Hein Gericke ‘King’ and ‘Queen’ Textile Suits
There’s no denying the fact that us bikers are not just getting older, we’re getting a tad porkier too. If you have been having to shoe-horn yourself into your biking gear of late, or finding the buttons pinging off your favourite riding trousers, then you’re not alone.
Recognising our increasing chubbiness, Hein Gericke have at last openly designed a suit apparently made especially for pie lovers, or as they put it more diplomatically, for the ‘larger lady and gentleman’. It’s more than just a comfort fit version of a regular suit though. There are quite a few useful features and we reckon that it represents good value for money at it’s quite modest selling price.
If you value function over form, hate the idea of dieting and are looking to spend a limited budget wisely then this could be a good, practical all year-round choice.
Overview
Crafted from Polyester / polyamide outer, the suit is rendered waterproof by HG’s own ‘Sheltex’ membrane, which is their only slightly less breathable version of Gore-Tex.
It comes in grime-concealing black and is essentially a bog-standard low to mid-priced touring suit. A look at the features produces a list of the usual suspects at this price range; waterproof and breathable membrane, adjustable vents, width and waist adjustment, double material on likely impact points, CE approved armour, a few bits of reflective material and a quilted polyester liner that is removable in both jacket and trousers.  Design Features
However, while the style is somewhat utilitarian (the ladies ‘Queen’ range is reasonably well fitted, but the gents is somewhat shapeless) the otherwise basic nature of the product is boosted by some good design and clever features, plus usual HG quality.
First of these has to be the fit – which is more generous around the waist and tummy area. But its more than just a comfort-fit version of the usual HG textile product. There are handy stretch zones at key points to help you move about on the bike and the trousers incorporate a bib and braces which give a really nice snug fit with no cold air getting up around the waist. A zip between jacket and trousers makes this even more cosy. Trouser bottoms have further zips to make getting them over boot easier. The outer material is ‘Coldblack’ treated to keep you cool in the heat. |
Armour as standard
We can’t describe the the material as heavy duty, its about average weight for this price range, but the seams are SAFE stitched, so less likely to come apart should you decide to test it’s abrasive resistance for real.
Armour is fitted as standard to the shoulder, elbow and knee areas and there is a space for a back protector. Usefully, the knee protector position is adjustable and there is also a pocket for a hip protector. Wearing It
This is without doubt an extremely practical outfit. It’s comfortable, blessed with numerous pockets and does a good job of keeping you warm and dry. We tested it on a 1000 mile Irish trip during which time we discovered why Ireland is so green (Think; Rainfall). Not only did no rain penetrate the suits, but we stayed dry inside which shows that the membrane works well in terms of breathability. It helps that you can moderate the internal climate by multiple vents.
Zips and fastening all seem rugged enough to last for more than just a season and, while the fabric is probably too light to trek round the world, it has enough of the traditional HG quality about it to survive real world use and abuse on normal roads and in all but the more extreme climates. Value for Money
This is a good basic touring or commuting suit, with a couple of unexpected and useful features.
It’s a good buy if you don’t want the really cheap stuff but are unwilling to pay mega bucks. At around £380 per two-piece outfit, and backed by the HG guarantee; we’d say its good value and worth buying. Beats dieting – that’s for sure. |