Held Gear Review – Quattrotempi
Held’s new Camaris jacket and matching Ravero pants are part of its Quattrotempi (four seasons) collection. They are the top-of-the-line entry from Held, designed for year-round use and have some unique features.
The suit is singularly styled so that you can wear it on just about any type of bike without fear of a mismatch, and it looks the least like moto gear when arriving at your destination.
The pants and jacket are handsomely constructed, in all black only, from aniline-looking cowhide (at the side, shoulder, elbows, and large sections on the pants) sewn to Dyna Mesh fabric and finished with titanium shoulder sliders, zippered sleeves, and pant bottoms are tailored for wear outside the boot. Both leather and fabric are soft, relaxed, and pliable from the day you get them and don’t have the stiffness usually associated with other materials. They started to get that nice, soft, lived-in look with the first ride.
Held says the Camaris/Ravero suit is for all seasons. I agree, with certain stipulations. There are heavier suits available for the cold and better vented suits for heat. Although the suit has no vents, Held labels its Dyna Mesh as breathable.
This may be true, but it does not vent well and is nothing like genuine mesh. On a ride with temperatures soaring to 95+ degrees, I was quite warm. I opened the sleeve zippers and unzipped the jacket halfway, and that helped, but it did not equal the cooling effect of suits with all sorts of zippered vents.
The real gems are the removable liners. They can be worn inside, or on top of, the suit—an option few manufacturers offer. Anyone who has endured rain in a suit that puts the waterproof layer under the jacket and pants can appreciate this system. It will keep your gear from getting waterlogged and, once finished riding, you won’t be worrying about how to dry your wet suit for a ride early the next morning.
Held’s combo is versatile, but we think the real temperature range for this suit, without adding extra layers, is between 45-85 degrees. Held has chosen to produce this suit with only the Gore-Tex liner and no third insulating liner as you might find elsewhere.
If you plan on riding in temperatures below 40-45 degrees, we suggest a high-tech poly/fleece base layer, vest, and a quality neck gaiter, as the Camaris’ collar is not as robust as some others. You can make it work for you by adding layers in cold temperatures, and by opening zippers on hot days, but don’t let this detract from an overall package that is not too much or too little.
The liner can be used as a light shell for use off the bike. When worn inside they have dedicated zippers to hold them in place instead of cheaper buttons, snaps, and elastic loops.
The neck closure uses a magnetic clasp that eliminates the usual snaps or hooks-and-loop, while a single YKK-brand zip- per joins the jacket to the pants. The jacket has an integrated Coolmax breathable mesh inner lining with mesh polyester panels in back. There are two zippered outside slash pockets; inside are two mesh cargo pockets, a neoprene phone pocket, and a zippered Napoleon pocket.
There are waist adjusters, and stretch panels in the crotch and calf areas, and four studs on the pants for suspenders. The pants have two zippered slash pockets and a third pocket that can fit an iPhone 5 or Galaxy S5. Jacket and pants have CE-rated armor in all the usual places. It is molded from material that is thin, resilient, and has a high shock-absorption value.
Held’s Rain Cloud gloves are solid and built for anything that comes along, barring the very hottest or coldest days, making them a good match for the suit. They are nicely cut and made mostly of goat-skin, front and back, including the covering of the plastic knuckle armor.
They are Gore-Tex lined, breathable, and the bit of Nyspan textile used in the thumb and first two fingers aids ventilation; there is a smooth fleece lining that doesn’t pull inside out if you remove them clumsily.
The gloves have a wiper finger, Velcro adjustable wrist and cuffs and the heel of the palm is protected by Held’s man- made stingray leather that is claimed to be five times more abrasion resistant than traditional leather. The Rain Cloud gloves are comfortable, all-day gloves that nicely match the comfort range of the suit.
Thanks to high-quality standards and a unique set of features, the Held Camaris jacket and Ravero pants, along with the Rain Cloud gloves, combine to satisfy riders in moderate temperatures who want distinctive apparel that also makes riding more comfortable and enjoyable.
Story from Ultimate MotorCycling magazine; for subscription services, click here.
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