Held Carese 2 Touring and Adventure Jacket
We think that this is the best value high quality jacket out there. Design and manufacture that represent 70 years of experience.
If you look closely you'll see who else they make gear for...That big Bavarian propeller swirling mob. This stuff oozes quality!
Our testing has clocked up about 15,000km between two of us on this jacket and the Torno pants. I racked up 9,000 in all conditions, from 28 degrees in the outback to near snowing from Lithgow to Oberon.
Year round performance in 4 seasons and the 4 elements is the goal, Held call it Quattrotempi. The really cold conditions really tested the Four Seasons thing and I really needed extra layers (as you'd expect) but they were the same layers as I'd used with other riding gear. Everything I owned!
A mind boggling array of vents is where this jacket shines in our riding conditions. Ventilation is not just whacked in somewhere, it's designed so that each vent communicates and compliments its neighbour. This creates the best airflow possible.
The really trick part of this system is the Goretex® liner that can be worn as outer rain wear stopping the jacket "wetting out" in really foul or changable weather. It's actually a fine casual jacket too.