ยฃ499.99 & ยฃ329.99 | www.held-uk.co.uk | 01423 790121ย | Tested by: John Milbank, Editor Motorcycle Sport & Leisure magazine
Iโve had this Held kit for 18 months now, and while there have been glitches along the way, Iโm very impressed with it โ more so than any other textile gear Iโve used in 16 years of bike testing. Itโs covered me in England, Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, France, Belgium, Spain and Luxembourg. But itโs not the waterproofing thatโs made me so happy, itโs the fact that it doesnโt stick to me when Iโm hot.
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Last year I went on a touring holiday with my mates to Scotland โ surprisingly the first couple of days were really hot. Too hot for textiles. But with the jacketโs two pairs of large, zipped vents front and rear I was able to keep the air flowing around my jacket and venting out through the hem, which it does while maintaining the waterproofing as the membrane is deeper inside. I had the buttons undone and the storm flap open, which exposes two full-height vents that also force the air beneath the outer lining. At speed, I ballooned a little, but I didnโt care โ I was very comfortable. The breathable mesh CoolMax lining stops the arms sticking as you take the jacket off in the heat (something thatโs driven me wild with poorer quality gear in the past), and the back uses a 3D mesh, which keeps the back-protector (if you fit one, sadly itโs not included) away from you, to further help ventilation.
The jacket and trousers come with excellent quality liners, but Iโve rarely used them; I run quite hot soย in the winter tend to just throw an extra fleece on, as I like to be able to remove it easily if I start to cook. Thatโs not a criticism of the Held liners โ itโs just what I always do. Normal people will no doubt use them more.
In the rain theyโre also very good, but to say Iโve never got wet would be a lie. One or two times, Iโve had a damp belly in severe downpours, but for every time thatโs happened, there have been several more similar situations during which Iโve kept dry. Iโve come to the conclusion that it simply depends how carefully I dress myself. If I take the time to get the two zipped together and settled correctly, as well as ensure the storm flap is properly positioned, then I stay dry.
I donโt totally trust the jacketโs waterproof outer pockets โย Iโve too often found that water can creep under the flap โ but there are three zipped and one elasticated inside, so itโs not a big issue. Equally, while Iโve kept my wallet in the zipped trouser pockets during very severe rainstorms, it has got damp, so itโs best tucked away.
Iโve had the jacketโs main zip toggle break, which was very easy to replace myself. One of the sleeve toggles also snapped, but the jacket had to be returned for the whole zip to be replaced (youโd never know, and keeping it cleaner would have prevented this). Both were covered by the warranty โ two years as standard, five years if you fill in the supplied QuattroTempi club card (which also gives other perks like free gifts and invites).
Iโm 5โ10โ with a 36โ waist with a 32โ leg โย this meant XL trousers, but I found that they were just a touch long, leaving my knee armour slightly low. Fortunately the KXL size has a shorter leg, which gives the perfect sizing for me, and along with a Large jacket, means Iโm always comfortable and secure, whatever the weather.
Itโs been washed, itโs still waterproof, and itโs got many more thousands of miles of use left in it. Itโs a very significant expense, but with the five year guarantee, and the quality of performance itโs given me so far, this Held gear is a very good investment.
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