The first thing you notice about the Held Cosmo 11 jacket is the buttery softness of the leather. It is made of a very supple, soft cowhide which makes it a lovely tactile garment. When you put the jacket on it is noticeably lighter than a lot of other leather jackets and the fit is superb. It hugs the body, feeling snug around the shoulders and arms but drapes in a comfortable relaxed fit over the torso. There are stretch panels on the shoulders that help create the illusion that this jacket was made to measure. The jacket does up with a full length zip which has a flap over the top of the zip held in place with a magnetic fastening. The side pockets are perfectly placed for casually resting your hands in when not riding the bike. They close with a zip so you can leave items in the pockets when on your bike and not have to worry about them falling out. There are also two useful pockets on each side of the chest which also have a zip closure.
The Held Cosmo 11 jacket features the very latest TFL Cool technology. This is a new treatment for dark leather which helps to reflect solar radiation from the jacket so the temperature on the leather can drop up to 20 degrees Celsius. This means that it can keep you up to 12 degrees cooler than standard leather. On a hot day you can really feel the difference. When wearing an untreated leather jacket the heat can build up under the shoulder and elbow armour and along the back where the fabric meets the body leaving you feeling sweaty and uncomfortable. The TFL Cool system takes all this extra heat away and leaves you feeling cool and fresh. Held has incorporated an improved UV resistance to the jacket which means that it will also last longer. The Cool-effect will last for the lifetime of the jacket if you look after it properly. The TFL Cool coating is invisible so it doesn’t detract from the jacket in any way.
For even greater comfort in hot weather, Held has added air vent zippers to the front, back and arms of the jacket. You simply undo the zips to create fantastic air circulation around the jacket helping to maintain a comfortable body temperature. The sleeveless thermal liner is detachable giving you the option of removing it in summer and then putting it back in again as the weather starts to cool in autumn. This liner is easy to remove. It is kept securely in place with a full zip and has a button with an elastic strap under the arms to keep it firmly in place. You simply undo the buttons and unzip the liner from the jacket. It’s quick and simple. There are 2 zipped pockets incorporated in the liner for storage of smaller items and a padded mobile phone pocket with a Velcro tab to keep the pocket firmly closed. The inner lining is made of a breathable mesh for further added comfort.
I have emphasised the comfort aspect of the Held Cosmo 11 jacket but the armour hidden within the jacket is equally impressive. The shoulders and elbows have EN 1621-1 CE Certified PRO-SAFE SOFT protectors fitted. The PRO-SAFE SOFT protectors are light and flexible so you hardly notice they are there. They fit neatly into special pockets that have a Velcro tab to make sure that the armour stays in place. The protectors are perforated which makes them breathable which just adds to the comfort. The PRO-SAFE SOFT armour has an open cell structure at its core which offers optimal impact absorption. There is also a special foam pad at the back of the jacket which can be upgraded for an EN 1621-23 back protector. It is a simple process to change the back protector. At the bottom of the jacket is a short zip which opens to reveal the back protector compartment. There is a Velcro strip behind the zip to ensure that the back protector stays in place. You simply remove the foam protector and insert the replacement CE Certified back protector in its place. There is also a connecting zip that allows you to connect the jacket to any compatible Held leather trousers.
Overall the Held Cosmo 11 leather jacket is a fantastic sports jacket with amazing technology to keep you comfortable and CE Certified protection to keep you safe. It is available in black from sizes 48 through to 64. The recommended retail price is £324.99 which I think is an amazing price for such a safe, stylish jacket. This jacket is currently available in store at Honda Of Bournemouth or on-line at www.motorbikeplanet.co.uk.
