Peak Performance Helium Utility Flo Jacket review: battling the cold while looking hot

Peak Performance Helium Utility Flo Jacket: first impressions

Based in the little mountain village of Åre, in northern Sweden, Peak Performance is a relatively young, boutique brand, created by a couple of skiers – one of them a world-class mogul skier with several World Cup wins to their name. This backstory definitely bleeds through into the look and design of the gear they produce, and as soon as I got hold of it, the Peak Performance Helium Utility Flo Jacket felt different to puffers from more traditional outdoor brands.

This is an observation, not a criticism, but sartorial style is definitely deemed more important on the slopes than it is in the woods and on high crags. Skiers don’t like being cold any more than climbers do, though, so I’d say equal amounts of effort went into making this jacket look good and perform well.

I’ve been testing a special edition of the jacket, which is made from leftover fabric. This – plus the fact that ski jackets (a category this coat overlaps with) and après wear tend to be a bit bolder and louder than other outdoor apparel – means the colorways available are somewhat brighter than I’d usually go for.

Personally, I like to blend in with outdoor landscapes a little more than I’m able to in the two-tone red design I’ve been testing (smart as it is) but there is a black version available in the standard range, plus other less flamboyant colors. Regardless of colors, I have to say, this is a really great-looking jacket. But how does it perform compared to the best down jackets and synthetic puffers on the market? I’ve been trail- and hill-testing it to find out.

Peak Performance Helium Utility Flo Jacket: design and materials

The outer shell on the Peak Performance Helium Utility Flo Jacket is made from a polymide material, with a weatherproof DWR finish, while the insulation is 700 fill-power duck down (certified as responsibly sourced).

The all-important baffling (stitching that keeps the down fill in the places it’s supposed to be) is arranged in the Peak Performace’s iconic Helium quilted pattern, with wavy lines as opposed to the standard straight furrows you see on most puffers, and that instantly gives the Helium Utility Flo a unique look and style.

The pockets, too, are different – specifically the one on the chest and another on the left bicep. You don’t typically get anything beyond basic hand pockets on a puffer jacket, because it’s hard to incorporate features into the design without compromising both the down fill and the weather-resistant shell. But instead of cutting a pocket into the interior of the coat, Peak Performance have stitched a whole extra pouch on to the outside of the garment’s left breast, with another little one added to the arm. (Even more unusually, both of these extra pockets appear on the women’s jacket as well as the men’s.)

The other notable style element is the inclusion of over-sized pull cords on all the pocket tabs and even the cuff and hem adjusters, which are there so you can easily unzip and re-zip the pockets while wearing ski gloves.

One of the hand pockets (the left one) acts as a stuff sack for the jacket, for convenience of transportation – but remember not to store the jacket long term like this, or the down will be damaged.

Meet the reviewer

Pat Kinsella

Pat has hiked all over the world, his adventures taking him to Mont Blanc, the roof of Western Europe; the Norwegian Alps; the highest peaks in Australia; and New Zealand’s Great Walks – among others. He’s an experienced tester of hiking gear and gives kit a thorough thrashing before reviewing.

Peak Performance Helium Utility Flo Jacket: in the field

I’ve been testing the Peak Performance Helium Utility Flo Jacket on the wind-whipped and increasingly cold tor tops of Dartmoor, and in the Scottish mountains, where there’s always a chill in the air. I’ve been impressed with the build quality of the jacket, and I haven’t noticed a single feather escaping from the fill so far.

Peak Performance position this jacket as outer wear, but I’d say – while it certainly works as an outer layer during dry weather, and in many respects is too good-looking to hide under a shell – it is weighted perfectly for use as a mid layer when conditions are more severe. The 700-fill power down provides a decent level of thermal protection, and the jacket is impressively windproof, but when temperatures really drop, and especially if it starts raining persistently, you will need to wear a good waterproof jacket over the top. The DWR keeps light drizzle, mist and snow at bay, but in seriously soggy weather it will wet out and then the down will start to get damp, and no-one wants that.

I found that when I did wear it as an outer layer (which was for the majority of the time) and I was engaged in dynamic activities such as hill hiking, scrambling up scree and climbing on crags, the Helium Utility Flo did an excellent job of keeping me warm while not making me too sweaty. It genuinely keeps the wind out, but remains really breathable at the same time, so you don’t get soaked from the inside out.

The over-sized pull cords on all the pockets looks a bit weird when you’re wearing this jacket in the woods, but on the snowy slopes and in the chilly high peaks they make a lot more sense, allowing you to easily open and shut pockets even when your hands are freezing or you’re wearing thick gloves. I’m not so sure about the size of the hoops on the hem and cuffs, which are so big they can get caught on things.

I really like the inclusion of extra pockets on the chest and arm. Besides giving the jacket a unique look, these are actually great additions from a practical point of view, and prove useful for carrying everything from credit cards and money to hotel key cards and lift passes. I also love the fact that the jacket stows away in one of its own pockets, which makes it easy to pop into a daypack, ski pack or hiking backpack when you’re going on an escapade, and you know conditions will be getting colder later.

The hood is excellent, and it features a little storm cap to keep snow and rain out of your eyes, which is another element you don’t see on many puffer jackets. The high zip and comfortable chin cover are both great too, and they really do a good job of protecting your lower face when the elements get properly angry.

I was less impressed with the fact that the Helium Utility Flo doesn’t feature an extended back panel or snowskirt, which would be ideal for keeping breezes out and protect your bum from getting cold and numb. And there are no thumb hoops either – perhaps because Peak Performance see this as an outer jacket more than a mid layer. But even when worn this way, thumb loops are useful for keeping sleeves connected to gloves in cold weather, and avoiding any bare skin being revealed.

Overall, though, this is an excellent jacket that looks stylish and performs very well.

• How Advnture tests products