Halvarssons Prime Jacket

[Nikonnigel]

Out for a ride today and called into Motolegends in Guilford, Nice cup of tea and comfy sofa! Have been doing research for a waterproof jacket and went in to look at the Amazonas, But after chatting with the VERY helpful and informed staff I came away with the Prime Jacket and a wool base layer. 40 odd mile ride home and impressed the jacket feels so comfortable im looking forward to riding it in the rain.
All I have to do now is save up for the matching trousers!!!!

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

Without a doubt the comfiest jacket Ive ever worn, like a favourite jumper. Mine has never let a drop of water in......but there were a few issues that I wasn't happy about. No waterproof external pockets, not a biggie but useful. The waterproof lining does not go right to the end of the sleeves, so when the jacket wets out they get soaking wet, you need long gloves under the cuffs to keep the water out. Removing and replacing gloves, for example at a petrol station, is a real pain....the water drains down the arms and those cuffs become a running tap. I used to have to wring them out before I could put gloves back on.
The already mentioned wetting out....possible not helped becouse the jacket is soooo soft and comfy.....but it's like a giant sponge, and when it's wetted out its bloody cold.
I went to a East Mids breakfast meet the other week and it tipped it down with rain for half an our or so...stopped raining and the jacket had dried out by the time I got there but God I was cold.....real cold. I was so wet, cold and miserable for that half hour that we went straight over to the Sportsbike Shop in Boston and I bought a Rukka.
There is a simple solution to most of the above however.....and surprisingly one recommended by the importers when I quizzed them over the wetting out and cold problem at last years NEC Bike Show.....and that is to wear a waterproof jacket over the top. I used a army surplus camo jacket and if you do that the jacket is prety much perfect. It won't wet out and you will be sooooo warm and dry bad weather will hold no fear at all. It's just that for me personally I hated wearing an extra layer on top, it's felt bulky and restrictive, especially around the neck, and don't like stoping to have to put one on if it starts raining, but hey, that's just me.
I realise the above sounds a bit damning but that jacket is just so comfy and so good in so many areas (the outlast lining is amazing...it's like witchcraft how that stuff works)...that it's just a shame it's let down big time by the wetting out issue. If you can live with or sort out that your laughing.
Ohh, and those rubbery plastic Velcro fastenings on the cuffs?....they've both torn in less than a year.

 

[Nikonnigel]

Without a doubt the comfiest jacket Ive ever worn, like a favourite jumper. Mine has never let a drop of water in......but there were a few issues that I wasn't happy about. No waterproof external pockets, not a biggie but useful. The waterproof lining does not go right to the end of the sleeves, so when the jacket wets out they get soaking wet, you need long gloves under the cuffs to keep the water out. Removing and replacing gloves, for example at a petrol station, is a real pain....the water drains down the arms and those cuffs become a running tap. I used to have to wring them out before I could put gloves back on.
The already mentioned wetting out....possible not helped becouse the jacket is soooo soft and comfy.....but it's like a giant sponge, and when it's wetted out its bloody cold.
I went to a East Mids breakfast meet the other week and it tipped it down with rain for half an our or so...stopped raining and the jacket had dried out by the time I got there but God I was cold.....real cold. I was so wet, cold and miserable for that half hour that we went straight over to the Sportsbike Shop in Boston and I bought a Rukka.
There is a simple solution to most of the above however.....and surprisingly one recommended by the importers when I quizzed them over the wetting out and cold problem at last years NEC Bike Show.....and that is to wear a waterproof jacket over the top. I used a army surplus camo jacket and if you do that the jacket is prety much perfect. It won't wet out and you will be sooooo warm and dry bad weather will hold no fear at all. It's just that for me personally I hated wearing an extra layer on top, it's felt bulky and restrictive, especially around the neck, and don't like stoping to have to put one on if it starts raining, but hey, that's just me.
I realise the above sounds a bit damning but that jacket is just so comfy and so good in so many areas (the outlast lining is amazing...it's like witchcraft how that stuff works)...that it's just a shame it's let down big time by the wetting out issue. If you can live with or sort out that your laughing.
Ohh, and those rubbery plastic Velcro fastenings on the cuffs?....they've both torn in less than a year.

Thanks for that and I will look at the sleeves, and if my plastic velco bits break in a year I will take it back coz they said it has a 2 year warranty

 

[Chug-chug]

I've had the Prime jacket & trousers for a few months now, most comfortable gear I've ever worn on a bike, I can't rate it highly enough. Been riding in rain for a few hours.....I wouldn't say torrential but proper wet & the kit was fine, I have the larger hand guards on my GSA so they tend to keep my hands & forearms out of the worst of the rain so haven't had the issues mentioned above, I will take note of the waterproof just in case. The trousers are very comfortable too, I wear the Marino wool long johns underneath for total comfort. Trousers go over my Alpinstars tech 8 boots too. I looked at Rukka and the gear is probably slightly better, but I couldn't justify spending that sort of money they are charging for kit that I don't think is that much better if you know what I mean.

Liam


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[PhaedrusMC]

I think the wetting out thing is common to all jackets of this design (waterproof layer inside/under the outer shell).

With the reduced venting typical in jackets where the waterproof layer is the outer shell, those have their flaws/limitations too.

So the option I went with was the same as Trickytree - decent main jacket with a removable waterproof liner (mine's a Dainese D-Stormer), with a separate independent waterproof over-jacket for heavy/persistent rain (currently my Rab Latok Alpine hiking jacket, to be replaced with something (much) cheaper asap ).

Before I bought the D-Stormer I was fixating on what I wanted/what IMO should be available/possible (waterproof outer shell with excellent venting), but ended up accepting that that simply doesn't (can't) exist. I'd have preferred perfect, but compromise is the best I could get, and after the mental re-calibration, I'm happy enough.

A mate has a Halvarssons jacket years and raves about it. Could be the Prime, not sure.

 

[(RIP) trickytree]

Have a look at the Rev'It Poseidon. Laminated outer (gortex I think) but with loads of vents some of which fold back. It very nearly ticked all the boxes but was too tight around my fat neck.
My Prime is out of warranty but the rep will take a look at the broken cuff adjusters so I'll pop it back to the dealers sometime.
Still like the jacket as its sooo comfortable.

 

[oddshapedballs]

I also have the Prime, and did consider a Pro-shell but couldn't justify spunking that amount of cash on a jacket when a cheap waterproof over-jacket was 20 quid from Millets, I only take the waterproof over-jacket with me in winter to avoid the dreaded freeze when the Prime wets out.

It's never leaked, and as trickytree says, incredibly comfortable.