Halvarssons Naren jacket & Laggan trousers review | Waterproof laminated textiles

Date reviewed: August 2022 | Tested by: Steve Rose | Price: £479 (jacket) & £399 (trousers) | halvarssonsmc.com

The latest laminated textile suits are brilliant. Warmer than leather, water resistant, practical (lots of pockets, can be worn over other clothing), less bulky than drop-liner suits and offering decent crash protection. The biggest issues are that some riders can find them a bit stiff, and the abrasion resistance in a tumble is typically lower than a good leather suit, unless you’re going for top-end EN13595-certified kit from the likes of BKS and Hideout.

Halvarssons’ new Naren jacket and Laggan trousers go a long way to solving some of those issues by using a material with built-in stretch and corrugated panelling in the neck and arms that allows both a good fit and the flexibility to feel more comfortable on a bike.

I’ve been wearing this suit since April and have done around 5,000 miles so far on bikes ranging from Honda’s Africa Twin and NT1100 to Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GT, Aprilia’s Tuareg 660 and my own motley bunch of 1990s and noughties oddballs

UPDATE Dec 2022: Unfortunately two pairs of Laggan trousers have now been returned under warranty due to failed taping at the seams. The customer service has been impeccable, but we'll update as soon as possible.

Fit

I usually buy textile suits slightly bigger than I need because I like to wear jeans under the trousers, and multiple layers under the jacket. I ride to a lot of meetings and often need to get changed in front of people when I arrive, and I usually do around 10,000 winter miles each year. That means I need a suit that keeps me cool in summer but can also fit multiple layers of work clothes, thermals and a heated vest underneath from November to April.

This Halvarssons suit feels thinner and slightly less warm than others I’ve worn, relying heavily on the Outlast liner (Outlast is clever tech that retains heat in the cold and disperses it when warm), which is fine for three seasons, but not good enough to ride without a thermal layer on a 5.30am start in summer.

Thankfully, the suit has plenty of adjustment to allow for the differing amounts of layers in different seasons, and the stretch material plus corrugated panels let you get a snug fit and still move around on the bike.

Protection and certification

The Halvarssons Naren jacket and Laggan trousers are certified to EN17092 level AA, which is typical of most off-the-peg textiles now. A is the lowest standard for abrasion resistance, burst and tear strength, and claimed to be for urban use. AA is described as being for touring, while AAA is currently the highest standard. That doesn’t mean that an AAA-rated textile jacket, for instance, will definitely offer the same levels of protection as a top-spec leather suit, but it has created a comparison for buyers.

At the time of writing there are very few AAA-rated textiles, but given the amount of AA-rated kit on sale at all price points, we’d suggest that be the minimum you should settle for. I figure that if I wear jeans under AA-rated trousers that should give me even more protection.

Halvarssons has some new armour for 2022; it’s thinner and a big improvement comfort-wise (and better vented) than the older-style cupped armour. And the best bit? It’s Level 2, which means it offers a higher level of impact protection than the Level 1 kit found in many other suits. Oh, and the zips and fasteners are robust and well protected, meaning that the suit and the armour should stay in place in a tumble.

I was disappointed that there’s no back-protector supplied, though having spoken to Halvarssons, the logic does make some sense. The company told us that there are three size options available, all fixed in with a Velcro panel, so supplying one with a jacket means the odds are that the buyer would get the wrong size for their body shape. Given the safety implications [and no doubt the logistics around making all the options available to give away with the jacket at every purchase point], the decision was taken to price the jacket based on not supplying a protector, and let the buyer choose their own, or use one they already have.

One thing definitely worth considering here too that the stretch and accordion panels on the jacket allow it to be ‘airbag ready’. Having room for an airbag to expand is vitally important, so it’s great to know that you should be able to safely tuck one under here without having to go a size up. We’re not aware of Halvarssons offering its own airbag at the time of writing, but the self-contained In&Motion and Dainese systems should both fit fine, as well as the AlpineStars. Of course, if you have a system in mind, check it for fit before you buy.

The jacket also has pockets for chest protector pads, which is a great feature as this can be a key impact area in some accidents.

For everything you need to know about the safety labels in your motorcycle kit, click here.

Pockets

There are two outer pockets on the jacket plus one ‘Napoleon’ pocket under the main zip-flap on the chest, with two on the trousers as well. Storm flaps on the pocket zips have kept the contents dry in the limited amount of rain I’ve experienced so far.

Previous rides in other Halvarssons suits suggests the company knows what it’s doing when it comes to keeping your stuff dry.

Fastening and adjustment

The zips are robust YKK and feel like they’ll last well. I like the magnetic collar flap fastener and the additional, taller storm collar for winter also attaches with magnets, making it much easier to fit and remove, but as we haven’t got deep into winter yet, I haven’t had to use it in anger. It’s great that I can keep it tucked in my rucksack though, ready to deploy quickly and easily. I’ll update this review with how I get on with it.

There’s a full, almost 360-degree zip to fasten the jacket to the trousers that leaves just a small gap at the front, so keeping drafts and rain out.

The cuffs are really well thought out too; a long zip in each arm and Velcro fastener (which doesn’t run over the zip and so doesn’t need to be undone and then re-fastened every time you put the jacket on) allows riders to set the cuff width to be snug to their gloves using the Velcro and then when the zip is fastened you get the same fit every time. It’s a simple but very effective system that also prevents a lot of bulk rucking up when cinching it tighter, which can be a real issue with some other brands.

There are Velcro adjusters around the waist and arms to get a snug fit whatever you have on underneath as well.

The trousers have a hook and press stud around the waist, well-designed zips on the legs that don’t snag in the material and Velcro flaps at the ankles that seal easily and stay in place. The trousers also come with braces if you aren’t zipping them to the jacket. Oh, and the gusset behind the fly has a popper that allows it to expand, making wee stops on a cold morning that much easier.

Ventilation

The Halvarssons Naren jacket has two vents in the chest and two exhaust vents in the rear of the jacket, plus arm vents that run the entire length of the sleeves. The trousers have a vent in each leg.

That’s considerably more venting than previous Halvarssons suits I’ve used but, sadly, it’s still not all that effective. Opening the vents makes little noticeable difference, possibly because the cool air has to get through the Outlast layer, which is non-removable and doesn’t allow a blast of cool air to reach the rider.

Warmth

I’ve yet to use this suit in temperatures below 9°C. Still, my regular commute involves a 5.30am start and, even in summer, this can regularly be below 10°C for the first hour… so far, the technology seems to work. I haven’t been too cold in the early morning or too warm in the afternoons when the air temperature can be two or three times higher.

Winter is a different matter though. This suit ‘feels’ thinner than other suits I’ve worn so I’m intrigued to see how it performs. My previous Halvarssons suit was good in winter so I’d expect this (let’s not forget this is a £900 suit) to be equally good

The cuff design is brilliant

Liner

The Outlast liner is non-removable and so probably doesn’t count as a liner. That’s a good thing I think; my kit cupboard has at least half a dozen discarded liners from previous suits where I remove them for summer and never quite get around to refitting them for winter. Outlast is a temperature-regulating textile that takes heat from your body (or presumably your heated vest) on the inside of the fabric allowing you to feel comfortable. When the temperature on the outside of the fabric drops, it releases that heat back the other way.

The challenge for this tech is whether your body is making enough heat in a long February ride to compensate for the sub-zero wind-chill battering the outside of your suit. Previous experience shows that it works particularly well in conjunction with heated kit, so that’s what I use.

This Halvarssons kit is laminated, so all the outer material’s seams have to be taped. This is the view when you open it up and delve under the liner

Waterproofing

Since getting this suit in late April I’ve only had the chance to ride in rain three times, but one of those occasions was a proper summer storm. The rain was torrential, dropping visibility on the M11 to less than 10 metres, creating bow waves of spray from the trucks I was overtaking.

I was bone dry.

Nothing got past the Naren jacket’s well-fitting collar (and that wasn’t with the storm collar), nothing came up the small gap between jacket and trousers where the zip finishes, and the trousers did their job at the knees, crotch and ankles.

That’s impressive but it’s not as comprehensive a test as BikeSocial demands (damn this hot summer). That’ll come when we get to November and the real rains come. I’ll update this review when I can.

Update: Unfortunately after about 5,000 miles, the trousers started letting water in at the bum. Looking inside, it's clear that some of the seam taping had come away, letting ther water in where the panels are sewn together. While disappointing, Halvarssons didn't hesitate to replace the trousers. 

UPDATE Dec 2022: Unfortunately two pairs of Laggan trousers have now been returned under warranty due to failed taping at the seams. The customer service has been impeccable, but we'll update as soon as possible.

Three alternatives to the Halvarssons Naren jacket & Laggan trousers

This is the premium price range, but still at the lower end of the scale. How that surprises you will depend what else you’ve looked at or worn before, but here are three other options.

• If you want the absolute best protection, look to BKS or Hideout, as they can offer you fully made-to-measure textiles that are certified to EN13595, the highest standard available and that demanded by emergency services riders.
• Rukka’s Kingsley suit is seen by many as the ultimate in off-the-peg textiles. There’s a lot of well-thought-out features, but it comes with a £2,500 price tag. Read our review
• Oxford’s Mondial suit is a laminated design costing less than £500. It has superb wet weather and winter performance and, although not feeling to be built as robustly as the Halvarssons, it survived a full 5,000 mile-winter without anything breaking or falling off. Read our review

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the textiles we’ve tested here and don’t forget that BikeSocial members can take advantage of offers and discounts on top quality kit through the BikeSocial shop (powered by Sportsbikeshop.com). BikeSocial Membership is free for Bennetts insurance customers who bought direct from bennetts.co.uk or costs £6 a month via this link.

UPDATE Dec 2022: Unfortunately two pairs of Laggan trousers have now been returned under warranty due to failed taping at the seams. The customer service has been impeccable, but we'll update as soon as possible.

Conclusion

£878 seems like a lot of money for a textile riding suit; there are high-performing textiles available for half the price of the Halvarssons kit. But this is the second suit from the Swedish manufacturer I’ve used. That one had 40,000 hard miles and was still waterproof, so it's disappointing that the trousers here failed. However, Halvarssons was entirely true to its warranty, and I'm happily out in all weathers with the replacement. Let's see what the next 35,000 miles bring...

There are some really neat touches on this suit. The cuff/glove adjustment is simple but brilliant, the magnetic collar fastening also. The stretch material and corrugated panels make it comfortable in a way few other textile suits are, regardless of what bike I’m riding, and the performance so far has been everything I’d expect from a top-quality riding suit.