Helter Skelters (2025)

Out-of-control rain pants for mountain bikers, the playfully insane and long distance tourers. Three-quarter length styling makes 'em easy to pull on and off, enhances breathability, avoids chain suck and reduces bulk when stashed. 3 layer HydroFoil™ fabric shields your thighs from deluges and your bum from rear wheel splatter.

+Features

• Lightweight waterproof-breathable 3 layer HydroFoil™ fabric with fully tape-sealed seams for maximum waterproofness.
• Zipped fly with gripper elastic waist keeps them hitched up.
• One piece gusseted crutch.
• Articulated knees.
• Zipped rear pocket.
• Turns into itself to form a tidy package in your backpack or pannier.
• Hazard!™ reflective labels.
• Waterproofness: 20,000 mm hydrostatic head with a water-repellent finish.
• Breathability: 33,000 gm per sq.m per 24hrs.
• Weight: 200 gm.
• Designed & made by us in Aotearoa | New Zealand.

+Inseam Length

The garment's inside leg measurement from crotch to cuff.

S	M	L	XL	XXL
49 cm	50.5 cm	52 cm	54 cm	55.5 cm

+Tech

+HydroFoil™

A waterproof, windproof and highly breathable laminated fabric specifically developed for high aerobic activities.

• The Pertex® Shield+ membrane is sandwiched between an outer fabric and tricot lining. It is highly waterproof and highly breathable.
• The outer fabric is treated with a conventional DWR water repellent finish.
• The outer fabric has a small amount of stretch allowing for a closer fit, and the lightweight tricot mesh liner increases durability and moisture dispersion.

Specifications:

• Composition: 100% ripstop nylon outer and tricot liner, with Pertex® Shield+ membrane.
• Waterproofness: 20,000mm hydrostatic head.
• Breathability: 33,000 gm per sq.m per 24hr.
• Surface applied water repellant finish.
• Weight: 110 gsm.

+Hazard!™

Night travel is a spooky experience. Many Ground Effect garments feature our Hazard!™ reflective logo and piping to help remind traffic that we're on the road too.

+More than Kiwi Made

Ground Effect clothing is crafted right here in Aotearoa | New Zealand. Has been ever since we started back in 1994. Manufacturing locally works for us. We operate a quick-response system - holding minimal stock of any one item, but churning out a few more quick-smart when the pile gets low. The upshot is that we are seldom caught with our shelves empty, so orders get despatched the same day you place them.

+FAQ

+Benefits of 3/4 vs full-length over trou?

We've extensively tested both full-length and 3/4 waterproof pants over the years. In our experience 3/4's provide the best trade-off between functionality and performance in most conditions - especially for mountain biking, bikepacking and touring.

 

• They are easy to whip on and off over your shoes.
• Repel rain from the most exposed areas - your bum and thighs.
• Avoid 'chain suck' at your ankles.
• Minimise overheating when pedalling hard.

However full-length over trou are sometimes best - notably for commuting when you want to keep your long pants dry, or when touring to really cold and/or wet places.

+Washing

HydroFoil™

Like the drivetrain or expensive components on your bike, proper care and maintenance is essential to extend the life of your HydroFoil™ rain jacket or pants and optimise their performance over time.

Wash Regularly

• Accumulated dirt, body oil, sunscreen, insect repellant and sweat degrades the waterproof-breathable membrane and the factory-applied water repellant treatment on the outside of the HydroFoil™ fabric.
  
• Wash often - even with no visible dirt - to maintain performance and extend garment life. In real terms that translates to washing after about half a dozen outings, or after a particularly grubby ride. If it looks dirty, then your garment is definitely overdue some love.
• No need for kid gloves - just a warm machine wash at 40º with a mild plant-based soap like Ecostore, Earthwise or Aware.
• You can also opt for a specific sport wash like Nikwax Tech Wash or Grangers Performance Wash - around NZ$30 online or from most outdoor shops.
  
• Avoid cold-water detergents and those with bleach, 'oxygen whitener' or fabric softener.
• The cold-water varieties have little enzymes that are super-charged to brave the cold but damage technical fabrics like HydroFoil™.
• Bleach and sodium percarbonate (the main ingredient in oxygen whitener) can also cause damage and make colours run.
• Fabric softener and wool wash attack HydroFoil's water repellent finish.

Recharge and Restore

• After washing, line dry or preferably give it a spin in the dryer on a warm (not hot) cycle - this helps ‘recharge’ the factory water repellent finish.
• The factory treatment does wear off quite quickly. When the fabric starts to rapidly wet out - generally after about four washes - you’ll want to restore with a water repellent solution.
• Ground Effect recommends TX Direct. It is easy to apply and each bottle is good for a few applications. At just $29 NZD ($10 off the usual retail price), it’s a small and worthwhile investment to keep your expensive jacket or pants humming through the winter.
• The effectiveness of this restoration process depends on the age and condition of your jacket.
• Note that while the fabric's wetting-out impairs performance, particularly breathability, the HydroFoil™ laminate will remain waterproof.

Store Dry

• A damp jacket left to fester for an extended period of time in your bag will suffer. Hang it on a hook or coat hanger in a dry place between rides.

+ Shipping

• Items are generally packed and sent the same day your order is received.
• Costs $9 by overnight courier within New Zealand.
• NZ$12 by tracked airmail to Australia.
• Around NZ$15-25 by tracked airmail to destinations elsewhere in the world - calculated in our shipping cart as you check out.
• More shipping and tax details in our FAQ.