ridge Flow running T-shirt, and others like it in our expert guides to the best running tops and the best hiking shirts.

Price

Along with its dependable quality and longevity in the wilderness, Helly Hansen gear is known for its hefty price tags. However, with a list price of $30 (£25), the Tech 2.0 T-shirt is actually comparatively cheap.

Also consider

Comparison table

Swipe to scroll horizontally

T-shirt

Helly Hansen men's Tech 2.0 T-shirt

Smartwool men’s Active Mesh T-shirt

Inov-8 men's Base Elite Base Layer 3.0 T-shirt

List price

$30 (US) / £25 (UK)

$25 (US) / £22 (UK)

$55 (US) / £30 (UK)

Weight

 6.7oz / 190g (small)

5.3oz / 150g (medium)

4.9oz / 138g (medium)

Materials

100% recycled polyester

Merino Wool / Lyocell / Polyester

Recycled polyester / elastane

Best use

Trail running / hiking

Trail running

Trail running


TOPICS
Will Symons
Staff Writer

Will Symons developed his love of the outdoors as a student, exploring every inch of Sussex’s South Downs national park and swimming off the Brighton seafront. Now a staff writer for Advnture, Will previously worked as a freelance journalist and writer, covering everything from cricket to ancient history. Like most Advnture staff, Will’s free time is rarely spent indoors, he can often be found hiking, open water swimming or playing cricket.