Halvarssons Dalen jacket in green / black

We also like the cut-out at the front of the jacket that will serve to prevent the collar from pushing up into the neck.

But none of this means that the Dalen gives away anything in terms of its strength. And indeed the jacket is AA-rated for abrasion resistance under EN 17092. As with much of the Halvarssons motorcycle range, the jacket features 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.

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 instead. If you want to go the whole nine yards you could also add in Halvarssons’ chest protector.

The 3-layer laminated waterproof 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 and 20 for both waterproofing and breathability.

That's impressive. It's not quite Gore-Tex 3-layer impressive, but with this membrane you can still be confident that you'll stay both cool and dry in the Dalen.

Another thing that Halvarssons jackets always feature is a Durable Water Repellent waterproof coating. But, that'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. The important thing about a DWR, however, is that it needs to be refreshed. By you!

To maximise airflow, 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 can't be many better vented touring jackets out there. The Dalen isn't classed as an adventure jacket. In Halvarssons' world that would be the Mora. But actually the Dalen would work as well on an adventure bike as 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 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 because it will simply impede 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 replace it with something more technical; something thinner; something warmer!

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. The jacket also features some hi-vis reflective panels.

The Dalen is a lovely suit. It is going to be nice to wear, you should stay dry in it, and it should never wet out. If it all goes Peter Tong it will protect you too.