Thermoplastic (often polycarbonate) used in the production of injection moulded helmet shells. Used for its hardwearing, scratch- and impact resistant qualities. Tip: do not add stickers or repaint ABS helmets because solvents in the glue or paint can damage them.

Highly abrasion- and tear resistant hollow fibre polyamide fabric featuring tiny air pockets, which insulate against fluctuation in ambient temperature to improve wearer comfort with no weight penalty. AIRGUARD is also water repellent and windproof, easy to clean and quick drying.

Synthetic leather made of 60% polyamide and 40% polyurethane, which is weatherproof, soft, and comfortable. Also offers excellent grip and is therefore often used on the palms of motocross gloves.

High tech Kevlar and Cordura weave used on crash zones of selected Held textile suits. Offers the best abrasion resistance of any textile and offers the ultimate in strength, durability and weather protection. Armacor is used by only a few high-end manufacturers due to the cost involved.

Polyurethane or polyester based material designed to create a protective barrier against the elements, while allowing moisture to escape from within. Popular brands include GORE-TEX®, Reissa®, HUMAX®, Miracle Tex®, HIPORA® and Heros-Tec®. Seams are welded with a special heat sealed tape to ensure no water can penetrate from the outside. Special materials and tightly regulated manufacturing guidelines make climate membranes extremely durable and flexible.

Dark textiles absorb heat, which can lead to overheating, while light coloured textiles can be difficult to keep clean. coldblack® is a special treatment for dark textile garments, which reflects solar radiation, in the same way as TFL COOL® does with leather, to help keep the wearer more comfortable through a wide range of temperatures. coldblack® uses bluesign® -approved substances, which are as environmentally friendly as possible.
www.coldblack.ch

Polyester fabric which keeps the wearer cool by controlling humidity and wicking moisture away from the body. It is light, breathable, soft to the touch, easy-care and dries quickly. Often used in helmet and garment linings, as well as in technical underwear.

Treatment similar to coldblack®, which allows dark textiles to reflect solar radiation (heat) in the same way as lighter textile would to therefore keep the rider more comfortable and increase lifespan of the garment.

High quality polyamide fabric woven from precision-cut DuPont hollow fibres. Cordura® is more durable and abrasion resistant than other nylons and is particularly suited to heavy-duty use. It also has a comfortable feel and natural woven appearance.

Patented intelligent shock absorbing material which remains soft and pliable during general wear, but will instantaneously become solid on sudden in an impact. d3o™ is engineered with rate sensitive molecules which flow with you as you move, but will lock together on violent contact to absorb impact energy. The whole process occurs instantaneously and d3o™ protectors will return to their original state after the impact has subsided, and can be used again. For more information, visit www.d30.com.

Comfort ventilation system using watertight zippers, which, when opened, allow air to flow throughout the garment via openings in the climate membrane. With the zips closed the garment remains water- and windproof.

Selected Held jackets provide the option to integrate a dedicated back protector instead of the standard CE item or special foam pad supplied with the garment. Zipped openings in the lining allow a full-length back protector (which will have the advantage of shoulder and coccyx protection) of your choosing to be inserted and the protector’s waistband to be used to secure it.

Highly durable, extremely abrasion resistant textile from schoeller®.  Outperforms conventional Cordura and is easy to care for.

Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) material often used in the manufacture of helmets. Several layers of fibre sheet are laminated by hand and ‘baked’ in a metal mould to create a shell that offers better impact absorption and a longer serviceable lifespan than ABS. It is generally fine to apply decals or apply paint to a GRP shell, but be sure to check with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Thanks to a secret formula using tens of mineral oxides and a very specific application mode, FIR-TEX works like a reactive mirror; it captures the thermal radiations emitted by body heat and then it reacts and uses these thermal/Far Infrared rays (rays of life) to send energy back into the body with multiple beneficial consequences.

The original and best waterproof, windproof and breathable climate membrane. The pores in this wonder material are 20,000 times smaller than a water molecule, yet 700 times larger than a water vapour molecule, so rain can’t get in, but sweat can get out.
The membrane is used in Held clothing in three different applications. Performance Shell is the most cost-effective option, where the membrane is applied in a ‘Z-liner’ (separate layer placed between the inner and outer shells of the garment) construction. In Pro Shell garments the

Polyester fabric with linear macromodules used in various applications. Heros-Tec® offers good elasticity and shape retaining ‘memory’, along with low moisture absorption and high tear resistance. See ‘Climate membrane’ entry for more detail.

Polyurethane or polyester based material designed to create a protective barrier against the elements, while allowing moisture to escape from within. Seams are welded with a special heat sealed tape to ensure no water can penetrate from the outside. Special materials and tightly regulated manufacturing guidelines make climate membranes extremely durable and flexible.

Polyurethane or polyester based material designed to create a protective barrier against the elements, while allowing moisture to escape from within. Seams are welded with a special heat sealed tape to ensure no water can penetrate from the outside. Special materials and tightly regulated manufacturing guidelines make climate membranes extremely durable and flexible.

Of the 48 species of kangaroo, many are protected. However the unchecked reproduction of largest breed has resulted in massive over-population and culls are therefore carried out under the supervision of the Australian government. Fortunately for motoryclists, the hides make excellent rider equipment.
Kangaroo hide is far more abrasion resistant than cowhide of the same thickness. This is because, unlike cows, kangaroos only sweat through their tail and therefore there are no pores in the hide. Kangaroo garments can therefore be lighter and provide more ‘feel’. Special tanning and drying methods mean kangaroo hide is resistant to moisture and so is less likely to loose its shape or degrade over time.

Yet another space-age material from schoeller®. Gramme for gramme this aramid weave is five times stronger than steel and therefore offers outstanding abrasion protection and is ideal for reinforcing high-risk areas on a variety of garments. Held also uses a version of keprotec™ for stretch panels, so that comfort and movement does not compromise safety.

DuPont brand name for aramid fibre which combines high strength with light weight to help dramatically improve the performance of motorcycling garments. Stiffness, impact tolerance and thermal tolerance under abrasion make Kevlar® weave materials ideal for providing additional protection at ‘crash zones’, such as palms of hands, shoulders, elbows, knees and seat.

Ultra-tough Kevlar® material treated with a ceramic polyermatrix coating to provide the highest standard of abrasion, tear, cut heat resistance on areas of garments which need it the most.

The traditional ‘go-to’ material for motorcyclists. While often not as practical or adaptable as textiles, leather still leads the way in abrasion resistance and, with the right care, is extremely durable. Leather garments should be fitted as tight as possible in order to firmly hold protectors in place. With wear, leather garments ‘break in’ and mould to the body.

Revolutionary garment closure technology from GORE™. Self-lubricating, toothless construction open and closes easily to deliver 100% waterproof protection, resisting even the most challenging extreme wet weather. Rigorous laboratory testing has proven that this new innovation retains its waterproofness, even after many thousands of opening and closing cycles. Field-testing has further confirmed that this new, unique innovation allows motorcyclists to enjoy their wet weather days in complete waterproof comfort.

Moisture wicking fabric, which is water repellent, quick drying and possesses exceptional elasticity, even after repeated use and washing.

The hairsheep is a cross between a sheep and a goat only found in the mountains of some African countries. Its hide is soft and comfortable, like goatskin, but it has a more dense – and therefore hardwearing – structure which is ideal for glove making. Pittards are the leading producer of high-grade hairsheep leather.
Moisture will cause normal leather to go hard, crack and shrink, Pittards leather  The accompanying image shows two gloves which have been soaked in chemical sweat for 24 hours. The Pittards WR100 hairsheep hide glove is still very soft when compared to the cowhide glove of the same thickness. Plus it is also up to 30% more resistant to tearing and abrasion.

Material made of 96% polyester and 4% silver ion (X-Static®) metal fibres, which has an antistatic effect to wick sweat away from the body and help control odour.

Synthetic fibre which absorbs very little moisture and is extremely abrasion and tear resistant, which makes it ideal in applications where weather protection and durability are the main concerns.

Innovative high-tech fibre made from finest polyester threads which are woven to form an ultra-light felt. This felt insulates to a similar level as feather down, with the additional advantage that it does not absorb sweat. It is unrivalled for comfort, dry feel, and warmth.

The most abrasion resistant material that is pliant enough to be used in the manufacture of gloves. Selected styles of Held gloves feature Stingray protection on the ball of thumb, knuckles and wrist, backed with shock absorbing gel pads in order to allow fallen riders to slide more easily with less chance of fractured limbs cause by rolling.
When exposed to a 10 Newton load on an H22 friction wheel at Pirmasens testing Institute in accordance with DIN 53754, Kangaroo leather wore though after 4,000 revolutions, while stingray skin withstood a 20,000 revolutions.

Held uses triple-stitched safety seams at critical areas such as shoulders, arms, hips, knees and back. Two seams are used – one of which is covered by folded material – so that the garment is far more likely to hold together when the outer seams are exposed to abrasion in the event of a fall.

Market leading protector brand. CE-approved, soft and comfortable with extraordinary dampening values. Unlike most protectors, SaS-Tec items are not developed to deal solely with heavy impacts. As well as offering excellent protection in these kind of accidents, SaS-Tec protectors ensure that, even in the case of a low kinetic energy impact, the damaging forces are still effectively damped.

Advanced fabric from the innovators at 3M which incorporates microscopic glass beads that reflect an astonishing amount of white light, increasing visibility and therefore passive safety. At night, riders wearing garments with Scotchlite™ are visible from six times further away (up to 180 metres) than those who are not.

Ultra-lighweight material incorporating silver ions to combat bacteria and therefore odour. Also breathable and temperature regulating.

Highly breathable stretch material, which is elastic, lightweight, warm and flexible. Outer shell has a water resistant coating, while the inner has a soft fleece lining which absorbs moisture and wicks it away from the body

A mix of 32% polyester and 68% epoxy resin creates a super-tough material which offers full flexibility as well as extremely high cut and abrasion resistance. Held uses Superfabric® to reinforce crash zones on certain garments and gloves.

Revolutionary treatment for black leather which helps it reflect solar radiation in the same way that white leather would, keeping the surface up to 20°C cooler and the wearer up to 12°C cooler, without the impracticality of wearing light colours. The improved UV resistance of TFL COOL™ leather also increases the garment’s lifespan.
TFL COOL™ items should only be treated with transparent dubbin, as described in the garment care instructions.

Non-stick molecular treatment permanently applied to textile thread, which repels water and enables dirt to be easily washed off.

Mix of three materials (fibreglass, carbon and Kevlar) used in helmet manufacture to produce particularly light, yet shock resistant shells.

Anti-bacterial treatment to keep layers worn next to the skin conformable and odour-free, without disrupting the skin’s natural balance.

NanoSphere® is a protective treatment from schoeller® which simply shrugs off dirt and water. Garments which use NanoSphere technology stay cleaner and function better, even after repeated washing.

Tear resistant and durable fibre, spun from endless Polyamide fibres, which is often treated for water resistance and specially impregnated to shed dirt. Nylon forms the basis of most textile garments. It’s lightweight and strong construction makes it ideally suited for rainwear.

Phase-change material originally developed to protect astronauts against extreme fluctuations in temperature. Millions of microcapsules absorb the heat generated through exertion or increased external temperature to keep you cool, then the stored energy is released when you need to warm up.

Held’s proprietary version of Scotchlite™ light-reflective material. See Scotchlite™ entry for more info.

Polyurethane or polyester based material designed to create a protective barrier against the elements, while allowing moisture to escape from within. Seams are welded with a special heat sealed tape to ensure no water can penetrate from the outside. Special materials and tightly regulated manufacturing guidelines make climate membranes extremely durable and flexible.

Another wonder fabric from W.L. Gore & Associates. The windproof and breathable softshell is ideal for base layers worn beneath garments which do not include a climate membrane, because it allows moisture to escape while effectively protecting from windblast.

GORE-TEX® used in certain Held gloves, where the membrane is bonded to the inner and outer materials to give a three-layer construction with a single-layer feel. This enables gloves to be lighter and more comfortable with improved ‘feel’. The seamless inner eliminates the chances of water entering at joins in the outer.