Halvarssons Dalen jacket in black

The Halvarssons Dalen jacket really has a great spec. , and the company is to be congratulated for that. They have thrown everything at it; the best bits from all their jackets that have gone before. And so they have managed to create a jacket that is going to protect you from the elements just as well as it will in an accident. It's going to be comfortable to live with, and easy to wear. We like the way it looks too.

 

Anyway, let's get in to it. 

 

The outer chassis of the Dalen contains a good deal of stretch. We're seeing this a lot more in motorcycle gear, and it's important because who doesn't want to be comfortable on the bike? Concertina banding in the elbows and behind the neck further contribute to the cosseting nature of this jacket, as do the adjustable, elasticated straps at the waist and on the biceps. Another nice, little touch is a soft panel at the front of the collar to cushion the Adam’s apple. Comfort really is what the Dalen is all about.

 

But none of this means that the Dalen gives away anything in terms of its protective qualities. And indeed the jacket is AA-rated for abrasion resistance under EN 17092. Halvarssons cites the use of Hi-Art for extra reinforcement in the elbows and shoulders. And you get added Keprotec-style panels that run across the shoulders and down the forearms. But that doesn't necessarily mean that these components deliver abrasion resistance over and above AA. These layers may account for the reason the jacket meets the AA standard in the first place. This isn't clear.

 

As we all know, EN17092 is not an indicator of a garment's protective qualities. More important in many ways is the  armour. And the good news here is that the Dalen features Halvarssons' super-pliable, super-vented and super-large, Level 2 armour. We rate it highly. What we rate less highly is Halvarssons' optional, back protector. It's not very nice, so we would always go for a Level 2, D3O protector with Velcro instead. If you want to go the whole nine yards you could also add in a Halvarssons chest protector.

 

The 3-layer membrane in the jacket is Halvarssons' own Dryway membrane. Now this is a tried and trusted membrane, and Halvarssons tells us that  it scores 20/20 for both waterproofing and breathability.  That's impressive. It's not quite Gore-Tex, 3-layer impressive, but with this membrane you can be confident that you'll stay both cool and dry in the Dalen. 

 

Another thing that Halvarssons always highlights is that their garments feature a Durable Water Repellent waterproof coating. And undoubtedly that’s the case with the Dalen, but it's no big deal. Every waterproof jacket or pant will be treated with one. It's this DWR that acts as the first barrier against the rain; and to prevent wetting out.

 

One of the  benefits of a laminated jacket, of course, is that the venting is direct-to-body. If the membrane is laminated or bonded to the  inner surface of the outer shell, when there's a vent there is nothing to impede the airflow to the body.

 

And to maximise this benefit Halvarssons has endowed the Dalen with huge, huge vents. On the chest both vents are accessed by twin zips. You then get a strap that goes around the centre panel in order to maximise the airflow to the chest.  You get a similar arrangement on the back of the jacket. The zips at the ends of the sleeves can also serve as vents if undone from the top. In all honesty, there aren’t that many better vented jackets out there. The Dalen isn't a classic-looking adventure jacket. In Halvarssons' world that would be the Mora or the Sunne.  But actually the Dalen would work as well on an adventure bike as just about any laminated jacket. And much better than some.

 

In terms of insulation, the Dalen is fully lined with Outlast. Now Outlast is clever stuff that works well in motorcycle garments. It stores up heat to keep you warm when the temperature drops. And it will absorb heat from the body when you overheat in order to help you stay cool. It’s not an insulator, per se; it’s more a temperature regulator. 

 

But as high as our regard for Outlast is, we do have a problem with a fixed Outlast liner in a laminated jacket, because it will simply impede that much vaunted, direct-to-body venting. 

 

The Dalen also comes with a gilet, although it's nothing particularly special. It’s wadded with a material called Innoborne that is similar to Primaloft or Thinsulate. The vest could be worn as a destination jacket, but truth be told it’s not a particularly stylish affair. Our inclination would probably be to not zip it in. Wear it when you need it; leave it in a pannier when you don’t. It does away with all the zips and poppers. Alternatively, throw it away, and replace it with something better!

 

The other stuff, really, is just detail. So two external, supposedly-waterproof pockets, although we would think of them more as water resistant. You get one pocket in the Outlast lining. There are no pockets in the vest. There’s a large map pocket on the back of the jacket. At the neck of the jacket you get a removable, storm collar. Finally, there’s a zip to connect the jacket to a Halvarssons pant.