Helly Hansen · Clothing · Worth packing
Helly Hansen Seven J Jacket (Women's)
The women's rain shell cut to fit, not borrowed from the men's rack
The women's version of Helly Hansen's Seven J, a waterproof, windproof and breathable 100% polyamide rain jacket with a DWR treatment. It has a full-time hood, a quick-dry polyester mesh liner and weighs about 16 oz.
Our take
Plenty of women end up in a men's or unisex rain jacket because it looked close enough online. Then the sleeves cover your hands, the shoulders sag and the hem flaps in the wind. A shell keeps you drier when it fits close at the cuffs and hood, which is why you want the women's cut of the Seven J, not the men's in a smaller size.
The fabric is waterproof, windproof and breathable polyamide with a DWR finish, so a day of drizzle in Dublin or a ferry crossing in Norway doesn't soak through. The hood is full-time, so it's there the moment the rain starts. The quick-dry mesh liner keeps it from feeling clammy when you duck into a cafe or onto a train. At about 16 oz it packs into a daypack without much fuss.
For a woman packing for rain, this is the jacket we'd buy. Check the price and the size chart before you order.
Who it’s for
Women heading to wet, cool places like Ireland, Norway or the Pacific Northwest who want a waterproof shell that actually fits.
Skip it if
Skip it if your trip is hot and humid with short storms. A thin ultralight shell or a small umbrella does the job with less bulk.
Helly Hansen Seven J Jacket (Women's): questions people ask
Is the women's Seven J different from the men's?
Yes, it's cut for women. Both are waterproof, windproof and breathable with a DWR finish, but buy the version made for your frame so the sleeves and hood fit.
Should I size up in a rain jacket for layering?
Usually not. Check the size chart with a sweater on and only go up if you're between sizes, because a jacket that's too big lets rain in at the cuffs and hood.
Is the Helly Hansen Seven J breathable enough for walking?
It's breathable and the mesh liner helps, but any rain shell gets warm if you walk fast uphill. Open the front zip to vent.
Where we recommend it
What to Pack for SedonaIt's easy to pack Sedona for desert heat and get caught out by the cold. It sits at 4,270 feet (1,300 meters),What to Pack for ParisPlenty of people pack an umbrella for Paris and then fight it on narrow sidewalks all week. Rain shows up everWhat to Pack for LondonLondon isn't cold so much as wet and changeable. Highs stay between 8–23°C all year and most months see 10 to What to Pack for SeoulSeoul isn't a mild city with the odd cold snap. January lows average -7°C, and summer brings 30–31°C highs witWhat to Pack for AmsterdamThe umbrella is the first thing to take out of an Amsterdam bag. Highs never average above 22°C and every montWhat to Pack for BerlinBerlin doesn't have a dry season to plan around. Rain is spread through the year, and temperatures swing from What to Pack for CopenhagenCopenhagen's numbers look mild, and that's the trap. Highs never pass 20°C, wind off the water makes it feel cWhat to Pack for HanoiIt's easy to assume Hanoi is hot all year and pack only T-shirts. December to February brings highs of 22–23°CWhat to Pack for OsakaPeople pack for Osaka's heat and forget the rain. From June to September the city hits 27°C to 34°C with 13 toWhat to Pack for MunichPeople think of Munich as a summer beer garden city and pack for sunshine. The numbers say otherwise. July is What to Pack for BrugesBruges looks like a postcard, so people pack for photos. What you actually get is wet cobblestones. It rains oWhat to Pack for Hoi AnPeople think Hoi An is a dry tropical town with a rainy month or two. It's wetter than that. September to DeceWhat to Pack for BudapestMost people pack for Budapest like it's a sightseeing city and forget it's a bathing city. Széchenyi and RudasWhat to Pack for StockholmPeople assume Stockholm's summer is the dry one. It isn't. July is the wettest month on the books with 17 rainWhat to Pack for HelsinkiMost visitors pack for Helsinki's cold and forget the sauna. Public saunas like Löyly and Allas Sea Pool are aWhat to Pack for ChicagoPeople check Chicago's temperature and miss the lake. Wind off Lake Michigan cuts through the Loop and along tWhat to Pack for QueenstownQueenstown's summer highs only reach about 22°C, and the mountains around Lake Wakatipu change the weather fasWhat to Pack for Chiang MaiMost people pack for Chiang Mai like it's a Thai beach town. It isn't. The cool season mornings get down to 16What to Pack for DublinPeople pack for Dublin like it's cold. It mostly isn't. Highs run 8°C to 20°C all year, and the real problem iWhat to Pack for MontrealMontreal winters get the attention, and they deserve it, with January highs of minus 5°C and lows of minus 12°What to Pack for CuscoPeople look at Cusco's highs of 17°C to 20°C and pack for spring. That's the mistake. The city sits at about 3What to Pack for QuitoQuito sits on the equator, so people pack for heat. Wrong. It's at about 2,850 m, highs barely change from 17°What to Pack for FlorenceFlorence is small enough to walk end to end, so people pack for sightseeing and forget about the stone. The stWhat to Pack for KrakowKrakow's cold catches people out because it's wet, not dramatic. Winter lows sit just below freezing and JanuaWhat to Pack for Washington DCWashington looks compact on the map. Then you walk the National Mall, where the Lincoln Memorial to the CapitoWhat to Pack for Rio de JaneiroRio's summer runs December to February, and it's hot, humid and wet, with 17 rain days in January. People packWhat to Pack for MilanPeople pack for Milan like it's fashion week and forget it's a wet city. May averages 20 rain days, the most oWhat to Pack for BostonBoston catches people out because it swings so hard. February lows hit -5°C, July highs reach 29°C, and the wiWhat to Pack for BanffPeople pack for a Banff summer like it's summer anywhere else. July averages 23°C in the afternoon but only 8°What to Pack for GenoaGenoa is a vertical city, and most visitors find that out on day one. The old town is a maze of steep, narrow What to Pack for SydneyPeople picture Sydney as beach weather all year and pack only summer clothes. Winter nights drop to 8°C, and sWhat to Pack for EdinburghMost people pack for Edinburgh like it's freezing. It rarely is. Summer highs sit around 18–19°C and winter loWhat to Pack for OsloMost people pack for Oslo's cold and forget the ice. Winter highs sit between -2°C to 1°C, January lows reach What to Pack for El CalafatePeople pack for El Calafate by the thermometer and get caught by the wind. Even in January, the warmest month,What to Pack for ReykjavikReykjavik isn't that cold on paper. Winter lows sit around -4°C to -2°C and summer highs reach 13°C, but it raWhat to Pack for ViennaMost people pack for Vienna like it's a museum trip and forget it's a walking city with real weather. Winter lWhat to Pack for ZurichPeople expect Zurich to be cold. The real problem is how often it rains, with 18 rain days in both May and JulWhat to Pack for SeattleSeattle's rain is rarely heavy. It's frequent, with 19 rain days in December and grey drizzle most of the wintWhat to Pack for CharlestonCharleston's summer heat gets the attention, but the humidity and afternoon storms are what wreck plans. July What to Pack for Cape TownPeople pack for Cape Town's summer sun and get caught out by the wind. The southeaster can blow hard for days What to Pack for KathmanduMost people pack for Kathmandu as if it's either the Himalaya or the tropics. It's neither. Winter days are a What to Pack for ZanzibarZanzibar looks like a pure beach trip, so people pack swimsuits and not much else. Then they get to Stone TownWhat to Pack for IstanbulMost people pack for Istanbul like it's a Mediterranean beach city. It isn't. Winters are wet and chilly, summWhat to Pack for KyotoPeople pack for Kyoto's temples and forget the two things that actually shape the trip: summer humidity and taWhat to Pack for FlagstaffPeople see Arizona and pack for desert heat. Flagstaff sits at about 2,100 m in the pines, so lows drop to freWhat to Pack for MelbourneMelbourne's morning forecast isn't the weather you'll have by the afternoon. Locals call it four seasons in onWhat to Pack for LisbonLisbon's weather is easy. The ground is the problem. The city is built on steep hills paved with polished limeWhat to Pack for Mexico CityMexico City isn't beach Mexico. It sits at about 2,240 meters, so the midday sun is strong but winter nights dWhat to Pack for AucklandAuckland's temperature barely moves, but the weather changes all day. Every month averages at least 10 rain daWhat to Pack for Foz do IguaçuAt Iguaçu you get wet whether it rains or not. The spray at the Devil's Throat and the boat rides under the faWhat to Pack for NairobiPeople expect equatorial heat and land in Nairobi to find it cool. The city sits at about 1,795 meters, so higWhat to Pack for SingaporeMost people pack for Singapore's heat and forget about the inside. You'll walk out of 31°C humidity into mallsWhat to Pack for PraguePeople pack nice shoes for Prague and regret it by lunch. The Old Town, Malá Strana and the climb to the CastlWhat to Pack for PortoPorto is all hills, and the stone gets slick. The walk from the Ribeira up to the Clérigos Tower, or across thWhat to Pack for BrusselsBrussels doesn't do a dry season, and summer is no exception. July gets 16 rain days, as many as November, andWhat to Pack for Hong KongHong Kong's heat is only half the problem. From May to October you'll walk out of humid 27°C to 30°C streets iWhat to Pack for New OrleansPeople pack for the New Orleans heat and forget the rain. Summer highs hit 32°C to 34°C, and May to July bringWhat to Pack for UshuaiaUshuaia in summer is still cold. January tops out at 14°C, it rains on 22 days that month, and the wind off thWhat to Pack for SplitMost people pack for Split like it's a beach town. The old town is polished limestone that turns slick when weWhat to Pack for HamburgPeople pack for Hamburg's temperatures and get caught by the rain. July, the month you'd expect to be dry, is What to Pack for UbudMost people pack for Bali like it's a beach trip. Ubud sits inland in the hills, and it rains on 17 to 27 daysWhat to Pack for Siem ReapMost people pack for Siem Reap like it's a beach holiday, then get stopped at the temple steps. The upper leveWhat to Pack for San FranciscoMost people pack shorts for a California summer and freeze in San Francisco. July highs here are just 19°C, foWhat to Pack for JaipurMost people pack for Jaipur as if it's hot all year. In January nights drop to 8°C, so a sunrise trip up to AmWhat to Pack for New YorkMost people pack outfits for New York and the wrong shoes. You'll walk miles of pavement and climb subway staiWhat to Pack for VancouverMost people pack a heavy coat for Vancouver and get caught by the rain instead. Winters are mild, with highs oWhat to Pack for HonfleurMost people pack for Honfleur's summer and forget it sits on the Normandy coast. July is actually its wettest What to Pack for PortlandThis is Portland, Maine, and the mistake is packing for the summer postcard. Even in July, evenings out on theWhat to Pack for AvignonProvence sounds warm, so people pack for sun. In Avignon the thing that catches you out is the mistral, a coldWhat to Pack for DordogneThe Dordogne isn't a city, it's a region of river valleys, castles and stone villages, and you'll see it from What to Pack for SalzburgPeople pack for Salzburg's cold winters and forget its summers are the wettest part of the year. July has 19 rWhat to Pack for Da NangMost people book Da Nang as a beach trip and pack like it's dry all year. It isn't. October gets 29 rain days,What to Pack for HoustonEveryone warns you about Houston's heat. Nobody warns you about the air conditioning. You'll spend a lot of yoWhat to Pack for NewportNewport looks like a summer postcard, so people pack for a heatwave. The warmest month tops out at 25°C, and tWhat to Pack for Quebec CityOld Quebec is built on a cliff, with steep streets and stairways between Upper and Lower Town. In winter thoseWhat to Pack for ShanghaiPeople pack for Shanghai like it's one climate. It's two. Summers hit 34°C with heavy rain, and winter lows drWhat to Pack for BayeuxMost people come to Bayeux for the Tapestry and the D-Day beaches, and pack for a quiet French town. The town'What to Pack for DresdenDresden's old town is compact, so people pack light city clothes and stop there. Then they discover Saxon SwitWhat to Pack for InterlakenPeople check the Interlaken forecast and forget they're going up. The town sits in a valley, but the trips eveWhat to Pack for RigaPeople pack for Riga's cold and forget its rain. July is the wettest month of the year, and summer here bringsWhat to Pack for TallinnMost people pack for Tallinn's cold and get beaten by its hills and cobbles. The Old Town is steep, uneven stoWhat to Pack for BordeauxPeople picture Bordeaux as sunny wine country and leave the rain jacket at home. It rains on 10 or more days iWhat to Pack for GivernyMost people treat Giverny as an easy day out from Paris and dress for a city. It's a village and a garden, witWhat to Pack for Key WestPeople pack for Key West like it's a beach resort. It's mostly a small, walkable town, and the real problems aWhat to Pack for OrlandoPeople pack for Orlando by the forecast high. The real problem is the miles. A theme park day means hours on yWhat to Pack for RouenRouen catches people out with rain, not cold. Every month has 8 to 16 rain days, and the old town is cobbles, What to Pack for CannesPeople pack for Cannes as if every day is the film festival. Most of the year it's a relaxed beach town, and tWhat to Pack for LyonLyon looks flat on the map. It isn't. Fourvière and Croix-Rousse are steep hills full of staircases, and VieuxWhat to Pack for Loire ValleyPeople pack for the Loire Valley like it's the south of France. It isn't. Even in May there are 14 rain days, What to Pack for San AntonioPeople think San Antonio is just hot. The bigger surprise is spring. May is the wettest month with 14 rain dayWhat to Pack for VictoriaVictoria sells itself as Canada's mild city, and it is, but most visitors miss how wet the off-season gets. DeWhat to Pack for LucernePeople pack for Lucerne's temperatures and forget the rain. Even summer is wet here, with July logging 20 rainWhat to Pack for PhiladelphiaPeople think of Philadelphia as a mild East Coast city. It swings hard. July hits 32°C with 14 rain days, and What to Pack for Xi'anMost people plan Xi'an around the Terracotta Warriors and forget how far the weather swings. Winter lows drop What to Pack for Cinque TerrePeople pack for Cinque Terre like it's a beach holiday. It's really a week of stairs. The five villages are liWhat to Pack for Mont-Saint-MichelPeople treat Mont-Saint-Michel as a quick photo stop. It's usually a long day outdoors on an exposed tidal bayWhat to Pack for GuanajuatoMost people pack for Guanajuato like it's a beach town in Mexico. It isn't. It sits high in the mountains, theWhat to Pack for Luxembourg CityPeople think of Luxembourg City as a flat little financial capital. It's built on cliffs. The old town sits hiWhat to Pack for San Miguel de AllendePeople picture central Mexico as hot all year. San Miguel de Allende sits high, and from December to February What to Pack for Cluj-NapocaMost people assume Transylvania is cold all year. Cluj-Napoca is properly cold in winter, with lows of -2°C, bWhat to Pack for PisaMost people treat Pisa as a quick stop for a tower photo and pack for sunny Italy. Pisa gets rain on 12 to 15 What to Pack for DubrovnikDubrovnik's problem is underfoot. The Old Town's limestone streets are polished smooth and the City Walls are What to Pack for KotorKotor is all stone steps. The climb to the fortress is steep, and the old town's polished limestone streets geWhat to Pack for San JuanSan Juan is warm and showery all year, so the weather is easy to dress for. The packing problem is the ground:What to Pack for GlasgowGlasgow's packing problem is rain. It rains on at least 10 days in every month of the year, often in quick shoWhat to Pack for BaliBali is hot and humid all year, and the wet season brings 20 or more rain days a month. You also need a sarongWhat to Pack for Lake ComoLake Como is a ferry-and-stairs trip. You'll hop boats between towns and climb steep stepped lanes in Varenna What to Pack for JerusalemJerusalem's packing problem is the dress code. The holiest sites expect covered shoulders and knees, while sumWhat to Pack for TorontoToronto's packing problem is winter. January averages a 0°C high and a -5°C low, with wind off Lake Ontario onWhat to Pack for Sri LankaSri Lanka has two monsoons that hit opposite coasts, and the hill country is cold at night. You can go from 31What to Pack for DenverDenver sits at 1,609 m, and the altitude is the packing problem. The sun is strong, the air is dry and dehydraWhat to Pack for HiroshimaHiroshima's summers are hot and sticky, with the tsuyu rainy season in June and July. You will also take your What to Pack for Costa RicaCosta Rica packs several climates into one trip. These numbers are from San José airport in the Central ValleyWhat to Pack for BusanBusan swings from freezing winter nights to hot, humid summers with a typhoon season in August and September. What to Pack for MedellínMedellín is the City of Eternal Spring. At about 1,500 m, highs stay at 27–29°C and lows at 15–16°C every montWhat to Pack for TenerifeTenerife packs two climates into one trip. The south coast is sunny and almost rainless, but the summit of MouWhat to Pack for MauiMaui's beaches are warm, but its summit is not. The packing problem is altitude: Haleakalā is near freezing atWhat to Pack for MadeiraMadeira's weather changes with altitude. The coast is mild year-round, but the levada trails and peaks can be What to Pack for RovaniemiRovaniemi is properly cold. January averages a -13°C low, and you will spend that time outdoors on husky ridesWhat to Pack for AnchorageAnchorage summers are cool and often damp, and most visitors are headed somewhere colder and wetter. Pack layeWhat to Pack for Victoria FallsAt Victoria Falls, the weather is not what gets you wet. From about February to June the spray from the falls What to Pack for KauaiKauai is green because it rains, and how much depends on where you stay. The south shore around Poipu is drierWhat to Pack for OaxacaOaxaca sits at about 1,550 m, so the sun is strong and the nights are cool. A single day can swing from a 10°CWhat to Pack for St. LuciaSt. Lucia is a rainforest island as much as a beach one. You'll want hiking shoes for the Pitons, an old swimsWhat to Pack for AspenAspen's problem is altitude. The town sits at about 2,400 m, so the sun is strong, the air is dry and nights gWhat to Pack for WhistlerWhistler's winter is wet, not just cold. The village hovers around freezing, so you get heavy coastal snow andWhat to Pack for CairnsCairns is a reef and rainforest base, so most of what you pack is for the water. From roughly November to May What to Pack for PatagoniaIn Patagonia the wind is the packing problem. Torres del Paine can go from sun to sideways rain in an hour, evWhat to Pack for the SerengetiThe Serengeti's packing problem is weight. Most travelers reach camps on small planes with strict luggage limiWhat to Pack for YellowstoneYellowstone sits high, around 2,000 m and above, so a hot summer afternoon can follow a frosty morning, and snWhat to Pack for CappadociaCappadocia's days and nights are different trips. You will be up before dawn for the balloons in cold air, theWhat to Pack for BermudaBermuda is not in the Caribbean, and it isn't tropical. Winters are mild and breezy rather than hot, so the paWhat to Pack for ZermattZermatt sits at about 1,600 m, but most of what you come for is higher. The village can be mild while the MattWhat to Pack for TromsøTromsø's cold is manageable. The dark, the wet and the ice are the problem. Winter temperatures hover around fWhat to Pack for the Big IslandThe Big Island packs several climates into one trip. Kona on the west side is warm and dry, Hilo on the east sWhat to Pack for the Grand CanyonThe Grand Canyon has two climates stacked on top of each other. The South Rim sits at about 2,100 m and freezePacking list: Winter City Packing ListLayers beat a big coat, because you'll spend half the day indoors. Waterproof boots are the one thing to spendPacking list: Day Hiking Packing ListA day hike needs far less than people pack. This kit covers the trail and the city evening after, and none of
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