Held is one of Germany’s leading motorcycle apparel manufacturers that started with gloves in the 1970s and is now bringing a rugged line of jackets, pants, rainwear, gloves, boots and luggage back to America. As with most clothing companies, the designs come from Germany, while the manufacturing is elsewhere. Naming a jacket Hakuna and matching pants Matata is no coincidence. “Hakuna matata” is a Swahili phrase meaning “no problem” or “no worries” and was popularized worldwide by The Lion King film. Hopefully there won’t be a problem, but the experience of reviewing two of their beautiful outfits over the years tells me that this new couple will be great.
The price for the Hakuna/Matata duo is just under the Carese jacket and Torno pants that I reviewed in 2016, which are still in production under the Carese Evo and Torno Evo names.Held Hakuna II JacketMy first impression upon unboxing is that Held put a lot of thought and design into these garments, especially the jacket. Every trick in the book was used to build a jacket with the best features of the countless motorcycle jackets I’ve worn and tested, plus a few extras. It’s designed in Germany and made in China. Held offers seven jackets ranging in price from $269 for a vented jacket up to their Atacama top priced at $1999 – no, that doesn’t include an airbag. The Hakuna II sits in the middle with an MSRP of $799, putting it in the price/features balance. The Held Hakuna II jacket’s outer shell, liner and removable liner materials are made of polyester and polyamide, with breathable Coolmax mesh. Lining. The build quality is as good as any, with lots of extra detail in the trim, adding depth to create a standout design.
I wore the outfit on a recent 700 mile trip to Death Valley, where temperatures ranged from 50 F to over 95 F, and I was still comfortable. I wore the removable windproof/waterproof liner on chilly mornings. I needed nothing more than a long-sleeved cotton t-shirt. The removable liner has a two-layer construction with a corduroy backing that adds bulk and warmth. The lining has two inside pockets as it prevents access to the two inside pockets of the jacket. The liner and jacket have rear zippers that attach to the Matata II pants, although I’m not sure why one would zip the liner, rather than the jacket, to the pants. Most zippers have Held logo pullers, and those with the maker’s mark are from YKK and THCThe removable liner is held in place by vertical zippers on both sides, three snaps at the top and the sleeve ends are zipped around the perimeter of the wrist rather than the usual double snaps found on most other jackets. They’re not as easy to attach as the double-press versions but, once in place, they’re nicer. Also, it’s easier to get your hands out of the Held Hakuna II Jacket.
The jacket and the lining have blue clips on their edges. These are for Held’s Clip-In technology, allowing layers to be customized to weather conditions and rider needs. Clips allow you to connect various types of products to create multiple layers. I haven’t tried any of these options, but I appreciate the thought that has gone into the products and the flexibility offered. It is warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. There is zipped access for an optional back protector – the CE back protector should be included at this price. The zipper also allows internal access to a back pocket. CE approved Sas Tec 3D shoulder and elbow protectors are included, as well as Velcro for Held’s optional two-piece chest protectors. The collar has a soft suede-like texture and is comfortable all day on a bare neck. It’s attached with a nice, wide strip of velcro, so the rider can tighten it up or leave it a little looser. At the end of the collar flap is a loop which allows the flap to be secured when folded up and out of the way in hot weather.
Externally the Held Hakuna II is one of the best ventilated jackets I have worn. There are two long, narrow, zipped chest vents below semi-waterproof pockets. The sleeves have front-facing ventilation zippers from the wrist to the middle of the bicep. I love them. They unzip both ways, and when unzipped from the bottom, the cuff tabs Velcro to the mesh inside the vent, keeping the vents wide open. Awesome. There are two-way ventilated zipped hip gussets that help feed in plenty of air. Added to this are vents at the back of the arms from the elbow to the shoulders. Finally, there are two rear vents from the shoulder up to eight inches. At 95 F in Death Valley the ventilation was great and there was a good forced airflow.
The waist has Velcro belts on both sides to adjust the fit. Small snap flaps behind the hip gussets allow the skirt to be cinched in about an inch on each side. Finally, a string is gathered along the skirt to allow the bottom to be tightened as desired. All of these details are complemented by two water-resistant lower front pockets. There are reflective sections throughout and two Velcro arm adjusters on each side, and around the bicep and forearm areas.
As with many European sized garments, you will need to order a size up or two. I’m a US 46 and usually a large and sometimes an XL. I needed a 2XL to fit properly in the Held Hakuna II jacket. The Hakuna II is a true four-season jacket that should satisfy even the most demanding pilots.Held Hakuna II Jacket Highlights
- Sizes: S – 6XL
- Colours: Black-Grey; Grey-Orange; Dark grey; Grey blue
- Armor: CE approved Sas-Tech 3D shoulder and elbow
Held Hakuna II Jacket Price: $799 MSRP
Held Matata II TrousersHeld lists the Matata II pants as unisex and has the widest range of pant sizes I’ve seen – regular, chunky, slim, and women’s, totaling 20 sizes. There has to be a size for most here, and these are worthy ADV/touring pants suitable for four seasons with a few layers.
The Matata II sits in the middle of Held’s lineup of seven styles of ADV/touring pants, which range in price from a vented pair at $250 to pants for $1600. The Held Matata II Pant MSRP is $539. Internally, Coolmax material covers these pants. Strong weave stretch material around the lower abdomen and seat transitions to an airy mesh along the legs. There are mesh pockets to accommodate optional hip protectors, a corduroy-style raised mini-kidney waist panel, a zipper to attach to the jacket, and a few blue clips, like on the Hakuna II jacket, to Held’s Clip-In technology. accessories. The CE approved foldable knee protectors are height adjustable and there is a pocket for the optional Held cloverleaf Sas-Tec CE coccyx protector. The included removable waterproof, windproof and breathable liner has two layers with a touch of loft for added warmth. Like the jacket cuffs, the liner cuffs zip down the lower leg and around the waist for a clean look and easy on and off transitions.
The ubiquitous fly gusset on the pants and lining, like most models, requires partial undressing at rest stops. Anyone want to try a waterproof zipper in the future and save us some time? Externally, the Held Matata II Pant is made from DuPont Cordura 500 D. The material has a nice weight and strength without being too stiff. Kangaroo leather is featured on the seat, knees and inside of the calves to prevent slipping on the bike. It’s super soft and adds a nice dimension. There are stingray-like patches of what appear to be abrasion-resistant material on the side of the knees where racing suits might mount their pucks, though these aren’t pants for dragging the knees into. corners.
The waist is secured by a hook and snap with a plastic buckle belt to top it all off. There are two zippered slash pockets at hip height and each of the two cargo pockets is secured with two snaps. This is a nice and common layout in this genre. At the front and back edges of each cargo pocket are six inch venting zippers well positioned for function. Other ventilation is provided by 15-inch two-way zippered gussets on the lower leg outseam. As with the sleeve vents of the Hakuna II jacket, the Velcro tabs covering the bottom of the cuffs connect to the loop material inside the vent to hold the vents open. When the vents are closed, these tabs, along with the tabs in the middle of the calf, tighten the fit and eliminate any flapping of the lower leg material, much like the adjusters on the arms of the jacket. I really like these functional features.
Stretch panels in the rear, crotch and knees help ensure a comfortable fit, and easy movement and reflective sections add extra visibility at night. Cut. They are comfortable all day, protect well and have good ventilation. They are certainly of equal quality and design to the Hakuna II jacket, earning it the “hakuna matata” salutation. As evidenced by all of the company’s apparel, the Held Matata II Pants are well thought out and a great choice for the adventurer.Held Matata II Pants Highlights
- Sizes: S – 6XL, plus specialty sizes
- Colours: grey/black; Black
- Armor: CE approved knee protection
Held Matata II Pants Price: $539 MSRP
Held Hakuna II Jacket and Matata II Pants Review Photo Gallery
