Weise Munich £159.99
An odd fit but lots of features and confidence
A traditional cut, the Weise Munich comes with a Level-2 back protector as standard. It’s a fairly generous fit — the body feels large compared with the length of the arms but these also feel very tight on the forearm. The cuffs were also very tight, so they would not go over gloves and had to go under, potentially allowing water to enter, depending on the conditions. In the freezer, it felt generally warm though the neck did seem to gape at the back while any attempt to pull it in tight made the front constrictive. On the road, it still felt large in the body and a little clammy, though opening the vents allowed some air in. Removing the liner improved things hugely and gave a clue as to why the forearms felt so tight — the liner is zipped in around the cuff and while this makes it convenient and safe, it’s also bulky. Although it comes with a Level-1 back protector, the L2 elbow and shoulder armour feels a bit flimsy but it is Aa-rated. Some water entered through the neck as expected but all the pockets remained dry. It took on some 670g of water though, which would increase the drying time.
VERDICT
A good performance, let down by large body and over-tight arms and cuffs.
With its integral thermal liner, the Held was easy to put on and do up. It was a good fit generally and across the body though it was slightly tight on the forearms. In the freezer, it sealed well, with good neck adjustment and no draughts through the neoprene-edged collar. On the road test, it still felt a little tight on the forearms but not to the point of discomfort and with increased speed and wind, there was a slight draught at the neck. It was a little clammy on the road ride and opening the vents with the liner still attached had little effect. This is possibly because the jacket features just chest vents and on a faired bike, their effect can be reduced. But with the liner out, this was better, though the shoulders became quite flappy. It doesn’t come with a back protector, the armour feels acceptably protective and it’s only A-rated, so confidence took a bit of a hit. In the waterproofing test, a little water got in through the neck but the rest of the garment remained dry, as did the pockets. The polyester outer did a good job of shedding water, resulting in a relatively low increase in weight.
VERDICT
A good all-round performance but better armour would help.