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Helter Skelters

119

$199.00 NZD

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™ Plus fabric shields your thighs from deluges and your bum from rear wheel splatter.

▸ Features

Lightweight waterproof-breathable 3 layer HydroFoil™ Plus 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.
XS size option (approx. women's small).
Waterproofness: 23,000 mm hydrostatic head with durable water-repellent finish.
Breathability: 33,000 gm per sqm per 24hrs.
Designed & made by us in Aotearoa | New Zealand.

▸ Tech

▸

Specifically developed for high aerobic activities, HydroFoil™ Plus combines a lightweight ripstop nylon shell with a composite membrane that is completely waterproof, totally windproof and extremely breathable. The outer fabric is the latest new-generation Pertex® Shield+ membrane. It is more than twice as breathable as most other quality waterproof-breathable fabrics, and has a small amount of stretch allowing a closer fit. The outer fabric is treated with a durable water repellent finish that encourages rain to bead up and roll off, while there is a lightweight tricot mesh on the inside for greater durability and improved moisture dispersion.

Composition: 100% nylon with PU laminate.
Waterproofness: 23,000mm hydrostatic head with durable water-repellent finish on face fabric.
Breathability: 33,000gm per sq.m per 24hr.

▸ 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 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.

▸ Weight: 220 gm

▸ Video

▸ 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

All Ground Effect clothing enjoys a warm 40ºC machine wash. Try to 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 can damage technical fabrics and cause skin irritation.
Bleach rots natural fibres like merino, strips the dye, attacks laminates of waterproof fabrics and can also cause skin irritation.
Sodium Percarbonate (the main ingredient in oxygen whitener) can make colours run.
Fabric softener and stuff containing it like wool wash destroys the water repellent finish on waterproof and water resistant fabrics, and can cause colours to run.

As a rule of thumb, a product that is easy on the planet is also easy on your body. Select a mild plant-based soap like Ecover, Ecostore, Earthwise or Aware.
Hand washing is sometimes the only option on tour, but a washing machine rinses more thoroughly and is preferable if you have the choice.
Most Ground Effect gear dries super-fast so hanging on the line or drooping over the bedpost is generally the best option. High heat can damage some fabrics so if you do take your threads for a spin, set the device on 'medium' or 'warm' rather than hot. A lap in the dryer is recommended for your rain jacket, after it has dried on the line, as it helps recharge its water repellent finish.

Wash with any of the plant-based products listed above. You can also use a specific sport wash like Grangers Extreme Cleaner, Nikwax Tech Wash or Atsko 'Sport Wash'. Around NZ$30 from most outdoor shops. Any stubborn stains should be dabbed not rubbed clean. For grease spots you can use a degreaser like Swarfega. It's aggressive stuff though so take care - it might be best left alone as added character.
Keep it clean, but don’t wash too often. General wear along with washing progressively removes the water repellent treatment from the outside the fabric. This treatment helps rain to bead and run off - and enhances the overall performance of the fabric. Dirt, body oil, sunscreen and sweat also attack the water repellent treatment and can cause the waterproof-breathable membrane to delaminate. Wash frequency depends on how often and how hard you use your garment. We suggest washing after a particularly grubby ride or after say a dozen sessions in the rain. Use your judgement - if the garment looks dirty, the fabric is 'wetting out’ too quickly, or feels clammy then it's probably time for a clean.
You can help restore the water repellent treatment after washing by line-drying your jacket, then chucking it in the dryer using a warm (not hot) cycle. This 'recharges' the treatment so it lasts a bit longer. When this trick no longer does its magic you can beef up the original treatment to some extent with a product like Nikwax TX Direct - $39 from Ground Effect. A bottle is good for two or three rounds with your jacket. The effectiveness of this process depends on the age and condition of your jacket. Expect ok results if the fabric is only 'wetting out' in patches (the 'mid-life' crisis). If the entire jacket is 'wetting-out' rapidly in light rain then it already has one-foot-in-the-grave and beading is unlikely to improve much from the treatment, the money may be better put towards a new jacket. Note that while the fabric's wetting-out impairs performance, particularly breathability, the HydroFoil laminate should still be waterproof.
Always ensure your HydroFoil garment is completely dry before storing. Putting it away damp can destroy both the DWR and the waterproof coating. Hanging on a hook or coat hanger is best. Take care of your gear and it will take care of you.

Customer Reviews

4.7 Based on 119 reviews

5 Star

85%

101

4 Star

9%

11

3 Star

3%

4

2 Star

1%

1

1 Star

2%

2

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We value your feedback. If you're stoked with your Ground Effect kit then you might like to share it (the review not the gear) with your mates. Thanks again.

SK

06/12/2019

Stephen K.

Australia

Helter Skelters

Great fit and perfect for long rides without overheating

KS

05/12/2019

Kevin S.

New Zealand

Helter Skelter Heaven

These are the best bad weather bad boys around! On the last aTour Aotearoa these make the bad days pleasant... When it's cold and wet they keep you warm. I'm on to my second pair... Due to girth expansion ... The first pair are waiting for me to slim down!

KT

01/12/2019

Kathleen T.

New Zealand

Helter Skelters on a wet Mountains to Sea

Purchased Helter Skelters for a 5 day Mountains to Sea ride including Kaiwhakauka track in November. Wore on two extremely wet days. Brilliant. Mates wet and cold but not me. Highly recommended for this sort of trip. Light and compact when not in use. Great fit. I was between sizes L and M and opted for L.

SP

28/11/2019

Sharon P.

New Zealand

Insurance Policy that came in handy

We just completed a 10 day cycle tour around the Southern lakes area including the Around the Mountain trail. These pants were our insurance policy in case we got rain, and we did, on the very first day. Happy to say these were very comfortable to wear and cycle in, and kept anything under them completely dry! I think they will be useful for when its raining while playing golf in the summer too.

RH

25/11/2019

Richard H.

New Zealand

Helter Skelters

After 7 hours on the bike in solid rain on the Heaphy Track I was amazed to actually feel quite dry!

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	XS	S	M	L	XL
Height	154 - 164 cm 5' 1" - 5' 5"	163 - 172 cm 5’ 4” - 5’ 8”	169 - 178 cm 5’ 6” - 5’ 10”	175 - 185 cm 5’ 9” - 6’ 1”	183 - 191 cm 6’ 0” - 6’ 3”
Chest	84 - 90 cm 33 - 35"	91 - 97 cm 36” - 38”	98 - 104 cm 39 - 41”	105 - 111 cm 42 - 44”	112 - 118 cm 44 - 46”
Waist	66 - 72 cm 26 - 28"	73 - 79 cm 29 - 31”	80 - 86 cm 32 - 34”	87 - 93 cm 35 - 37”	94 - 100 cm 37 - 39”
Hips	78 - 86 cm 31 - 34"	87 - 95 cm 34 - 37”	96 - 103 cm 38 - 41”	104 - 111 cm 41 - 44”	112 - 120 cm 44 - 47”

Helter Skelters

Men's Size Chart (XS)

Customer Reviews

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Helter Skelters

Helter Skelter Heaven

Helter Skelters on a wet Mountains to Sea

Insurance Policy that came in handy

Helter Skelters

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