Halvarssons Gruven
Deep in thought...
I heard a new expression a few days ago, ‘The Sunday Scarys’. Apparently it was a reference to the feeling of dread that encroaches on a Sunday evening as the dark cloud of Monday morning casts its shadow over the last of the weekend. Work beckons, the fun is over and the boss, along with all of his character defects, is going to be taking the lead for the rest of the week.
The Sunday Scarys now applies to so much more. The end of a holiday, approaching exams and tests, travel and pretty much any other unpleasantness that looms over or ruins the present good fun. One of the places that we motorcyclists find this phenomenon affecting us is at the end of the ‘season’. 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. Just dress correctly and let the winter do its worst!
So that's where my bike went!
Companies like Halvarssons make highly effective textile jackets that are made to withstand the worst that can be thrown at them and do so in the very worst weather. They’re waterproof, warm, light and easy to strip out in terms of liners 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 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.
Premium build, no rain!
The armour consists of the companies own HI-ART outer armour with CE armour below them in the elbows and shoulders. There’s plenty of room for a back and chest protector and even enough expansion room for an airbag.
The trousers are the Laggan and are built to the same standard. They, along with a full zip to attach them to any jacket in the range, 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 this is completely different ‘customer journey’!
A full zip to jacket is worth its weight in gold!