05 September 2024

Don’t let rain stop play

As we wave a sad and sorry goodbye to summer, it’s time to dress in the new season’s wear.

We talk not of fashion, but the clothing you need to protect yourself from the elements as the mercury drops and the barometer sinks.

Paul Browne reckons that to keep warm and dry, you should dress as the Scandinavians do.

One of the times that we motorcyclists find a sense of overwhelming doom affecting us is at the end of the ‘season’.

Quite simply, winter looms over us when we’re still trying to enjoy autumn.

The great news is that there isn’t really any need to be frightened anymore. Just dress correctly and let the winter wind itself up and do its worst!

These days companies like Halvarssons make highly effective textile clothing which is made to withstand the foulest weather that can be thrown at them.

Whatever the weather

The Scandinavian outfit has a range of clothing that’s waterproof, warm, light and easy to strip out in terms of liners. That is, should you need in the highly unlikely event that it somehow gets warm before next July!

My choice of ‘weapon’ to get me over the hump and through the hell that is winter is a Halvarssons Gruven jacket (pictured right), married to a pair of Laggan pants from the same company.

Both come with a detachable thermal lining for the colder part of the year.

During the summer I like to wear mine with a pair of armoured jeans and the vents open when I detect warmer weather.

If the summer rain makes an appearance then the fact that it’s treated with water repellent and has a Dryway lamination really helps.

Protect and survive

The protection consists of the company’s own HI-ART outer with CE armour below them in both the elbows and the shoulders.

There’s plenty of room for both a back protector and a chest protector and even enough space for an airbag.

The Laggan trousers are built to the same standard.

They, along with a full zip to attach them to any jacket in the range, including the Gruven, also have braces. Braces are the new cool, just ask any latte-swilling hipster.

While the names may evoke shudder inducing memories of being forced to shop in Ikea, buying new kit is always a completely different ‘customer journey’!

Want year-round protection? Call our Bike team on 0818 945 950 for your motorcycle insurance quote.